Baumalight PTO Generator

[Paystar]

So I just did some reading on this subject using the search function. I'm still thinking I am going to get one.
Yesterday we had a 10 hour power outage for "maintenance" And of course after years of dependable service my generator decided to not start. It's been kept indoors it's whole life. I carry it outside when needed. Always use non ethanol gasoline, treat it with Marine Stabil, run it monthly.
So decided since I have four tractors with PTO's that always start and run even in minus 40, a PTO generator is the way to go?
I'm in Canada so these are the prices for the options I am looking at. The Baumalight TX12 is $5000
A Kubota diesel generator is $7000 for 7 KW and $12,000 for 12 KW
A Generac whole home system is $12,000 here.
And a decent Honda portable is $4500

So I'm thinking the Bauma is my best bang for the buck, and as I said have multiple tractors that never fail me.
Anything I should rethink here?

 

[CalG]

So I just did some reading on this subject using the search function. I'm still thinking I am going to get one.
Yesterday we had a 10 hour power outage for "maintenance" And of course after years of dependable service my generator decided to not start. It's been kept indoors it's whole life. I carry it outside when needed. Always use non ethanol gasoline, treat it with Marine Stabil, run it monthly.
So decided since I have four tractors with PTO's that always start and run even in minus 40, a PTO generator is the way to go?
I'm in Canada so these are the prices for the options I am looking at. The Baumalight TX12 is $5000
A Kubota diesel generator is $7000 for 7 KW and $12,000 for 12 KW
A Generac whole home system is $12,000 here.
And a decent Honda portable is $4500

So I'm thinking the Bauma is my best bang for the buck, and as I said have multiple tractors that never fail me.
Anything I should rethink here?

I've looked hard at the Smallest Bauma. There is a "dealer" not to far away, But I'm sure freight would add up for my location.

I've got Four tractors that can spin a pto at 540 for hours on end.

Why do I delay?

the little Honda powered Homelite
Serves us well enough?

 

[Tinhack]

Five grand seems a little pricey for a 12Kw generator without an engine. The Westinghouse 28Kw is $3350.

 

[RBsingl]

I thought about a PTO driven generator but when power fails you still have to hook it up and start the tractor so there is a convenience issue and also a problem if you are traveling because of food spoilage/freezing pipes, etc.

After dealing with a 7.5KW gas portable for 14 years, I installed a 40 KW diesel powered standby generator with an autostart transfer switch. I installed it myself which wasn't difficult but even without an installation charge total cost for the generator, auto transfer switch, and materials was almost $13K.

I could have gone with a cheaper auto transfer switch but after looking at several possibles I went with an Asco commercial 300 series which is more sophisticated and capable than the typical "homeowner" grade transfer switches and allows programmable timing of how long to wait to start after an outage, warmup time before transfer, delay time to transfer back after commercial power returns, and it does an in-phase transfer of power back to commercial once it returns.

The generator controller monitors engine parameters (fuel level, coolant and oil temp, oil pressure, etc.) along with generator output (voltage, current output for each 120 V leg and total, frequency) and will shut down if parameters go out of spec.

I looked at this as a long term purchase and the convenience is worth it. Now if the power fails in the middle of the night, the generator auto starts 6 seconds after commercial power fails and goes into a 4 minute warm up period before transferring the load. If commercial power returns during the warm-up timer, it will run for 5 minutes after commercial power returns and then shuts down if there are no additional outages in that 5 minute period. After it transfers to the generator during an outage, it stays on generator power for 5 minutes after power returns to ensure it is stable/reliable and then goes into cool down mode before stopping and waiting for the next outage. The transfer switch maintains a log of events to show outages, generator operation, any errors, etc.

Now if the power goes off during a snow storm in the middle of the night, instead of heading to the barn and wheeling a portable generator to the house in the snow I can just stay in bed and in a few minutes power is back on again. I have the auto transfer switch located where the commercial feed enters the property and I can look out my bedroom window and see the LED indicators on the controller indicating the status of commercial and generator power. Over the longer term, the price doesn't seem bad. The Mitsubishi 4 cylinder 3.3L turbo-diesel that drives the generator is a fuel sipper rated at 2.4 GPH running at its rated 40KW load and in my experience where it is running at a much lower average output it averages about 1 GPH consumption so the 80 gallon tank will keep it going during a long outage without refill.

Rodger

 

[Roadworthy]

One must evaluate need before considering a generator at all. I've been in this house about twenty years. It's an all electric home with a pump in the well to consider. I've had three power outages in that time, none of which lasted over two hours. I decided I don't NEED a generator.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Last fall, I sold my Baumalight 12K generator and replaced it with a self powered Kubota 11K. I paid $3200 for the Baumalight back in 2008 after a one week outage. The Kubota set me back $7500 but to me, it was worth the price.

I have two tractors and I originally thought I could dedicate one for generator use but there always seemed to be other tasks more important. That meant having to hook up the genny every time the power went out.

I used to back the tractor up to the barn door so the genny could stay dry but the tractor remained out in the elements. That meant getting wet or freezing every time it needed fuel. If I wasn't careful, it would run out and require bleeding the fuel system to get it running again.

It's so much more convenient with the Kubota. It sits in the back of the barn on wheels in case it has to be moved. I rigged a thru wall exhaust so no doors have to be opened. It starts remotely from the house and the fuel can be monitored from inside as well. Refueling is done inside the barn so no getting wet or freezing required.

I may install an auto transfer switch next year for added convenience.

 

[LouNY]

I have been well served by my 25KW 4 pole pto generator.
It has run for a few thousands of hours over the last 3 decades or so with many different tractors running her at various times.
I would like a standalone auto start auto transfer unit this 30 year old unit is and has served me quite well.

 

[Paystar]

One must evaluate need before considering a generator at all. I've been in this house about twenty years. It's an all electric home with a pump in the well to consider. I've had three power outages in that time, none of which lasted over two hours. I decided I don't NEED a generator.

I get probably at least 4 per year for "scheduled maintenance" that last from 8 to 10 hours.
Plus the short outtages all winter due to storms.
The big Kubota, or a Generac might be nice, but more than I want to spend.
Plus then back to another engine that sits more than it runs.
I figure at least tractors are all always ready to go. And I don't trade or sell so the hours don't bother me.

 

[LouNY]

I get probably at least 4 per year for "scheduled maintenance" that last from 8 to 10 hours.
Plus the short outtages all winter due to storms.
The big Kubota, or a Generac might be nice, but more than I want to spend.
Plus then back to another engine that sits more than it runs.
I figure at least tractors are all always ready to go. And I don't trade or sell so the hours don't bother me.

Even 10 days of straight operation would only add 240 hours to a tractor. So out of several thousand just a drop in the bucket.

 

[hiddentacocatneddih]

How efficient is the tractor vs a power unit in terms of fuel ?

We don't lose power enough for me to justify buying anything but my buddy bought a military surplus gen for his house. While it could power most of his house like normal, it cost so much in fuel he just bought some candles instead

We had a really bad winter storm a few years ago so we just turned the water off to the house and went out of town