Generator PTO generator feedback

[gerard]

Is it OK to get these PTO generators wet while they are running? Could you leave the tractor and generator running out in the rain?

Most of them are somewhat rainproof. Tiger says as long as the rain isn't more than 15deg off vertical it can be run outside. That said, in a windy situation or strong snowstorm, mositure is going to get in the louvers and in places you don't want it to. I would either back the genset into the garage or create an enclosure to keep the weather off it. Even with twistlock plugs, a heavy rain and that much juice mixing is not a good idea.

 

[whistlepig]

Most of them are somewhat rainproof. Tiger says as long as the rain isn't more than 15deg off vertical it can be run outside. That said, in a windy situation or strong snowstorm, mositure is going to get in the louvers and in places you don't want it to. I would either back the genset into the garage or create an enclosure to keep the weather off it. Even with twistlock plugs, a heavy rain and that much juice mixing is not a good idea.

I appreciate your honest reply. This was the clincher for me going portable. I did not want the generator or tractor running outside in the pouring rain. I have no way to keep them dry. As it is now I have to haul my portable to my back covered deck. But the generator will be dry there and can run all night with out worry.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I appreciate your honest reply. This was the clincher for me going portable. I did not want the generator or tractor running outside in the pouring rain. I have no way to keep them dry. As it is now I have to haul my portable to my back covered deck. But the generator will be dry there and can run all night with out worry.

so you cant easily rig a cover from the ROPS? or back the gen under an overhang? I guess you dont need much power. A 10kW "portable" would be an issue.
larry

 

[tshep]

How do the PTO types regulate load?
Do they just leave the tractor running at what ever throttle achieves 540 rpm, (and waste the extra hp) or somehow load the tractor so it can respond?

Based on what little I have observed (Honda size and also factory sized) they all communcate the load applied back to the throttle somehow - that seems like the biggest advantage to a package over an unwatched PTO.

 

[gerard]

How do the PTO types regulate load?
Do they just leave the tractor running at what ever throttle achieves 540 rpm, (and waste the extra hp) or somehow load the tractor so it can respond?

Based on what little I have observed (Honda size and also factory sized) they all communcate the load applied back to the throttle somehow - that seems like the biggest advantage to a package over an unwatched PTO.

I know some of the stand alones have load adjustments but they all don't. I have an 8000 peak, 6500 continuous portable and I don't hear the engine throttling up or down based on load BUT I do hear the engine change briefly when a large load comes on line. I don't think the PTO ones can adjust for load. You just set it for rpm and if it's rated correctly, even at full load it should maintain the rpms. There are pro's and cons to both. I wouldn't hesitate to get a pto set if I didn't need to plow snow. Right now I always have an implement on the back so I would always have to drop one, put on the pto, then use use of the tractor. Right now I can get my generator going in less than 5 minutes. Bit of a pain running for gas but I have a friend with a large gas tank that I can use if the stations are out.

 

[JB4310]

I've been following this debate for the last few years regarding stand alone vs PTO, even though that wasn't the what the OP asked, that's what this thread has become.

I've come to conclude that it's such a divisive issue, due to the fact that the two choices have such differing characteristics, almost shouldn't even be compared side by side.

The greatest difference is their rated capacity, in general standalones are under 10 kw and pto's are over 10 kw, Pto gennys can easily be up to 20 kw and higher for very reasonable money. Of course standalone power-plants can be had up to any kw output but those are off the charts price wise and are never compared to pto's in these forums.

So it comes down to how much power do you need/want. If you need over 10 kw then you pretty much need a pto, if you need less than 10 kw you can get a whiz banger. You can always draw 4 kw off a 15 kw pto gen, but obviously can't do that in reverse.

I've got a 10 kw pto and 3 stand alones 2-6 KW. It's true it does take attention to keep the pto in the correct hertz/volts range, especially with wide load changes. Never had to adjust the throttle on a standalone even going from zero to full load.

That manual regulation of voltage, even though they are called AVR is the pto's greatest downfall. The limited capacity is the standalones downfall.

For the OP I would recommend the 15 KW pto, it's the most versatile, run the whole house/barn or anything less.
I wish I got the 15 over the 10, at 15 KW there's really no argument to be made to compare to a whiz bang standalone.

JB.

 

[Soundguy]

northern tool, 12.5kw paid 1000$ in 04, very happy with it.. real clean power according to my oscope and graphing range holding meter / freq counter.

passive ( capacative regulation to boot.. )

 

[Phineas7]

How do the PTO types regulate load?
Do they just leave the tractor running at what ever throttle achieves 540 rpm, (and waste the extra hp) or somehow load the tractor so it can respond?

My tractor (and I assume all modern tractors) uses an RPM based throttle. I set my thottle to 2500rpm then throw limbs in the grinder, which load the engine, drops the RPM's and the throttle compensates by trying to maintain 2500 rpm. Just like my stand alone generator. It doesn't really waste HP, it provides enough fuel, to make enough hp, to maintain the set RPM.

Concerning the comment about rain on a twist lock plug and worrying about the "juice". How many of you run extension cords out to your Christmas decorations that get rained on? (and it won't even trip a GF outlet) Regardless of weather it is house power, a 1kw generator or a 30kw generator, they output 120v to ground (the 220v is relative between phases, both lines are 120v to ground). IMHO the concern about light rain is mostly a corosive issue, not an electical one. Yes putting a water hose on it would be bad and would put a noticable path to ground for current to flow thru and cause problems.

 

[Redneck in training]

If the generator is running it gets warm enough to evaporate small amount of moisture sucked in with cooling air. Pure water is non conductive unless mixed with some minerals that make it an electrolyte. So rainwater is nonconductive as long as it doesn't get in contact with pollutants such as dust in the generator. But even then it will conduct very little I suppose. Perhaps somebody more knowledgeable can shed light on this issue.
I am also considering 15 kW PTO generator. We have significant outage about every ten years due to an ice storm. Other outages are short and happen just about once per year. So it is unlikely that we will need the tractor in the same time we need the power. If rain is an issue then I will make some kind of protection for the machine.
Switching between utility and generator would be probably easy in my house because I have a transformer just by the garage and it has a manual switch that can switch the house to another supply. Only issue is location of the CT (current transformer) for the power meter but I think it is "upstream" of the switch so I don't get charged for generating my own power.

 

[Egon]

So rainwater is nonconductive a

Each Raindrop Condenses on a minute particle of some type that is floating in the air.