So I've read through most of the PTO Generator threads, but I'm still a bit unclear how to determine surge/startup power limits for a given tractor/pto generator combination. As I understand it, the 2 PTO HP/KW limit applies mainly to continuous power, but what is the maximum surge/startup wattage available?
I'm mainly looking into the Tiger Power units, and my tractor is a MF 1532 with 26.5 PTO HP. So using the 2 HP rule of thumb, I should be able to generate up to 13.25 KW of continuous power.
Looking at the Tiger Power brochure at the 10, 15, and 20 KW units, the 10 KW unit has a surge limit of 25 kVA, the 15 KW unit has a surge limit of 45 kVA, and the 20 KW unit has a surge limit of 60 kVA.
With the 10 KW, continuous power w/ my tractor will be 10 KW, but will my starting limit be 13.25 KW, or would it be higher (25 kVA would be somewhere between 15 and 25 KW depending on the power factor of the loads).
If I step up to the 15 KW unit, then my continuous power availability would be 13.25 KW -- will the surge limit be any higher than with the 10 KW unit? How much higher?
Finally, with the 20 KW unit, again continuous power will still be stuck at 13.25 KW due to tractor HP limitations. Will surge limits be identical to the limit of the 15 KW unit?
Also, once you hit 20 KW, you've got the option of an 1800 RPM PTO generator (at 10 or 15 KW the only available units are 3600 RPM ones). Will the heavier 1800 watt model make any practical differences in usable power (with only 26.5 HP available), or is the only gain from the 1800 RPM generator an increased service life?
Of course there's a big price range across these options. From the prices posted at messicks.com, package prices (including pto shaft, trailer, power cord) are $2250 for the 10 KW, $3065 for 15 KW, $3575 for 20 KW at 3600 RPM, and 3950 for 20 KW at 1800 RPM?
Thanks,
Scott
I'm mainly looking into the Tiger Power units, and my tractor is a MF 1532 with 26.5 PTO HP. So using the 2 HP rule of thumb, I should be able to generate up to 13.25 KW of continuous power.
Looking at the Tiger Power brochure at the 10, 15, and 20 KW units, the 10 KW unit has a surge limit of 25 kVA, the 15 KW unit has a surge limit of 45 kVA, and the 20 KW unit has a surge limit of 60 kVA.
With the 10 KW, continuous power w/ my tractor will be 10 KW, but will my starting limit be 13.25 KW, or would it be higher (25 kVA would be somewhere between 15 and 25 KW depending on the power factor of the loads).
If I step up to the 15 KW unit, then my continuous power availability would be 13.25 KW -- will the surge limit be any higher than with the 10 KW unit? How much higher?
Finally, with the 20 KW unit, again continuous power will still be stuck at 13.25 KW due to tractor HP limitations. Will surge limits be identical to the limit of the 15 KW unit?
Also, once you hit 20 KW, you've got the option of an 1800 RPM PTO generator (at 10 or 15 KW the only available units are 3600 RPM ones). Will the heavier 1800 watt model make any practical differences in usable power (with only 26.5 HP available), or is the only gain from the 1800 RPM generator an increased service life?
Of course there's a big price range across these options. From the prices posted at messicks.com, package prices (including pto shaft, trailer, power cord) are $2250 for the 10 KW, $3065 for 15 KW, $3575 for 20 KW at 3600 RPM, and 3950 for 20 KW at 1800 RPM?
Thanks,
Scott