B2320 PTO generator speeds

[kuboman]

All this discussion about stand alone or tractor driven seems to depend on how much you use a generator and how much you want to spend. Stand alones are nice but you must buy an engine and all that goes with keeping it running. Yes when you run a tractor you are putting some (minimal) wear on other components but it is about the easiest wear you can put on a tractor. I use a generator so infrequently that it would be more trouble keeping an engine in running condition than it is to hook up a tractor and run it for a few hours. The wear involved does not even enter the equation in my opinion.

 

[schoolsout]

Your choice but unless you are going to put many many hours on running the generator why not just use your tractor. Running it a pto speed will not hurt it. Remember that these engine do run gen sets and reefers and they run 10-15000 hrs before they are retired.:thumbsup:

There's a reefer unit on our sales yard with 42k hours on it

 

[kuboman]

There's a reefer unit on our sales yard with 42k hours on it

I stand corrected. Is that original hours with no tear down? If so that is incredible but it does go to prove that a refer or genset is very easy on an engine:thumbsup:

 

[schoolsout]

I stand corrected. Is that original hours with no tear down? If so that is incredible but it does go to prove that a refer or genset is very easy on an engine:thumbsup:

I'm not sure. I don't think it has, but can't say without a doubt. We acquired the truck through mechanic's lien when owner couldn't pay for repairs (unfortunately, he bought the truck from a private individual who had an employee that sabotaged the fuel tank for the truck with sugar). I think there were about 12k hours from electric standby operation, so the 42k wasn't all the engine (if the hour meters are even correct) that I'm thinking, but ThermoKing listed hours on the repair bill as 42k (they just cleaned some connections, changed filter, and tightened/replaced belts).

ThermoKing's comment was those units were bulletproof (it's an early 90's model) and it fires right up when I flip the toggle switch to it.

You need a cheap reefer truck? :laughing:

 

[spike23]

All this discussion about stand alone or tractor driven seems to depend on how much you use a generator and how much you want to spend. Stand alones are nice but you must buy an engine and all that goes with keeping it running. Yes when you run a tractor you are putting some (minimal) wear on other components but it is about the easiest wear you can put on a tractor. I use a generator so infrequently that it would be more trouble keeping an engine in running condition than it is to hook up a tractor and run it for a few hours. The wear involved does not even enter the equation in my opinion.

I agree. So what happens when you go to use your standalone (that you haven't used for 5 years) and it won't start? Meanwhile, you probably use your tractor enough, so you shouldn't have that problem... Go PTO, I did.
Chris

 

[PHILIP8N]

I agree. So what happens when you go to use your standalone (that you haven't used for 5 years) and it won't start? Meanwhile, you probably use your tractor enough, so you shouldn't have that problem... Go PTO, I did.
Chris

I 'excersize' my stand alone generator once a month for 10 to 15 minutes. There is a tag on the roll cage to indicate what day it was last run, then you just run it 30 days after that. Once a year during Thanksgiving holiday before most ice storms hit I drain the fuel and put in wife's car, then refill with fresh fuel and sta-bil. Every couple years or when I feel like it I change oil (5w-40) and oil filter and mark the date and hours on the filter. I bought this generator after the December 31 1999 scare when all clocks, cars, tv's, power, phone, etc, was suppose to stop working. Got it for a good price in January of 2000 and it still runs perfect today with good care. If you leave any gasoline engine sit for 5 years and never start it, you deserve issues. BTW, I would love to have a pto generator, just did not work out that way. Philip.

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

What PHILIP8N said.

I got my Honda 6500 in 1992 between storms that had us snowed in and out of power for 5 days each. No power, no lights, no water, nothing but a paper sack for a hat...

I run it every month or two, keep the fuel fresh and stabilized, and the battery tied to a little smart charger. Oil + filter change based on hours/calendar time, about 18 month - 2year intervals. There's a little log book in the binder with the owner's and service manuals.

Z.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

One thing not mentioned and maybe not thought of is the importance of running a pto genny at the proper speed as that is what controls the A.C. frequency. In the USA that means 60Hz. Vary more than a few Hz from that and your likely going to damage something. Thinking any induction motor like on your refrig equipment, well pump, etc.

The size of your tractor, trying to run the genny with tractor pto set for high speed and then drop engine speed down to get 540, you're not going to be able to produce very much power, maybe 2-3 kW.

 

[PHILIP8N]

One thing not mentioned and maybe not thought of is the importance of running a pto genny at the proper speed as that is what controls the A.C. frequency. In the USA that means 60Hz. Vary more than a few Hz from that and your likely going to damage something. Thinking any induction motor like on your refrig equipment, well pump, etc.

The size of your tractor, trying to run the genny with tractor pto set for high speed and then drop engine speed down to get 540, you're not going to be able to produce very much power, maybe 2-3 kW.

I believe the OP and others have dual speed pto's, meaning they can have 540 pto rpm at two different engine rpm's. One of my tractors has a 3 speed pto. I can get 540 pto rpm from 2200 rpm, 1800 rpm, or 1500 rpm, just by selecting and intermediate range gearbox. I may use 2200 rpm for high hp applications like chipping, 1800 rpm for mowing, and 1500 rpm for a low hp application like a water pump. Most pto generators have a frequency or hertz analog meter built in so you can fine tune the input speed. However, most tractors have droop style governors, so you will get a range in frequency's depending upon load. Most dedicated generators have isochronous governing, so it keeps the rpm's and frequency nice and tight (at the expense of fuel consumption and engine wear). Philip.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

I believe the OP and others have dual speed pto's, meaning they can have 540 pto rpm at two different engine rpm's. One of my tractors has a 3 speed pto. I can get 540 pto rpm from 2200 rpm, 1800 rpm, or 1500 rpm, just by selecting and intermediate range gearbox. I may use 2200 rpm for high hp applications like chipping, 1800 rpm for mowing, and 1500 rpm for a low hp application like a water pump. Most pto generators have a frequency or hertz analog meter built in so you can fine tune the input speed. However, most tractors have droop style governors, so you will get a range in frequency's depending upon load. Most dedicated generators have isochronous governing, so it keeps the rpm's and frequency nice and tight (at the expense of fuel consumption and engine wear). Philip.

Nothing new or unknown. My tractor has a 4 sp pto. While previous posts were focusing on the tractor, I was just pointing out the important thing on the genny side. In many discussions of this kind I read all kinds of post talking about engine speed for producing proper voltage and rarely a word on A.C. freq.

As you and another post pointed out, tractor gov's are not the best for holding constant speed that is best for electrical generation.

Yrs ago I did some testing on a 2HP electric motor. While it could easily handle the load at 60Hz is was designed for, didn't take too long for motor to heat up after switching to 50Hz power. Induction motors are sensitive to freq.