Would you prefer PTO generator on trailer or 3pt platform?

[zzvyb6]

The typical house doesn't need much power so the 3 PT attachment would be fine. However, for most folks the PTO style isn't the best option. It has a lot of limitations.

I'd like to know what you think are limitations to a pto style generator. Mine is trailer mounted and can be powered by my CUT or my diesel lawnmower. I can leave it in-place if I need the tractor for cleaning up a mess which I can't even imagine what that would be. I can take it by car or truck or lawnmower to my neighbors if they need to have emergency power. I can run my welder out in the middle of No Where. Since my barn is on a separate DTE line, I can power up that building a services, too.

Around here, a standby power system is anywhere from $2400 to $5000, and then another $2000 to $3000 to hook it up to gas or propane + permits. My WinPower was $1200 + the transfer switch.

The ONLY drawback I have for my once every 5 years or so power outage is that I am the only one with the knowledge and ability to start up the tractor and I prefer to leave it this way. Besides, you don't need electric power 24/7 at your home anyways, unless you have a heart-lung machine cranking or a waterfall fountain that looks good from the road.

Heck, I have a Honda EU6500IS Inverter sitting in the garage as well as a 2000IS from Costco in the barn, but the one most likely to be enabled during a storm is the tractor powered one.

I would like to know how stable natural gas capacity is, though. Good for a few days, a week, months ? That's where my heat comes from.

 

[mcfarmall]

I'd get a 3-point one and build a small dolly with casters to set it on for storage mobility.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

I'd get a 3-point one and build a small dolly with casters to set it on for storage mobility.

A friend of mine did just that, came out awesome

 

[sixdogs]

Some clever ideas here.

 

[oosik]

I lived thru the 1964 earthquake in Alaska. At our house we lost everything - electric power, water, sewer & phone service. The house was damaged but better than being outside in a tent. We DID NOT loose our natural gas supply and this allowed us to keep the house warm. The natural gas distribution system turned out to be one really tough system - and everybody was certainly glad.

 

[RNeumann]

Biggest for most is fuel. I have 1000 gals of propane and most have 500. As stated and from my own research nat gas is solid as well. Most folks have some diesel around- maybe 50 gals at most. Gasoline is about the same. Propane and natural gas don't tend to suffer from degradation like gas and diesel do.
The other BIG thing generators do is govern or maintain a constant RPM- which, in turn, maintains the correct volts and frequency. While the larger (typically) tractor motors can absorb load changes better than the generator motors they will vary RPM which changes the volts etc. Today's household electronics are finicky and the life will be shortened with low volts.
If I needed a remote welder or water pump the PTO would be great. But for what I was referring to at typical it may not be ideal.

*typical would be running the house in a power outage. Maybe even turning it on before you went to work and the wife and kids are home.

 

[disney]

If you were getting a PTO generator for the rare power outage that may occur, would you prefer it on a 3pt hitch platform or on a trailer?...

My second hand winco genny came with a winco trailer (15" auto size tires), and I converted the generator to 3pt. If you ever visit any of the Orlando tourist destinations, I could sell you a trailer.

 

[buickanddeere]

On generator power at the moment. Heavy wet snow and high wind caused the power to flicker on and off for an hour then go down completely a couple of hours ago..

 

[sixdogs]

Biggest for most is fuel. I have 1000 gals of propane and most have 500. As stated and from my own research nat gas is solid as well. Most folks have some diesel around- maybe 50 gals at most. Gasoline is about the same. Propane and natural gas don't tend to suffer from degradation like gas and diesel do.
The other BIG thing generators do is govern or maintain a constant RPM- which, in turn, maintains the correct volts and frequency. While the larger (typically) tractor motors can absorb load changes better than the generator motors they will vary RPM which changes the volts etc. Today's household electronics are finicky and the life will be shortened with low volts.
If I needed a remote welder or water pump the PTO would be great. But for what I was referring to at typical it may not be ideal.

*typical would be running the house in a power outage. Maybe even turning it on before you went to work and the wife and kids are home.

Wouldn't a modern diesel tractor maintain a pretty constant RPM? It seems my Kubota diesels in very smooth and constant.

So you would prefer a gas/propane small engine generator over PTO? I have a 10K portable now and the PTO is just trying to make life easier than dragging out a generator and starting it up. I already have a 50A whole house transfer plug setup so all I need is the generator and it will plug right in.

For fuel, I have two 500 gal propane tanks that feed together and I usually have 350 gals diesel.

 

[RNeumann]

Wouldn't a modern diesel tractor maintain a pretty constant RPM? It seems my Kubota diesels in very smooth and constant.

So you would prefer a gas/propane small engine generator over PTO? I have a 10K portable now and the PTO is just trying to make life easier than dragging out a generator and starting it up. I already have a 50A whole house transfer plug setup so all I need is the generator and it will plug right in.

For fuel, I have two 500 gal propane tanks that feed together and I usually have 350 gals diesel.

I am very particular about what I run off a generator. If you maintained a fairly consistent load I'm sure it would be fine. Some folks look at the PTO specs and think they can run electric heat, the hot tub, dryer etc and it will just hum along. It will but as the heater cycles on and off the load will change enough to change RPM. The same happens as you push into a pile of dirt with a loader.
If you want to go the PTO route (and that may be OK since you have 350 gals of diesel) I'd look into a governor. Call Winco and or do a google search. Almost every engine that leaves Winco varies the throttle with load to maintain RPM so I'm assuming they'd know what you need and or point you in the right direction.

Don't quote me but I believe Winco specs say 2hp per 1000 watts. So you can see if you set the tractor with some lights and a few appliances (maybe 1000 watts total) on and then the electric heat kicks on the load increases dramatically.