PTO Generators - Any Favorites?

[BackRoad]

Planning on putting in a Natural Gas powered whole house generator in the spring, which should back-up 99% of the utility outages we experience.

Thinking about the unicorns...when the SHTF and NG pipelines are shutdown.

Any favorite PTO driven generators that might be recommended?

 

[steve tym]

I used a NorthStar for a while with no complaints.

 

[Hughman]

Winco

 

[bdhsfz6]

Too bad you didn't post earlier. I just sold my Baumalight TX12, 12KW PTO generator 2 weeks ago;

It served me well, but I'm getting older and not as able to hook it up for every outage we get around here.

I decided to replace it with a standalone Diesel generator:

It's far more economical than using a 60HP tractor to power a 12 KW PTO generator.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with a PTO genny, I'm just not able to deal with the hassle of hooking it up any longer.

To answer your question, I have nothing but good things to say about the Baumalight. It's a solid piece of equipment.

 

[zzvyb6]

Iv'e always had perfect reliability with my WinPower. 1st was a 50/25 with an additional 3 phase capability. Now I have a 30/20 model. Never had to be re-flashed, easy to hook up, and can even run it off my JD935 lawn mower using a pto speed reducer having a 540 output shaft. Now I run it off of my JD1435 mower (newer and a tad more power). I made up a special H-frame for it to hold the gearbox without having to have the mower deck in place. It serves me more than just backup house power. I can take my welders "out back" to fix or repair equipment without having to drag it back to the shop.

BTW: the reducer gearbox reverses the standard pto rotation direction, but the generator doesn't seem to care. For some models, the manual suggests doing some brush changes when it's run 'backwards', but I'm up for that yet. Also have a 6500W Honda with a power sensing throttle. I back up the pto genny candidate diesel supply with a 100 gal. tank full, just in case WW-III or WW-IV begins. I use a Kill-O-Watt instrument to read frequency as well as voltage to set the throttle. (The genny does have a gauge, but I wanted a second vote. For our needs, there is plenty of rotary inertia, motor h.p. and governor authority to keep the frequency on target.)

 

[BackRoad]

Greatly appreciate the details from each of you. There are pros and cons for having a dedicated diesel, vs PTO driven generator.

This would be as Mr. ZZVYB6 mentioned, for a WW III event if NG were shut off.

Of course, access to any Dino fuel would be suspect if that happened.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Greatly appreciate the details from each of you. There are pros and cons for having a dedicated diesel, vs PTO driven generator.

This would be as Mr. ZZVYB6 mentioned, for a WW III event if NG were shut off.

Of course, access to any Dino fuel would be suspect if that happened.

Thing is, when the NG is shut off, that's it, you are done.

With diesel you have other options as in trading or scrounging some up. Even used oil, fry oil and other oils can be made to use.

Not that I "need" electricity so bad that I would do any of that, as electricity is more of a want than a need.

SR

 

[bdhsfz6]

Thing is, when the NG is shut off, that's it, you are done.

With diesel you have other options as in trading or scrounging some up. Even used oil, fry oil and other oils can be made to use.

Not that I "need" electricity so bad that I would do any of that, as electricity is more of a want than a need.

SR

If you heat with fuel oil, you usually have a sizeable supply on hand. Mine would run my diesel generator for a month if necessary. Any longer than that, electricity will be the least of your problems.

 

[LittleBill21]

If you heat with fuel oil, you usually have a sizeable supply on hand. Mine would run my diesel generator for a month if necessary. Any longer than that, electricity will be the least of your problems.

did you do a full load test yet on the new one?

 

[bdhsfz6]

did you do a full load test yet on the new one?

Not yet. around half load so far.

Working on a way to get fuel to it right now.