Voltmaster PTO generator

[Soundguy]

1, 125-130 is no biggie....

2, yep.. not a generator issue.. it makes hz based upon solely upon input shaft speed. tractor can't keep it steady.. then it's not generators fault.

3, what holes? taperd plug holes for fill/drain /check?

 

[bubbacuse77]

I have the Voltmaster 12/15 and I have not been entirely happy with it. My problems have been:

1) To keep the Hz at 60, voltage is always a little to high, usually 125-130, 250-260.
2) My tractor governor doesn't seem to sense the increase in load unless it is significant and so HZ and voltage drop a little more than desired. (Probaby not the generator's fault)
3) After a couple of years, the hole plugs on the side of the generator gear reduction box started to leak. Every year since, it seems to get worse.

What are you using to measure the voltage? How much do you use it or does it leak just sitting there?

 

[djradz]

I have several ways, a rather inexpensive DVM, a very expensive Fluke graphing power meter and a simple yet very nice Kill-A-Watt device.

The holes are the plugged holes on both sides of the gearbox, 4 in total. Also, the large black plug on the end of the gearbox and the main shaft seal (gearbox to generator) also has recently began leaking. Leaks faster when running and hot, but otherwise, just sitting too. None of the holes are anything I have touched, but instead those plugged by manufacturer.

(I tried several time to upload a picture of the leak points, but the new TBN "picture manager" keeps failing any time I pick a picture that is not in the default directory and that cannot be simply dragged in. It used to be simple, now it stinks!)

 

[Soundguy]

i'm not a big fan of the new pic mangler either... seems overly difficult.. Or i'm getting to old to learn new things..

 

[DarkBlack]

Maybe I'm picky, but I wouldn't be happy with 130 volts@ 60hz. You won't be doing your loads or your generator any favors at that much of an over voltage.

 

[Soundguy]

you'r picky...

I lived for 22ys at the end of a street that was consitantly 131vac at the wall socket. ( yup.. and 260! at the dryer! )

nobody died. nothing exploded.

lotsa electronics are rated fro 150v.. and really care most about the freq.

any appliance based on a triac power supply simply won't care from about 90++ with many being universal 120/240 and again.. running 90vac+

even supressor's and clip limiters using old neon bulbs won't be clamping at 130.

only reason I even knew about it was i had a big APC smart ups and large line conditioner.

It had an led readout for line conditions. Our line was always at the 1st yellow led above the middle green one. On rare occasion we would have it adjust line voltage ( you could hear it do so ) bumping up or down depending on a large load kicking on. past that.. it was a real NON issue.

consumer grade electronics are built at least with a 20% tolerance minimum.. we are taling about 8.3255%

standard is 25% tolerance except for some specialty items. ( and many have MUCH% more depending upon design )

 

[DarkBlack]

Whatever you say soundguy. I probably know more about electronics in my sleep then you will know in your life time.
I've made 200 posts on topics I am knowledgeable on. You , on the other hand are the leading insolent poster on all topics with 38k posts.

 

[Soundguy]

keep thinking that if it makes you feel better. Everybody needs some sort of thumb to suck at some point in their life.

 

[RoyJackson]

I have several ways, a rather inexpensive DVM, a very expensive Fluke graphing power meter and a simple yet very nice Kill-A-Watt device.

The holes are the plugged holes on both sides of the gearbox, 4 in total. Also, the large black plug on the end of the gearbox and the main shaft seal (gearbox to generator) also has recently began leaking. Leaks faster when running and hot, but otherwise, just sitting too. None of the holes are anything I have touched, but instead those plugged by manufacturer.

(I tried several time to upload a picture of the leak points, but the new TBN "picture manager" keeps failing any time I pick a picture that is not in the default directory and that cannot be simply dragged in. It used to be simple, now it stinks!)

Have you tried tightening the plugs? Have you contacted the manufacturer?
I'm guessing these are probably NPT plugs just vibrating loose...although that is, in my experience, rather uncommon.

 

[Soundguy]

i too wonderd what sort of plugs they might be...

 

[DarkBlack]

I have the Voltmaster 12/15 and I have not been entirely happy with it. My problems have been:

1) To keep the Hz at 60, voltage is always a little to high, usually 125-130, 250-260.
2) My tractor governor doesn't seem to sense the increase in load unless it is significant and so HZ and voltage drop a little more than desired. (Probaby not the generator's fault)
3) After a couple of years, the hole plugs on the side of the generator gear reduction box started to leak. Every year since, it seems to get worse.

That voltage is too high. I took a quick look at the on-line manual, and the manufacturer claims voltage regulation should hold +- 1-1/2% so you shouldn't see over 121.8 volts. It looks like some of the models have an adjustable regulator with a pot adjustment, I would check and see if yours is one of the adjustable models. If not, I would contact Voltmaster and tell them of your problem.

 

[Charolais]

That voltage isn't going to harm anything. Like Soundguy my regular line voltage runs 128 since 1984. Never had a problem with it. My Voltmaster runs 129vac@60HZ and will vary a tad with load. HZ is what I shoot for to keep steady. Oh and I've been an industrial electrician for 27 years. Work with ac voltage from 120 - 24,900. I'd much rather have voltage on the high side than on the low side. example: Allen Bradley I/O cards on PLC 5 won't operate below 108 vac. They work great at 125. When voltage goes down , amps go up. When amps go up because of low voltage things tend to run hotter and cost more to operate.

 

[DarkBlack]

That voltage isn't going to harm anything. Like Soundguy my regular line voltage runs 128 since 1984. Never had a problem with it. My Voltmaster runs 129vac@60HZ and will vary a tad with load. HZ is what I shoot for to keep steady. Oh and I've been an industrial electrician for 27 years. Work with ac voltage from 120 - 24,900. I'd much rather have voltage on the high side than on the low side. example: Allen Bradley I/O cards on PLC 5 won't operate below 108 vac. They work great at 125. When voltage goes down , amps go up. When amps go up because of low voltage things tend to run hotter and cost more to operate.

The manufacture's manual says their product should be 120 volts +- 1-1/2%. The poster said he wasn't real happy about it, and I wouldn't be either.So I don't get the point of the debate? Nobody said you can't run your own generator at whatever speed and voltage you want. My line volatge holds right around 120v. I expect my genrator to supply my house with the same voltage as it normally sees. I guess I'm just picky like that. A lot of appliances such as light bulbs have a much shorter life at 130 volts.

"When voltage goes down , amps go up. When amps go up because of low voltage things tend to run hotter and cost more to operate"
That ambiguous comment is totally wrong in many,many, many, instances. You should know better than that with your posted profession. Set your generator running your normal house at 130 volts and measure the current. Then I want you to bring it down to 120 volts, make your measurement, and get back to me.

 

[Charolais]

The manufacture's manual says their product should be 120 volts +- 1-1/2%. The poster said he wasn't real happy about it, and I wouldn't be either.So I don't get the point of the debate? Nobody said you can't run your own generator at whatever speed and voltage you want. My line volatge holds right around 120v. I expect my genrator to supply my house with the same voltage as it normally sees. I guess I'm just picky like that. A lot of appliances such as light bulbs have a much shorter life at 130 volts.

"When voltage goes down , amps go up. When amps go up because of low voltage things tend to run hotter and cost more to operate"
That ambiguous comment is totally wrong in many,many, many, instances. You should know better than that with your posted profession. Set your generator running your normal house at 130 volts and measure the current. Then I want you to bring it down to 120 volts, make your measurement, and get back to me.

I should have added under a load but whatever. I'm not going to argue. Just stated my experience since 1984 with higher than 120 volts. Good luck finding a generator that will hold voltage and HZ within the guide your'e looking for with a varying load. I'll just keep running my Voltmaster when needed to stay warm or cool, clean and not go hungry. Have a good day.

 

[DarkBlack]

My portable generator does hold 117-122 with varing loads, except for when the deep well pump kicks on. No luck needed at all. It's not a big expectation from a generator to simply do what it is supose to do- produce current at the designed voltage. That's all it has to do for the $1000 you pay- produce a 240/120 regulated voltage.
And yes, If I bought a new car and the spedo showed 65 when I'm doing 75, I wouldn't be happy with that either.

 

[Soundguy]

I should have added under a load but whatever. I'm not going to argue. Just stated my experience since 1984 with higher than 120 volts. Good luck finding a generator that will hold voltage and HZ within the guide your'e looking for with a varying load. I'll just keep running my Voltmaster when needed to stay warm or cool, clean and not go hungry. Have a good day.

ist stuck him on ignore.. should have done so long ago. Hope he sticks me on ignore too.. that way harm in case somebodies bag falls off..

And yeah.. i followed theexample you cited, infered fixed load ( resistance), lower voltage, higher amps to achieve same power disipation. I've been into general electronics with a bend towards audio applications for 25 years.. last 15 or so heavy into audio electronics. Stick some civilengineering in there along the way and poof..

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

That voltage is too high. I took a quick look at the on-line manual, and the manufacturer claims voltage regulation should hold +- 1-1/2% so you shouldn't see over 121.8 volts. It looks like some of the models have an adjustable regulator with a pot adjustment, I would check and see if yours is one of the adjustable models. If not, I would contact Voltmaster and tell them of your problem.

All the other discussion aside.

I DO agree that if they claim their machine shoul run in a certain voltage range, at correct freq, within rated load.. then it SHOULD do that. No argumens there whatsoever.

I'm guessing the ones ith an adjustable regulator might be an active andoe precis ystem, vs passive capictance regulation. I have an oler northentol chinese model.. I have the manual around her somewhere.. but 130v is withing their stated range.. guess they ween't raising the bar too muc..

 

[dex3361]

I have a chinese diesel generator and it is the brush type. It has an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) that can be adjusted to tune the voltage. The AVR will adjust the voltage to the brushes up or down to change the output voltage. My 15KW brush type HF PTO generator is set up with an AVR as well.

 

[sdkubota]

I have a chinese diesel generator and it is the brush type. It has an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator) that can be adjusted to tune the voltage. The AVR will adjust the voltage to the brushes up or down to change the output voltage. My 15KW brush type HF PTO generator is set up with an AVR as well.

I am considering getting a HF 15kw PTO generator if it goes on sale. I haven't seen anything negative about it...would you recommend it?

 

[dex3361]

I am considering getting a HF 15kw PTO generator if it goes on sale. I haven't seen anything negative about it...would you recommend it?

I just recently bought this one and really have not put much time on it. I ran it for about an hour to try to see if it would run the 3 ton heat pump and it did so just fine. I would not start my 5HP industrial air compressor but that is asking a bit much since the inrush current is 2 times what the generator is rated for.