PTO Generator

Westonium · Nov 30, 2004

( Do you have a set-up now to plug your house into? What are the typical outages like around you. 1 day, 2,3?? Could you live without your tractor while it's running the house?
)
I do have a transfer switch that would supply part of the house. The well is actually 650 ft away, and on the same meter as the barn. I would be needing to install a transfer switch down at the well, and another at the house.

There have been outtages of many days in the past. They had very mild winters for the last 10 or so years too, but last year had 2 feet of snow (accumulated) in a few days. We are more prone to freezing rain than the surrounding valley.

Everything is electric. There is no gas line to power a generator, nor a giant propane tank. Once I get some alternative energy systems in place, I will sweat such things a bit less, but right now it just has me nervous.

I am not really worried about losing the tractor to the generator for a few days if it means having electricity vs. not.

I guess my biggest concern is freezing pipes and the lack of pumped water. I would probably run the generator for a few hours at the house, then move the tractor down to the well and run it there for a few hours.

I sure appreciate the input guys!

Eebbee · Nov 30, 2004

Hello Westonium,

I own a 15KW that I bought from the net for about half of what dealers were asking locally for a 10KW unit.

I used to have an 8KW gaz powered (still in the back of the garage) but the bloody thing would only start when I did not really need it, when I was starting it just to make it run.
Whenever it was the real deal there was nothing to do to get it started. The last straw was when my parents were house sitting and the 8KW would not start and whenver it did start it cost a fortune to run. One tanks per 6 hrs. Last serious power outage this think was sinking in $100/day of gas. A full day of tractor running would run me about one fifth of that or $20 /day.

My reasons to go PTO rather than self powered is I am like you no gaz (natural or propane) but additionnally I mounted the PTO generator on a home made carryall that carries a TiG welder, plasma cutter and compressor . This way I can basically cut and weld anything a few miles away from hydro. When not in use I back it up -the carryall- in my garage where I have a hole to slip a shaft through. The generator is inside and the tractor outside.

I got the transfer switch and a 50amps electrical box that covers exterior lights plus one light in each room, fridge, pump and heating as well computers, TVs sound system etc. All the electronics are on surge protected bars but I've never had any cycle issues. We obvioulsy do not run all at once when on generator but most of everything can work if you need it and it's really neat to be watching DVDs and enjoying hydro in a power outage.

Yes it does tie the tractor but if there is no hydro it most likely a storm w/ no school etc so no need to clear snow in a hurry.

In my opinion it's worth it just for the peace of mind.

Good luck with the baby

Eebbee

vetteman · Nov 30, 2004

I have a 13kw generator I bought from Northern Equipment . Trailer powershaftand generator was 1400$ half of what a local generator was . I can run whole house with it just as if we had power. If I need tractor I unhook generator for a while no big deal .

kennyd · Nov 30, 2004

Here is a dumb question...
The 12kw genny's need 24 PTO HP for full power output according to NorthernTools. My JD 4110 is rated at 17.?? PTO HP. But the tractor would be sitting still, so no power is needed to drive the tractor... Hence could you expect a liitle more HP from the PTO or is this wishfull thinking?

KiotiJohn · Nov 30, 2004

( The 12kw genny's need 24 PTO HP for full power output according to NorthernTools. My JD 4110 is rated at 17.?? PTO HP. But the tractor would be sitting still, so no power is needed to drive the tractor... Hence could you expect a liitle more HP from the PTO or is this wishfull thinking?
)
Pretty much wishful thinking. What you would get is a more constant 17 PTO HP if you're running at rated speed (RPM needed to get the stated HP). If you were to run the 12KW on your tractor, you could expect to get only 8.5KW power output. That's pretty generous actually, and the 12KW PTO gen. may be cheaper than buying a stand alone 8.5KW genset. Usually, you'll be running somewhere arounrd 540PTO RPM, depends on your tractor's rated speed. John

v8dave · Dec 1, 2004

( Here is a dumb question...
The 12kw genny's need 24 PTO HP for full power output according to NorthernTools. My JD 4110 is rated at 17.?? PTO HP. But the tractor would be sitting still, so no power is needed to drive the tractor... Hence could you expect a liitle more HP from the PTO or is this wishfull thinking?
)

Get the 12 KW unit.

Northern is being very conservative. They are using only 500 Watts per HP, or 67% efficiency. At 100% efficiency there are 746 watts per horse power. I doubt they are losing 246 Watts in the mechanical drive and heat losses in the generator. At 100% efficiency 17 HP yields 12,682 Watts, you probably won't get that, but you'll likely get more than 8.5 KW.

Soundguy, what do you figure you're getting per HP out of your Northern unit?

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Dec 1, 2004

I have the northern pto unit. Does anyone know where I can get a freq. meter to add on to it ?? It just came with the minimal volt meter guage( with the red & green areas) & it would be nice to fine tune the rpm to the proper freq. so I don't fry anything expensive..........Tom

djradz · Dec 1, 2004

Go for the frequency meter/indicator if you really think you need it, but I don't. Other than clocks and possibly a few other devices running a little fast, or slow, nothing will get cooked. The biggest problem for electrical equipment is when the voltage is way low, which happens with too small a generator or too small of wiring. Using a meter I found that at 540 rpms (at least according to the light on the dash of my TC 40D) I get 240 volts at 60.2 Hz. To get 60 Hz I had to back off the throttle slightly to something a little less than 540 and got 238 volts and about 59.9 to 60.1 Hz. Many pieces of equipment will even work fine at 50 Hz. Much is made that way because in Europe their system is 50 hz.

TOMLESCOEQUIP · Dec 1, 2004

I'll be running it with my TC33D & I'll watch the 540 indicator.............I just didn't want to fry a computer or the TV by not getting the gen dialed in just right. I checked the outputs with a VOM and they were OK voltage wise. The biggest drop should be when the well pump kicks in........I think I'll have plenty of capacity to run the household basics...............Tom

KiotiJohn · Dec 1, 2004

( I doubt they are losing 246 Watts in the mechanical drive and heat losses in the generator. At 100% efficiency 17 HP yields 12,682 Watts, you probably won't get that, but you'll likely get more than 8.5 KW.)
Dave, I hadn't thought of it that way. It would be interesting to know just how much one would get. I was planning on getting a 12KW and would have been satisfied with 8.5KW for my uses. Maybe it's even better. Thanks, John