Picked up half a megawatt worth of Caterpillar power, think I'll make a PTO generator

[Industrial Toys]

You could chart a new course in your project and do like GM did with the Cadilac so many years ago. Use the engine, controlled by a computer and cut back unused cylinders.

 

[strantor]

You could chart a new course in your project and do like GM did with the Cadilac so many years ago. Use the engine, controlled by a computer and cut back unused cylinders.

I don't know how many times I can change course before everyone loses faith in me. But I want to get input on just one more idea...

I have a 1991 Jeep Cherokee/ XJ, wrecked. I bought it for parts to build an offroad buggy later on down the road (low priority project, probably would never get around to it anyway). The jeep has a 4.0L inline 6cyl and 4sp automatic transmission. I previously had not considered using it, or anything with an auto tranny, because I thought that the fluid coupling of the torque converter would introduce some mininal amount of slip in each gear, depending on load (which would make it impossible to "lock in" at 60Hz). I had a talk earlier this evening with a mechanic friend of mine and he said that's not the case. He said once you get past the stall RPM of the torque converter, the engine can be considered directly coupled to the transmission. And even if there were some slip (which would indicate transmission problems), if using the cruise control, it should adjust engine RPMs to maintain constant output of the transmission tailshaft.

So now I'm thinking it might make some sense to open up the rear hatch, pull the rear seats out, and shove an 1800lb generator head in there. I could disconnect the driveshaft from the rear diff, cut a hole in the floor, and bring the driveshaft up and couple it to the generator head.

I would have a "Jeeperator" capable of >100kW in short bursts, already sitting on 4 wheels and with the minor addition of a jeep tow hitch (as seen on every 3rd motor home on the freeway) it could be a trailered unit. It should have decent fuel consumption since it will probably stay in 4th gear at 1350 engine RPM most of the time, and downshift as needed, all the way to 1st gear @ 5040 RPM.

 

[MossRoad]

Your driveshaft angles will be way to steep, won't they?

 

[radios1]

Your driveshaft angles will be way to steep, won't they?

they would be, for long life!. there was a chart somewhere that showed driveshaft angles vs. life. with the angle needed here, he's better off using a flat cogged belt. multiple driveshaft's, each at a 10Deg. angle could be used, each supported by a pillow block bearing, but you may need 5 of them!.. each one bringing the shaft up 10 Deg. until it connects to the head..

 

[TheFarmerInAdell]

Put the Jeep into 4wd to move it into place and just disengage 4wd when you are running the generator. I like this idea. But, will the rear suspension handle the weight? probably not...

 

[BigBlue1]

Put the Jeep into 4wd to move it into place and just disengage 4wd when you are running the generator. I like this idea. But, will the rear suspension handle the weight? probably not...

If the weight is an issue he could just fab up a solid mount for the rear axle. No need for suspension for moving that type of 'unit' around a property.

Rob

 

[herm0016]

or just get the heaviest springs you can find for it.

 

[texasranger556]

At the rate this thread is going, I'm thinking about 2 more course changes before settling on an 1800 RPM direct drive diesel engine.

 

[radios1]

I think a fix for using the Jeep is make a solid frame for the head unit that will securely support it, and be boltable to a flat surface, cut out the bed of the Jeep to accommodate that frame, and add any necessary lifts to raise the height of the Jeep so the gen head/frame will not hit the rear axle, keeping in mind a low angle on the universal joints is needed..

 

[tjkubota93]

I hate to pee on the campfire, but how about sell the generators to a utility company or a small country, scrap the cars and buy a propane powered automatic switch over whole house unit?

 

[LouNY]

I hate to pee on the campfire, but how about sell the generators to a utility company or a small country, scrap the cars and buy a propane powered automatic switch over whole house unit?

Well could be because the original poster enjoys tinkering and doing things a bit different then the herd.
If he gets it going it will be a unique genset that will be doing the job with more capacity and less cost then the propane whole house unit, myself I don't like 3600 rpm air cooled units I know a lot of people have them and like them.
Different strokes for different folks and lets keep that going.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I hate to pee on the campfire, but how about sell the generators to a utility company or a small country, scrap the cars and buy a propane powered automatic switch over whole house unit?

OR just do what he "wanted" in the first place, and buy a decent pto generator!

He may get something running, but it will never be efficient or as useful as a REAL pto genset on the tractor he already owns!!

SR

 

[tjkubota93]

OR just do what he "wanted" in the first place, and buy a decent pto generator!

He may get something running, but it will never be efficient or as useful as a REAL pto genset on the tractor he already owns!!

SR

Ok, no negativity meant to be introduced. Please carry on with tractor, Honda, jeep electrical generating plant project.

I wish many meggy warts for your future.

 

[strantor]

Put the Jeep into 4wd to move it into place and just disengage 4wd when you are running the generator. I like this idea. But, will the rear suspension handle the weight? probably not...

It's not a "real" Jeep as it's only 2WD unfortunately. I'm not sure how the Jeep will react to having the weight of a small car sitting in the back seat, but I imagine it will at least squat a bit. The rated payload is 1488lbs, so I would be exceeding that by 300lbs if I just crammed in. But I would be removing seats, carpets, misc creature comforts which might bring it down to within its payload range.

At the rate this thread is going, I'm thinking about 2 more course changes before settling on an 1800 RPM direct drive diesel engine.

LOL if one pops up on craigslist for $200 then maybe.

I think a fix for using the Jeep is make a solid frame for the head unit that will securely support it, and be boltable to a flat surface, cut out the bed of the Jeep to accommodate that frame, and add any necessary lifts to raise the height of the Jeep so the gen head/frame will not hit the rear axle, keeping in mind a low angle on the universal joints is needed..

Yes that sounds reasonable. Maybe the frame could be fabricated such that the generator head mounts underneath it and is suspended from it. Then cut a hole in the floorboard and lower the entire generator head through, so that the shaft is in-line with the transmission output. That sounds like a lot work though, that I wouldn't want to do unless I had to (if the driveshaft angle was much too steep otherwise). It would decrease the level of protection of the generator, especially if towing it down the road.

I hate to pee on the campfire, but how about sell the generators to a utility company or a small country, scrap the cars and buy a propane powered automatic switch over whole house unit?

Well could be because the original poster enjoys tinkering and doing things a bit different then the herd.
If he gets it going it will be a unique genset that will be doing the job with more capacity and less cost then the propane whole house unit, myself I don't like 3600 rpm air cooled units I know a lot of people have them and like them.
Different strokes for different folks and lets keep that going.

Thanks, Lou. Couldn't have said it better myself.

I'm sorry, I know this back and forth wishy-washiness with the details gets old after a while. It's getting old for me, so I know it's got to be getting old for you guys. I promise this is going to happen though, one way or another.

 

[aczlan]

I think a fix for using the Jeep is make a solid frame for the head unit that will securely support it, and be boltable to a flat surface, cut out the bed of the Jeep to accommodate that frame, and add any necessary lifts to raise the height of the Jeep so the gen head/frame will not hit the rear axle, keeping in mind a low angle on the universal joints is needed..

This. If the transfer case allows it, you might see if it could be set up to be selectable to front wheel drive only. Then you could drive the Jeep around as a front-wheel drive vehicle and switch it to rear wheel drive when you're ready to generate.
Edit: nevermind, I missed the last page talking about it being a 2 wheel drive jeep.

Aaron Z

 

[radios1]

OR just do what he "wanted" in the first place, and buy a decent pto generator!

He may get something running, but it will never be efficient or as useful as a REAL pto genset on the tractor he already owns!!

SR

it's big bucks for them, since they are too easily connected and used, and sold!.. half a Megawatt's worth would cost a fortune even used!!..

 

[strantor]

OR just do what he "wanted" in the first place, and buy a decent pto generator!

He may get something running, but it will never be efficient or as useful as a REAL pto genset on the tractor he already owns!!

SR

I want to take this as a challenge but I'm afraid I would never be able to quantify a win. "As efficient or useful" as an off the shelf PTO generator... How do I prove either of those?
I'm thinking that if it doesn't tie up my tractor during a hurricane, when I might need said tractor to remove fallen trees from my driveway, then I think that would point toward being "more useful."
But efficiency? I don't have a "REAL" PTO generator to compare to, so I could post fuel consumption per hour at a given load, maybe someone has collected that data on their PTO generator, but then where would be the line between apples and oranges? Should their data be relevant if it comes from a 132HP tractor, same HP as the Jeep engine? Or should it be relevant if it comes from a 40HP tractor, same HP as the one I was originally going to use? Is a JD more efficient than an LS? What are the odds someone tested at exactly the same kW output?

 

[radios1]

just the sheer size of the Generators makes them more efficient than the smaller PTO Generators.. there should be a tag on the units that states the efficiency, or the power factor, higher is better..

 

[Industrial Toys]

Let's all stomp on him while he is down. PTO generators sell really cheap in a little farming magazine we get in the mail box. I'm sometimes tempted to buy one, just because they sell so cheap. Like $1500 CDN for 20KW! That's like a hundred bucks American!

Hey, I'm working on this Izusu/Onan 12 KW unit, and after buying voltage regulators, a new rad, electric fan, electrical cabinet, rad hoses, instrumentation and a ton of other stuff, I realize it doesn't make any sense. Should have bought a Military unit off E-Bay, by hey, I got the basic unit FREE!

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm talking about efficient to run, as in fuel efficient...

His small tractor will be working to turn that with a small load... read using more fuel than a better sized genset for his house. I mean, that's what he said he wanted... to have some power for HIS house, not the whole neighborhood.

My Winco PTO generator cost me $1200.00 (new) when I bought it, now I have a whole house diesel generator that runs fairly efficient and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg...

Like I said before, I've yet have to run out "during a storm" to use my tractor... AND if needed, when the storm pass' or lets up, I can shut my generator off for an hour or so during the day, to open my drive ect...

BUT, It's never needed to happen yet...

SR