PTO Generators any advice?

Bob_Skurka · Sep 23, 2003

I got a TRI-Fuel generator a few years back, it cost $1600 then, they are up to about $2000 now. I would never get rid of it. It runs on GAS, PROPANE and NATURAL GAS. I have it hooked up to a natural gas line, but I also keep gas in the fuel tank. It is easier to start with gasoline and then I switch it over to natural gas.

Using anything with a fuel tank leaves you the possibility of running out of fuel before the power comes back on. We have never been without natural gas where I live. But I have been snowed in so deep I could not get out for 3 days! Had I been running on a regular gas generator I would have run out of gas in a day or two, even with a couple spare gas cans. Had I been running the power off the PTO, I would have not been able to clear the driveway, let alone a section of the road. It took a bunch of us working to get a passable path in the road so we could get out to the county road, only to find the county snow plow stuck in the ditch!

If you want to power a house, don't tie up your tractor at a time when you might need it the most.

My generator will power the well, the furnace, the microwave, the refrigerator and the lights and TV sets, but I cannot run the AC in the summer. I run a 4000 square foot house with an 8KW generator. You can set up an emergency panel next to your circuit breaker with all the key cirucuts you NEED to power and you can get by with a generator about 1/2 the size you think you need. Pick the critical circuits and size your generator for those power loads.

To run my set up I simply flip one switch to take my house off the utility grid and onto the generator and then I turn the electric start on the generator to fire it up. The house powers up and the utility cut off prevents any of my excess electricity from traveling out onto the power grid and electicuting any repairmen working on the lines!

Soundguy · Sep 23, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You guys disappoint me.....8 posts and nobody suggested a PTO generator and a SECOND tractor, good excuse to get another..LOL </font><font color="blue" class="small">(

Great point.... I guess we get complacent.

I've been lucky lately.... My wife let me get a tractor with a belly mower ( 66 IH cub ) just to do the 'light mowing'.. as it is quicker than attatching the brushog to the 'big' tractor for just a quick cut and trim.... how cool is that?

Soundguy

mountain_man · Sep 23, 2003

Bob - Thanks for your info. I've considered getting a natural gas conversion kit from US Carburetion .

You mentioned harder starting on natural gas. Can you give us some further details? Do you notice any power reduction on natural gas vs. gasoline? Also how complex is it to tap into the low pressure side of the the natural gas line. I'm guessing a "tee", gas shut off valve, flexible gas hose and some fittings. Of course I'd hire a licensed plumber, but wanted to get some idea as to the complexity. Thanks,

MikeIA · Sep 25, 2003

Where I grew up, we would lose power for over a week at a time after ice storms, but Dad was the only one around with a generator. The only reason we had one was because my brother-in-law bought a new genset for his dairy, and gave Dad the old one. We would only see it for a couple of hours a day, with everyone borrowing it. Once the neighbors twisted the PTO shaft when they popped the clutch, instead of easing into it. It was half a day finding a machine shop that both had electricity and was accessible through the snow. They finally fixed the weak spot in the electric lines, but I would bet that Dad still has the only generator in the neighborhood.

Guess what my first purchase was when we moved to the acreage?

Bob_Skurka · Sep 28, 2003

Natural gas produces less power than propane and propane produces less than gasoline, but that really should not be a real issue if you size your generator load to the power produced by NG, which is what I did.

As for starting with gas versus NG, it is not a big deal, but gasoline seems to start up a bit quicker when it is below freezing. It will start with NG below zero, I know that from experience, but firing up with gasoline seems to be a little easier. In any case, it is simply a key start and the starter motor may make an extra couple of revolutions before the generator starts up with NG. Worse case, the battery dies and you have to use the back up recoil start, which has happened to me, but I've started it both ways with gasoline and with NG.

As for tapping it into to gas line, I will play with electricity. I will play with water pipes. But I won't play with gas lines. I hired a licensed plumber to run the pipes and hook it up. I have a cut off switch and all I have to do is remember to turn it when I need NG to flow into the pressure regulator.

cmhyland · Sep 29, 2003

I have a friend who pruchased a PTO driven Gen.

Rather than using the 3pth setup the MFG recommended the unit be mounted perm.

He installed it in the corner of his barn with a trap door to the outside for the PTO shaft.

It was all wired in place.

When he needed to use it he backup up the tractor to the trap door put the shaft in and fired up the tractor...

It worked pretty well...

Regards,
Chris

BillyP · Oct 9, 2003

I finally made the deal on my stand alone generator.

108KW, powered by a Perkins diesel. Two 400 amp auto transfer switches, 350 gallon fuel tank, charger, block heater, all wiring and installation. All for a mere 17 grand /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

mountain_man · Oct 9, 2003

Is that for your home or the whole town? What ARE you powering???

JerryG · Oct 9, 2003

Billy,
I thought that your had gotten your generator some time ago. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif You can now, rest a little easier this winter.
Did you get a 150 hp or more?