Generator 15KW PTO Generator Harbor Freight

[SPYDERLK]

is that the new data plate ont he head? nice.

as to 3600 rpm louder than 1800.. sure.. if you can hear it over the tractor.

Noise is additive.

 

[Soundguy]

Noise is additive.

but perception is log!

 

[bjmsam]

The 3600rpm machines tend to be noisier than the 1800rpm machines . Can sometimes be a consideration.

I was unable to find an 1,800 RPM generator with similar output at anywhere near the $1,199 I paid for this one. With my L3710 running at just over 2,100 RPM, the generator actually seems pretty quiet.

Noise is additive.

but perception is log!

...arithmic. Clever!

 

[Reg]

Beats me where the idea comes from that fuel consumption will be cut in half by running the tractor at 1/2 of rated pto rpms?
Take that $500 for the gear box and put it in the bank. Take out $5.00 every 24hrs the the tractor is running at rated rpms to deliver 540rpm.

It wasn't about reducing fuel consumption as a simple function of engine speed.
It was MUCH MORE about reducing noise levels at night when power consumption would be low, likely very low, i.e. a few hundred watts, NOT kilowatts.
As a practical matter (cable length) the tractor would be fairly close to the house and the distribution panel is in the garage, which is below the bedrooms.

What seems to have "beaten" you may be this qualifier;
"as long as I'm drawing significantly less than the engine puts out at those reduced revs"

There should be NO PROBLEM with driving through whatever gears or pulleys, whether internal or external, as long as that condition is met.
2 HP per kilowatt; Heck I average less than 1 kilowatt for the entire month, so my overnight use is going to be less than that,, i.e. less than 2 HP.

There are 720 hours per 30 day month, I burn less than 500 kilowatt hours in that time.

 

[Reg]

Beats me where the idea comes from that fuel consumption will be cut in half by running the tractor at 1/2 of rated pto rpms?
Take that $500 for the gear box and put it in the bank. Take out $5.00 every 24hrs the the tractor is running at rated rpms to deliver 540rpm.

It wasn't about reducing fuel consumption as a simple function of engine speed.
It was MUCH MORE about reducing noise levels at night when power consumption would be low, likely very low, i.e. a few hundred watts, NOT kilowatts.
As a practical matter (cable length) the tractor would be fairly close to the house and the distribution panel is in the garage, which is below the bedrooms.

What seems to have "beaten" you may be this qualifier;
"as long as I'm drawing significantly less than the engine puts out at those reduced revs"

There should be NO PROBLEM with driving through whatever gears or pulleys, whether internal or external, as long as that condition is met.
2 HP per kilowatt; Heck I average less than 1 kilowatt for the entire month, so my overnight use is going to be less than that,, i.e. less than 2 HP.

There are 720 hours per 30 day month, I burn less than 500 kilowatt hours in that time.

 

[bjmsam]

Also see Generator Transfer switch connection choices thread.

 

[thescubasmith]

Indeed!

it comes from people that skipped math class to go smoke in the bathroom, or sleep in class.

fuel usage is based upon load.

we can calculate electrical load, and we can do a real good estimate of energy available in fuel.

some people mistakenly relate rpm to fuel usage.. vs work performed.

 

[MattEffinCameron]

great thread guys, lots of good info. When I found it I thought I was going to be the weird guy bumping a thread from 2009...only to get to the end of it and find that it is still in active discussion

One question I had, and I apologize if this was covered as I didnt read *every* post....if there is potentially hypothetically some concern about voltage regulation and use with "sensitive electronics"....is there something you can buy to protect your electronics from that? Would I not want to run expensive TVs and computers on this power?

Also if my tractor is underpowered....(Kubota B2920) what happens when I am drawing more power than it is generating? or if I suddenly turn on big items (AC/fridge)?

 

[ishiboo]

great thread guys, lots of good info. When I found it I thought I was going to be the weird guy bumping a thread from 2009...only to get to the end of it and find that it is still in active discussion

One question I had, and I apologize if this was covered as I didnt read *every* post....if there is potentially hypothetically some concern about voltage regulation and use with "sensitive electronics"....is there something you can buy to protect your electronics from that? Would I not want to run expensive TVs and computers on this power?

Also if my tractor is underpowered....(Kubota B2920) what happens when I am drawing more power than it is generating? or if I suddenly turn on big items (AC/fridge)?

I disagree with everyone here who thinks TVs and computers are that sensitive to their input. As a general rule, outside bad harmonics, they use power supplies that really don't care about waveform or voltage/etc. as it's all rectified and regulated to the correct voltage. So, operating on a PTO generator as fine as long as it stays close.

If your tractor is underpowered, you can run into bigger issues. If the generator is able to stall the tractor, or just lug it, voltage and frequency (and, current) output will suffer or fall off as it stalls, which CAN cause problems. You really want it to run and run at roughly the correct speed at all times. The AC is big item, a fridge other than the initial startup current is not. If you find you don't have the power to run everything at once (we're not sure what your needs are or the size of your AC), you may need to shut off the AC breaker while on generator power. Maybe not - 10k is plenty to run my house + AC.

The only thing you can really buy to protect your stuff from brownout/etc. is an online UPS. They are very expensive and I would say completely unnecessary.

I personally have a 20kw PTO generator, and my plan is to put a 100A contractor on a voltage and frequency-sensitive switch, so if something goes wrong it immediately cuts the power.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Also if my tractor is underpowered....(Kubota B2920) what happens when I am drawing more power than it is generating? or if I suddenly turn on big items (AC/fridge)?

What happens is, like ANY time you over load your tractor, it stalls...

SR