pto generator question

Stimw · Jun 2, 2006

I have a Wacker 5.6kw Generator with an 11 hp Honda. Two years ago I went 12 days without power. I ran 2 window AC's and all the lights and TV/Satelite Fridge that I needed. I didn't have hot water and had to turn off 1 AC to run my water well pump.
The Honda used about 1/2 gal an hour or 12 gal per day. That was $24. a day at $2. gal, at current price, $2.65 gal, X 12 = $31.8 a day. My 3510 Branson Diesel is rated at .95 gal per hour and that is pretty close to what it uses. Sooo, the Branson would be about 20 gal a day. Diesel here is running about $2.90 gal. That's $58. a day!!
I wouldn't own a generator that didn't have a Honda Engine. Mine used 2 oz. of oil over 12 days running. I know of 3 people that blew up Briggs at that time.

Stimw · Jun 2, 2006

I have a Wacker 5.6kw Generator with an 11 hp Honda. Two years ago I went 12 days without power. I ran 2 window AC's and all the lights and TV/Satelite Fridge that I needed. I didn't have hot water and had to turn off 1 AC to run my water well pump.
The Honda used about 1/2 gal an hour or 12 gal per day. That was $24. a day at $2. gal, at current price, $2.65 gal, X 12 = $31.8 a day. My 3510 Branson Diesel is rated at .95 gal per hour and that is pretty close to what it uses. Sooo, the Branson would be about 20 gal a day. Diesel here is running about $2.90 gal. That's $58. a day!!
I wouldn't own a generator that didn't have a Honda Engine. Mine used 2 oz. of oil over 12 days running. I know of 3 people that blew up Briggs at that time.

geneP · Jun 2, 2006

Stimw, I have what sounds like the same generator, mine has electric start on it. I kept watching for a bargain after Katrina, and bought this one. I haven't had to use it for a power outage yet, and hope I don't have to.

geneP · Jun 2, 2006

Stimw, I have what sounds like the same generator, mine has electric start on it. I kept watching for a bargain after Katrina, and bought this one. I haven't had to use it for a power outage yet, and hope I don't have to.

EastTexFrank · Jun 2, 2006

I think you got the answer to your question. You can run a bigger generator a long as you don't expect to get full power out of it.

Before this next winter I intend to change to a 13 KW PTO generatot to run on a 18 hp PTO tractor. At present I have a 3800/5200 watt gas generator to run all the fridges and freezers at the house. It works well but someone else touched on the main problem as far as I'm concerned .... fuel management. I always have to keep about 20 gallons of "fresh" gas around just for the generator. That means stabilizing it and changing it out every 6 months as well as exercising the generator every month. To me it just makes more sense to use a PTO generator when I always have at least 50 gallons of fresh diesel around and I know that the Kubota will always start and it'll run as long as I need it.

EastTexFrank · Jun 2, 2006

I think you got the answer to your question. You can run a bigger generator a long as you don't expect to get full power out of it.

Before this next winter I intend to change to a 13 KW PTO generatot to run on a 18 hp PTO tractor. At present I have a 3800/5200 watt gas generator to run all the fridges and freezers at the house. It works well but someone else touched on the main problem as far as I'm concerned .... fuel management. I always have to keep about 20 gallons of "fresh" gas around just for the generator. That means stabilizing it and changing it out every 6 months as well as exercising the generator every month. To me it just makes more sense to use a PTO generator when I always have at least 50 gallons of fresh diesel around and I know that the Kubota will always start and it'll run as long as I need it.

Tom_H · Jun 2, 2006

I'd always thought I'd get a PTO gen. one day. In your 1st post above, you may have just talked me out of it.

Tom_H · Jun 2, 2006

I'd always thought I'd get a PTO gen. one day. In your 1st post above, you may have just talked me out of it.

gws · Jun 2, 2006

( 
That's where I favor the tractor... what's got a better chance to start? The 200$ brigs engine that gets run 5 minutes a year to check on it, or the 6000$ tractor engine that may get run weekly or daily, and is in all likelyhood, just a better and more robustly designed engine..
Soundguy )

While true, If your not exercising your generator monthly then most generators are worthless. I run my under load once a week during the summer, (while mowing) and once a month during the winter.

gws · Jun 2, 2006

( 
That's where I favor the tractor... what's got a better chance to start? The 200$ brigs engine that gets run 5 minutes a year to check on it, or the 6000$ tractor engine that may get run weekly or daily, and is in all likelyhood, just a better and more robustly designed engine..
Soundguy )

While true, If your not exercising your generator monthly then most generators are worthless. I run my under load once a week during the summer, (while mowing) and once a month during the winter.

Soundguy · Jun 3, 2006

( Two years ago I went 12 days without power. I ran 2 window AC's and all the lights and TV/Satelite Fridge that I needed. I didn't have hot water and had to turn off 1 AC to run my water well pump.
The Honda used about 1/2 gal an hour or 12 gal per day. That was $24. a day at $2. gal, at current price, $2.65 gal, X 12 = $31.8 a day. My 3510 Branson Diesel is rated at .95 gal per hour and that is pretty close to what it uses. Sooo, the Branson would be about 20 gal a day. Diesel here is running about $2.90 gal. That's $58. a day!!
)

And your point? I consider generators as 'backup' devices... I can't think of a situation where i would run one 12 hours a day... tractor driven or stand alone. Also.. your tractror rated fuel usage. is that at full load? Your genny 6kw would be a 24pto hp load.. what would that equal? as in.. waht is your branson pto hp.. I'm guessing the fuel number you gave was for full pto load.. not fractional load..

( Mine used 2 oz. of oil over 12 days running )

My tractor doesn't use any oil between changes /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Soundguy

Soundguy · Jun 3, 2006

( Two years ago I went 12 days without power. I ran 2 window AC's and all the lights and TV/Satelite Fridge that I needed. I didn't have hot water and had to turn off 1 AC to run my water well pump.
The Honda used about 1/2 gal an hour or 12 gal per day. That was $24. a day at $2. gal, at current price, $2.65 gal, X 12 = $31.8 a day. My 3510 Branson Diesel is rated at .95 gal per hour and that is pretty close to what it uses. Sooo, the Branson would be about 20 gal a day. Diesel here is running about $2.90 gal. That's $58. a day!!
)

And your point? I consider generators as 'backup' devices... I can't think of a situation where i would run one 12 hours a day... tractor driven or stand alone. Also.. your tractror rated fuel usage. is that at full load? Your genny 6kw would be a 24pto hp load.. what would that equal? as in.. waht is your branson pto hp.. I'm guessing the fuel number you gave was for full pto load.. not fractional load..

( Mine used 2 oz. of oil over 12 days running )

My tractor doesn't use any oil between changes /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Soundguy

GuyL · Jun 3, 2006

Finally, a thread where this newbee can contribute!

We stayed through Katrina in Folsom, LA. My area is pretty wooded and it took us a few days to chainsaw to the State Hwy. Finding gas was a nightmare. I was all set with a 10k welder/generator that has a Kohler 20hp and 8 bulky hard to store red 5 gal. cans. Problem is the Kohler burns 1 gal in 45 minutes. After doing the math I discovered this is going to be a problem in both transport and money (gas was significantly higher for a few weeks after the storm).

So, I am getting a 13k (25k if funds permit) pto from Northern Tool and a combination 100gal transfer tank and tool box for the truck.

Oh, one other thing I learned after doing the math, I wouldn't run the freezers for more than a 2 day outage. We were out of power for almost 40 days and I ran the generator alot more than I should have trying to save the freezer contents. When power came back and I checked the chest freezer (now we were opening it daily) I discovered that the lower contents had thawed /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.

FWIW, my plan for future outages will be to run the generator to power the well pump only during the day, and everything else at night, especially the a/c /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.

Lastly, I still keep the 8 cans full of gas. Every other month I fill up the car with them and refil the cans.

GuyL · Jun 3, 2006

Finally, a thread where this newbee can contribute!

We stayed through Katrina in Folsom, LA. My area is pretty wooded and it took us a few days to chainsaw to the State Hwy. Finding gas was a nightmare. I was all set with a 10k welder/generator that has a Kohler 20hp and 8 bulky hard to store red 5 gal. cans. Problem is the Kohler burns 1 gal in 45 minutes. After doing the math I discovered this is going to be a problem in both transport and money (gas was significantly higher for a few weeks after the storm).

So, I am getting a 13k (25k if funds permit) pto from Northern Tool and a combination 100gal transfer tank and tool box for the truck.

Oh, one other thing I learned after doing the math, I wouldn't run the freezers for more than a 2 day outage. We were out of power for almost 40 days and I ran the generator alot more than I should have trying to save the freezer contents. When power came back and I checked the chest freezer (now we were opening it daily) I discovered that the lower contents had thawed /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif.

FWIW, my plan for future outages will be to run the generator to power the well pump only during the day, and everything else at night, especially the a/c /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.

Lastly, I still keep the 8 cans full of gas. Every other month I fill up the car with them and refil the cans.

Doc_Bob · Jun 3, 2006

( Finally, a thread where this newbee can contribute!

Lastly, I still keep the 8 cans full of gas. Every other month I fill up the car with them and refil the cans.
)

Wow, you lived through a real disaster. You have great advice. I am going to buy some gas cans and follow your advice. Makes sense.
Bob

Doc_Bob · Jun 3, 2006

( Finally, a thread where this newbee can contribute!

Lastly, I still keep the 8 cans full of gas. Every other month I fill up the car with them and refil the cans.
)

Wow, you lived through a real disaster. You have great advice. I am going to buy some gas cans and follow your advice. Makes sense.
Bob

Soundguy · Jun 3, 2006

( FWIW, my plan for future outages will be to run the generator to power the well pump only during the day, and everything else at night, especially the a/c . )

What we did was to run the genny to pump up water a few times a day, and also to run the refer for a couple hours to keep it cold.. past that we didn't run it just to have lamps and other things on.. too much wasted fuel during a disaster to power up the whole house for no reason..

Soundguy

Soundguy · Jun 3, 2006

( FWIW, my plan for future outages will be to run the generator to power the well pump only during the day, and everything else at night, especially the a/c . )

What we did was to run the genny to pump up water a few times a day, and also to run the refer for a couple hours to keep it cold.. past that we didn't run it just to have lamps and other things on.. too much wasted fuel during a disaster to power up the whole house for no reason..

Soundguy

sandman2234 · Jun 3, 2006

Our last hurricane gave me one day without power, but my mother in law across the street was without power for 8 days. I was the last on the line before the tripped breaker due to a tree on the line. I ran her freezer/refriderator 3 times a day for about an hour each. Then I would move to my sister in law's house around the corner for another half hour.
I went back to work after 6 days and nobody ran the generator, so she lost the freezer anyway. It cost me about $15 to $20 a day to try to keep it cool.
I tried to get her to leave the lid closed on the freezer, and to put bottles of water in the empty spaces, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
I would also go around to my neighbors to run their sump pumps for the septic tanks so they could keep flushing their toilets without having problems. Amazing the new friends I met, having a running generator.
David from jax

sandman2234 · Jun 3, 2006

Our last hurricane gave me one day without power, but my mother in law across the street was without power for 8 days. I was the last on the line before the tripped breaker due to a tree on the line. I ran her freezer/refriderator 3 times a day for about an hour each. Then I would move to my sister in law's house around the corner for another half hour.
I went back to work after 6 days and nobody ran the generator, so she lost the freezer anyway. It cost me about $15 to $20 a day to try to keep it cool.
I tried to get her to leave the lid closed on the freezer, and to put bottles of water in the empty spaces, but you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
I would also go around to my neighbors to run their sump pumps for the septic tanks so they could keep flushing their toilets without having problems. Amazing the new friends I met, having a running generator.
David from jax