Do's and Don'ts and recommendation for buying a PTO driven electricity generator?

[Sid Post]

With Texas electricity costing (price capped) $9,000/KWHr and Natural gas going from $10 to $1,000 per 1,000 cubic feet IF you were still connected to the electric or natural gas network, the cost of a "Generac" whole house system doesn't seem so significant right now. That is not to mention water damage from the frozen pipes when the rolling 'blackout' hits your house.

I was looking for something to drive my 230V welder versus buying a Diesel or Gasoline powered welder but, now I'm thinking I need to consider something bigger with a house conversion switch (I don't want to back charge and kill linemen working on the power grid ).

So at this point, I see the following options:

1. A diesel powered generator like a stand alone Kohler, Cummins, or Onan unit
2. Solar would work for the house until is snows or ices over
3. A natural gas powered "Generac" would work until natural gas is cut off goes to 100 times normal rates
5. Or, best a tractor PTO powered generator that will drive my welder and a reasonable load of space heaters and general electrics

Without installation costs, Solar is in the $6K~$8K range and an appropriately sized "Lowes" Generac household power natural gas powered unit is about $6K. An Onan, Kohler, Cummins stand along diesel unit is ~$8K.

That makes the thoughts about a larger PTO-powered electric generator seem a lot more practical and it will not be a uni-tasked since I can power stuff remotely like my welder to fix my pipe fence and other things like spinning a concrete mixer away from the house.

As a starting point, I think the diesel tractor-powered generator is my best option but, I'm probably overlooking some factors in my choice. Also, where should I start looking for a PTO-driven electric generator?

TIA,
Sid

 

[WranglerX]

Well if you are running a PTO generator you tractor is dedicated to that task and you lose its usage for other thing while you require electricity..... I have always been in the mind frame to have stand alone generator dedicated for just generator use and have tractor available to pull wife's car or my truck out of mud bog or remove snow or mud or what ever you may need to use a tractor for....

THE do make dual fuel generators that run on gasoline or propane.... IF fuel is issue... But a dual fuel running on propane only produces about 80% of the wattage than when running on gasoline....

Personally If I were going whole house (including welder) I would go a standalone unit (Generac or similar) and whole house auto transfer switch , many in my area have those and run them on propane....

Dale

 

[JethroB]

Messicks has a nice video on them.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=LwwRudec6Es&usg=AOvVaw32YFYm_kPBr2zNmvqoyG6G

 

[WranglerX]

Messicks has a nice video on them.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=LwwRudec6Es&usg=AOvVaw32YFYm_kPBr2zNmvqoyG6G

But it leans pretty much as a sale pitch for PTO generator...

Dale

 

[nybirdman]

I use a 10k PTO powered generator;if I need the tractor for something.................takes five minutes to unhook it or hook it back up.
We got through the ice storm of 1997(out for four days) with a 2500watt gas job for four houses.After that everyone in the area has some form of back up.

 

[Diggin It]

There are a bunch of current threads on this (no pun intended). There really is no one single right answer that fits all people, just like tractors and cars and trucks.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I use my 15kw pto generator to power my welder, many times just to exercise my generator., it works perfectly..

My pto generator is one of my BEST buys!

SR

 

[workinonit]

I'll never understand the argument that the generator ties up the tractor. If you need the tractor unhook it and use it. You will only be out of power for that long. If you consider the price of a PTO machine as well as the fact that you can easily stockpile diesel fuel it's a no brainer. I love my 25 kW. I wouldn't have a standby after using the one I have. I think I paid $1100 for it. And built a trailer for it that my welder will sit on if needed.

 

[LouNY]

My 25kw pro generator is trailer mounted.
Many times I will just back up to it and connect the pto shaft and power line and not even bother connecting the draw pin.
I also have a backup tractor that I can use if i need the other one for snow plowing or something else.
This generator is 25 years old now it's a 4 pole so it spins at 1800 rpm with a 540 rpm input,
my main tractor for it has an economy setting for the pto so I can get 540 at about 1750 engine rpm.
I went with a trailer as to me that is easier to hook to if I want to move it or take it some were else.
Several years ago I went from my place to my brothers about 3 times a day with it,
we had a several day outage and 5 places needing electricity so his big one was tied up for the farm and we went to
the other locations in rotation to keep every thing up and running. I'd hook up to the pickup run over with put one of his tractors on it
use it for 1 or 2 places then back to my place with the truck. We had all the houses setup for a 50 amp cord setup so it was quite and easy
to power up and down. My generator has a full power 100 amp connector as well as the 50 amp cord receptacle and the 20 amp duplex.
If the tractors are not hooked up to something it's just a matter of a few minutes to startup, backup connect and start powering the house.
And another nice thing with a pto unit you can get a larger unit then your tractor can handle for full capacity and if you get a larger tractor
the generator is ready. Such as my 25Kw needs about 50hp on the pto if you are using everything that it can produce but if you put a 25 pto hp
tractor on it you could still generate around 12.5 Kw.

 

[workinonit]

Lou, I have mine mounted on a trailer with a 2" ball and have it wired to a 100 amp panel mounted on the trailer with 240 volt and 120 volt outlets and lighting on the trailer. You know you never need a generator in the daylight. There's enough room on the trailer to sit my welder, air compressor and any other items I may need to do remote work on the farm.

 

[LouNY]

That's a nice setup my trailer has room for my welders and I have used them a few times with it.
Never got around to putting a panel on it.
I went with a clevis hitch so it fits the tractors easily, they can get places the truck can't.
The bigger tractors are hard to put a trailer ball on the drawbars are to thick for the balls to mount too.

 

[Diggin It]

If you're not home, or are sick or for whatever other reason YOU can't do it, can any other member of your household move things into place and make the connections?

 

[workinonit]

I made a heavy hitch kind of deal that fits the quickhitch and has a 2" receiver. I can back up to my trailers, lift them with the 3 PH, move them and not have to get off until i'm ready to fasten the hitch permanently or just move the trailer and set it back down. I just built it for the hitch and not weights. Yea, I never pull it with a truck unless I'm going on the highway with it. I also built a cover that I can protect the gen from the elements, even when running if I need to.

 

[workinonit]

Sure. It sits in place in my shop all the time and it's just one cable to attach it to the welding plug on both ends. I have instructions printed on how to line up the panels but that's pretty simple with the main disconnect. And I have an indicator light wired in the hose that lets me know when the power is back on. It's wired to the top of the disconnect.

 

[JethroB]

Are there reasonably available devices that would shut off the tractor if the engine begins to overheat or oil pressure drops when leaving the tractor & pto generator unattended?

Edit: also a low fuel warning would be nice while I wishing. If you are going to dream, dream BIG.

 

[oldnslo]

If you have more than one tractor a PTO generator tying up a tractor is not as critical as only a single tractor.

Some things to consider
1) how clean is the electrical output especially if going to be running electronic equipment
2) Fuel supply- ability to refuel tractor. Do you have a large enough fuel barrel to run your tractor for days Non-stop?
3) if you are not home would another family member know how to connect and operate the tractor and generator?
4) if in cold environment will the tractor start?
5) is your tractor big enough to run a generator to power your whole house?

 

[Steppenwolfe]

There are a bunch of current threads on this (no pun intended). There really is no one single right answer that fits all people, just like tractors and cars and trucks.

Speaking of trucks... Now you can use your F150 to power up your house...
I Powered My House with the F-15 PowerBoost Pro Power Onboard Generator [Car and Driver] | F15gen14.com -- 221+ Ford F-15 and Raptor Forum (14th Gen)

 

[DrRobM]

Speaking of trucks... Now you can use your F150 to power up your house...
I Powered My House with the F-15 PowerBoost Pro Power Onboard Generator [Car and Driver] | F15gen14.com -- 221+ Ford F-15 and Raptor Forum (14th Gen)

My F-150 with the 7.2kw generator comes in on the 27th. I was hoping to use it as my backup energy source with a manual transfer switch. I’m trying to figure out how difficult/costly it will be to install the exhaust system that fire stations and auto shops use so I can run it with the garage door closed. We are building a home this spring and I’m hoping to plan for it rather than trying to make it work later. We’re building with ICF, so just punching a hole in the exterior wall won’t be too easy if I don’t plan for it.

 

[workinonit]

If you have more than one tractor a PTO generator tying up a tractor is not as critical as only a single tractor.

Some things to consider
1) how clean is the electrical output especially if going to be running electronic equipment
2) Fuel supply- ability to refuel tractor. Do you have a large enough fuel barrel to run your tractor for days Non-stop?
3) if you are not home would another family member know how to connect and operate the tractor and generator?
4) if in cold environment will the tractor start?
5) is your tractor big enough to run a generator to power your whole house?

Having a single tractor is no big issue. Simply disconnect the PTO shaft and do what you need to do. Your house will be okay for that long.

1. The power is as clean as any other generator. None of them are really good. I scope mine from time to time and it's actually not too bad.
2. I have 800+ gallons on hand all the time.
3. Easy peasy to hook up.
4. It better or it's going back to the JD place to figure out why it won't start. No issues so far.
5. I ran my generator with my old 5310, 55 HP, my 5090 is 80 HP.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Some things to consider
1) how clean is the electrical output especially if going to be running electronic equipment
2) Fuel supply- ability to refuel tractor. Do you have a large enough fuel barrel to run your tractor for days Non-stop?
3) if you are not home would another family member know how to connect and operate the tractor and generator?
4) if in cold environment will the tractor start?
5) is your tractor big enough to run a generator to power your whole house?

Aren't those questions the same, no matter what generator you own that isn't an expensive auto start setup???

SR