TC 40D PTO Generator - Disappointing

[djradz]

Hopefully, weather pemitting, I'll do some testing this weekend.

I know my tractor's governor works to some degree, because, as you describe Chris, when I dump on a large load like a motor, it powers up and takes the load easily. In fact, I'm not very kind when I first connect the generator and don't bother to turn all the household loads off, and when I flip the breaker on the genny, the carry-all/generator torque a little bit and the tractor compensates by powering back to close to the same speed, just a little less.

 

[Soundguy]

So what type of loads are giving you the problems? Incandescent loads? motor loads.. etc?

Soundguy

 

[SPYDERLK]

Hopefully, weather pemitting, I'll do some testing this weekend.

I know my tractor's governor works to some degree, because, as you describe Chris, when I dump on a large load like a motor, it powers up and takes the load easily. In fact, I'm not very kind when I first connect the generator and don't bother to turn all the household loads off, and when I flip the breaker on the genny, the carry-all/generator torque a little bit and the tractor compensates by powering back to close to the same speed, just a little less.

djradz, with loss of freq and sudden return with lowered load, I would look into the possibility that something is slipping. Like you say freq should follow rpm and your tractor has ample power. Could your PTO clutch be slipping at the high load point? How does it act when you work it hard with an implement like a rotary cutter.
Larry

 

[SPYDERLK]

During this past ice-storm, I had plenty of opportunity to use my 13 kW PTO generator, with somewhat mixed and disappointing results. In the past I've powered the entire house including about 22,000 BTU of air conditioning, a freezer, 2 refrigerators, washer, electric drier, microwave, etc with pretty good results. This time, I had plenty of electric heat load (along with much of the aformentioned load, minus AC) and found both the voltage and frequency sagged significantly. The voltage I can see, as my cabling leaves a bit to be desired, and because the voltage is affected by the frequency drop, but the only way I can see the frequency dropping is due to the tractor not keeping up. Although the tractor didn't sound as if it was laboring, it must have dropped in RPM somewhat, for what else would cause the drop in frequency? Any thoughts? The generator (brushless-capacitor) does seem fairly sensitive to engine RPM changes, but I usually initially adjust the throttle to get 60 Hz under a mid-range load and then some things like the microwave, a couple of heaters, or washer/dryer, well pump come on and off.

I'm wondering if maybe the governor leaves a bit to be desired? I do recall that when mowing over many summers on some very hilly area of my property, that the tractor ground speed slows going up steep hills and speeds up coming down. I would have thought here too that the governor would have keep the engine speed and the ground speed constant (assuming no additional losses in the hydro tranny), but that is not what I seem to recall.

Anyway, back to the generator, or governor. Any ideas? Is the governor sensitivity adjustable?

Yours is essentially a disappointment with reality. Electric heat in a house is over 10KW - - - in the 20-30KW range usually. You are overloaded. Instead, vent your electric drier into the house and let it run.

 

[zzvyb6]

I run a 25 kW Winpower off my 22 hp F-935 lawnmower or my 35 hp 1070. I check for voltage and frequency with a Kill-o-Watt check box (Home Depot, ebay, etc.). I just picked up a Honda EU6500is at an estate sale and tomorrow we are supposed to get hit with a Polar Vortex or cyclone with 50+ mph winds. News outlets promise long power outages. Tractor is fueled with WinPower on the draw bar waiting in the wings. Will try the Honda first but may fall back on the Winpower. I'll let you know who wins this one. Maybe the News is just more entertainment than fact.