PTO driven generator

[Larry Caldwell]

My kids commented upon seeing the lights flicker recently "dad, got those generators" this was like 10 pm. I told them there's no way I'm going out in a storm at night just so they could pamper themselves and not miss a beat on line etc. Told them I'll just go to bed early and deal with it in the morning. I'm not sure how well the younger generation will deal with any interruption in their daily routine
JB

I don't bother to get the generator out until the second day of an outage, and then only if it looks like power will be out for a while. I even have an antique hand crank coffee grinder, so I can boil water on the wood stove and make fresh ground drip coffee in the morning. :licking: A guy needs his creature comforts. I grew up with no internet and no satellite TV, so I can be content listening to a battery powered radio and reading a book. Every room in the house has at least one wall hung oil lamp or candle sconce, we have a couple Aladdin lamps for bright light, and I have a clamp on LED book light for reading. The porch light is a hurricane lantern that hangs by the front door.

People forget that not too long ago the night was lit only by fire. Open flame appliances are dangerous, which is why all my lighting fixtures are wall hung except for the two Aladdin lamps.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

then again.. a 4dlt bat out of my tractor and a 2kw inverter might be even easier..

Make sure your tractor alternator is up to the job. 2kw is 166 amps at 12 volts. You need a big battery and a big alternator to handle that load.

 

[Soundguy]

I guess you don't know what a 4dlt is. it's a big battery.

and I'd NEVER ABUSE a charge system by letting it charge a dead battery.

charge systems are there to makeup starting load draw, adn then run tractor load. alt's and gennies are not to charge dead batteries. you use a battery charger for that..

soundguy

 

[Dana Warner]

I am one of the New England people that was without power for 7 days. During the outage power for my house was provided by an old 7kw belt driven generator. My tractor, a B7100, ran 16 hours a day and was shut-off at night. To slow the engine down the PTO was run in high. I closely monitored voltage. We ran the furnace, 2 refrigerators, and misc lights. My spare generator went to the neighbors. We could not get fuel for several days so fuel oil was siphoned from the furnace.

 

[RoyJackson]

I hear ya, I have become accustomed to the creature comforts electricity affords, but I think I could still survive without it for awhile, with the aid of occasional power generation and alternative heat source etc.

I think this recent major outage up here was a critical wake up call, you better be prepared to fend for yourself.

JB

The first night was fun...sort of like camping out inside...2nd day, not so much fun...3rd and 4th, well, you can imagine that.

As far as the "wake up" call aspect...yes, I agree with you there!

BTW, I had purchased a lantern during the Spring 2011 when we had some close by tornado warnings. This is the lantern:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TS71NG/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details

This worked so well during the outage, I just bought another one...definitely recommended.

 

[bubbacuse77]

one reaon i like the northstar units.. brushless.. etc..

soundguy

sound guy, Any problems with this unit or things you don't like about it. They are on sale at NT and I'm looking to buy it.


---------------
Stay Classy

 

[JB4310]

My wife comments that the comfort level of our home doesn't change when the power goes out. We just didn't abandon 19th century technology, which worked fine without electricity.

I should of mentioned, that's my fantasy to live back in a Dickens novel period of time. Two of my favorite stories, Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol.
Though I never read the 'Novels" Maybe I would pick up a book if there weren't so many distractions.

The first night was fun...sort of like camping out inside...2nd day, not so much fun...3rd and 4th, well, you can imagine that.

As far as the "wake up" call aspect...yes, I agree with you there!

BTW, I had purchased a lantern during the Spring 2011 when we had some close by tornado warnings. This is the lantern:
Amazon.com: Coleman LED Quad Lantern: Sports & Outdoors

This worked so well during the outage, I just bought another one...definitely recommended.

Yup led lights are so efficient now, it makes the incandescents obsolete. I'm kind of a flashlight nut, none of them are incandescents anymore.

I got a small led lantern at lowe's just to use out on the picnic table at night, it would be perfect for indoor use as well.

JB

 

[JB4310]

I am one of the New England people that was without power for 7 days. During the outage power for my house was provided by an old 7kw belt driven generator. My tractor, a B7100, ran 16 hours a day and was shut-off at night. To slow the engine down the PTO was run in high. I closely monitored voltage. We ran the furnace, 2 refrigerators, and misc lights. My spare generator went to the neighbors. We could not get fuel for several days so fuel oil was siphoned from the furnace.

That's a great option, the 2 or 3 speed pto. Especially for pto generator, lite load use. Wish my JD had it, got every other bell and whistle including cruise control :confused2: would of preferred 2 speed pto.

JB

 

[Travelover]

..........
BTW, I had purchased a lantern during the Spring 2011 when we had some close by tornado warnings. This is the lantern:
Amazon.com: Coleman LED Quad Lantern: Sports & Outdoors

This worked so well during the outage, I just bought another one...definitely recommended.

My local Costco has these, though I didn't notice the price.

 

[wrooster]

Wrooster