PTO Generator
- Thread starter rgood
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Underwaterdog
Bronze Member
I'm not sure what you mean by "does not have Live PTO".
Your profile says you have a 2610. If that is what you still have then just because the clutch doesn't disengage in stages won't keep you from running it. I just put the drive gear selector in neutral, and set the PTO speed selector at 540 rpm, and set the parking brake. Release the clutch and the PTO runs. You will be limited to about 18 kw output with a 2610. That does not mean it won't turn a larger generator, it just doesn't have enough horsepower to keep a larger generator running at the required RPM if you exceed that. Required hp is dependant upon the load on the generator. I ran a 40KW Generac off of my 2500 (same engine as 2610) but was limited to about 50 amps output max. for 12 days after Katrina. Does that answer your question?
Your profile says you have a 2610. If that is what you still have then just because the clutch doesn't disengage in stages won't keep you from running it. I just put the drive gear selector in neutral, and set the PTO speed selector at 540 rpm, and set the parking brake. Release the clutch and the PTO runs. You will be limited to about 18 kw output with a 2610. That does not mean it won't turn a larger generator, it just doesn't have enough horsepower to keep a larger generator running at the required RPM if you exceed that. Required hp is dependant upon the load on the generator. I ran a 40KW Generac off of my 2500 (same engine as 2610) but was limited to about 50 amps output max. for 12 days after Katrina. Does that answer your question?
DK35vince
Super Member
Yes.rgood said:
It makes no differance, live or non-live PTO to run a generator.
RonMar
Elite Member
Rule of thumb for sustainable power generation is 2HP per KW, so 20 PTO HP would manage 10KW of electrical load.
Underwaterdog
Bronze Member
Have you purchased a generator yet? Just like tractors, the quality of generators varies widely. If you are looking for one let me know and I can give you some pointers in what to look for in a generator.
No, I haven't purchased one - I'm new down here and with hurricane season approaching, thought I'd check them out. And thought with using a PTO one, then that is fewer engines to maintain, fewer oils to change etc.
Underwaterdog
Bronze Member
My sentiments exactly. I knew I always keep the tractor ready to go, but its easy to forget about something you are not using.
Look for one that has a generator rpm of 1800. Not the gearbox, which will be 540, but the actual rpm of the generator rotor. It should be in the spec sheet. The 3600 rpm generators are cheaper, because they have less copper in them. But I have noticed they tend to cause a noticeable flickering in lights, even fluorescent. The 1800 has twice as many poles and windings in it, I think its 2 poles vs. 4, and give a stable power output. Also, the rotor will be heavier thus have more inertia to compensate for peak loads such as starting motors (air conditioner
). I have a Generac, but I'm sure there are others that are of good quality also. When my wife and I first met, she couldn't understand why I had stockpiles of food and supplies, barrels of fuel and a big generator. Then Katrina hit. We are about 60 miles north of New Orleans, and outside the mandatory evacuation zone, so we stayed put. We had about 2 weeks of 100 degree plus days. We were one of the few in the whole parish that had A/C . My 40 KW generator that I picked up on 3bay for less than the cost of a 25KW, has a 150 amp breaker and plug and a 50 amp breaker and plug. I used the 50 amp since it would take a 80hp tractor to get the full 150 amps. It was enough to run the 4 ton A/C, lights, satellite TV, refrigerator, freezer, water well, and an Oxygen concentrator (about 6 amps on 120v) for a neighbor. If you want to run the oven, or the washing machine, you have to turn other stuff off accordingly. They soon learned if they pulled too much power the breaker would trip and they would be in the dark. If I wanted to run the hot water heater I would have to turn off the A/C, but most of the time we had enough hot water from the A/C's hot water recovery unit for everyone (family refugee's totaled 7) to be able to take a quick shower. I ran this on a YM2500, 24/7 for 12 days, only stopping for fuel and oil changes. I changed the oil and filter every 3rd day. I ran it with the hood up and the engine ran cooler, especially during the middle of the day. As best as I can estimate, I was averaging about 14 gallons of diesel a day. I do remember that we had a cool night toward the end of the ordeal, and fuel usage dropped dramatically with the A/C not running as much. Sorry for the long post, just trying to fill you in on what to expect.BTY; Stabil is in all my fuel barrels. There website says if you double the recommended amount, it will keep fuel fresh for up to 2 years instead of 1. And since no one was at my house for more than 60 days, I didn't get no check from FEMA.
Mickey_Fx
Veteran Member
A comment I've made before but will do so again. From a pure power standpoint, 1kw = 1.34HP. To allow for losses, you need closer to 1.5HP per kw. Now this is steady state power. To better be able to handle transient loads, the 2HP reccomendation isn't a bad one.
If you are talking about a YM2610 you should be able to handle a 12kw gen. I'm not sure you would want to run either the tractor or gen at near peak power for long but for shorter term periods the tractor could handle the load.
I think what Underwaterdog had in mind for the 1800 rpm genhead is the ST design made and imported from China. These are large, heavy and intended to be run 24/7 for long periods. They do have a lot of rotating mass that helps with handling transient loads. The problem using one of these is you'll need to build the drive yourself so you can turn them at 1800 rpm at a resonable speed from the tractor.
If you are talking about a YM2610 you should be able to handle a 12kw gen. I'm not sure you would want to run either the tractor or gen at near peak power for long but for shorter term periods the tractor could handle the load.
I think what Underwaterdog had in mind for the 1800 rpm genhead is the ST design made and imported from China. These are large, heavy and intended to be run 24/7 for long periods. They do have a lot of rotating mass that helps with handling transient loads. The problem using one of these is you'll need to build the drive yourself so you can turn them at 1800 rpm at a resonable speed from the tractor.