Whole house generator

[Dargo]

I too am wondering why more aren't using a PTO type generator. I use our Polaris Ranger to blade snow. The tractor's useless in much snow. I've got a JD4310 and am looking in the 12 to 15K range generator - maybe Northstar or Voltmaster or.... (Any thoughts on those brands?) Can someone tell me why I have to scream along at 2300rpm or whatever it is to get the 540rpm requirements of generators. Has anybody regeared the PTO generator links to allow something along the lines of half the engine rpm for the tractor?

Many larger tractors have an "economy" mode where they turn the PTO at 540 RPM with the engine only turning about 1700 RPM. They are not useless in heavy snow. As a matter of fact, most would not even notice if they scooped your Polaris out of the way or ran over it as they clear heavy snow. I buy a tractor for tractor needs. I buy a generator for generator needs. In my situation, it's impossible to confuse the two. I personally wonder why anyone would use a PTO generator. I see no value in one.

 

[JD 4520]

I agree with Dargo. Well stated.

 

[JoelT]

The 4310 is relatively small and does not do well in snow, especially on any grade. It might not make it to the Polaris to pick it up - doubt it could come to think of it. With chains it might be a different story - or with a tilt blade to clear the snow first. The Polaris is very handy for clearing our driveways. Wish my tractor had an economy mode. A lower engine rpm maintaining that 540 pto speed would be handy.

 

[Dargo]

The 4310 is relatively small and does not do well in snow, especially on any grade. It might not make it to the Polaris to pick it up - doubt it could come to think of it. With chains it might be a different story - or with a tilt blade to clear the snow first. The Polaris is very handy for clearing our driveways. Wish my tractor had an economy mode. A lower engine rpm maintaining that 540 pto speed would be handy.

Oh, everything has it's limits. I'm sorry if I came across wrong. Everyone's situation is unique to them. I should have been more clear that I see no value in a PTO generation in my situation. I honestly don't know what HP size Deere tractors have to have to have the "economy" feature. It's certainly not a unique JD feature. Several brands have that feature. I can't think of the last time I mowed or used my bush hog where I didn't run in "economy" mode. In a relatively larger tractor, it probably makes 20 gallons difference in fuel use on a long day. That adds up.

I also omitted that I jacked around with an 8500 Honda and 6500 Yamaha gas powered generators for years because I honestly could not afford to buy a top quality larger generator to power my entire home, guest house and barns. I wasn't about to buy cheap Chinese knock-off junk for when I needed it most. I suppose, truth be told, I probably kept putting money in the "whole house" generator side fund for over 10 years while I looked and learned that entire time for what I needed. Then I hired three companies that specialize in setting up the size generator I needed and I had to start my thinking all over again. All three assured me that I'd be better off with a little margin to spare than running a generator for all it's worth everytime it's on. There's no hour meter on the Honda (had it the longest), but it has to have 1200 to 1500 hours on it. When my power was out, I ran it all the time except to refuel it and/or to change oil in it. After an ice storm a few years ago, it ran over 500 hours non-stop except for fueling and oil changes as I mentioned. Hours add up fast on generators. I'm no expert on small Honda engines, but their GX390 seems to be a good one.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

If you live in a rural area with overhead power, lots of trees, lots of rain and sometimes wet heavy snow, like I do, you need a generator for sure. I bought a Generac 17.5 KW portable last November and have already put almost 100 hours on it. I bought the place 1.5 years ago. It is all electric with electric furnace. I have an EPA approved fireplace insert with circ fan. With 21 acres and 18 of it in forest I have a perpetual wood supply.

The house was originally wired for a 30Amp transfer switch, an emergency panel, and an outside receptacle to plug the Generator into. 30A does not power much.

I moved all receptacle and lighting circuits to the E panel (which was originally installed with 24 breaker spaces but only 8 of them used) wired the furnace fan to a new seperate circuit with a relay interface with the furnace power, changed the 30 A generator side of the transfer switch to a 50A breaker, ran a #6 cable with a 50A receptacle for the generator 50A outlet, rewired the 30A gen circuit with a DPDT switch connected to the water heater circuit and the 30A outlet on the generator. This uses the full capacity of the 17.5 KW Now the only appliances not in the E panel are the range/oven, dryer, and dishwasher.

Oh, in case you do not know; all the panel manufacturers now offer a transfer panel breaker assembly of a main breaker for utility power and a main breaker for generator power with a mechanical interlock so only one can be on at a time.

Last winter we had neighbors coming over to enjoy our heat moved through the house with the furnace fan from the fireplace, hot food, and no fuss about when the power will be back on. One episode was 4 days. Even the freezer and refrig work. The microwave, counter top appliances, and barbecue do the cooking.

Yes, I have the skills to do this right and per code so I saved a ton of money.

I saved a bunch of money on the generator by playing the big box stores against each other on their 10% meet the competition ploy. These generators are not stocked in the stores but are in their on line catalog. One happened to have a sale of 20% off, the other store reduced that 10% more plus another 10%for my retired military discount. I probably bought it close to their book cost.

I do this game a lot as two of them are close together so it is easy to comparison shop on the big stuff. We now also have a WILCO farm store close that also gives the military discount. It is amazing how many stores do if you ask.

You tractor buffs in my area, get in touch and I will give you first hand help, you do the manual labor though.

 

[Dargo]

The house was originally wired for a 30Amp transfer switch, an emergency panel, and an outside receptacle to plug the Generator into. 30A does not power much.

I have 600 amp service from the utility company and I'm not all electric. I only have 200 amps when on generator power. The service rated transfer switch alone cost me more than the entire 20kW generators from the box stores, including installation. I suppose it's the cost of not having to do anything when the power goes out....for weeks at a time. Being the only house on my run, I'm rather low on the priority list when there is a large power outage. It sucks, but I understand. I'd be ticked if I lived in a big neighborhood and the power company was out reconnecting one house rather than my neighborhood.

For what it's worth (probably not much), the forecasters are predicting a colder and wetter winter (more snow) than normal. Since I finally am set generator wise, it will probably be a mild winter with no power outages. :laughing:

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy,

PTO generators have there place. True 1800rpm alternator heads provide clean AVR maintained power. I do not need instant on power. I have multiple tractors to run a pto generator. I have a central farm electric distribution of 400 amp service. A transfer switch on the meter with a full power plug for the generator hook up. I am good to go. (Dargo) A PTO generator behind a tractor is the same thing which you purchased. But, you can't drive it around and use it for other things. Like all the makes out there, some are better than others. I looked over my options. I went with a Tiger Power 30K pto generator. This size generator, with its surge capacity, lets me run anything I want. I have also found that the power output from this unit, is very clean and stable.
Pros=
farm (next nieghbor is about a mile away)rural area
diesel tank on farm
tractors running on diesel
tractors are maintained (no seperate maintience)
diesel does not go stale (because its always being used and filled) 1000g tank
tractor investment is written off
Cons=
does not instantly turn on (thats really ok with me)
gotta go to barn and pull tractor out, then hook up pto generator, drive over to meter and hook up cable.

NOTE: Tractors might have 540e, but you can not run all implements with 540e. Bushhogging with a 15' batwing or cutting hay with a 11' MoCo requires full 540rpm and given horsepower. Baling hay on flat ground, you can get away with 540e. tedding hay, you use 540e. Just because it has 540e, does not mean you can use it for everything. Thats like saying you don't need 1st and 2nd gear, just start in 3rd.

 

[Dargo]

NOTE: Tractors might have 540e, but you can not run all implements with 540e. Bushhogging with a 15' batwing or cutting hay with a 11' MoCo requires full 540rpm and given horsepower. Baling hay on flat ground, you can get away with 540e. tedding hay, you use 540e. Just because it has 540e, does not mean you can use it for everything. Thats like saying you don't need 1st and 2nd gear, just start in 3rd.

Um, if a fella ONLY needed to run his tractor on economy mode, I'd say he bought too big of a tractor for his needs. You think maybe they put steering wheels on tractors because sometimes you need to turn your tractor? The 'economy mode' is very useful on tractors that do not need full power for every PTO task. I believe some things are self evident.

 

[aczlan]

Um, if a fella ONLY needed to run his tractor on economy mode, I'd say he bought too big of a tractor for his needs.

Unless PTO usage is a secondary use of the tractor and the person in question needed that size/weight tractor for something else (tillage, pushing dirt, pulling a grain cart, etc).

Aaron Z

 

[Dargo]

Unless PTO usage is a secondary use of the tractor and the person in question needed that size/weight tractor for something else (tillage, pushing dirt, pulling a grain cart, etc).

Aaron Z

Uh, right. And that sort of guy would get the e-PTO option on his tractor...