hurricane/power/KUBOTA

[frankbx24]

Hi all, looking at the latest weather I realized that I might need to start getting ready. I live in central Mississippi where hurricanes have normally not been to big of a problem untill Katrina. The wrath Katrina left in my area was devastating, it was like being in the eye of the storm. So I've been thinking about a pto generator, but its a little too late for this season. I figured I might try using the 7500 watt power inverter I have lying on the shelf in the shop. I thought I might hook it up to the bx24 and plug my 5th wheel camper up to it. The camper uses 30amps and it would be a lot more comfortable living in for a week or so than the house with out power. That is if the inverter and tractor would power the camper's A/C. Any comments would be thankful.

 

[Toolguy]

Does your BX24 have enough electrical generating power to run your inverter? If it has the 45 amp alternator you might be OK. If it has the 13 amp dynamo than I don't believe you will be able to use it. I do not know what BX24s have for a stock charging system, but my B3030 came with the dynamo. It is fine if you don't add anything electrical, other than a 35 watt rear work light, otherwise you will need the optional alternator. I got the kit from my dealer and paid $150 for it. I think they list at about $170. You may be able to add one to your BX24 if it did not come stock with it.

On the other hand 30 amps of 120volt AC power is a lot to ask for from just an inverter hooked to a 12 volt electrical system. I kinda doubt if you would be able to run your A/C unit with just an inverter. Minimal lights and a refrigerator, maybe. Good luck. Hope the storm misses you.

 

[rdsaustintx]

7500 watts from a tractor dynamo? No way.

Even with an alternator, no way, no how.

Russell in Texas

 

[Fredex]

Running a 30 amp, 120 volt load from an inverter hooked to your tractor's stock electrical system may be a bit much. 30 a @ 120 v is 3600 watts. 3600 watts at 12 volts requires 300 amps assuming 100% inverter efficiency. That's like starting 2 engines continuously.
Fred

 

[ZackaryMac]

Something else to remember, is that an alternator with a rated output, let's say 45 amps, won't put out 45 amps forever. That is a short-term rating. The typical safe long-term output of an alternator is about 50%, without overheating.
I have a one cylinder Kubota diesel engine hooked up to an 60 amp alternator that I asked about 50 amps out of it for an hour, and the diodes melted away. I consulted a well-known and respected local alternator/starter rebuild guy, and he told me about the 50% output. Like many things, cooling is the biggest problem.
You will also need a LARGE battery reserve to get anywhere near 7500 watts for more than a very short time.
Portable or PTO generator would be a more stable answer.
Just my 2¢ worth.

 

[RonR]

Northern Tool has a pto generator that should work well. I think a few guys here have them.

I'm not in hurricane country or I'd have one.

ron

 

[CDsdad]

I don't know exactly where you're at, but I know there are pto generators at dealers in Jackson, Magee, Hattiesburg, Laurel, and Meridian. I'm sure lots of other places, too. Lots of generators sold in Mississippi in the past year.

 

[40_acre_mule]

I've got a pto generator from Northern Tool. It took about 6weeks for delivery. The tractor shops around me sold pto gens as well, but they wanted a lot more money, and most were brand names I'd never heard of, plus most were made in China.
I was fortunate that my genny came in on a Friday. Katrina hit the following Monday. I needed that genny for 16 days before we got power back.
If I was without a gen at that time, I might have spent the extra bucks for a Chinese no-name.

 

[agh]

thought I'd add my 2 cents. we bought a portable generator just before katrina hit and it kept my business going in the day and kept us going at night.(ran pump for showers, window a/c, a few lights , refrig and especially the deep freezer with my deer meat!! I wondered what use it would be thereafter. Well now my wife has me put generator in truck bed and using extension cord use hedge trimmer on long driveway hedges ( i didn't mind them tall and bushy). had a flat tractor tire boxblades up some privit hedge. how about gen in truck , add air compressor, air wrench in field to take off tire. sure beat struggling with lug nuts and busted knuckles. Portable generator on the farm coming in handy as well as knowing it is there if another katrina hits ( Lord forbid) agh

 

[jim_galloway]

What size generator could a B7800 handle effiiciently? Just how much power do you think it could squeeze out of say a 15kw pto genny? I think the PTO on a B7800 has somewhere around 28HP or so....

I have a B7800 and have been considering purchasing a pto generator, but would only want to do it if it could put out enough power to run my central air (4tons) and some other things when I need them. Otherwise i will wait and save up for a stand alone system.

 

[skipperbrown]

Well after living through several hurricanes over the past 2 years and being w/o power for up to 11 days, let me say this about that: I recommend buying a dedicated generator (or 2) for generator duties during a power outage for the 3 following reasons.

One, you and your neighbors are going to need your tractor for cleanup. It won't be available for cleanup if it is running your freezer, fridge, and a/c. My bx ran 14 to 16 hours a day after Ivan moving huge amounts of debris, not to mention help lifting tar paper, shingles, and personnel up on roofs. My wife even said, gee, hon, I don't know how we would have ever got this place cleaned up w/o that little tractor.

Want to make friends in a hurry during a disaster? Buy a tractor w/ a fel. And as an added bonus, since you are tractor owner, you get to run the tractor while everybody else does the hard work w/ chain saws and lifting.

Two: Your tractor will run many hours unattended w/o an operator present while running a generator. Most generators have auto shutdowns if something goes wrong like low oil. I don't think our tractors are that smart. I know a lot of farmers run pumps and pond aerators and such off unattended tractors, but I'm not comfortable with the notion.

Three: After Ivan, I ran a 7500 watt generator about 20 hours a day for 11 days. I'd rather put those hours on another engine.

 

[TGD]

A good average for sizing the prime mover (pto, engine etc.) is 2 hp per kw.
Depending upon the mass of the generator and the rotating mass of the prime mover, you probably can get away with lower hp.
Calculating it out 28 hp would power a 14kw head. A 15kw is ok and gives some additional surge capacity but you probably won't be able to max it out. I think you should be able to run most everything needed though.

As an example, I have a generator I built from an old Wisconsin THD and a ST12 kw generator head (heavy 350 lb cast iron 4-pole) I can start and run both central a/c units, well pump, refrigerator, lights, etc. without a problem. Both the engine and the generator have a high rotating mass which helps it through heavy starting loads.

Phil

 

[RonR]

Skipper,

Gas / Diesel engines that run large generators or irrigation motors have auto-shutdown systems, called murphy switches, that kill the engine when oil pressure drops or temperature rises.

You can put them on large tractors, and my guess on compacts as well.

If I were going to run a tractor very long unattended, I'd look into getting these.

I know some farmers put them on their ag tractors in case their hired help doesn't pay attention to the gages.

Ron

 

[cart99]

What size generator could a B7800 handle effiiciently? Just how much power do you think it could squeeze out of say a 15kw pto genny? I think the PTO on a B7800 has somewhere around 28HP or so....

I have a B7800 and have been considering purchasing a pto generator, but would only want to do it if it could put out enough power to run my central air (4tons) and some other things when I need them. Otherwise i will wait and save up for a stand alone system.

B7800 is rated 22hp at the PTO.