Generator PTO generator feedback

[Soundguy]

I actually run my rpm at just a hair above pto rpm.. probably makes for something like 550 - 560 onthe pto by the time it's calculated out.. helps when you hit a lil thicket mowing, so your mower doesn't take a large hit with the extra momentum..

soundguy

 

[Redneck in training]

Compare car engine with tractor engine to see the difference. Tractor engines produce much lower specific power than car engines. That is why they last forever running even at "high" speed. To run tractor at PTO speed is like running a car at very modest speed.
My Kubota engine produces 27 HP at PTO speed (33 HP at maximum speed)while the displacement is about 1600 ccm. That is about 20.6 HP/liter of displacement. Typical car diesel engine produces at least three time as much power.
Another thing to consider are the bearings. The bearing require certain minimum speed to work properly. In other words to run the engine at very low speed and high load might be worse than running it at high speed.

 

[nwbearcat]

If you do pickup a PTO generator, and then do gearbox or pulley work to alter the input RPM, verify that the output is within spec. You can bugger up a lot of stuff by running outside of the standard frequency range. I don't know all there is on electrical theory, but I do know that more and more of our modern appliances are more sensitive to those fluctuations in either voltage or hertz of the electrical supply.

If you're running it for hours on end, and don't plan on taking a look at it now and again, a Murphy Switch is valuable, but if you're sitting in the house, probably ok to just step outside occasionally to take a peek. I have a big portable electric start that spends all fall, winter and spring on our patio under a cover, with an input box on the side of the hosue. The genny stays wired to the ground system all the time, all someone needs to do is uncover, pull to the edge of the overhang, plug it in to the wall, and hit the starter. It will power most of our house. Until recently, I only had one tractor around here, and it spends all winter with my snow removal equipment mounted up. It would take an hour to get ready if I relied on it to power the house, and my wife couldn't do that alone if I'm out on the road, but she can start the portable. Also, for me, that tractor could supply more electrical power, but would be mostly wasted, I don't need that much, and would burn ALOT of gas to do it. I can get what I need with a lower fuel usage out of the portable. In power outages, we don't run the genny 24-7, usually on for 2hrs to cool fridges/freezers, cook, and heat up the house, then off for 3-6 hours. Can get house warm enough, and while not 100% comfortable all the time, we can survive fine, and make the fuel supply last much better.

Running this equipment at rated PTO is no issue providing you're attending to the needs of the engine, clean lubricants, clean fuel, clean air, and good cooling equipment. Combines, choppers, sprayers and many other pieces of large scale ag and industrial equipment are operated at full rated RPM all day long with the exception of warm up and cool down times, and those engines get many more hours of hard use that most compact tractors will ever see.

 

[Redneck in training]

I don't know all there is on electrical theory, but I do know that more and more of our modern appliances are more sensitive to those fluctuations in either voltage or hertz of the electrical supply.

Actually the opposite is true. Most new devices have "switching" power supplies without a transformer. Those are quite insensistive to frequency and voltage. Low voltage halogen lights, motors and anything with transformers are sensitive not only to frequency, voltage but also to harmonic distorsion that can burn transformers. For those you want a generator producing ideally pure sine wave. Many so called inverters produce dirty power even though there are other producing quite good sine wave.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Well I guess these 2 posts sum it up, there is no one right answer for everyone.
IMO, if you need 15+ KW get a PTO. If you only need 5-6KW, could get by with a small stand alone. These new smart units that regulate rpm to meet load make the whiz bangs more efficient and a better choice.

JB.

I agree $$$ wise this is factual.

As I get older the more I see the need for a nice autostart feature but nice diesel autostart full house system is NOT cheap.

It crosses my mind that the wife would not be interested in a complex to set up/operate back up power solution. The fear of getting "fried" is real for many.