Generator Electric power (PTO generator) on a moving tractor?

[jenkinsph]

Thanks for letting me know. I was planning in installing one on my cub when I got around to it and now I know it wouldn't work.

You could use a small one for limited run times just recognize these can drain a small battery quickly. A 400 watt inverter will draw about 30 amps at full load that would be permissible for a few minutes use then let the battery recover. With larger deep cycle batteries these inverters become very useful I use a 400w model in my truck camper to run the satellite dish and tv. Nice and quiet without a generator running.:thumbsup:

 

[AmericanByBirth]

Appreciate it.

 

[PaulTI]

Hey again all,

Thanks for all the replies, this is great info! Here are a few more details which may paint a better picture of the planned usage:
- Tractor will drive through rows at *slow* speed, probably as slow as the tractor can go (e.g. creeper gear)
- It's OK to stay in the same gear, even when turning around to get back into the next row
- Our implement is already occupying the rear 3pt, and the PTO gen will be bolted to the implement's frame with a telescoping spline shaft connector to the PTO shaft

IF you aren't going too fast, using lower gears and don't have an undersized tractor for the job, I don't see any reason you couldn't use the pto genset while moving.

The governor on the tractor should keep the pto even enough, provided you are using a lower gear that the tractor can keep an even speed without putting too much load on the engine.

SR

Sawyer Rob, that sounds hopeful for us! We'll be on a Cat 2 tractor so I'd image that tractor power is plentiful. In a tractors slowest gear, do you think that's enough to run a PTO genset?

Hoping to hear more good ideas from you all! Thanks again, all

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Why not just try it and see how it works... I'm betting it will work fine.

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Why not just try it and see how it works... I'm betting it will work fine.

SR

 

[jenkinsph]

If you are running at creeper speeds you should be fine.

 

[boggen]

there can be a saftey issue, regardless of PTO gen, or standalone regular generator. and that is... tractor is up on rubber wheels. just like if an eletrical cable fell down on tractor or truck or car. you do not get out of vehicle and you simply wait for someone to remove power line off of vehicle before getting out of vehicle. having a generator on tractor. has potential to zap someone.

you will most likely find grounding in any manual for a generator.

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creeper speed 5k to 10k watts. on a cat 2 tractor.....

check out tractor itself for parts, many times you can install either a larger alternator and/or a second alternator to run computers and like. due to many cat 2 and above tractors are field tractors, and require GPS tracking info for planting, to chemical usage, to various LCD display screens. there generally some sort of extra protection circuit that needs to be installed. *i forget the circuit protection terminology* i think part of it is to clean up wave pattern of the electricity, and the other is to deal with reducing other electronic components causing additional noise within the electricity (messing up the wave pattern).

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what is it that you are doing? more specifically for the need for the 5K to 10K watts? lots of power!. most of the time hydraulics are used, with low amp 12v to 24v solenoid or like valving for the hydraulics.

 

[aczlan]

there can be a saftey issue, regardless of PTO gen, or standalone regular generator. and that is... tractor is up on rubber wheels. just like if an eletrical cable fell down on tractor or truck or car. you do not get out of vehicle and you simply wait for someone to remove power line off of vehicle before getting out of vehicle. having a generator on tractor. has potential to zap someone.

you will most likely find grounding in any manual for a generator.

Pretty much any modern generator only uses GFCI plugs for that very reason.
Ground the generator frame to the tractor or implement frame and let the GFCI take care of the rest.

Aaron Z

 

[PaulTI]

Pretty much any modern generator only uses GFCI plugs for that very reason.
Ground the generator frame to the tractor or implement frame and let the GFCI take care of the rest.

Aaron Z

Hey Aaron,

Thanks for the input, I was sort of thinking the same about grounding to implement or tractor frame based on this OSHA fact sheet.
Regarding GFCI, I've been eyeing this 7800W/7200W NorthStar PTO gen and I didn't see it stated explicitly that the outlets are GFCI. The manual, however, explicitly states that GFCI extension cords should always be used, so I'm guessing the PTO gen does not have GFCI plugs.

Do you have any recommendations for GFCI PTO gens that use GFCI plugs, or perhaps know if the NorthStar has GFCI plugs?

 

[smokinmad]

WOW 5 to 10 kw....what in the world are you trying to power....thats enough to power your home and your pulling it with a tractor?
Here is one on ebay...5 to 10kw inverterhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-MOBILE-POWER-INVERTER-5000-10000-W-WATT-12V-DC-TO-120V-AC-/332191055746?hash=item4d58213f82:g:kzgAAOxyfuZR0OzG