Generator pto generator

   / pto generator #31  
I've been trying to par down my collection of small engine products.. I have it down to a lawnmower and weed wacker and chainsaw.. That's plenty of carbs to rebuild as it is... new gas is junk...

soundguy


Soundguy, I agree with everything you've said. I'm heading in that general direction too but I don't think you will ever convert me into a minamalist.

There's just too many small engines around here to keep serviced and running. I've heard all the arguements against PTO generators and to be honest, none of them make any sense to me. Perhaps it depends on your application but there is a PTO driven unit in my future. Santa, I hope you are listening.

To me, the biggest pain of a stand alone generator, is keeping 20 to 30 gallons of gas sitting around all the time, just in case, and having to change it out 2 or 3 times a year no matter what it says on the Stab-il bottle. You also have to take it out every month or two and run it under load.

No, there are two, high dollar, diesel engines sitting outside that I know will start and run for hours, days or even weeks on end if necessary and I always have plenty of fuel on hand to feed them along with all the oil and filters they need.

I did once research a tri-fuel generator with the idea of tying it into the NG line to the house but that limits you to use around the house or else you get back into the fuel storage thing.
 
   / pto generator #32  
I've been studying this issue hard also for the last couple years. I ultimately decided on PTO genny with a manual transfer switch that has built in wattmeters. That keeps the power guys safe and allows some balancing and keeping the load steadier which will keep the voltage/frequency swings better in check. I found a 9 kw load center with 12 circuits which is just enough to keep all my critical stuff enabled with some good circuit planning. With the onboard genny plug to run any outside stuff, I'll be looking for a nice ~10KW unit.
 
   / pto generator #33  
I agree.. between lawn care equipment and pasture maintenance.. I've already got enough engines to keep in shape..

Ditto what you said about $$.. I havn't found any standalone gensets in ptogenst KW range that also is in the same price range... not even close.. The gap widens as you go up.. look at the 40-48kw range.. 3000-4000$ for a genset is not out of the ordinary... yet you can't get a good 10kw perm/inst for that $$.

according to a catalog in front of me.. a 7800w ptogen can be had for 899$
a 13kw can be had for 1349$, and a 27kw can be had for 2549$

now.. standalone gassers:

6500w onan for 999$
6500w all-power diesel for 3500$
6000w propane for 950$ ( all power )

7kw standby genset B&S 1900$
guardian standby steel/aluminum case 3800$/5300$
"" 25kw 9300$



guardian 15kw portable 2500$ / 17.5kw / 3000$

soundguy

how many engines do you want to maintain? how many fuel sources do you want keep on hand? Do you care how much it cost to run? do you care how efficient it is?

you can really get a 13Kw gas geny for $1350? NorthStar PTO Generator 13,000 Watt, 24 HP Required | PTO Generators | Northern Tool + Equipment
My search says you cant touch a standalone gas one for less than about twice that.

my tractor already comes easy start because it gets used multi times a week. comes with a 7gal fuel tank. comes with tax free AG fuel in bulk... my tractor was built to run at a constant RPM for long periods...

between a PTO and a stand alone portable gasoline version... PTO wins hands down in my book.

now when considering a permant install standby with transfer switch and all the goodies... then you know im a fan of NG or LP on a 1800rpm engine.
 
   / pto generator #34  
About a year ago, I was looking for a ~5,000 watt generator. I really wanted to go PTO for the "1 less motor to keep running" rule. However, I would have had to step up to a larger generator.

I was able to find a stand-alone, Honda powered 5,000 continuous, 6250 surge genny for ~$400.00 (If I remember Correctly) at Lowes. The cheapest PTO I could find was about twice that.

Don't get me wrong. Some day, when i can justify the larger genny, I'll be stepping up to a PTO based. But, we just don't loose power for more than 30 minutes around here that long, and the 5,000 watt works good for me for portable power (Thanks to either the FEL, or the 3pt boom pole).
 
   / pto generator #36  
Some from at work.. Will have to look.. at least one of them was a northern catalog.

soundguy
 
   / pto generator #37  
I agree.. between lawn care equipment and pasture maintenance.. I've already got enough engines to keep in shape..

Ditto what you said about $$.. I havn't found any standalone gensets in ptogenst KW range that also is in the same price range... not even close.. The gap widens as you go up.. look at the 40-48kw range.. 3000-4000$ for a genset is not out of the ordinary... yet you can't get a good 10kw perm/inst for that $$.

according to a catalog in front of me.. a 7800w ptogen can be had for 899$
a 13kw can be had for 1349$, and a 27kw can be had for 2549$

now.. standalone gassers:

6500w onan for 999$
6500w all-power diesel for 3500$
6000w propane for 950$ ( all power )

7kw standby genset B&S 1900$
guardian standby steel/aluminum case 3800$/5300$
"" 25kw 9300$



guardian 15kw portable 2500$ / 17.5kw / 3000$

soundguy

So your 27kw generator needs a minimum 54hp tractor...and how much does this tractor cost??

At least 2 tractor horsepower (hp) is required for each kilowatt (Kw) of generator output. While over sizing the tractor may result in a small increase in the amount of fuel used, the extra horsepower and torque will improve conditions for stability of voltage and frequency.

http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/00-059.htm
 
   / pto generator #38  
I like the generator discussions that start up at this time of year which happens to corresponds with the time I have to be on TBN (short days and long nights). I learned a great deal here from some very knowledgeable people. it is a personal preference but sometimes turns into an argument.

I have 3 portable gas gennys 3-5KW's that I use for work, one is a Honda 170 amp DC welder, recently bought a 10 kw pto unit. IMO the portables are great for just that, job sites, moving around the yard etc. but when I think about a real emergency worst case situation like a week or a month with out grid power in the middle of winter then to me the only way to go is diesel power (fuel storage/availability and engine life/reliability being the main factors)

First choice would be a stand alone diesel powered 4 pole (1800 rpm), 3 cylinder unit (check out Norpro) but they are very expensive and to me would be a shame to see the beautiful little engine sitting around 99.999 percent of the time doing nothing except collecting dust. so the next choice is to utilize the power plants we already have under our hoods, like was mentioned you can get alot of kw output for the buck, of course your not going to buy a tractor to run a generator, but we all have them already and some have more than one which makes the pto option more reliable.

I have an older diesel powered 2 wheel drive ford (2nd tractor) that is not worth very much but has a very strong reliable power plant, so it's worth it to keep it around knowing it might come in very handy to run the pto genny, but also of course can still be used for other chores.
JB,
 

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   / pto generator #39  
So your 27kw generator needs a minimum 54hp tractor...and how much does this tractor cost??

It depends... I have a 1975 ford 5000 setting in my pasture that cost about 6000$.. has 67.2 pto hp... spins a genny or 10' mower like it ain't even back there...

My 12.5kw genny don't even make the engine load down.. my stepfathers 24kw unit makes the fuel pour in a bit faster.. but she still has a dozen or more ponies in reserve to spare..

soundguy
 
   / pto generator #40  
It depends... I have a 1975 ford 5000 setting in my pasture that cost about 6000$.. has 67.2 pto hp... spins a genny or 10' mower like it ain't even back there...

My 12.5kw genny don't even make the engine load down.. my stepfathers 24kw unit makes the fuel pour in a bit faster.. but she still has a dozen or more ponies in reserve to spare..

soundguy

So your 27kw can be had for 2549$ + $6000 for the 54+hp tractor...so you are about $8549 for the combination versus guardian standby steel/aluminum case 25kw 9300$

Close to even...and with the stand-alone...you have your tractor available to handle all those trees that will be knocked down by the storm that knocked out your power...;)

Unless we are working on SWMBO for that SECOND TRACTOR...:D

But DEAR...I have one tractor commited to the PTO generator...so I REALLY need that second tractor DEAR...:D
 
 

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