Backup Generator

Industrial Toys · Feb 9, 2019

I used to see a lot Deutz air cooled trailer mounted 15K or so sets at auction. No housing, just a fuel tank, engine and alternator.

I get my stuff from a dealer I know. Two units had burned up rotors. Had them rewound, so maybe have a grand into a 7.5 Diesel 1800rpm unit. The dealers that sell new, can't be bothered to repair this old stuff, and the agencies and utilities like to have new stuff anyway.

Chilliwack Murray · Feb 9, 2019

Sawyer Rob said:
In the manual for my Winco PTO generator, I'm going to go with the mfg's recommendation, it clearly states: for maintenance, change the rotor bearings every 80,000 hours. (eighty thousand)

SO, I guess they last a little while!

LOT's of folks around here without power right now, but ours is doing just fine, for the moment.

SR

Yes, two bearing alternator bearings generally have a longer life. Single bearing alternators in the 15-1500kw range are typically 20-30k hours and are the cheapest and easiest thing to change to prevent total destruction.

Most small generators under 15kw don’t even give rating to this but if there’s a recommendation, follow it, particularly on grease type if it’s a greasable bearing.

RoyKing · Feb 9, 2019

To run pto's your tractor is probably running at 75% of max rpm, I'm not comfortably running an expensive equipment all night without monitoring, blow a radiators hose and you will cook the engine, most tractors don't have auto shutdown. Tractor eats a lot more fuel per hour. The pto sets vary greatly from brush to brushless. This kind like the old rule pick two of three, can't get cheap$, long running, clean power. Closest I could get was used military mep-802a $2500, diesel, 6kw, down side big heavy 800 pounds, needs monthly running, but It will deliver long running power at average 1/2 gallon an hour. so 12 gals a day, so 4-5 days per drum, three drums 12-15 days, hope diesel will be in less demand than gasoline.

Industrial Toys · Feb 9, 2019

My feelings EXACTLY. Soyer Rob disagreed with me, years ago. Without critical shutdown like (Murphy) gauges, I am not going to have a tractor running full tilt, all night long. My JD 770 did run, total, all out, full tilt on an Onan 15KW PTO set. Did a great job.

The Chicken farm where I got my 15kw Onan PTO set years ago, could afford to pay for an engine job. Just added to overall operating costs. It's as stupid as a fan belt breaking, while you sleep. I can't afford a $10,000 engine job!

goeduck · Feb 9, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
My feelings EXACTLY. Soyer Rob disagreed with me, years ago. Without critical shutdown like (Murphy) gauges, I am not going to have a tractor running full tilt, all night long. My JD 770 did run, total, all out, full tilt on an Onan 15KW PTO set. Did a great job.

The Chicken farm where I got my 15kw Onan PTO set years ago, could afford to pay for an engine job. Just added to overall operating costs. It's as stupid as a fan belt breaking, while you sleep. I can't afford a $10,000 engine job!

Ah ha.. a thinking man :thumbsup:

Nothing wrong with a PTO generator, but my generator needs to run 24/7 when it runs and I prefer a dedicated engine that costs a whole lot less than a tractor engine rebuild.

Sawyer Rob · Feb 9, 2019

If someone is afraid to leave their tractor running, that's fine, don't do it... BUT that doesn't mean every one is...

My tractor runs at 1,900 at pto speed, is THAT, that much worse than 1,800?? I look at things like that BEFORE I buy a tractor, not complain about it later when I bought something I'm then afraid to use.

My tractor will power my whole house on less than one gallon an hour, yes that is a bit more fuel, but my tractor AND pto generator cost me less than a stationary diesel generator would have cost me, and I have a tractor to use when it's not generating!

SR

thewirewiz · Feb 9, 2019

I was installing a 22kw generac in 2011. The backhoe operator rolled his bucket a little too much. Strap came off and dropped the machine from above my head onto the ground. Still running today.
Tree fell on my own 13kw. Same brand. Not pretty any more but still running fine 5 years later. The car parked next to it, not so much. Not doing a commercial for this brand. Just saying. I'm in NH. Lot of this brand up here.

RoyKing · Feb 9, 2019

Maybe if you got KTAC on that Kubota, but I don't walk away from running machinery without auto shutdown

Katahdin · Feb 9, 2019

I hope you guys running large generators at night can justify the fuel usage. Check out this this graph from my home:

The 4 spikes are from running the clothes dryer. The rest of the day and night I can get by with a 1600 watt inverter generator that is quiet and runs 6 hours on a gallon of gas.

My electricity usage this day included:
Oil Fired Boiler for heat and hot water
Full Sized Fridge w/freezer
LED Lighting
240V well pump
PC Laptop
Clothes Washer
Coffee Maker
Non-Energy-Star Compliant Clothes Dryer
Woodstove fan
I probably did some light cooking with the electric range, but don't remember.

I am now shopping for an energy star compliant clothes dryer....and my point is: you don't need to run large generators 24x7. Switch over to a smaller/cheaper unit when you can and save your fuel reserves.