Buying Advice PTO Generator

[Tractor Seabee]

It's a close call using your numbers, which one is a better choice, I agree.
Especially for the first couple of years, I think the pto comes out on top after that though. (Only if your tractor were able to power it of course)

I think a PTO generator is the most durable and reliable generator there is, but they aren't perfect, and some factors make them not the right choice for everyone.

I looked up your genny to see what it's life expectancy was and was surprised that it's listed at 3000 hours. so I can't criticise that, but the fuel consumption it not that good. Fuel storage/ availability is a critical factor.
Generac Portable Generators for Commercial, Industrial and Home Use

JB

I have a 50 GL fuel tank so I have plenty of fuel for all my gas operated equipment and do not have to run around filling 5 GL cans as usually their power is out also. Have the same type tank for my diesel stuff.

Ron

 

[tsteahr]

I modded the 3pt carrier to fit my quick hitch. just a pc of round stock welded in the right spot for the top hook on the QH.

I also made the legs higher, just so the shaft was straighter, probably unnecessary, but maybe it will run a little cleaner yet.

JB

Great job JB! That looks really nice and clean. If I had your tractor I'd have gone with the 16KW for sure. Can't ever have to many amps available.

Nice job, JB!!

I've pretty much determined I'm going to get an IMD with the AVR. Just have decided if I want a 10kW ot the 16kW. My 4400 has 30 PTO HP, so I should get 14 or 15 kiloWatts out of it.

I agree you should with the 16KW AVR. I'd wager your 4400 is a little stronger than the rated 30hp and will drive that 16kw to full output, or darn close. If you are on the fence about deciding and you think you might need more than the 10KW, I think you'll regret not getting the 16KW. At some point, something will come up that will take more to start than the 10kw can deliver.

I have worked with Shane Huffman at IMD. Very helpful and great to work with. They may still give a discount if you mention TBN. I paid just over $1500 for the 10KW AVR, the 3ph frame, a pto shaft and freight about 18 months ago.

 

[bubbacuse77]

You wont find IMD in a show room, I've got one in 10KW, they are sold by distributors and drop shipped to your house. They seem to be a good company to work with. Even though I ordered mine thru a distributor I only corresponded with the company (IMD) directly.

The distributor was basically a housewife with a lap top on her kitchen table.
But like I said the IMD people were very helpful and took alot of calls from me and spent alot of time on the phone with my questions.
And I ask alot of questions, some wise guy once asked me if I was a "Reporter"

Mine came with some very minor damage to the case, but since I was paying for it I didn't want the scratch and dent model unless they would deduct something off the price. I didn't even call the distributor but just dealt with the company, they were good about it and sent another. freight paid by them of course.

Get the 3pt carrier instead of the trailer.

JB

JB, Does IMD have a webpage. What did yours cost?

 

[tsteahr]

This is the IMD web site: IMD - The PTO Generator Specialist.. They are also a TBN sponsor. If you click on the forum Main Index, you will see their banner next to the Owning/Operating forum.

This is the link for the TBN discount: IMD PTO Generators Welcomes TractorByNet Users!

 

[bubbacuse77]

Thanks a bunch, Is IMD American Made?

 

[tsteahr]

Thanks a bunch, Is IMD American Made?

On mine, the gearbox is made in Italy and I believe the alternator is as well. I believe the black box that contains the outlets, meter, voltage regulator, etc is made here. I'm sure IMD sources those parts from someone. They assemble all the pieces, tune the AVR, perform functional test, etc here.

So I think they can claim made in the USA, but the answer to your question really depends on your definition of Made in the USA.

 

[bubbacuse77]

Well, I should have said, not China made. Italians make some really good stuff. By AVR do you mean - AUTO VOLTAGE REGULATOR?

sound like these IMD PTO Gens are really nice for the money.

My biggest fear in getting a pto gen is having to baby sit it everytime a large load kicks on and off. I only have electricity to my place and heat with a 5 ton ground source Geothermal unit, plus the large loads of a well pump and water heater. The Geo has a soft start feature as does the well pump.

I have a JD 3520 with 30PTO HP. Two schools of thought on whether to have a bigger tractor than gen or bigger gen than tractor.....................??????????????????

 

[RoyJackson]

Well, I should have said, not China made. Italians make some really good stuff. By AVR do you mean - AUTO VOLTAGE REGULATOR?

sound like these IMD PTO Gens are really nice for the money.

My biggest fear in getting a pto gen is having to baby sit it everytime a large load kicks on and off. I only have electricity to my place and heat with a 5 ton ground source Geothermal unit, plus the large loads of a well pump and water heater. The Geo has a soft start feature as does the well pump.

I have a JD 3520 with 30PTO HP. Two schools of thought on whether to have a bigger tractor than gen or bigger gen than tractor.....................??????????????????

Yep..AVR is Automatic Voltage Regulator.
IMD might be better considered "Assembled in America" rather then made in America. I don't think they're a large manufacturer...not large enough to build their own components. But, that is a guess on my part.

You and I have the same output power (pretty close, anyway). I read the other threads about "bigger tractor than gen or bigger gen than tractor" and I've pretty much decided I'd rather have more capacity then I need (the 16kW unit).

I'm sure the first time we (as novices) use a generator, we'll babysit it until we see how well it does and determine which appliances can be used. I'm also somewhat concerned about theft and CO...have to work on those aspects.

 

[JB4310]

I have a JD 3520 with 30PTO HP. Two schools of thought on whether to have a bigger tractor than gen or bigger gen than tractor.....................??????????????????

Either should produce more stable out-put than max rated combination like a 10 kw coupled to a 20 pto hp.

For sure the machine with 40 hp is not gonna blink at a 10 kw gennys full load coming on at once. and the 20hp machine may have a little easier time keeping within spec for HZ and Volts making 10 kw with a 16 kw genny, due to the heavier weight of the moving parts in the larger machine or the "fly wheel effect"
"An object in motion tends to stay in motion"

For sure the 16 kw generator would stay cooler compared to the 10 kw, if both were putting out 10 KW.

I'm no expert, just learned this from the many interesting generator threads.

For the average CUT with 20 - 40 PTO HP I think a slightly higher rated genny would be better.
Like in Roy's case, even if he doesn't think he needs all 16 KW.

JB

 

[sarekr]

great discussion. These comments are a great help and is saving me hours of reseach time. I appreciate hearing drieclty from the experienced users. It makes sense to me that the PTO gens are better built than gas. I will only power the house during storms so I won't be putting lots of extra hours on the tractor ( 10 days with out power during the ice storm being the exception). I am somewhat surprised that not a lot of low ranage (10KW PTO generator) options exist given the growth of 20+ hp subcompacts. Maybe the market will catch up. So far I think my decision will be to order the IMD 10KW via the web, asking for a TYN discount. Is shipping free?

 

[daybreak1998]

Howdy,
Some points to remember. I would only choose a pto generator if you have a liquid cooled engine. I would also suggest going to the next highest level pto generator. You never want to run a generator at 100 percent capacity. Besides you will probably have larger and future growth. Most of the people with pto generators are operating behind a diesel tractor. If you have an air cooled tractor, you might as well buy a portable generator.

 

[wrooster]

Below, a Tiger Power 10KW unit, which I bought used off of CL. I don't use it 24x7 when the utility power is off -- generally only intermittently to provide 240Vac for the 220' deep well pump, so we can shower etc. Otherwise, I have a fuel-sipping gasoline powered Honda inverter generator to keep the fridge cold, etc.

The receptacle for the generator feed to the house is located out at my detached workshop. Underground conduit carries the generator feed back to the house. Both generator cords use the same interface to the receptacle; it takes just seconds to swap the standby power sources. The only difference at the transfer switch is that the Honda only produces 120Vac, not 120Vac/240Vac split phase like the PTO generator does.

I eventually built a carriage for the PTO generator, which makes moving it around the workshop a lot easier.

The upsides to this "two generator" approach are reduced noise, reduced tractor run time, reduced fuel consumption, and (to a point) generator redundancy -- including the fact that I can loan out a generator to a family member/work colleague without having an attached tractor. The downsides are two different fuel types, and the need to plan for water usage. For my application, I think the upsides outweigh the downsides.

Wrooster

 

[JB4310]

Below, a Tiger Power 10KW unit, which I bought used off of CL. I don't use it 24x7 when the utility power is off -- generally only intermittently to provide 240Vac for the 220' deep well pump, so we can shower etc. Otherwise, I have a fuel-sipping gasoline powered Honda inverter generator to keep the fridge cold, etc.

The receptacle for the generator feed to the house is located out at my detached workshop. Underground conduit carries the generator feed back to the house. Both generator cords use the same interface to the receptacle; it takes just seconds to swap the standby power sources. The only difference at the transfer switch is that the Honda only produces 120Vac, not 120Vac/240Vac split phase like the PTO generator does.

Looks good, but what happens with the Honda, only half of those circuits work?

JB

 

[wrooster]

Looks good, but what happens with the Honda, only half of those circuits work? JB

If you don't make special provisions in the cordset for the 120Vac only generator, then yes only half the circuits in the transfer switch will be powered with this approach.

Otherwise, you can can wire the 120Vac generator cordset such that L1 and L2 are tied together at the feed end; this way, the 120Vac-only generator provides power to both L1 and L2. Note that this should only be done in the 120Vac generator cordset, and not anywhere else. For example, a switch (or other means) located at the transfer switch is an accident waiting to happen. If it is left in the wrong position when the split-phase generator is attached, there will be an L1 to L2 short.

Wrooster

 

[JB4310]

If you don't make special provisions in the cordset for the 120Vac only generator, then yes only half the circuits in the transfer switch will be powered with this approach.

Otherwise, you can can wire the 120Vac generator cordset such that L1 and L2 are tied together at the feed end; this way, the 120Vac-only generator provides power to both L1 and L2. Note that this should only be done in the 120Vac generator cordset, and not anywhere else. For example, a switch (or other means) located at the transfer switch is an accident waiting to happen. If it is left in the wrong position when the split-phase generator is attached, there will be an L1 to L2 short.

Wrooster

I basically want to do your same approach, using 10kw pto for the heavy demand and portable for the lite loads. I have 3 smaller portables 2-4kw, but none are split phase so I'll need to mod a cord too.

JB