Who makes the highest quality PTO generator?

[Wagtail]

I wonder if a pto generator is the best way to go. Any natural disaster causing a power outage might also be a good time to have your tractor around for clean up activities, etc, etc. I might consider a stand alone Winco generator to free up your tractor.

I agree. Now I understand the need for a back-up genny, especially with regards to a large operation/property where power is essential... or after a natural disaster, but I would think that a stand alone unit would be the best way to go. As oosik says, using your PTO to power the genny means that you've given up the use of your entire tractor for other needs, for as long as the situation is present.

A few portable gennies would make more sense.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I agree. Now I understand the need for a back-up genny, especially with regards to a large operation/property where power is essential... or after a natural disaster, but I would think that a stand alone unit would be the best way to go. As oosik says, using your PTO to power the genny means that you've given up the use of your entire tractor for other needs, for as long as the situation is present.

A few portable gennies would make more sense.

It didn't make more sense for me...

SR

 

[sixdogs]

I had a rather old 15K Onan. Came out of a chicken barn. Never gave me any problem. Yes, Winco also comes to mind for quality

I switched to a Onan stand alone, because quite frankly getting the PTO set out and on, in the dark was a hassle.

The power being out is often not as much of a problem as NOT knowing when it will come back on. Sometimes I JUST got the PTO set on, when the power resored!

But the biggest reason I went self contained is that I did not like the idea of my little JD 770 screaming away at FULL RPM without any means of auto shut down in a fault condition.

How much do these auto-on generators cost?

 

[brown40]

The ideal would be to have a Lincoln or Miller generator/welder, if you had the $$$. Then you'd get a bonus tool for picking up another engine to maintain. Might be a used one around in your budget.

 

[kevinwak]

I liked the comment about my wife. She helps with farming and drives the tractors but I don't expect her to hook up a PTO genset. My 17KW generac comes online in 45 seconds and runs on propane and we have 1500 gallons on hand at all times so an extended outage is no issue. The Winco I had was absolurely trouble free and yes, it had a volt meter on it to set the input rpm. I sold it for not much less than I paid for it actually. Now, if Generac made a PTO unit, I'd take a serious look at it. Generac is quality stuff too. They even build their own engines (for the smaller ones). As it is, I'm very happy with the Generac unit.

how long can you run the 17kw General off of the 1500 gallons of propane? I have been considering back up power and the thought of a stand alone fuel source, as opposed to tied into the natural gas line is appealing to me.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The Lincoln generator/welder I HAD cost a fortune a day, to run and it was LOUD, that was the final straw that pushed me to my PTO generator. Now I can run my welder with my PTO gen set, if I need to weld away from the shop, and do it on much cheaper to run, quieter tractor/diesel power.

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

Unfortunately, good , high quality, slow running (reliable over the long term) generators are expensive. Cheap fast running (3600rpm) screamers are unfortunately becoming the norm.

Fortunately, there are a lot of nice commercial, low hours gensets out there. I wish I had bought a 1200 rpm GM 2 stroke set taken out of rail car reefer service when they were available. They weighed a ton! I thought they might not be easy on fuel.

 

[bcjmmac]

I have a briggs & stratton whole house 20KW propane generator & haven't had any issues (5 years old now - installed with house build). That said; we only run it for a few hours at a time when the power is out which is enough to keep the fridges/freezers cold, recharge batteries, make coffee, have a shower, etc. I would have considered a PTO gen except I am not sure my better half would be able to hook it up (I work rotations away from home) as I don't really see home owners having the need to run your generator 24/7 unless you have really bad water issues/have to run sump pumps continuously, etc.

 

[MMagis]

I’ve always wondered why so many here thought so highly of the PTO generator. After reading this thread and others, I still don’t understand. They don’t really save you much money, they tie up your tractor, PITA to hook up (at night/always in bad weather), and rather than listen to a generator you have to listen to your tractor rack up the hours. I
I’m starting to think some people just don’t have many uses for their tractor and like to find ways to keep it from sitting idle. I would too, but I can’t think of one advantage a PTO generator has over a stand alone.

 

[sixdogs]

So does anyone know the costs associated with an instant-on whole house generator? I'm already wired 50amp full power to a receptacle outside the hose. I know I need the generator, and that cost. What would an electrician cost to hook one up? I have propane so I could run it off of that. Anyone know the associated costs?