3-Point Hitch Low Speed PTO Generators

[WCarp]

I have been looking for a reasonably priced low speed PTO generator and finally found one with some difficulty, so I wanted to share the info in case someone out there is looking for a low speed PTO generator. I don't want to run my NH Boomer 3050 engine at 2,500 RPM to get a PTO RPM of 540. According to the torque curve for the engine, the max torque is at approximately 1,800 RPM. At that speed, the PTO RPM is 390 which is very close to 400 RPM that the 4.5 gear ratio box provides that the company sells. You do have to figure out how to mount the generator and gearbox and add a voltage/frequency meter and electrical connections though. Their website does give some examples.

At Central Georgia Generator: PTO Generator Kits – Generator Accessories | Central Georgia Generators they have generator kits and gearboxes with different ratios so depending upon what you want, you can turn a 4 pole generator at 400 RPM if you want. The kits such as the 8.2 KW include industrial quality parts. I was told the gearbox weighs 100 lbs. and the 8.2 KW generator weighs 235 lbs. The generator has a harmonic distortion of less than 3%, copper windings, and will put out 150% of normal rated output for short periods of time. Because of its weight, if you're a long ways away the shipping cost does add a bit to the price.

 

[Dave M7040]

Made where?

Any mention of a certification such as UL (Underwriters Laboratory)

Dave M7040

 

[RalphVa]

Hope you have your hp curve as well. Need to have enough hp to meet max generator output.

On average, it'll be very low though. For instance, we have a whole house 12.5 kw generator, but the average usage is only about 2.5.

Ralph

 

[Bigpuddie]

I have a 15kw PTO generator. It has to run at 60 Hertz. On my unit, that is about 516 PTO rpm, which is about 1800 rpm.

 

[jp2code]

Some tractors come with dual PTO outputs. One for regular 540 RPM and the other at 1000 RPM. The splines on the 1000 RPM PTO are fine threads, and I don't think it is rated for as much power as the 540 PTO.

Winco Generator | PTO Trailer | TDM76 | Toboa Energy

I looked into PTO generators in the past. At the price they want, going with a natural gas or diesel generator was less. Besides, with the PTO generator, you also have to supply a tractor!

 

[RickB]

The splines on the 1000 RPM PTO are fine threads, and I don't think it is rated for as much power as the 540 PTO.

Quite the opposite.
A 1000 rpm shaft will transmit more torque before failure than a 540 rpm shaft built with the same components. That is exactly why the 1000 rpm standard exists.

 

[07wingnut]

We used to run a 40kw Generac pto generator on the farm as a backup, coupled to an CIH 885, which is rated at some 80hp. For farm use, it was connected to the 540pto stub and the tractor was running full out to get to the correct frequency and full power output. When only used to power the house, the generator was connected to the 1000rpm stub via an adapter stub and the tractor could then run at about half wide open to obtain the correct frequency. Note that with the 1000rpm setup, the power available from the generator was vastly reduced, because the tractor output at half the rated rpm is vastly reduced.

 

[WCarp]

Made where?

Any mention of a certification such as UL (Underwriters Laboratory)

Dave M7040

The generators are listed as being made in Griffin, GA USA and I don't know where the gearboxes are made. As for UL certification, you would have to call the company. I don't remember seeing any UL certification on generators.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Great for a chicken barn or dairy operation. I was hard pressed last week to leave a little Onan 7.5 purring away at 1800 basically just to run the fridge and freezer overnight. With some BIG tractor, that would be a much more difficult decision.

I have a 2:1 JD gearbox off some old crawler tractor I think with appropriate splines. I tried running an Onan 15KW off my old JD 770 at half speed and it wouldn't work at all. Like, not at all. The torque curve was just wrong I guess. At full load, the tractor seemed to put every bit of that 15KW. Total failed experiment.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

With a three speed pto, my 1980 Bolens G174 uses the middle speed of 750 rpm to run mowers and my 7.5 kw generator. I use a separate meter to set the frequency to 60 hertz, and the little tractor runs the house and shops quite happily at about 2/3 rpm on a fraction of the fuel my Kubota hydro uses at 2500 for the same task.