PTO Generators, been here before?

[ishiboo]

Well, measuring the RPM won't help you any, you need to measure the electrical output of the generator NOT what the RPM of the tractor PTO is...

SR

The alternator's frequency is directly coupled to its speed, and there is no way for it to "drift" or anything. So if you know (accurately) that the input is 540RPM, the output will be 60hz. Voltage is another matter since its regulated.

 

[newbury]

Does anyone have an inexpensive easy to use tool to measure PTO speed?
I'm thinking like a little IR gun you point at a marker you put on the shaft and it tells you rpm.

Your tach has the pto speed marked on it, and the pto gen set has a meter, for fine tuning that speed, to get the proper voltage...

SR

My tach has a big range marked PTO speed.

Well, measuring the RPM won't help you any, you need to measure the electrical output of the generator NOT what the RPM of the tractor PTO is...

SR

Where did I write I wanted to use it for a generator? I just want to know what my PTO speed is.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I used a PTO set for years. Worked well, but I am glad those days are over.

Unless I am wrong, no tractor has a shut down system for temp or oil failure. Something to think about before leaving a tractor running wide open unattended.

Why is the tractor wide open?

If operated at part throttle the lower than 60Hz from the generator will wreck some electrical and electronic equipment.

OH. ... You mean at PTO rated rpm. Withoiut a load thats not wide open -- just high idle. Only under a full load is the tractor wide open.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My JD 770 ran wide open to provide 540 PTO RPM. You pulled back the throttle as far as it would go and that was it.

Again I say, 60 cycle is not that critical, voltage is more critical, especially for motor starting.

I've mentioned it before. I tried putting a 2:1 PTO gearbox (Off of a small JD crawler I believe) between the JD 770 and the Onan 15KW genset. The tractor would not even drive it, at no load at all. I guess the Governor was not set up to run at that speed. Shame.

I had a friend that drove a 20 KW (maybe Winco) PTO set with a Ford 5610. For some reason his lights always flickered in a most annoying way. Always! I thought, maybe it was because his driveline was not straight, but he disputed this. I never did figure out what that was all about.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The alternator's frequency is directly coupled to its speed, and there is no way for it to "drift" or anything. So if you know (accurately) that the input is 540RPM, the output will be 60hz. Voltage is another matter since its regulated.

Some gensets regulate the voltage by rpm...

Just because a pto genset mfg "says" it's a 540rpm genset, doesn't mean that's "exactly" at 540. My voltage is dead nuts on at "slightly" under 540 on the pto... IF I run it at rated 540, the genset rpm is a bit high...

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My tach has a big range marked PTO speed.
Where did I write I wanted to use it for a generator? I just want to know what my PTO speed is.

GEEE, do you suppose, that since you asked YOUR question on a pto generator thread, anyone would "think" that's what you had in mind???

You didn't say you had a tractor either, but I assume that you do!

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

Best, just make one of these, like I did. No more guess work.

Every Alternators frequency is determined by the speed of the rotor. Newer Inverter style gensets usually produce AC, then make DC, and make 60 HZ AC electronically. Thus, the motor can run at various speeds depending on load.

Actually, all these are "Generators" by broad definition only and are actually Alternators. They produce AC.

The voltage value produced is governed by the field voltage, which is controlled by your voltage regulator.

Some inverter style sets (like an Onan Silent 15KW I had), actually use permanent magnets (I got it, because a magnet let go) that produce 3 phase power. No Field Winding. Then turn it into DC and again make AC with an inverter.

 

[4570Man]

GEEE, do you suppose, that since you asked YOUR question on a pto generator thread, anyone would "think" that's what you had in mind??? You didn't say you had a tractor either, but I assume that you do! SR

Some trucks have a PTO. You never know what some folks have in mind.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Some trucks have a PTO. You never know what some folks have in mind.

So does my lawn mower, but I don't ask about it on a generator thread... lol

SR

 

[Industrial Toys]

FIRE trucks actually run Gensets off of their PTOs. Some are even hydraulically run.

 

[buickanddeere]

I have a friend who used a B7500 on a 15KW genset. We would put the PTO in 1000RPM and run the tractor just off an idle. The tractor had a tendency to try to overheat so we put a regular 110V box fan in front of the radiator to keep up the air flow. It worked pretty well and was efficient on fuel. However I did not care for the idea because the cost per hour to operate a tractor is significantly higher than a stand alone generator. I have a stand alone 9 KW honda powered genset, it replaced a Tecumseh 7 KW unit that I wore out. I am at the end of the line and have gone over 10 days without power. It is common to spend 5+ days a year powerless, I would hate to put those sort of hours on a tractor. I just spent 2K to rebuild the engine on the Massey, I can buy 2 Honda powered gensets for that cost. When we are running the generator I put synthetic oil in it and give it an oil change every 48 hours to try to get more life out of it. If I need power in the field I put the genset in the loader bucket and carry it with me.

Another example of these 1/2 throttle on a 1000rpm tractor connected to a 540rpm generator is not a good idea. The advocated to such abhorrent behaviours never calculated the actual costs using accurate facts.
For reasons unknown some people think 1/2 throttle = 1/2 the fuel used ???

 

[buickanddeere]

It's actually called torque rise in a diesel engine, the ability for an engine to mantain a pre-determined rpm at a particular throttle setting. What I'm inferring to is when you exceed the torque rise of an engine (when you apply a load greater than the specified torque rise) you have to adjust the throttle accordingly.

No matter, I've owned and operated a PTO driven unit and it's no picnic for the reasons I described in a previous post.

That is a rather bizzare ration formulated from 1/2 truths .

 

[buickanddeere]

You know, there IS something between wide open and part throttle... At least there is on all of MY tractors...

It's called "pto speed"...

SR

Then let's say operate at pto speed. I happen to have a few tractors that pto speed just happens to be WOT as designed from the factory.

 

[buickanddeere]

Here is one: Digital Photo Sensor Tachometer

Aaron Z

Killawat meter thingmajigger from the hardware store works very well to
Indicate voltage and frequency from inside the house if you want.

 

[wrooster]

It appears that some of you guys could figure out a way to get into an argument with the sales lady at Victoria's Secret.

wrooster

 

[Industrial Toys]

The money saved on buying a Honda will some day be put to good use buying hearing aids.

People think that since Honda is a good name in the lawn and garden world, that it somehow represents top notch, power generating equipment. Yes, maybe better then Harbour Freight.

 

[GManBart]

It appears that some of you guys could figure out a way to get into an argument with the sales lady at Victoria's Secret.

wrooster

LOL....true. To be fair, it seems most forums have more arguments in the winter...especially on a tractor forum where there isn't much tractor work being done in most places.

BTW, nice post on your Sandy experience

 

[liberty2701]

I have a Northerntool Northstar 13 kw pto genset. I think it is great. Every set up has its pros and cons and you will here that here. I also have a small portable gas powered unit to supplement. Both are wired into my main panel with a main breaker interlock. I love the fact that i always have a few hundred gals of diesel on hand when needed. The worries over no safety shutdowns for low oil or overheating are overblown in my opinion. No gen should be left running unchecked. The idea of putting hours on my tractor are akso over blown since this is what I purchased it for. To be used in sny way it serves me. Power is one of the best services it could provide when the power goes out for 5 days. I also do not run it 24 hrs a day. Price was another factor. I purchased mine hardly used for 600$. Try finding a 13 kw portable genset for that money.

 

[4570Man]

The money saved on buying a Honda will some day be put to good use buying hearing aids. People think that since Honda is a good name in the lawn and garden world, that it somehow represents top notch, power generating equipment. Yes, maybe better then Harbour Freight.

???? Have you ever heard a good Honda generator? Unless your tractor is battery powered the Honda is quieter. Honda isn't a good generator? Honda is the generator that the rest are compared to.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Liberty, you nailed it!

SR