just tested my pto-genny on my ford 8n

To20Chris · Sep 12, 2004

That's the same feeling I've had, but MAYBE it's 'cause the diesel works too well!? On my old Ferguson, when you load it, there is a delay until the engine comes back up, so you can really notice the governor working. I'm not sure it it comes all the way back, maybe it's not any better than the diesel, just more obvious in it's operation? I don't have a tach on the TO20, so it is harder to tell exatly how well it responds to load. Seems pretty good though!

tillerkiller · Sep 12, 2004

Quick! Everybody dogpile on Soundguy about generator safety!

(Just kidding Soundguy, sorry that we all beat you up pretty bad on your last generator post, but none of it was directed at you.) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy · Sep 12, 2004

( That ol' 8N should be a perfect match. It's amazing how quickly the governors respond on those old Fords. )

Yep.. for all the faults of these old gas tractors.. I will say that their governors respond ultra fast to load demands.. When mowing, and hitting a huge clump of burried brush.. etc.. I rarely loose a hundred rpm.. usually more like 50-70, and it doesn't overshoot bad.. keeps rpm real steady..

( will find plenty of good uses for it without having to "survive" after a hurricane )

I have plenty of farm uses in mind for that genny... I hope the huricane DOES pass EVERYBODY by.

Soundguy

Spencer · Sep 12, 2004

( I quickly grabbed my freq counter and jabbed it into the outlet.. 60hz on the nose.. )

Soundguy, congrats on getting your new generator up and running. Can you comment further on your frequency counter? I have a BK Precision True RMS DC/AC Clamp Meter. This meter can measure frequency through its jaws, but I have to use a line splitter.

Spence

Soundguy · Sep 13, 2004

The freq counter I'm currently using is an extech.. also a true rms vom.

The manual is really devoid of usefull info.. though this was the only unit I could find 'on-shelf' in the limited consumer grade electronics stores in town that had a freq meter that also had a high enough input voltage rating.

This one has a 250 v input rating.. most would only accept 10v..

Though it doesn't mention how to measure freq, I simply used one terminal ( red one ) and not both. I've had other older 'trigger' style freq counters that worked this way as well.

As I thought.. this one worked like that too... with only one of the leads being hooked up.

Soundguy

tillerkiller · Sep 13, 2004

( The freq counter I'm currently using is an extech.. also a true rms vom. )
I'm confused. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Is this a Freq Counter with a voltmeter built in or is this a RMS voltmeter that you can trick into reading Freq?

I am wondering if you are using some sort of trick here that would allow a True RMS meter to function as a counter also.

While we are on the subject, even though they are more accurate, don't TRUE RMS voltmeters tend to be confusing by reading differently than non-true meters by taking into account imbalances and spikes, or are they just always more accurate in their readings? (can they be confused by unusual sine waves that one would encounter with a cheap generator?)

slowrev · Sep 13, 2004

I have a low max input Freq counter. I just make me a voltage divider with resistors to divide the voltage low enough to use it on 120/240, etc...

djradz · Sep 13, 2004

Soundguy, one suggestion I found improves the overall operation: Take a couple of car jack-stands and put one under each arm of the carry-all and then lower the 3-pt such that a little load is held by the stands. You don't want to take all the load off the lower links however as that allows the whole set-up to wobble also. Put just enough so that there's enough load on the stands so that the whole setup becomes very stable. You'll really notice the difference it makes when you bring a fairly large load, like the A/C or well-pump, on. All torqueing of the carry-all is pretty much eliminated.

Soundguy · Sep 13, 2004

( have a low max input Freq counter. I just make me a voltage divider with resistors )
I thought about making a voltage divider.. or useing an attenuated probe , but the 'better' meter was only a few dollars more than the one with a lower input max.
Had a thermometer probe as well as a few other neato gizmos I'll never use..

Soundguy

Soundguy · Sep 13, 2004

( Is this a Freq Counter with a voltmeter built in or is this a RMS voltmeter that you can trick into reading Freq?
)

Naa.. it's a multi function VOm that has a freq counter range, as well as neat things like durty cycle range.. etc.

If you are into reading old radio shack project notebooks, there are plans to make a frequency counter using a handfull of off the shelf parts though.

( Is this a Freq Counter with a voltmeter built in or is this a RMS voltmeter that you can trick into reading Freq?
)

Naa.. it was a built in function.. though.. I like an rms meter when I'm doing power calculations... .. though a peak reading meter is great for doing voltage calc's and messing with o-scopes. You can use a formula to interchange.. but It's nice to pop it in and see it on the scale.

Soundguy