PTO Generator

[MikePA]

I obviously want to run as much as I can including Fridge, Freezer, Well Pump, HW Heater (If I Could) and some lights. It would be even better if I could run the 4 Ton Heat Pump but I might be able to run it without anything else which would be fine.

Any thoughts and advice?

I went through the same debate recently. I've had a Generac portable generator for years. I had to start it using the pull cord and run extension cords.

I decided against a PTO generator for one reason. If the weather is bad, e.g., snow/ice, I will most likely have other uses for the tractor which won't be possible if it's running the generator.

I decided to spend money on a quality generator, i.e., not powered by a Briggs and Stratton engine, and automatic transfer switch so I don't have to be home to start the generator.

I got a 5000 kw Honda generator and an APC UTS10BI automatic transfer switch that also has automatic load leveling. For each circuit, I specify whether it can be delayed or shut off temporarily in response to a more important demand, minimum off time, minimum on time, etc. It supports one, 220v circuit and eight 110v circuits. This powers my well pump (220v), furnace (oil, forced hot air), fridge, microwave, sump pump, and all the other important 110v circuits. Since the switch only supported a single 220v circuit, powering the well pump was an easy choice. Got to have water. We won't be doing cooking in the electric oven, either.

I had an electrician install the transfer switch and the outlet the generator plugs into plus a 110v circuit the Battery Tender plugs into to keep the Honda generator battery charged.

So, my advice is;

1. Identify what appliances you want/need to power. Some are obvious, others maybe not, e.g., lights in an interior bathroom, lights in the basement (or wherever your breaker box is), washer, coffee maker, etc.
2. Map them to the circuits that power them and whether it's 110v or 240v.
3. Review this list and make sure you've accurately identified what you need to power.
4. There are plenty of sites on the Internet that'll map this information to watts.
5. This will determine the size generator you'll need.
6. Decide if your tractor can be dedicated to running the generator during an emergency.

We got a heavy, wet snow about 2 weeks ago. I was out shoveling and noticed the light above the garage was off and it's on 24 x 7. Then I heard the generator start. Still had heat, TV, Internet, water, fridge, etc. A tree had come down and we were w/o power for about 4 hours.

 

[ruffdog]

The neighbors son lives somewhere in MI and they have been without power for one week now. wow!

 

[buickanddeere]

The JD 2305 will carry approx 12KW of load continuous. Around here 15KW Winco generators are cheap and as common as dirt. A good match for the 2305.
Dairy and poultry farmers bought those 15KW units by the thousands as an absolute minimum priced machine to provide standby power in the 1970's. Back when dairy cooling became vital and poultry barns required forced ventilation.
Farmers soon tired of tripping breakers and having to limp along with one load at a time. The 15KW units were traded or shoved to the back of the shed. Then replaced with 30,40 & 50KW generators.
Customers by the 10's of thousands still without power in Ontario. They didn't clue in and purchase a generator after the great blackout of August 2003. Hydro One Storm Center

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

Our power was out from Saturday @ 7:30PM 'til Thursday @ 3:30PM. Most of the trees on our 9 acres are now horizontal rather than vertical... lots of ice. (I will be needing a new chainsaw)
We got by with a 4500watt Homelight pull-start generator from HomeDepot. It would power fridge/freezer/coffee maker/gas furnace & lights no prob. Turned off furnace/fridge/freezer to run well pump. Turned most everything off to run water heater.
I ran the gen for an hour or 2 every 3 or 4 hours during the day, over night the house got down to 15C.
Went thru about 60 liters of gasoline. Just checked the oil, it's still up and not really dirty.
I agree with having a standalone gen, odds are I'll need the tractor for snowblowing, don't need the hassle of changing from pto blower to pto gen & back.
Would have liked to have an 8 or 10kw gen, but all they had was this unit for $550.
It served us well so far.

Pete

 

[dex3361]

The surge watts of the Bauma Light generator is very good. A generator larger than your tractor HP will not hurt anything but it will only supply the watts that your tractor pto can supply. I have a Harbor Freight 15KW PTO generator that I have run off of my BX1500 and it did surprisingly well even though it is only 10 HP at the PTO.

 

[Cam-Saskatoon Canada]

I have a couple of questions regarding gen sets. We have a high efficiency furnace (think--lots of electronics) and we were told that most generators produce "dirty" electricity that would burn out stuff in our furnace. Something about sine (??) being square instead of round or whatever. I tried to contact the furnace people and they were against using a generator--most probably because they didn't want to get blamed for their furnace breaking down. I talked to one generator representative and he thought it would be okay, but didn't know for sure. Any electrical people on here that can give us some good info?

 

[uglyboywith11fingers]

Cam, our gas furnace is a Hi-efficiency... no problems over 5 days, also used our PCs, new flat screen TVs, etc. Of course, the user manual for the generator mentions nothing about being cautious with electronic loads.
I think the power flickering and brown-outs just before it finally goes out would be more damaging to any electronics. I sold my oscilloscope a few years ago, or I would have checked what the sine wave looked like.

Pete

 

[nc redneck]

Post above was the main reason for me going to a dedicated 18 KW whole house propane generator. I have a Kioti 45 se with 38 PTO HP. Just could not get around varying loads that would change voltage and frequency. I know it would work in the short term but might cut lifespan on many electric motors and electronics. Also has the advantage of in case something happened to me Wife and or Daughter do not need to hook up, fuel, plug in, set correct RPM on tractor set up. If I am off base I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks
Scott

 

[RoyJackson]

The JD 2305 will carry approx 12KW of load continuous. Around here 15KW Winco generators are cheap and as common as dirt. A good match for the 2305.

That's probably pushing it a bit. The 2305 has 18 PTO HP. With ~2 PTO HP required per kW, that would be 9kW. I suggest the 12kW (check any website that sell PTO generators for confirmation) would work...the 15 kW Winco is probably too much...

 

[aczlan]

I have a couple of questions regarding gen sets. We have a high efficiency furnace (think--lots of electronics) and we were told that most generators produce "dirty" electricity that would burn out stuff in our furnace. Something about sine (??) being square instead of round or whatever. I tried to contact the furnace people and they were against using a generator--most probably because they didn't want to get blamed for their furnace breaking down. I talked to one generator representative and he thought it would be okay, but didn't know for sure. Any electrical people on here that can give us some good info?

Square sine wave would be from a inverter generator, not a "regular one" which makes a round sine wave. Their issue is probably more along the lines of poor voltage regulation which can be an issue with older and/or cheaper gensets, but in most cases, a decent quality genset will put out power that is as clean (if not cleaner) than the power from the grid.

Aaron Z