PTO Generators: Winco

[daTeacha]

I tend toward overkill in the safety with electricity area. I just have a second set of outlets, wires, and panel for the generator only. I will install a lockout switch for the pump -- essentially two breakers set in place back to back and mechanically linked through the switch handles so turning one off turns the other one on -- but aside from that all I need is a couple of 120V circuits in selected rooms and a good woodpile. My generator runs on natural gas, thus freeing the tractor for hauling firewood and moving snow. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[40_acre_mule]

Another advantage to a PTO gen...
With a stand-alone, you're supposed to start and run it once a month (under load) just to make sure the engine runs properly.
With the PTO gen, the tractor IS the engine. If you're using your tractor regularly anyway, then you know you're set.
Just make sure you keep the gen properly covered when not in use to protect against mice, mud wasps, etc.
The reason the PTO gen costs so much less is that you're NOT buying an engine. That alone will run $1000.

 

[40_acre_mule]

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One thing also to consider--do you want to be hooking up a PTO generator in a storm?

Just food for thought, not meaning to be a party pooper,

Jim
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Well, of course you wait until after the storm to hook everything up. I've added a 50 amp plug to the outside of my main breaker box. After hooking up the genny to the tractor, I just plug in a cable between the genny and the breaker box.

 

[DANOCHEESE]

Please be carfull when connecting any generator to your hosue. If you back feed the power company distribution system this poses a very dangerous situation for the line crew.

You may think that you are only feedign back 120 volts and you are. The problem is that there is a POT ( Transformer) sitting at the other end of your service. POTS work both directions. Feed the pot with 120 volts backwards and you may have 12470 volts on the primary from a source unknown.

Yea not much amperage ( tell that to the grunt who just grabbed the wire) but it will kill.



make sure you have a disconnect in place.

 

[Calvin]

This is an interesting thread since I was thinking of a getting a PTO generator (once I get my tractor...hopefully this weekend!).

My only question is reagrding the frquency control of these gensets. I know the frquency of the AC output is controlled by the RPM of the genset. I assume these PTO gensets accept 540RPM. How well are PTO RPMs regulated on the tractor side? I assume you set what ever RPM you need on the tractor to achieve 540 on the PTO but will the tractor maintain that 540 as long as the load is within reason? Also how hard is it to actually set the throttle to get 540 at the PTO or will the PTO be at 540 as long as the engine RPM is above a certain amount? Does the genset input side (I assume it's an "increasing" gear) have some sort of compensator to make up for fluctuations at the PTO end or would you just end up with frequency fluctuations on the AC signal?

Thanks.

I was wondering about this also. How good are these are running big house loads in the summer - i.e AC and well pumps? Say the AC comes on, with the tractor be able to keep the frequency at 60hz? or will it bog down?

PG&E has just sent out letters saying we need to be prepared for summer outages of over 48 hrs -> Public Safety Shutoff.

A 15KW PTO generator on a 40hp tractor will handle the loads, but I'm not sure how well it will be for the AC or other devices (HD tv, computers, etc). The advantage of a stand alone generator is that the engine govenor can keep everything at 60hz. Not sure if the tractor has something similar or not.

In the winter it might not be a problem with just a frig and some lights, but these outages will be in the summer when we need and use the most power. I'm thinking that these PTO generators are really only meant to power some saws or power tools in the field, not computers or air conditioners, etc.

The Winco 15kw advertises <5% THD, but if the tractor bogs down when a big load starts up, that is not much help either.

 

[Molalla1]

Calvin. . . start a new thread . . . this is what, 13+ years old.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I'm thinking that these PTO generators are really only meant to power some saws or power tools in the field, not computers or air conditioners, etc.

The Winco 15kw advertises <5% THD, but if the tractor bogs down when a big load starts up, that is not much help either.

You would be thinking wrong! I easily run my whole house on my 15kw Winco...

Don't over load the tractor (read put too small of a tractor in front of it) and it will NOT bog down!

I use a farm tractor and using the 2pto hp per kw rule, it works perfectly...

SR

 

[Calvin]

The tractor is 40 hp. Not exactlyy sure what the PTO hp is but I'm guessing that a 15kw generator would be ok. Just want to make sure that the frequency and voltage will not go down so much when big loads start as to cause problems with the computers and other electronics in the house. The power outages will happen in the summer when we need ac and water the most. Now the house uses 6kw with the ac on and 9-10 kw when the irrigation pump is also on. Both the ac and the pump will cycle so we can go from 2-3kw to 10kw. Tractor rpm won't be affected by this or does someone need to stay on the throttle all the time and keep adjusting it to 60hz, 240v? If we use 10kw max, a 15kw generator is only running at 66% max output anyway, never at 100%

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Tractors have governor's, they compensate for any loads up to their rated pto hp, same as any engine that's on a dedicated generator...

SR

 

[Molalla1]

The tractor is 40 hp. Not exactlyy sure what the PTO hp is but I'm guessing that a 15kw generator would be ok. Just want to make sure that the frequency and voltage will not go down so much when big loads start as to cause problems with the computers and other electronics in the house. The power outages will happen in the summer when we need ac and water the most. Now the house uses 6kw with the ac on and 9-10 kw when the irrigation pump is also on. Both the ac and the pump will cycle so we can go from 2-3kw to 10kw. Tractor rpm won't be affected by this or does someone need to stay on the throttle all the time and keep adjusting it to 60hz, 240v? If we use 10kw max, a 15kw generator is only running at 66% max output anyway, never at 100%

No . . . and no. ^^^^ look at Rob's above.