Generator why aren't pto generators a lot cheaper?

[heehaw]

I've been doing a little shopping for a generator: and thought one driven by my
21hp tractors pto would be a good idea, until i started looking at the prices?
is there something they have to add to a pto type generator that makes up
for a lot of the motor cost?
heehaw

 

[Dmace]

It depends on what you are comparing it to. A lot of people see a 11KW PTO generator for $1800-$2000 and think they would rather get a gas powered unit from Home Depot for $600. The main difference is that the gas unit is only about 6KW as opposed to 11KW or more. We have a stand-by LP powered 12KW home generator that was $7000 installed so $2000 for a 12KW PTO generator is not that bad...

 

[AndyinIowa]

Realize a lot of retail items like generators are market priced, and not priced on cost + margin.

Great example: Buy a 20oz Pepsi at a convenience store, and you will pay about $1.29 plus deposit and tax. At the same store, many times you can buy a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi for $0.99 plus deposit and tax.

The PTO generator market is not as competitive as the gas genset market. As a result, the profit margins haven't been eroded by competition, and manufacturers can charge more. As long as the market bears it, or competitors don't drive down price, we will continue to pay a premium for PTO gensets.

IowaAndy

 

[WilliamBos]

Realize a lot of retail items like generators are market priced, and not priced on cost + margin.

Great example: Buy a 20oz Pepsi at a convenience store, and you will pay about $1.29 plus deposit and tax. At the same store, many times you can buy a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi for $0.99 plus deposit and tax.

The PTO generator market is not as competitive as the gas genset market. As a result, the profit margins haven't been eroded by competition, and manufacturers can charge more. As long as the market bears it, or competitors don't drive down price, we will continue to pay a premium for PTO gensets.

IowaAndy

And the cheap offshore gas gens have a lot to do with it too. Have made my mind up, gonna go with a PTO gen.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Realize a lot of retail items like generators are market priced, and not priced on cost + margin.

Great example: Buy a 20oz Pepsi at a convenience store, and you will pay about $1.29 plus deposit and tax. At the same store, many times you can buy a 2 liter bottle of Pepsi for $0.99 plus deposit and tax.

The PTO generator market is not as competitive as the gas genset market. As a result, the profit margins haven't been eroded by competition, and manufacturers can charge more. As long as the market bears it, or competitors don't drive down price, we will continue to pay a premium for PTO gensets.

IowaAndy

What he said!

They COST that much because people will PAY that much.

 

[kennyd]

You are also paying for the gearbox to increase the 540 RPM to either 1800 or 3600 RPM-plus the PTO shaft.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Maybe cheap offshore PTO units will help bring the price down?
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[have_blue]

Maybe cheap offshore PTO units will help bring the price down?
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

That's a lot of KW for the bucks. Wonder if it's stable and reliable?

 

[mrutkaus]

Wow that is a deal. usually you have to pay a lot more for the 3pt mount...

Mike

 

[schmism]

im still convinced a china ST gen head mated to the proper size flywheel and belt setup run off the pto at about 1500 tractor rpm is the way to go.

both on the cheep and max fuel efficency

 

[heehaw]

wow, that is the best price i have seen for the output...i will check that one out. i don't plan on powering my computer or anything else i can think of that has a computer in it, the tv and satellite have ups's on them so they should be protected if the power out wasn't just perfect..
thanks
heehaw

 

[WilliamBos]

Maybe cheap offshore PTO units will help bring the price down?
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I wonder how long one of these will last compared the the big dollar units?? or are they the same??

 

[schmism]

I wonder how long one of these will last compared the the big dollar units?? or are they the same??

looks like a standard ST gen head. which are know for there longevity if you do a few maintenance items. including bearings and some redip the windings to make sure the wires don't vibrate and short out.

after those 2 items theres not much else to do to a gen head.

THe other maintance item on the cheep ST gen heads are the "dog house" electronics that do the voltage regulation etc. but most of the stuff is bare bones stuff easy to troubleshoot and replace. (no PCB's which you cant say about the more expensive stuff)

(the doghouse electronics on a 12Kw ST head)

 

[WilliamBos]

looks like a standard ST gen head. which are know for there longevity if you do a few maintenance items. including bearings and some redip the windings to make sure the wires don't vibrate and short out.

after those 2 items theres not much else to do to a gen head.

THe other maintance item on the cheep ST gen heads are the "dog house" electronics that do the voltage regulation etc. but most of the stuff is bare bones stuff easy to troubleshoot and replace. (no PCB's which you cant say about the more expensive stuff)

(the doghouse electronics on a 12Kw ST head)

Hey,

Thanks. Any other things to watch for on these? I am not one who believes that if it costs more it will always be better, so any info here is appreciated.

 

[schmism]

hear is a setup on da-bay complete 20Kw PTO hookup without frame for less than $1K (useing a ST gen head)

ST-20Kw Gen/Alternator, PTO Gear Box, Coupler Combo !! - eBay (item 160297856005 end time Dec-09-08 19:37:21 PST)

If you were local-ish (for local pickup) and already had a PTO shaft from say a tiller or something to use then id go for it!

 

[Bedlam]

Thats the good question. If they don't last long then they aren't worth it. I like to feel when i buy for HF that if it does dies I haven't been out much money. And this item wouldn't let me feel well if it didn't last a long time.hope someone weighs in

 

[Mickey_Fx]

hear is a setup on da-bay complete 20Kw PTO hookup without frame for less than $1K (useing a ST gen head)

ST-20Kw Gen/Alternator, PTO Gear Box, Coupler Combo !! - eBay (item 160297856005 end time Dec-09-08 19:37:21 PST)

If you were local-ish (for local pickup) and already had a PTO shaft from say a tiller or something to use then id go for it!

Thanks for the link showing the drive.

I'm with ya for using an ST genhead. With decent bearings installed and qlty rect, they'll run 24/7 for months/yrs on end.

 

[Soundguy]

It depends on what you are comparing it to. A lot of people see a 11KW PTO generator for $1800-$2000 and think they would rather get a gas powered unit from Home Depot for $600. The main difference is that the gas unit is only about 6KW as opposed to 11KW or more. We have a stand-by LP powered 12KW home generator that was $7000 installed so $2000 for a 12KW PTO generator is not that bad...

i think you've inadvertantly doubled the price of the pto generator.

a northern tools 12.5kw genny can be had between 1000 and 1100$ depending on their sales flier... a pto shaft costs a hundred or less...

That's not a bad price for 12.5kw's of power..

Can't touch that with a gasser self powered unit.

soundguy

 

[WilliamBos]

i think you've inadvertantly doubled the price of the pto generator.

a northern tools 12.5kw genny can be had between 1000 and 1100$ depending on their sales flier... a pto shaft costs a hundred or less...

That's not a bad price for 12.5kw's of power..

Can't touch that with a gasser self powered unit.

soundguy

So would you put enough faith in one to buy one? The price is so tempting...

 

[Soundguy]

So would you put enough faith in one to buy one? The price is so tempting...

I have one... Have had it since the bad hurricanes in florida back in 04.

I use it frequently on my farm. back before I had power out at one pasture, I used it daily to power up the water pump to provide water for the animals. I had it hooked to the tractor , on the trailer, and just backed up to the pump itself and hooked it up and ran. Powered it with a 1955 for 660. A graphing meter on the output shows it's power to be as clean as my local utility... voltage regulation was as good or better than my utility as well.

soundguy