PTO Generator

[djradz]

I like that one. Plenty of divisions to get an accurate reading. If it can't hook up to line voltage (240 or 120), possibly a simple little 120 volt power transformer, which would drop the voltage down to the range of 6 to 20 volts (depending on the one selected) could work. I'm talking about something a simple as those that come with all sorts of electronics, from portable cd players to cordless phones to charges for all kinds of little electronic devices. Some of these contain a diode or recitifier that would have to be removed/bypassed, so that you get AC rather than DC out.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

Nice meter !!..........Inspector.....??.....How is the meter wired in ?? Accross the 110 volt output or is more electrical connecting required ??

 

[djradz]

Tom, here you go. Kind of steep for me though.

http://www.metersusa.com/Crompton/Crompton-AC-panel-meter.htm

 

[Inspector507]

Tom, you can get them in 110V or 220V.

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

I suppose the $25 or $30 I thought a meter should cost is somewhere in an alternative reality. For a "C" note, I might as well buy a nice multimeter so I can use it on other projects too as well as the genny........................Thanks for the links guys...............Tom

 

[KiotiJohn]

AC power in the US is referred to as 60 cycles per second or 60 Hertz because the current reverses direction 120 times each second, and each pair of reversals is called a cycle.
If you want to measure the cycles being produced, simply use a stop watch while timing an alarm clock plugged into power generated by your generator. One minute on the alarm clock and stop watch means you're getting the 60 cycles. It's a good cheap way to measure. John

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( most household UPSs won't have an effect anyway )</font>

Virtually ALL ups's for sale comercially also do line conditioning. I used to be a dealer for APC equipment. The front end of all of their UPS's contain the equivalent of the filter portion ( though not the multitapped xformer) of their line-r series power conditioners. I'm not talking just simple emi/rfi filtering. There is some sophisticated waveform manipulation goin on. You would be better served with an inverter setup and a high amperage comercial grade battery charger.. like a 10/25/125a roll around model..

Soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( household size but lacks many of the features that can make a big difference when it comes time to use it. )</font>

I agree with RickB. There is nothing about a pto generator that prevents you using it as a permanent install situation, or with a transfer switch. I know many people with a pto gen in their barn, wired to a manual transfer switch, and they have a hole fut inthe wall, and just pass the pto shaft thru to power it.

Also.. there are steps yo can take to keep from backpowering the grid from your in house hookup..like um.. flipping your main, or pulling your service disconnect.. etc.

These same issues you mentioned also apply to the small self poweredportable jobs as well.

Soundguy

 

[chriswheeler]

I'm sure many people will do the proper install and have a safe setup. Some will not. I have been next to 4 tractor PTO driven setups. Of the 4, only one had a transfer swithch of any kind. The other 3 were used for remote power and when used the house, would feed through a 50 amp welder plug or something line that, and backfeed the system. My main point was that the price of a dedicated unit is getting much closer to the price of a PTO unit . For the safety and convinence of the automatic system, this can be justified if power outages are frequent and water for the house or fire supression comes from a well. A large percentage of rural houses have propane and will already have a fuel supply. There are two negatives , one is higher price, the second is the system is not as portable. I have a little 1800 watt gas portable for that function. ( $375 ) Just my 2 cents worth.
Chris

 

[Westonium]

My mind has been made up. I got a sign of sorts last night. We brought our newborn son home last afternoon, and the first night in the house the power went out. Fortunately this storm wasn't a winter storm and they were able to get the power back on in 3 hours. Had there been the kind of weather they had here last year - it could very easily been much longer. As soon as I finish this message, I am ordering the PTO generator. I will also buy a small generator that is sized to fit the pump at the pumphouse, and build a little generator house for it.

The storm mangled one of the new canopy/tent garages I put up. I staked them properly but evidently it wasn't enough. That was the tent I normally park the new Subaru in, but it was parked close the house to let out mom and son. What luck! I am taking the whole event as a warning from mother nature -
"Look, I know you haven't actually lived this far out in the country before, but you need to respect me just a little more, so I will give you a small demonstration to get your attention so you will consider prevention, and did I mention that if I wanted to I could push your roof right down the floor? Buck up, chin up, gear up and clean up and take this moment of peace to tend to the trees, because for my next trick I will probably demonstrate what I call 'FREEZE'"

I'll post pictures soon. I'll probably post son pics in some new thread as well.

I will not backfeed. I will have a proper transfer switch.

Soundguy: I love the APC line. I have a Back-UPS XS 1500 for my computers and its great.