PTO Generator Question

[Harvest Moon]

A few months ago, I was planning ahead and purchased an old WinPower 12pt2 PTO generator.

Last week, I was glad I did. The power went out, I hooked up the generator and everything seemed to work well (sump pump, fridge...) Just for kicks, before putting it away I decided to check the Hz. They bounce between 114 and 134?!?! Power supply from the utility co. on the same meter reads from 59.9 to 60.1.

What does it mean?

 

[eatenabean]

I would use the meter on the generator to see what rpm to run my tractor at. Start your tractor out at a low rpm see what Hz you are at. Then slowly raise your rpm till your generator is at 60 Hz. Once you are at 60, I would load it again to see where it drops to and raise it back to 60.

 

[Harvest Moon]

It bounces between 30 Hz and 60 Hz at idle. I get a nice even 130 +/- 1.5 volts at 540 per the tach. But the notes above are based on the generator running at 125 volts.

Is this some kind of noise thing messing with the accuracy of my digital meter? Or is there some kind of short or something doubling the frequency?

 

[eatenabean]

The one thing I don't get is the Hz jumping from 30 to 60 Hz. The name plate said at 1800 rpm you should have 60 Hz. So for the Hz to be jumping from 60 to 30, you would have a 900 rpm swing. The Hz should be as steady as your tractor speed. Do you hear any surging like that.

 

[eatenabean]

One other thing. Where your pro shaft hooks up, is that gears or belt drive?

 

[Harvest Moon]

No surging, the tractor is in great shape and slightly oversized. It runs smooth and doesn't flinch, even with changes in load.

Just plugged in the old shop vac. to load it up a little and the Hz jumped to 172 -194 range.

I'm hoping it's the meter, but it still reads 59.9 to 60.1 on utility co. power.

 

[Harvest Moon]

Generator has a gear box with gear oil, not sure if there is a chain in it or not. Tractor PTO is all gears. It's all metal.

 

[eatenabean]

Have you tried different reading points, phase to phase, phase to ground.

 

[Harvest Moon]

I'm not that sophisticated but I think so. Tried hot to ground, hot to hot on the 240V receptacle and each hot to neutral/ground.

It reads over 400 Hz on one of the hots to neutral/ground on the 240V.

When it was all set up, my neighbor and I shared a spider box with GFCI breakers on it to distribute the power. The breakers didn't trip. Used both hot legs. No equipment problems at all.

So I think I have more refined questions:

1) Is it really possible to run a sump pump, fridge and even a TV if I really have 120+ Hz? Something would break, right?

2) So it's probably the meter? But what does that? Is it noise/interference?

3) But wouldn't that mess with the TV? The TV was very clean.

Thanks for all of your help and interest BTW!

 

[kennyd]

What are you using to test frequency?

 

[eatenabean]

Sorry I could not help I work with 3 phase generators alot, but not sire how a 1 phase generator is wired.

 

[Harvest Moon]

What are you using to test frequency?

Digital multimeter. I don't know a lot about it, it was a secondhand gift. Here is a link to the model:

Handheld Test Equipment >> Multimeters >> RCC 507 - Digital Multimeter

 

[Harvest Moon]

Sorry I could not help I work with 3 phase generators alot, but not sire how a 1 phase generator is wired.

Thanks for trying!

FYI, here is a wiring diagram for the model I have:

http://www.winpowerinc.com/winpower_manuals/winpower_12pt2_parts_list_wiring_diagram.pdf

 

[cmhyland]

Since the hurricane we've been on a gen for 4 days....

Odd Generator fact number 1...... If the hz are off... all your clocks on microwaves and alarm clocks will be wrong.... they are gaining an hour or more a day.... Must be my 5500 watt gen is making more than 60HZ...

 

[amigauser]

Since the hurricane we've been on a gen for 4 days....

Odd Generator fact number 1...... If the hz are off... all your clocks on microwaves and alarm clocks will be wrong.... they are gaining an hour or more a day.... Must be my 5500 watt gen is making more than 60HZ...

Same issue here (on generator since Sunday AM). My Generac is going between 59 - 63 hz per my APC UPS data loging. Microwave is running HOT due to this (takes less time to cook) and clocks are way off. Computers, motors, etc. do not seem to mind though.

 

[JB4310]

Sounds like the meter is whacked when hooked to the genny.
I thought the 60 HZ can not be off by much before things stop working.
Even more critical than the voltage, which can be +/- 10 %.

My newer pto genny has a light meter to dial in the freqs and volts.
I made another to plug into ac outlet.

JB

 

[RPW]

It's the meter. Look at the specs. for frequency it's from 200 to 200Khz. basically audio. Set you voltage to between 110 and 120 and go with it.

 

[Harvest Moon]

Since the hurricane we've been on a gen for 4 days....

Odd Generator fact number 1...... If the hz are off... all your clocks on microwaves and alarm clocks will be wrong.... they are gaining an hour or more a day.... Must be my 5500 watt gen is making more than 60HZ...

Just did a test, looks like at 123 volts I'm running about 24 seconds fast per hour. Being that it was built as a 115 volt generator, that makes a lot of sense and it seems like it must be a lot closer than double the cycles.

It's the meter. Look at the specs. for frequency it's from 200 to 200Khz. basically audio. Set you voltage to between 110 and 120 and go with it.

Good point, assuming the generator just isn't as clean as the power co. and who wouldn't expect that with a 50 year old machine?

Unless anyone has anything to add, I think I'll just put'er away and live dangerously. Thanks everyone!

 

[grsthegreat]

What are you using to test frequency?

i was wondering the same thing. Theres no way your tv would have survived a 120 Htz feed.

 

[JB4310]

Get one of those kilawatt meters it has a hertz setting. Plugs into ac outlet.

I would try to dial in the hertz and not worry about the volts.

Amazon.com: P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor: Home Improvement

JB