Generator PTO generator

John_Mc · Aug 18, 2003

( Speaking of generators, what is required to hook one up to one's house? Doesn't there have to be something that keeps it from feeding back into the power grid? OTherwise, wouldn't the linemen be in danger when they are working on the lines.)

Yes, a legal installation usually involves a mechanical interlock on the feed into your breaker box (or sometimes, as in my house, it's built into your breaker box). You cannot throw the breaker which connects your generator to the panel until you throw another breaker which disconnects you from the power company lines.

I've known folks who work around this in an emergency: They shut off their main breaker, then plug their generator into the outlet for their electric dryer or electric oven (any high-capacity 220 volt circuit will do). This back feeds their panel, and they just shut off individual unneeded circuits in the panel to avoid overloading the generator. This can be dangerous if you are not careful. If someone throws your main breaker on (to see if the power company is back online yet) without disconnecting your generator, you risk frying a lineman by feeding your generator's juice out into power company lines that the lineman thinks are dead.

John Mc

Bird · Aug 18, 2003

Well described, Don. We once had an 18' Winnebago with a 2.5kw Onan that pulled the gasoline from the motorhome's 40 gallon tank. Our last RV was a 40' Bounder with a 7kw Onan that pulled the gasoline from the motorhome's 90 gallon tank. But when we were living in the 32' CarriLite (fifth-wheel) we had a 4.5kw Kohler that pulled propane from two 30# bottles. They all worked well for what they were designed for and we never had any need for additional power, but of course that propane generator would go through the propane pretty fast.

Kelvin · Aug 18, 2003

I have a very basic (manual start...) Sears (Generac) 3500 watt portable generator that has the low-idle feature that kicks in when there is no power draw on the generator. Seems like I bought it around 1993.

Kelvin

Slamfire · Aug 18, 2003

You and I may know how to do this. I've 30 years in the electric utility industry. But your distribution network has standards you might want to check into. The simplest would be an interlock between the power line supply and the generator. Electricute just one line patrolman and they'd come after you hammer and tongs. I'll agree it can be a manual switch, but get an interlock of some kind, if only to keep your homeowner's insurance company happy.

dmftoy1 · Aug 19, 2003

Any idea what it would cost to have an interlock installed? Just trying to get an idea of how much more I would need to spend above and beyond the cost of the generator if I decide to buy one.

Thanks in advance,
Dave

MossRoad · Aug 19, 2003

From what I've seen, the simplest, safest, least expensive way to do it is to use a double pole, double throw switch between your service disconnect and main panel. If it is thrown one way, the power comes from the utility. If you throw it the other way, it breaks the connection to the utility, then makes the connection to your generator. The price for one rated at 100 amps is reletively cheap(our house has 100 amp service). However, if you have 200 amp or higher service the price skyrockets. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I don't really know why the price is so much more, but it is from what I've seen. I would also check with your local building department, as there may be code issues, permits, inspections, etc... Also, if you have no inspections and there is an electrical problem, your homeowners insurance may be void. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Someone here once mentioned converting all of their major appliances such as furnace and well pump to twist lock cords and connectors. If there is a power outage, you just unplug the well and furnace and run an extension cord out a basement window to the generator. Very simple and safe. No way to fry a lineman down the road. You get heat and water, which is all you really need, at a very low cost.

Trev · Aug 19, 2003

I LOVE my 17kw (35kw surge) PTO generator, but there are some issues that should be considered.

It can power both my house and my neighbor's, and nothing at all phases it... you don't have to turn on things one at a time.. just throw the breaker and it takes up the whole load without even a puff of black smoke from the exhaust.

It does tie up the tractor.. if you want to plow, move branches, etc., you have to shut down the power while you do it.

Wife can't hook it up alone.

On the plus side, one less engine to maintain, can tow it to the field for emergency power anyplace it's needed, and so on.

It got us through 8 days of no power last winter, without even breathing hard. A 300 gallon skid tank of off-road diesel made sure I had plenty of fuel for an even more extended outage.

You pays your money, and takes your pick. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob

Egon · Aug 19, 2003

trev:

How's about moving in next to me. I'll be a good neighbour.

Egon

Docsknotinn · Aug 19, 2003

Trev, is your PTO generator on a trailer ? I have been looking at this but I am confused, nothing new here ! How do you get the PTO and genset level ? I mean it seems like based on the height/size of the tractor or the genset that when useing a telescoping shaft it would either be angled up or down to some degree. or does it actually hook up to the 3 pth ??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Dave

Trev · Aug 19, 2003

( Trev, is your PTO generator on a trailer ? I have been looking at this but I am confused, nothing new here ! How do you get the PTO and genset level ? I mean it seems like based on the height/size of the tractor or the genset that when useing a telescoping shaft it would either be angled up or down to some degree. or does it actually hook up to the 3 pth ??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Dave )

Hi Dave!

My PTO generator came mounted on a small trailer which hooks to the drawbar. The 3pt hitch doesn't come into play at all. You simply hook the trailer to the drawbar, connect the PTO shaft, and, to minimize vibrations, I also try to align the PTO shaft so it is as straight (right to left) as possible. The up/down alignment seems to be fine as it came. An easy way to adjust left/right is to just use a 2x4 to stick under the generator, lift, and shift side to side a bit until it's aligned as well as you can get it.

Then you simply engage the PTO and bring up the RPM until the meter on the generator indicates as close to 60 HZ as you can get it.

I don't think the alignment of the PTO shaft is critical.. it's just that one day I noticed some vibration in the generator, and fixed it by aligning the shaft.. so I figured no vibration is better than vibration. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm on vacation, but would send you pictures if I could. I'm sure someone here can. It's just a simple little trailer with used car tires on it and a standard drawbar connector.

HTH,
Bob