low RPM diesel genertor

Boeing · Dec 9, 2011

I don't know how I lost it.....
Someone here had commented on diesel generators and posted a LINK to an outfit that sells low RPM (540) diesel generators.....small about 5000 watts I think.
Anyway I went to that link and sent them several questions. They have NOT answered (5 days) so I want to CALL them.
Now I can't find the link and don't remember the name of the company.
Could someone help my feeble brain?
Thanks

schmism · Dec 10, 2011

Boeing said:
I don't know how I lost it.....
Someone here had commented on diesel generators and posted a LINK to an outfit that sells low RPM (540) diesel generators.....small about 5000 watts I think.
Anyway I went to that link and sent them several questions. They have NOT answered (5 days) so I want to CALL them.
Now I can't find the link and don't remember the name of the company.
Could someone help my feeble brain?
Thanks

There are no 540 rpm generator heads. There may be gen heads that can be driven by 540rpm inputs but they have either a gear drive or belt drive to speed up the rpm for the genhead.

slowest genhead youll find is going to be 1800rpm (4poll)

Craig Clayton · Dec 11, 2011

The RPM of the generator is a function of the number of poles of the winding. There is a formula for this but I will keep it easy.

A ( Briggs engine ) runs at 3600 rpm because the generator has 2 poles.
This is the same as a 3600 rpm electric motor that has 2 poles.

A ( larger engine ) runs at 1800 rpm because the generator has 4 poles.
This is the same as a 1800 rpm electric motor that has 4 poles.

Big (slow speed engines ) can run slower so more poles are added to the generator
That is how you get 1200 rpm on a electric motor it has 6 poles.

Large electric motors turn at 800 rpm which are 8 poles.

Now the really big boys at Niagra Falls, Hoover etc still need to make 60 Hz ( house electricity ) and turn slower but I do not know the number of poles but they have to follow the formula.

So when you put 540 rpm from your tractor to a gear head this is what the gear head does to the generator.
I did not reference inverter generators , sine wave converters or freq converters.

Craig Clayton

TimberXX · Dec 11, 2011

Are you looking for a 5500 watt pto generator?

Good luck, we looked for a long time and found nothing under 10k

MotorSeven · Dec 11, 2011

TimberXX said:
Are you looking for a 5500 watt pto generator?

Good luck, we looked for a long time and found nothing under 10k

Why such a small generator for a pto? I have a 24KW and I have to turn 2000 rpms to hit the sweet spot which is just under a gallon per hr. I doubt there would be much savings in fuel turning a smaller generator head.

7200 is the closest I can find:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200308467_200308467

TimberXX · Dec 11, 2011

Yeah I forgot the northern tool head.

We were looking for a pto generator for a tractor with 11 hp at the PTO

K5OIT · Dec 11, 2011

Try Central Maine Diesel Generators | Diesel Generators | Triple-Fuel Generators | Propane/Natural Gas Generators. $3375.00.

K5OIT · Dec 11, 2011

Oops! looks like I did it again. You want a pto unit. I was thinking(?) a standalone. Sorry for the confusion!

Mickey_Fx · Dec 11, 2011

We don't know what kind of genny Boeing is looking for since he has not been back since his initial post 2 days ago. By the mention of diesel, one would think self contained but the mention of 540 rpm give the impression of a pto mounted gen with a drive head attached.

Maybe Boeing will come back and clarify what he is talking about.

JB4310 · Dec 11, 2011

Unless it's one of those Lister powered gennys.

But even those turn faster than 540?

540 is universal pto language, I agree.

JB

schmism · Dec 11, 2011

JB4310 said:
Unless it's one of those Lister powered gennys.

even if it is, the gen head is still a 4 poll 1800rpm head.

with the lister setups they drive off the main counterweight wheels which have a diam of like 24" to a generator pully of like 4" giving you like a 6:1 speed increase in rpm.

the point is, its still a 1800rpm gen head.

Border Rat · Dec 11, 2011

One of the things you have to watch out on pto generators is that most were used for chicken houses. Heat strips and most lighting, non-flourescent function quite well regardless of frequency . .which is correlated to rpm / pto speed. The lower the frequency, the slower a 60cycle motor will run . . generating more heat in the windings as well. My advice is need a generator . . .buy a generator. Most multi-purpose tools . .don't seem to do any particular task . . . . very well

TimberXX · Dec 11, 2011

Oh no I don't to see a PTO vs. Standalone thread!

Boeing · Dec 24, 2011

I hate it when my fingers type without thinking of what they are typing...duh.:ashamed:
Yes, I am looking for a "stand-alone gen" and would love one that turns at a fairly low RPM. Don't know where I got the 540 guess it was a PTO brain thing....sorry. I'd like an 1800 RPM that is affordable. I'll probably end up buying an Aurora diesel and listen to 3600RPM.

KYErik · Dec 24, 2011

2 yrs ago, I paid $80 for an old (1960's) 1800 rpm Onan 5KW gas generator. It is electric start (2 cylinder) and runs great- but unfortunately it is a marine unit (came off a houseboat) and was designed to be lake water cooled.

I am still planning on mounting a small radiator to it so I don't have to hook it up the the garden hose to run it. I have an owner's manual and Onan did manufacture some with a radiator. Perhaps you could put a wanted ad on Craigslist.

These units are very heavy though (about 400lbs).

Boeing · Dec 25, 2011

I had an ONAN 5K on a SEA RAY boat a few years ago. It did a good job and was unbelievably quiet exhausting thru the water.
You might mount it on a 55 gal barrel full of water and recirc that water for cooling AND exhaust.
It had 120V but not any 240V capability. Sure would like to have 240V for a well pump or something.
Thanks:thumbsup:

KYErik · Dec 25, 2011

Thanks for the idea on the 55 gallon water barrel- that would work out well in an emergency or if I try to sell it again (I put an ad in the paper several months ago but no one would buy it because it was lake water cooled and so heavy).

Mine has a wiring diagram under the electrical cover and it can be wired for either 240 or 120v by switching some of the leads around.

tommu56 · Dec 25, 2011

Boeing said:
I don't know how I lost it.....
Someone here had commented on diesel generators and posted a LINK to an outfit that sells low RPM (540) diesel generators.....small about 5000 watts I think.
Anyway I went to that link and sent them several questions. They have NOT answered (5 days) so I want to CALL them.
Now I can't find the link and don't remember the name of the company.
Could someone help my feeble brain?
Thanks