Do you have the Harbor Freight 15KW PTO Generator? What do you think?

[dex3361]

Found this for sale locally, it isn't a HF, its a NT. Its bigger than what I need and more $ and more generator than my tractor but it seems like a good deal. I can't talk him down any more.

New Price! Generator; 27,500 Watts (27kW) - 100 Amps @ 240 volts; PTO driven from your tractor or bobcat; very good condition,used very little,on trailer,w/ drive shaft; NorthStar Generator new: $3000.00; trailer new: $700.00; drive shaft new: $300.00; transfer switch new: $400.00; cable with 100A marine plug new: $300.00 Total new: $4700.00! Buy from me,slightly used: $2000.00 Great for remote construction site,or office,barn or hunting club,Will power up to 2000 sq ft home during power outage. Includes Marine style plug,connector,and 100A cable; as well as 200 Amp transfer switch!

I looked used when I bought mine. If I had run across this deal I would have jumped on it with both feet. Your tractor wouldnt make full KW but would still work well up to capacity of your pto HP.

[1969grandpa]

I have 1.5 and a 2.5 ton heat pumps and all other electric home appliances to run during an outage. We don't loose power much, but a year before we moved here the previous homeowner lost per for 3 Weeks during an ice storm. We live in a rural area and the finance department ( bride) did give me the ok to buy a generator even before we took delivery of the tractor last week.

[Soundguy]

I looked used when I bought mine. If I had run across this deal I would have jumped on it with both feet. Your tractor wouldnt make full KW but would still work well up to capacity of your pto HP.

and the genny will have a HUGE margin of thermal protection..

[dex3361]

I decided to run the PTO generator today while I cut the grass. I isolated the garage and turned the garage and upstairs lights, 1500 watt heater, drill press, fan, belt sander, and grinder. Totaling 3.45KW. I ran this for 4 hours exactly and the tractor used 4.1 gallons of diesel. The load was unbalanced with and here are the details:
Volts- L1-ground- 117V
Volts- L2-ground- 124V
Volts- L1-L2- 241V

Amps L1-27.5A
Amps L2-4A

Watts 3.45KW

I was surprised at how ineffiecient it was on fuel. It could have been because of the imbalance of the loads or that it was lightly loaded. I will likely do the same test with a larger load that is balanced.

After I finished I changed the gear box oil. I took the drain plug out and it was under great pressure for a gear box. I checked the breather and it has a spring loaded ball check. I pulled the spring and it was very stiff. I deemed it too stiff and replaced it with a much shorter and less stiif spring. I didnt see much in the break in oil except a few fines from the gears meshing. Voltage was stable and the frequency was rock solid.

[Soundguy]

i'm surprised about the inefficiency. power conversion of fuel to moving electrons , in a good engine should be pretty much 'book'

[Soundguy]

when you do the higher load test post the results and fuel econ comparisons too.

good luck

[daugen]

One of the big problems in running gasoline or diesel portable gens is not giving them enough load. After installing a 20kw Generac stand by unit on my home, I loaned my 5kw portable unit to a friend. Got it back a year later fresh out of the shop having had the cylinder and head cleaned of excess carbon. Guess I should have told him to put a space heater on it if running light, which is what I do when I use my portable on the farm. I don't worry about carbon with the Generac since it's LP powered, and obviously running a gas or diesel tractor at pto rpm isn't going to be an issue other than fuel consumption. Most of the times we lose power is in bad weather, perhaps like most, and
leaving a tractor running outside unattended would worry me too much.

[Soundguy]

if i leave my truck or tractor running and walk away.. I expect it to stay running. If I leave a lawnmower engine running and walk away.. who knows!

[dex3361]

I suspect the majority of the time I will use the PTO generator on the BX1500 as the 10 PTO HP of the BX will crank out likely 5KW - 6.5KW but that is normally more than I will need. I will need to use the L4400 when its summer and I need the AC or anytime I need more KWs. I expected it to be less effiecient than a direct to engine coupled but that was worse than I expected. Being unbalanced and at the low end of the HP of the tractor 37PTO available but only +-6HP being used. That put it out of the effiecient range. Also going through several gearboxes eat up some eat away at the effieciency.

Also I used a true watt meter to check the watts in case anybody was wondering it was not calculated.

[dex3361]

Normally I am there when the generator is running whether it is the stand alone or if it is the tractor and PTO generator. I usually would not leave it unattended for very long.