10 kW PTO Generator

[Gary Fowler]

One thing I wouldn't like about this unit is it capable of 45 amps at 240 volts but only has a 30 amp recepticle. if running a house during a power outage this could be a problem. I bought one very similar about 10 years ago. Also made in Italy, Identical gear box. Mine didn't come with the outlet panel, just the wires sticking out. I had to build my own outlet panel and added a volt meter but it stopped working. Now I just use my hand held tester to set the rpm to give 240 volts.

Voltage is allowed to fluctuate and still work but the 60 cycles needs to be really dead on for everything to work right. For instance even your electricity from the power company might be anywhere from 110-120 volts but kilocycles must be a 60 dead nuts. Just checking the voltage may or may not give you the correct 60 cycles. An electric clock would run slow or fast if cycles were low or high respectively but it may take several minutes to ascertain the noted difference. One other problem with tractor mounted generation is that the governors don't respond as well to loads as they should so when a load comes on /off, the RPM will fluctuate which will cause not only current but cycle fluctuation.

[SPYDERLK]

Another little item that a generator needs to perform right is a voltage and frequency meter. You have to turn the right speed to produce 60 kilocycles for your power to be clean in addition to the correct voltage. It doesn't look like any of these have these meters and without them you wont know if the 540 PTO speed is right or not.

Should do 60 kilocycles at a little over 1/2 million pto rpm.

[arlen4720]

Should do 60 kilocycles at a little over 1/2 million pto rpm.

Somewhere around 540,000?
On a serious note, the volts per Hz ratio will be fairly constant. If you adjust your rpm to get the proper voltage, your frequency will be very close. If you have a fluke meter that reads Hz, better yet. Not really needed though. Sure the syncronous motor in an electric wall clock might lose or gain 10 seconds per hour, but who really cares?
As long as you are not under tractored, the govenor will hold rpms pretty good.

[Brad_Blazer]

The price seems okay on the original unit posted. Compare it to these at Northern tool:
Power Takeoff (PTO) Driven Generators | Generators | Northern Tool + Equipment
Not as good a deal as the HF unit but not out of line either.

[AndyMA]

When I started this post I was curious if anybody had dealt with this company or product. As a EE I realize this is a bare bones unit. I have plenty of PTO shafts, a carrier and an untold number of voltage and frequency measuring equipment so that won't be an issue.

What drew me to this unit was the "Made in Italy" (as opposed to China) & the price. My New Holland TN75D was made in Italy and has been flawless for over 10 years. I can't say that about much of the Made in China stuff I have bought.

Andy

[Brad_Blazer]

This one is made in Italy and the reviews look as good as it gets.
NorthStar PTO Generator — 13,000 Watt, 24 HP Required | PTO Generators| Northern Tool + Equipment

[zzvyb6]

Voltage is allowed to fluctuate and still work but the 60 cycles needs to be really dead on for everything to work right. For instance even your electricity from the power company might be anywhere from 110-120 volts but kilocycles must be a 60 dead nuts. Just checking the voltage may or may not give you the correct 60 cycles. An electric clock would run slow or fast if cycles were low or high respectively but it may take several minutes to ascertain the noted difference. One other problem with tractor mounted generation is that the governors don't respond as well to loads as they should so when a load comes on /off, the RPM will fluctuate which will cause not only current but cycle fluctuation.

For $20 you can buy a Kill-A-Watt meter that reads voltage, current and frequency. Got mine at Costco. I leave it on the generator at all times. An rpm recovery comment just isn't true. There is so much rotating inertia that speed variation is barely noticable. With any name brand diesel tractor made in the last 25 years, the speed controls are pretty good. I even run my house off of my pto alternator using my diesel 22hp lawnmower and a 540 pto adaptor. There's not much off a governor to speak of on an F-935 ! Its a LAWNMOWER.

[bullbreaker]

Not trying to get sidetracked but could someone care to comment in "layman's terms' on the pro's/con/s of Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR)
Thinking about getting PTO genny also and find this kind of confuseing. I know the claim is it produces clean and safe electricity for sensitive electronics. I knowtised the ones with this feature cost more. To Op please don't think I'am trying to jack your thread just didn't want to start one over this question.

Boone

[Squeak n Itch]

Just received HF catalog Issue - 8191 For February 2013. See page 17 for 15kW PTO generator for $1,200. I am not certain they have this in a local store but is worth checking.

[90cummins]

If it is made in Italy, I would trust the quality. Central Maine sells a lot of generators so I would also trust their ability to support their products.
Home Depot sells a meter called a kilowatt meter which monitors the voltage & frequency and electrical consumption of electrical devices. It plugs into a wall outlet for convenient monitoring.
Mounting the generator on a 3pt frame is necessary to stabilize it and it also makes it portable.
Don稚 forget to ground the generator frame to a good ground to eliminate the possibility of being electrocuted.
I have a 25kw Generac PTO generator, I mounted it on a 3pt cradle with a 100amp breaker panel that has the most common outlets so I can power most anything I encounter anywhere I can get my tractor.
And as mentioned I have a heavy welding cable & clamp so I can securely ground the unit to a ground rod or house wiring.
90cummins