Anyone here have a PTO generator?

[Land Skipper]

I'm thinking about buying a standalone generator ( Honda maybe ) and am wondering how good the pto driven ones are in comparison.

The good standalone ones can be very expensive.

Here are a few questions if anyone can help:

How clean is the power?

What sizes ( wattage output, etc. ) do they come in?

Does it beat on the tractor if you run them for extended times? Like more than 24 hours in some cases for continuous electricity.

Is idle speed enough to run the generator?

How do they operate?

What brands are considered to be of better quality?

And the $64000 question is:

How much do these things cost?

I plan on buying a small tractor in the next year or so and I currently have a small 120VAC generator now but need one with 240VAC.

If anyone has any experience with pto generators for a smaller tractor ( 2520 maybe... ) your input would be much appreciated.

Thanks alot,

LS.

 

[prosperity]

To get you started, use the search function - you'll find hours of reading on this very subject.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/search.php?searchid=940871

 

[Lil43]

Well I,m definately no expert on these but yes I do own one,so here goes.I have a Winpower model 14/11PTCD which is rated 14K surge ,11K continuous which for my application is quite sufficient ,I can run almost everything in my house at the same time.The power is suppose to be very clean (I,m no electrician so I cant give actual numbers),I have ran computer and TV off it with no ill effects.As for sizes, the smallest Ive seen is 7K which I believe require around 14-16 pto hp to the sky (or hp of your tractor) being the limit.As with any mechanical device it should be given a break once in while but a small diesel engine is going to be more adapt to continuous operation than than gas engine that comes on a stand along generator.No the tractor can not be ran at idle because pto speed has to be maintained to achieve proper voltage.To operate,simply hook up pto ,bring tractor up to speed by watching volt meter on generator,then apply electrical load.Prices start probably just under $1000 (mines was $1600 on sale about 4 years ago but you can get other brands cheaper).Using a 2520 as power source you probably shouldn,t go over 10k or 12k generator.Attached are pictures of mine on the 3pt frame I made.
Jeff

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Lil43 you're quite the craftsman. Very nice frame setup. Power available anywhere you can drive your tractor.

Have you used it for extended periods where you can gage your fuel usage per hour at load?

 

[Lil43]

Kyle
Thankyou and no not really but I would assume its similar to the fuel consumtion that John Deere rates the tractor (model 4300) at 75% load of 1.3 gal per hour but a 2520 should be able to do a little better than that.

 

[Grrrr]

To get you started, use the search function - you'll find hours of reading on this very subject.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/search.php?searchid=940871

It is all well to tell someone to search but giving them a link to a search you did that returned no results is pretty useless. Always pays to check your links.

But this question has come up loads of times.

Here are some of my search results: (some have the same name as your thread)

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ke-off-generator.html?highlight=pto+generatorLink 1
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Once you have read through those you should be able to find you answer. If you still have questions please then feel free to ask them!

 

[Land Skipper]

Thanks guys for all the info.

Great reading material for the weekend!

I'm in the middle of installing a generator transfer switch right next to my brand new 200AMP service panel.

Thanks!

LS.

It is all well to tell someone to search but giving them a link to a search you did that returned no results is pretty useless. Always pays to check your links.

But this question has come up loads of times.

Here are some of my search results: (some have the same name as your thread)

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...ke-off-generator.html?highlight=pto+generatorLink 1
Link 2
Link 3
Link 4
Link 5
Link 6
Link 7
Link 8
Link 9
Link 10
Link 11
Link 12
Link 13
Link 14

Once you have read through those you should be able to find you answer. If you still have questions please then feel free to ask them!

 

[Greenster]

Well I,m definately no expert on these but yes I do own one,so here goes.I have a Winpower model 14/11PTCD which is rated 14K surge ,11K continuous which for my application is quite sufficient ,I can run almost everything in my house at the same time.The power is suppose to be very clean (I,m no electrician so I cant give actual numbers),I have ran computer and TV off it with no ill effects.As for sizes, the smallest Ive seen is 7K which I believe require around 14-16 pto hp to the sky (or hp of your tractor) being the limit.As with any mechanical device it should be given a break once in while but a small diesel engine is going to be more adapt to continuous operation than than gas engine that comes on a stand along generator.No the tractor can not be ran at idle because pto speed has to be maintained to achieve proper voltage.To operate,simply hook up pto ,bring tractor up to speed by watching volt meter on generator,then apply electrical load.Prices start probably just under $1000 (mines was $1600 on sale about 4 years ago but you can get other brands cheaper).Using a 2520 as power source you probably shouldn,t go over 10k or 12k generator.Attached are pictures of mine on the 3pt frame I made.
Jeff

Nice setup you've got there. Great craftsmanship.

 

[Nuru]

I looked at the PTO generator and decided that I would look at getting a house standby diesel powered generator. http://www.sunpowermarine.com/generators.htm
The pricing is not bad for powering an entire house, but is more pricey than the PTO units.

 

[JB4310]

Well I,m definately no expert on these but yes I do own one,so here goes.I have a Winpower model 14/11PTCD which is rated 14K surge ,11K continuous which for my application is quite sufficient ,I can run almost everything in my house at the same time.The power is suppose to be very clean (I,m no electrician so I cant give actual numbers),I have ran computer and TV off it with no ill effects.As for sizes, the smallest Ive seen is 7K which I believe require around 14-16 pto hp to the sky (or hp of your tractor) being the limit.As with any mechanical device it should be given a break once in while but a small diesel engine is going to be more adapt to continuous operation than than gas engine that comes on a stand along generator.No the tractor can not be ran at idle because pto speed has to be maintained to achieve proper voltage.To operate,simply hook up pto ,bring tractor up to speed by watching volt meter on generator,then apply electrical load.Prices start probably just under $1000 (mines was $1600 on sale about 4 years ago but you can get other brands cheaper).Using a 2520 as power source you probably shouldn,t go over 10k or 12k generator.Attached are pictures of mine on the 3pt frame I made.
Jeff

Lil43, that set up is beautiful in it's simplicity, every year around this time I start thinking about this subject, I have 3 stand alone gas units from 2000 - 4000 watts used on job sites, but always wanted a diesel set up for max reliability at home. What RPM do you have to keep the engine at? can you slow the rpm's down if your using less load?
I like the idea of the 4 pole 1800 rpm diesel stand alones but they are the most expensive option. I have a 4310, 32 HP not sure of the pto HP though. but after reading this post I'm thinking now about the old ford 1700 I recently bought just for the rake that was on it, it has a 2 cylinder Jap diesel (Shibaura I think) that looks very HD and runs nice, I took off the rake and was going to sell the tractor but it might be the perfect power plant for a PTO generator, not even sure of the engine HP, I'll have to find out but it should turn a 7-8000 watt generator? does any one know if the pto generators are 2 pole, or 4 pole which require half the rpm's as the 2 poles?
I couldn't get much money for the tractor with no attachments but it doesn't owe me much either and since it does have the 3PH arms and a working PTO it's all ready for a generator, total cost to me wouldn't be bad.