PTO Generators - Any Favorites?

[BackRoad]

Planning on putting in a Natural Gas powered whole house generator in the spring, which should back-up 99% of the utility outages we experience.

Thinking about the unicorns...when the SHTF and NG pipelines are shutdown.

Any favorite PTO driven generators that might be recommended?

 

[steve tym]

I used a NorthStar for a while with no complaints.

 

[Hughman]

Winco

 

[bdhsfz6]

Too bad you didn't post earlier. I just sold my Baumalight TX12, 12KW PTO generator 2 weeks ago;

It served me well, but I'm getting older and not as able to hook it up for every outage we get around here.

I decided to replace it with a standalone Diesel generator:

It's far more economical than using a 60HP tractor to power a 12 KW PTO generator.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with a PTO genny, I'm just not able to deal with the hassle of hooking it up any longer.

To answer your question, I have nothing but good things to say about the Baumalight. It's a solid piece of equipment.

 

[zzvyb6]

Iv'e always had perfect reliability with my WinPower. 1st was a 50/25 with an additional 3 phase capability. Now I have a 30/20 model. Never had to be re-flashed, easy to hook up, and can even run it off my JD935 lawn mower using a pto speed reducer having a 540 output shaft. Now I run it off of my JD1435 mower (newer and a tad more power). I made up a special H-frame for it to hold the gearbox without having to have the mower deck in place. It serves me more than just backup house power. I can take my welders "out back" to fix or repair equipment without having to drag it back to the shop.

BTW: the reducer gearbox reverses the standard pto rotation direction, but the generator doesn't seem to care. For some models, the manual suggests doing some brush changes when it's run 'backwards', but I'm up for that yet. Also have a 6500W Honda with a power sensing throttle. I back up the pto genny candidate diesel supply with a 100 gal. tank full, just in case WW-III or WW-IV begins. I use a Kill-O-Watt instrument to read frequency as well as voltage to set the throttle. (The genny does have a gauge, but I wanted a second vote. For our needs, there is plenty of rotary inertia, motor h.p. and governor authority to keep the frequency on target.)

 

[BackRoad]

Greatly appreciate the details from each of you. There are pros and cons for having a dedicated diesel, vs PTO driven generator.

This would be as Mr. ZZVYB6 mentioned, for a WW III event if NG were shut off.

Of course, access to any Dino fuel would be suspect if that happened.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Greatly appreciate the details from each of you. There are pros and cons for having a dedicated diesel, vs PTO driven generator.

This would be as Mr. ZZVYB6 mentioned, for a WW III event if NG were shut off.

Of course, access to any Dino fuel would be suspect if that happened.

Thing is, when the NG is shut off, that's it, you are done.

With diesel you have other options as in trading or scrounging some up. Even used oil, fry oil and other oils can be made to use.

Not that I "need" electricity so bad that I would do any of that, as electricity is more of a want than a need.

SR

 

[bdhsfz6]

Thing is, when the NG is shut off, that's it, you are done.

With diesel you have other options as in trading or scrounging some up. Even used oil, fry oil and other oils can be made to use.

Not that I "need" electricity so bad that I would do any of that, as electricity is more of a want than a need.

SR

If you heat with fuel oil, you usually have a sizeable supply on hand. Mine would run my diesel generator for a month if necessary. Any longer than that, electricity will be the least of your problems.

 

[LittleBill21]

If you heat with fuel oil, you usually have a sizeable supply on hand. Mine would run my diesel generator for a month if necessary. Any longer than that, electricity will be the least of your problems.

did you do a full load test yet on the new one?

 

[bdhsfz6]

did you do a full load test yet on the new one?

Not yet. around half load so far.

Working on a way to get fuel to it right now.

 

[Smokeydog]

Winco 10kW. Three houses, barn requires mobility. 0.56 gallon per hour with the B26.

107gallon tank just put into service.

Even with best precautions, running a generator inside is risky. Do have a Miller Bobcat welder/generator in the shop, exhaust routed outside. Run with garage door open and fans running when operating. Always risky.

 

[BackRoad]

That's an interesting gen cover Mr. Smokeydog. Very thoughtful...

And that's another Winco vote.

You'll like that tank. It sure makes life a lot simpler to just fork it on the trailer and go get 100 gal of red diesel.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

If you heat with fuel oil, you usually have a sizeable supply on hand. Mine would run my diesel generator for a month if necessary. Any longer than that, electricity will be the least of your problems.

That's what we did with my elderly mother. She had an oil burning furnace with a 500 gallon tank. #2 fuel oil is the same as #2 diesel. We plumbed the generator into the furnace line.

 

[bdhsfz6]

That's what we did with my elderly mother. She had an oil burning furnace with a 500 gallon tank. #2 fuel oil is the same as #2 diesel. We plumbed the generator into the furnace line.

I wish I could do the same with my 1000 gal. tank. The generator is out in the barn and piping fuel out there isn't practical. Instead, I built this caddy with 4 pneumatic tires that will roll over rough ground. It's a 30 gal. barrel with a cordless tool battery powered pump:

 

[ponytug]

I wish I could do the same with my 1000 gal. tank. The generator is out in the barn and piping fuel out there isn't practical. Instead, I built this caddy with 4 pneumatic tires that will roll over rough ground. It's a 30 gal. barrel with a cordless tool battery powered pump:

View attachment 1858634 View attachment 1858632 View attachment 1858633

That's a really clever setup!

I'm curious; How did you craft the battery holder? From an old tool? How stable is it?

All the best,

Peter

 

[bdhsfz6]

That's a really clever setup!

I'm curious; How did you craft the battery holder? From an old tool? How stable is it?

All the best,

Peter

Battery adapters for most cordless tool brands are available online:

Dewalt:

Amazon.com

Milwaukee:

https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Battery-Milwaukee-Convertor-Robotics/dp/B09652RK9C/ref=sr_1_50_sspa?crid=4YQT7L1RCAZY&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QbOX_PCl8EAdt_P1NbP8tJWsjxYs9-grbqQMM-DLaDdawxmmRaBjc6JhaNLcyfAQ2WY2sN1OZP6NWIVPEaWlJSI_C_jj7MjE3C1xZp1d1NY.o6OfVOJIeiuMDWcZOLYoLcvaUAM162_GZgmQ1owku9Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=cordless+tool+battery+adapter&qid=1732105661&sprefix=cordless+tool+battery+adapter%2Caps%2C135&sr=8-50-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGZfbmV4dA&psc=1

Ridgid:

Amazon.com

Makita:

Amazon.com

And many others. Just Google "cordless tool battery adapter."

I use the DeWalt adapters for many applications and they work very well. Just be careful not to short the leads with a battery connected.

 

[ponytug]

@bdhs Thanks! That would have saved me a bunch of effort on my fuel pump. I put a 120V to 12V power supply into a sealed enclosure with sealed switches. Way too complicated. I think that is I will repurpose that power supply for another use and use your solution.

All the best,

Peter

 

[steve tym]

What's your Dewalt battery voltage? I love the idea, but don't want to put 18 volts to a 12 volt pump.

 

[ponytug]

What's your Dewalt battery voltage? I love the idea, but don't want to put 18 volts to a 12 volt pump.

Checkout the grey item to the right of the battery; I think @bdhsfz6 used a voltage regulator off of some vehicle.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Smokeydog]

Dewalt 20v to 12v dc converter. 180watts. Easily operates 140watt Vevor fuel pump.