10Kw generator powered by JD332 garden tractor

[DanMc77]

Hi Dave,
You'll see the 332 engine plate down below.

Tonight I did as you said I should not do, and fired up an inductive load. I had previously powered inductive loads with the 3 hp router, and I suppose the welder is a mix of resistive and inductive, and both of those ran fine, but I didn't load the router. So tonight I plugged in my 2 hp air compressor. This isn't a modern compressor where they have fudged the hp ratings. This guy is 30+ years old and is a real 2 hp. I chose this mostly because the compressor was closer to the tractor, easier to plug in and a heavier load on start. The first thing I noted was belt slippage. Then I applied some extra belt tension and the engine slowed down. After a bit, it managed to get the compressor going and from then on it didn't need the additional belt tension, and the engine ran fine cranking out 220 volts from the generator with the compressor finally running. Obviously, I need to go with another increase in pulley size on the generator. The 332 engine on my machine is running at 3220 RPM at full throttle with no load. TractorData.com says that it should be running at 3600 rpm at full throttle. A 6 inch pulley should spin the generator at 3750 if the engine is running at 3220, so this sounds like the next step, and if my torque curve is like the one you posted earlier, then this will be above the peak like we want.

Now I have to find a 6" pulley with a 1" bore.

 

[DanMc77]

I found a 6" pulley on ebay. While looking around, I found one 3-step pulley with a 1" bore, and 4, 5 and 6" steps, like what TexasRanger was suggesting. I was tempted to get this, but then I'd have to modify the mount to get it to clear the cross-bracing. So I got the 6" one. It's easy to remove it from the tractor and change the pulley if needed. Will give this a spin when it arrives and I get the right size belt.

Such fun.

 

[Dave M7040]

Hi Dave,
You'll see the 332 engine plate down below.

Tonight I did as you said I should not do, and fired up an inductive load. I had previously powered inductive loads with the 3 hp router, and I suppose the welder is a mix of resistive and inductive, and both of those ran fine, but I didn't load the router. So tonight I plugged in my 2 hp air compressor. This isn't a modern compressor where they have fudged the hp ratings. This guy is 30+ years old and is a real 2 hp. I chose this mostly because the compressor was closer to the tractor, easier to plug in and a heavier load on start. The first thing I noted was belt slippage. Then I applied some extra belt tension and the engine slowed down. After a bit, it managed to get the compressor going and from then on it didn't need the additional belt tension, and the engine ran fine cranking out 220 volts from the generator with the compressor finally running. Obviously, I need to go with another increase in pulley size on the generator. The 332 engine on my machine is running at 3220 RPM at full throttle with no load. TractorData.com says that it should be running at 3600 rpm at full throttle. A 6 inch pulley should spin the generator at 3750 if the engine is running at 3220, so this sounds like the next step, and if my torque curve is like the one you posted earlier, then this will be above the peak like we want.

Now I have to find a 6" pulley with a 1" bore.

View attachment 593882

This is image of the various engine curves. Torque, Horsepower and fuel consumption.

.
My opinion is 3600 rpm is where you need to be running the engine
Dave M7040

 

[Industrial Toys]

If I didn't need the electrical power, I would run slower without question. Heck, I'd run it at 1800 if that would make enough power. I absolutely hated running my JD770 WIDE OPEN to turn my Onan 15KW PTO set. It's just wrong for so many reasons.

 

[zzvyb6]

No idea of the exact engine rpm. I would estimate 2/3rds throttle. I set it for 60 Hz based on a Kill-O-Watt meter plugged into the 120v generator outlet. The gearbox can ride full time on the mower, I just have to reconnect the drive shaft. Note that the WinPower runs in the opposite direction as a result of this hookup, but there is no consequence as far as the output is concerned.

I generally take the gearbox off because its very heavy and puts a lot of downforce on the deck. I leave the mounting bracket there full time, though.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Why would ANY mfg-er design a tractor that couldn't be run wide open???

IF, it can't take that, it's junk! lol

SR

 

[DanMc77]

ZZ: Thanks for the idea of using the Kill-a-watt for measuring the frequency. I already have one of those, but never thought of using it.

Dave: Thanks for the torque curve.

In my off-grid application, I have currently have a 2000 watt inverter that runs off a battery bank. So for short-term loads, can use that. The battery bank is charged by solar panels and then when the sun is poor for an extended period, there's a 1000 watt Honda generator to charge the batteries. So this new generator is for supplying heavier loads that the existing system can't handle. Those heavier loads are pretty rare, so that's why a generator that can sit unused for long periods is good to have. I think the biggest load I may run would be the little Lincoln wire-feed welder or some of my heavier wood working equipment like the 13" planer, but nothing with more than a 2 hp 220v motor. I think the big compressor is the heaviest load on startup.

On another note, you may be interested to know that before I installed the solar system to charge the cabin battery bank, I had previously ran a 6 gauge cable (with a 60 amp fuse) to my Prius 12 volt battery. I had the Prius providing 12 volt power directly to the 12 volt battery bank in the cabin. If you press start on the Prius and shut off all electrical loads in the car, then it will maintain the charge in the 12 volt batteries (car and cabin). I have read that the Prius has a 1500 watt charger powered by the big propulsion battery to maintain the small 12 volt battery. The engine will start and stop as the car's controls see the need. In my case, the engine would kick on once every hour and run for 40 seconds. That was it. Over a weekend, it would consume 2-3 gallons of fuel. Without the solar, this was just like being on the grid. There is a company in NH that sells powerful AC inverters that can be tied to the propulsion battery in a Prius, but those inverters are quite costly, more than the cost of a good used high-mile Prius. I had put a lot of consideration into picking up an older Prius just to use as a generator, but figured that over time, the mice would destroy the vehicle unless I had a tight garage to keep them out (which I don't).

The lesson is that it's very good to have a diversity of power sources. If one isn't working, then you can fall back on one of the others.

 

[crazyal]

If I didn't need the electrical power, I would run slower without question. Heck, I'd run it at 1800 if that would make enough power. I absolutely hated running my JD770 WIDE OPEN to turn my Onan 15KW PTO set. It's just wrong for so many reasons.

It is a lawn mower and designed to run just that way for hours while mowing. I'll let my Deere warm up before running it at full speed but once I start mowing I never idle it down until done.

 

[Industrial Toys]

To me, it's just un-nerving to have a machine run wide open, unattended. Call me silly.

I had one tractor running a 3ph mounted PTO set for hours, then when I went to leave, the 3ph no longer worked at all. I tried to fix it, but traded the tractor before I ever really got to the bottom of it. If a tractor starts making a weird sound when running alone in the forest, does anyone hear it?

 

[LouNY]

While I have no problem running a tractor at full pto rpm al day working it,
if the equipment I'm running will work just as well at lower rpm I will throttle down to do the job.
I like using the economy mode pto if I have adequate hp to do the job properly.
I would rather use 60 or 80hp in economy mode running two thirds rated rpm then
a 40 or 50 hp at full rated speed.
That being said I've put 1000's of hours on tractors at full rated rpm and loads.