Possible Gernerator Project

   / Possible Gernerator Project #1  

PHIL850

Silver Member
Joined
Apr 2, 2006
Messages
135
Location
MASS and Northeast kingdom of VT
Tractor
JD 850
I recently acquired a used 1800 RPM 10 kilowatt Generator (no motor) for doing a friend a favor. The Generator looks in ruff shape, but is in working order. I am looking at a few ways I might power this unit for use as a backup power supply. Ideally I would mount it on a trailer and power it with a 15 HP diesel motor, however this can be a bit costly. A less costly use would be to power it off my Tractor PTO, however this would then limit my use of the generator to our 2nd home in Vermont. Since Cost is a major factor at this time, I am leaning towards PTO power. I am looking at two options as far as PTO powering. One would use a Gearbox and lovejoy type coupling with a cost of about $400 not including drive shaft and Frame fabrication which I will be doing. The other is to go with a couple of pillow blocks, shaft, and proper sized belt driven sheaves. I am just throwing this out for ideas from the rest of you. As I know this forum is full of some great minds. See attached pictures. Oh yes, and I am not really worried about sizing as my tractor will handle the load, and 10 KW is plenty for what I would need for the house. The last picture is what I am leaning towards as the solution. It is someone elses efforts at the same task.
 

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   / Possible Gernerator Project #2  
I have seen a lot of people use tractor supply carryalls for there frame there around 109$ in my area
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #3  
Keep us posted on the build,, I have an 8k head I was thinking to do somthing like this too !!
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #4  
Well from what I have read in the past it takes about 1HP to create 500 watts of power. So it appears you will need 20hp to run the generator. Now as far as the PTO, most run at 550 RPM when the engine is around 2500 RPM give or take depending on the tractor.
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #5  
I have a 10kw diesel generator it is powered by a Perkins 403d-11 that is about 26HP

If you power it off the PTO keep in mind that the gear box will be about a 3 to 1 ratio. And because you are over-driving the PTO,.... To get your 20HP to the gen head wouldn't that mean you would need about 60HP at the PTO?
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #6  
ST genset head are very common, there is many manufacturer of these genset type in China. Lot of people are using them coupled to a old slow speed liser engine. For 10$ you can buy a CD from Utterpower.com wich have a lot of usefull info about ST head ( I think it does anyway, bought the cd and haven't look a much of its content). Anyway, just a tought !
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #7  
There should be a band on the back section and it might be a good idea to remove that and clean the crud from the armature, and look at the brushes.
Just a thought!
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #8  
I have a 10kw diesel generator it is powered by a Perkins 403d-11 that is about 26HP

If you power it off the PTO keep in mind that the gear box will be about a 3 to 1 ratio. And because you are over-driving the PTO,.... To get your 20HP to the gen head wouldn't that mean you would need about 60HP at the PTO?

The plate on the generator should indicate the "losses" converting mechanical to electrical power. On this one the manufacturer choose not to display the loss, so it is probably not so good.

1 HP giving 500 wats is a 70% rate. This is for a small generator.
The bigger the generator, the smaller the (magnetic losses)
I would gess that this 10HP generator has a rating about 90%

The energy needed is 100/90 times 10HP + losses in belt and bearings.

My gess is you need an input of 12 HP from the PTO ( for house and cottage use)

Please correct me if I am wrong,
Bert
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #9  
You can run it in example with 10HP engine but you can't loaded it too full load. 5kW from 10HP is about right. To get full power you need about 20HP.
 
   / Possible Gernerator Project #10  
I have a 10kw diesel generator it is powered by a Perkins 403d-11 that is about 26HP

If you power it off the PTO keep in mind that the gear box will be about a 3 to 1 ratio. And because you are over-driving the PTO,.... To get your 20HP to the gen head wouldn't that mean you would need about 60HP at the PTO?

Wrong. Gear doesn't change power. It changes speed and torque. There will be 20HP minus several percent losses available at high speed shaft.
 

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