Buying Advice PTO Driven Generator

[Soundguy]

tractor don't need cover.. gen might like it.. that's what cheap plastic dog houses are for.. or a tarp and some string... be creative


soundguy

 

[John47]

I bought the Harbor Freight over a year back now, not had a power outage long enough to put it on full load. I have run it on light load and worked fine.
It's one of the easiest implements to hook up to the tractor. Needs to be kept covered though, don't let it sit in the rain, it's not weatherproof.
I had a look at the windings, all copper!!
It does have a combined Liquid crystal display for hours/volts/amps and frequency, so you can set the drive speed to give you 60Hz. The output should be clean enough for home electronics, "brushless" design apart from the fields and 12 volt circuit output.

 

[Soundguy]

anyone got a link to the HF unit?

soundguy

 

[keyman1808]

I saw the HF unit but I dont think my BX24 will power it. Anyone try it yet.

 

[dex3361]

Ask and you shall receive. HF PTO GENERATOR

 

[Soundguy]

thanks! I knew somebody would have it handy.

soundguy

 

[JoelD]

As stated in similar threads, I just can't see running my tractor for days on end to run a generator. I purchased a 6K unit, with 13 HP gas motor for under $400 new. I run it regularly to keep the gas fresh and I run stabil. I've run the machine for 5 days straight (only stopping for oil changes) without a hickup. That would be 120 hours just for the one power outage.

If the machine blows up, I throw away and purchase another.

My neighbor ran the machine for 8 days straight, again without a hickup. Thats almost 200 hours. Again, that is a $400 machine.

I just couldn't see putting the hours on my tractor when these generators are so inexpensive today.

I roll it out of my garage, plug in and cover with a 4x4 piece of plywood. It just does not get much easier other than auto start.

Joel

 

[rjkobbeman]

As stated in similar threads, I just can't see running my tractor for days on end to run a generator. I purchased a 6K unit, with 13 HP gas motor for under $400 new. I run it regularly to keep the gas fresh and I run stabil. I've run the machine for 5 days straight (only stopping for oil changes) without a hickup. That would be 120 hours just for the one power outage.

If the machine blows up, I throw away and purchase another.

My neighbor ran the machine for 8 days straight, again without a hickup. Thats almost 200 hours. Again, that is a $400 machine.

I just couldn't see putting the hours on my tractor when these generators are so inexpensive today.

I roll it out of my garage, plug in and cover with a 4x4 piece of plywood. It just does not get much easier other than auto start.

Joel

I couldn't agree more. I have a few portable generators in my garage. One was a cheapy 5kw unit that I bought years ago after a big outage. Have since run the $iss out of it when I built my new home. Two are 15.5kw units I use for the new house when outages occur. Those two are expensive, but still beat the heck out of putting hours on the tractor.

 

[keyman1808]

I agree that adding hours to your tractor isnt the greatest but in the 6 years I lived in my house I have only needed a generator once for about 12 hours. That said its only for the long outages (that havent came YET) that I would like it for. And for the money of a HF unit. You really cant go wrong. Same unit as a standby would be 2 or 3 times the price.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I paid $2,000 for a 17,500 watt Generac/Guardian from Home Depot. Granted it was a sale where they regularly cost $3,000. (It was a big sale!)

I have never looked into the prices of 3ph generators... especially because I have not personally owned a tractor until this year. What do they run? I clicked on the link above, but did not see a price.

Here is what I bought, although this is a newer/updated model: http://www.homedepot.com/Outdoors-Outdoor-Power-Equipment-Generators-Portable-Generators/Generac/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xj1Zar7kZ4ph/R-100662531/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053