PTO Generator Question

[koshari]

They are. I'm curious too.
Unless harmonics are frying the gen..., or
Unless your breaker is a MCP, or somehow only provides (magnetic) short circuit protection and not (thermal) overload protection.
BTW, those motor overloads won't protect the circuit from a short, just an overload.

generator protection generally has several functions that are all overlayed to produce a capability diagram, there will be the magnetic bond (or rotor undercurrent) that keeps the stator in sync with system freq, the stator winding heating (power/apparent power limitation )and also the rotor current limitations that need to be managed, also instantaneous short curcuit protection is addressed however in a generator scenario the detection of such shorts really only limits the damage as pretty substantual damage has occurred already if a gen winding shorts.

all of these protection functions will trip the generator cb. Larger assets will have these functions duplicated using an X Y protection scheme where two different schemes will be installed in case one has a failure.

Having said that i suspect portable type equipment just has a DOL thermal overload.

 

[DieselBound]

One of my requirements was that my wife would be able to engage our backup power if I were not at home. Our system doesn't have automatic cut-over, but the manual sequence is pretty simple.

Our backup power is via a 7.5kW diesel genset (old Onan DKD with modern VR). It is enough to run all the electrics that we use: but the understanding is that we are in "emergency" mode and therefore need to be mindful of not trying to run everything (like vacuums and hair dryers at the same time as all normal stuff is running). We're back-feeding the main (with lockout), so all possible electrics are served (house; well house; garage; two sheds). Computer gear runs off of/through UPSes, so no downtime when switching power.

 

[check]

I mentiond it before elsewhere. Firstly the breakers must deal with start up loads which most generators cannot handle on a continuous basis. Secondly, breakers are only made in certain sizes and for obvious reasons, the next larger size is chosen. That can permit the ability to run continuous loads on a generator that it will not survive. People who don't have a clue, just keep adding stuff and think as long as it still works, they're good.

Now, let's discuss POWER FACTOR.

If that is true, then maybe I should remove the 70 amp breaker from my 17 kw Propane powered standby generator and replace it with a 50 amp breaker?

 

[grsthegreat]

If that is true, then maybe I should remove the 70 amp breaker from my 17 kw Propane powered standby generator and replace it with a 50 amp breaker?

I would not do that. There are millions of those units running just fine.

 

[Industrial Toys]

And believe me, in prolonged outages, many people do fry their generators. Over time, getting out more and more extension cords to run various stuff.

I have a self contained UHF linked Energy monitor that I found very usefull when running a generator. No eithernet or any of that crap. Just a couple of doughnuts in my main splitter, connected to a transmitter and a receiver with a display. You can walk around and turn stuff on and off to see the effect on load.

 

[vsteel]

And when you want PTO generator most... Sorry neighbor (or wife) the tractor is tied up keeping the house warm, and I cant help you get your big (DODGE/FORD/CHEVY- or little HONDA) pickup (car) out of ditch where it slid into on miserable slushy/icy road...

Dale

I would unhook and go help out. You should be able to handle living without power for an hour or few. If you have a medical condition that requires power non stop you are on a whole separate level and you need backups for your backup.

It is you who apparently knows little about PTOs and generators I dont want "farmers" answers to anything this critical. You get it wrong you not only risk losing your tractor, you risk your house and life. There is a reason why manufactures post specs.....

It's OK, I grew up as a rancher and not a farmer so no worries there.

Comon, lets. I don't even profess to understand PF!:confused2: I know there are capacitive and resistive loads but I don't fully understand how KW and KVA are related or matter.

Sorry but I don't know if you are being sarcastic or if you really want to know about power factors.


As I posted earlier in the thread, things that have non clean power, power that has a high THD (Total Harmonic Distortion), can effect are things that rely on the wall current frequency as a clock. Some older ovens, central heating and air controllers and so on. Most things now have a built in timer/oscillator/crystal so it isn't as big of a deal. THD is not being off on frequency but having embedded harmonics which are multiples of the base frequency. Here is a little post I made about it with a picture.

Generator 15KW PTO Generator Harbor Freight - Page 19

Just for the people who are worried about the tractor running the generator. Tractors have been running stationary loads (grinders, silage blowers, saw mills, irrigation pumps, etc...) for a very long time. This is no different.

 

[Hunter29]

And believe me, in prolonged outages, many people do fry their generators. Over time, getting out more and more extension cords to run various stuff.

I have a self contained UHF linked Energy monitor that I found very usefull when running a generator. No eithernet or any of that crap. Just a couple of doughnuts in my main splitter, connected to a transmitter and a receiver with a display. You can walk around and turn stuff on and off to see the effect on load.

What is it, where can I get one ?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I chose an Efergy Elite which I think may be discontinued. I wanted it on account of the operating frequency I think. UHF. It's plug and play, and will give you all manner of cost information and useage of your power but I only use it to monitor Generator Loads. It also has a highly usefull ALARM if a certain level is reached. There are others available. I also like it because it works the 200 feet from garage (service entrance) to concrete house, without issues. The Receiver is battery operated, handy for waling around or uses an adapter. The LAST thing I want to fart around with in an outage is WIFI or EIthernet connected stuff.

 

[buickanddeere]

Not sure about methane specifically, but regarding other greenhouse gases:
Are Volcanoes or Humans Harder on the Atmosphere? - Scientific American

"According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the world痴 volcanoes, both on land and undersea, generate about 200 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually, while our automotive and industrial activities cause some 24 billion tons of CO2 emissions every year worldwide. "

That's .2/24, or less than 1% (0.8%) emitted by volcanoes compared to humans.
In other words: "Diddly or squat: diddly squat"

Don稚
Forget to add in all the other natural sources of CO2.
Also don稚 forget that CO2 makes up less than 0.2% of all the greenhouse gasses . So manmade CO2 amounts to Diddly Squat.

 

[buickanddeere]

Comon, lets. I don't even profess to understand PF!:confused2: I know there are capacitive and resistive loads but I don't fully understand how KW and KVA are related or matter.

For example a 120V 1500VA load that uses 1000watts of energy . Have to size the generator ,
cable and breaker for 12.5 amps, not 8.3 amps .
PF would be a lousy 0.67
This why people sizing generators by watts can not figure out why the generator breaker keeps tripping .