Generator PTO generator feedback

[mattman]

I would like some feedback on 12kw to 15kw generators. What brand have you got, where did you get it, how much, are you happy with it? How about running various sensitive electrical things like computers and TV's.

If you have one and used it give me your opinion's.

Thanks

 

[jimgerken]

GenPower

I bought from these guys. Mine is 15kW, no longer listed model. Their stuff is top-notch with solid-state active circuitry controlling voltage to very tight tolerances. Big (3") freq and voltage meters, mounted on control box which is shock mounted from generator itself. Came in a mint 3-point cage, with pto shaft and power cord with plug on one end.
Buy a 1800 rpm armature model if you can afford it.

 

[Phineas7]

Actually stuff like computers and TV's are some of the least sensitive stuff because the power supplies are all switching supplies now (as oppose to linear that's more of a brute force regulation), therefore can easily tollerate variances in voltage and frequency. Many are rated to handle 110 - 220v and 50 or 60 hz supply power.

It's stuff like refridgerators, air conditioners, washing machines, well pumps that you can burn up with low voltage / low frequency. Basically, stuff with motors, especially big motors that require lots of starting current. Not to mention how much more they cost!

 

[Max2310]

I've been trying not to say anything but I can't hold it.

You would let your tractor run unattended (Security tip #1) while watching tv and/or surfing the Web? I know I wouldn't, I gave up which is why I bought a standalone generator... Food for thought.

That's it, I've said it. Please don't be mad at me

 

[mattman]

I never even thought about leaving my tractor unattended.. Are we worried about it tearing something up while running. Or are we worried about someone messing with it while it is running??

The main thing I am needing power for is a well pump.. I can survive awhile with my little 4kw generator but am in need of water. When your water is out you get in a bind. Like toliets don't flush. no water to cook, no water to wash dishes, no water to take a bath. It's bad without water..

 

[BobRip]

I never even thought about leaving my tractor unattended.. Are we worried about it tearing something up while running. Or are we worried about someone messing with it while it is running??

The main thing I am needing power for is a well pump.. I can survive awhile with my little 4kw generator but am in need of water. When your water is out you get in a bind. Like toliets don't flush. no water to cook, no water to wash dishes, no water to take a bath. It's bad without water..

Most generators shutdown on low oil. I doubt if your tractor does. Also you have a water cooling system which has all sorts of failure modes. I think these are the big concerns.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Most generators shutdown on low oil. I doubt if your tractor does. Also you have a water cooling system which has all sorts of failure modes. I think these are the big concerns.

Pessimism is easy. Optimism takes a lot of work.
Bob Rip

That seems to be the case here...
larry

 

[zzvyb6]

I have a 50kw pto Winco alternator. It does the job, even A/C if necessary. My tractor diesel has good hoses, good oil, I check oil and its quiet. Plenty of diesel around, and when the community looses power, all the gas gets in short supply. Not true for diesel. Just because its 50kw rating doesn't mean you need 100+ hp to run it. I ran it off a 22hp Yanmar just fine. Never have cracked the governor.

No gas engines, no bad gas, (my tractor doesn't need an oil shutoff), no leaky or rotted gas hoses, no borrowing by the neighbor, don't need the tractor for anything else when the power goes down. No need to run it 24/7 anyways. Price was $1500 (good deal)! Bought a Kill-o-Watt voltage and frequency meter at Costco for $22. to monitor it. I don't advertise that I have one. Next best thing might be natural gas standalone. Plus you have a portable welding source as well as anything else you need out in the field. I take my electric pressure washer on field trips occasionally.

 

[RoyJackson]

Several of the John Deere CUTS use a variation of the YANMAR industrial/marine diesel engines which are built for steady RPM continous use. Quite a few tractors are used as stationary power units.
That does not mean the owner ignores the engine except for refueling every 5 or 6 hours but does mean these engines can handle PTO generators. I don't have a PTO generator (no need...yet) but I do suggest checking engine oil at every refueling.

 

[Phineas7]

I'd leave mine running a generator. It doesn't burn that much oil! If I had so little confidence in it, I'd get rid of it.

 

[BeezFun]

Our power used to go out at least once a month until I bought the generator, now it never goes out. Best $700 I ever spent. I bought a used 12KW Northern tool unit and mounted it on a cheap little trailer I got from Menards for $70. I use it out in the field quite a bit to run saws and the compressor for nail gun and staplers, all to fix fences.

 

[grofarms]

i bought a 55 kw pto generator that i run off of my case 7130. The generator runs off of 540 but my tractor has a 1000 speed shaft. I put an adapter in so now i only run at 1/4 throttle so the tractor is nice and quiet. the longest i have run the tractor was 72 hrs straight when i had a bad snow storm last October. 55 kw runs my house, and the whole farm with no problem. best $4500 i ever spent.

 

[SPYDERLK]

i bought a 55 kw pto generator that i run off of my case 7130. The generator runs off of 540 but my tractor has a 1000 speed shaft. I put an adapter in so now i only run at 1/4 throttle so the tractor is nice and quiet. the longest i have run the tractor was 72 hrs straight when i had a bad snow storm last October. 55 kw runs my house, and the whole farm with no problem. best $4500 i ever spent.

Thats ok for a fairly steady load, but if you have variations of 10kW or so the rpm will change enuf to cause way off spec AC power.
larry

 

[BobRip]

Thats ok for a fairly steady load, but if you have variations of 10kW or so the rpm will change enuf to cause way off spec AC power.
larry

Get a Kill A Watt and monitor frequency in your house.

 

[dex3361]

I went through a 6 day power outage just before CHRISTmas and ran my 4KW gas genset through the day only and used over 35 gallons of gas. I just upgraded to a 5.5/6.5KW diesel generator. I am reluctant to the leave the tractor running a pto generator while I am away. I am like the others I would be afraid of a visit from "Murphy" (from Murphy's Law) you know the old saying if it can happen it will happen. It would be bad enough to lose a generator I would really hate to loose my tractor. The portable diesel generator has low oil shutdown and is air cooled.

 

[hanson1999]

if you can't run your tractor on a generator and trust it why have it?? park the thing where you can see it if your that worried, you could easily poke an oil pan while driving the tractor and not notice it until too late also....who watches the gauge steady while driving??? NOBODY. hook the tractor to a generator and forget about it......one less engine to maintain....diesel tractor always runs super reliable.....stupid to be that worried turn the key and walk away....who cares about a few hours.....if you need it you need it that is why you bought it....

Why would you want to maintain an engine generator all the time and maybe never use it?? then when u need it, the stupid thing probably won't start. back tractor up and hook up pto shaft and you are ready to watch tv in comfort on the couch.

just my 2 cents i guess.

 

[dex3361]

.....stupid to be that worried turn the key and walk away....who cares about a few hours.....if you need it you need it that is why you bought it....

Why would you want to maintain an engine generator all the time and maybe never use it?? then when u need it, the stupid thing probably won't start. back tractor up and hook up pto shaft and you are ready to watch tv in comfort on the couch.

just my 2 cents i guess.

Maybe thats my problem I'm stupid I have been trying to figure out whats wrong for years(I spent all that money and you solved it for free). Thanks. Thew other thing that I find is that I need my tractor at the same time I need the generator. The only thing that will fix this need is a stand alone generator or a reeeeeeeeally long cable.

 

[moeh1]

I find is that I need my tractor at the same time I need the generator.

Randall, that's a great reason! That why I justified buying a second cheap tractor. Figured I might just as well get other use out of that diesel engine the rest of the time. Working out great to have the second tractor around so far, still looking for a good deal on the pto genny.....

 

[Redneck in training]

Have you ever run out of fuel on diesel engine? That is the thing I would worry about using tractor as a drive for a generator. It is a big hustle to restart after refueling. Or is it not? Never happened to me but read about the procedure somewhere on TBN.
Otherwise for field use or occasional usage during power outages tractor driven generator is fine. If you could add low fuel shutoff I don't see a problem. Just an opinion.

 

[jimgerken]

The JD CUTs are self-bleeding for fast easy restarts after running out of fuel. No worry there, unless you are way out in the sticks when it happens. Low oil (pressure) shutdown could be added really easily if a guy was paranoid enough to feel he needed it.

My pto generator is adapted for the quick hitch, so if I really did need to use the tractor during a storm, I could unhook from the genny in a minute and go off and do the cleanup or whatever, and have the tractor hooked back up and genny running again in time for my evening shower. Nice to have water.