PTO Generators - Any Favorites?

[bdhsfz6]

What's your Dewalt battery voltage? I love the idea, but don't want to put 18 volts to a 12 volt pump.

I used this regulator:

Amazon.com

It will convert any DC voltage between 18 and 60 volts to 12 VDC up to30 amps.

I like it because it lets me use either my 60V or 20V DeWalt tool batteries.

 

[bdhsfz6]

@bdhs Thanks! That would have saved me a bunch of effort on my fuel pump. I put a 120V to 12V power supply into a sealed enclosure with sealed switches. Way too complicated. I think that is I will repurpose that power supply for another use and use your solution.

All the best,

Peter

I could have used a 120 VAC pump I have laying around, and it would have been much simpler. The only problem with that is, if the generator runs out of fuel, I have no AC to power the pump.

 

[LittleBill21]

I could have used a 120 VAC pump I have laying around, and it would have been much simpler. The only problem with that is, if the generator runs out of fuel, I have no AC to power the pump.

I find it hard to believe you don't have a inverter floating around somewhere...

 

[bdhsfz6]

I find it hard to believe you don't have a inverter floating around somewhere...

Yeah, I could have gone that route but since I had both AC and DC pumps, as well as the DC converter, it seemed simpler to go DC.

 

[LittleBill21]

Yeah, I could have gone that route but since I had both AC and DC pumps, as well as the DC converter, it seemed simpler to go DC.

i just meant as the backup. I don't see you as a person who runs out of fuel, does it have a fuel gauge?

 

[steve tym]

I used this regulator:

View attachment 1869071

Amazon.com

It will convert any DC voltage between 18 and 60 volts to 12 VDC up to30 amps.

I like it because it lets me use either my 60V or 20V DeWalt tool batteries.

I have the same tank, but John Dow. I used a 12 volt battery, but am kinda screwed when the battery fails. I like this idea, plenty of cordless tool batteries around. And, I won't need the battery tender. Thanks for the design, I just ordered the regulator, now just need to order the battery adapter.

 

[steve tym]

Amazon has a battery adapter with a regulator as a single package.

 

[bdhsfz6]

i just meant as the backup. I don't see you as a person who runs out of fuel, does it have a fuel gauge?

If you mean a fuel gauge on the generator, yes. I have a security camera set up to view it, so I can check the fuel level on my smartphone.

I may be a person who doesn't run out of fuel, but I'm also a person who likes to be prepared.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I have the same tank, but John Dow. I used a 12 volt battery, but am kinda screwed when the battery fails. I like this idea, plenty of cordless tool batteries around. And, I won't need the battery tender. Thanks for the design, I just ordered the regulator, now just need to order the battery adapter.

The trick to using a battery is to keep it charged. Most of us with tool batteries always have one around with a full charge.

 

[RjCorazza]

The trick to using a battery is to keep it charged. Most of us with tool batteries always have one around with a full charge.

I like your battery setup, but I think I go through too much fuel in the spring and summer to power my pump with tool batteries. What I have been doing lately is leaving the 30a charger on the large lead acid battery while fueling. The pump runs faster than normal, and the charger goes to float voltage immediately after the pump shuts off. Do you think I am risking damage to the pump motor doing this?

 

[Smokeydog]

I like your battery setup, but I think I go through too much fuel in the spring and summer to power my pump with tool batteries. What I have been doing lately is leaving the 30a charger on the large lead acid battery while fueling. The pump runs faster than normal, and the charger goes to float voltage immediately after the pump shuts off. Do you think I am risking damage to the pump motor doing this?

Don’t think you are hurting your pump motor. Low voltage more of a concern than charging voltage.

Pumps usually have a duty cycle. The Vevor pump is 10 minutes. That’s 110gallons. I tested for 5 minutes and drained less than half of a 5ah dewalt battery recirculating back to tank. In theory could dispense the whole 107 gallons on one battery pack. Don’t have power in tractor shed so the rechargeable battery trick works well. Can easily switch to battery clips and use tractor batteries if needed.

From an engineering perspective would like to see data of actual under load voltage and amps these battery converters deliver with this application. An incorporated digital voltage gauge would be a nice feature.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I like your battery setup, but I think I go through too much fuel in the spring and summer to power my pump with tool batteries. What I have been doing lately is leaving the 30a charger on the large lead acid battery while fueling. The pump runs faster than normal, and the charger goes to float voltage immediately after the pump shuts off. Do you think I am risking damage to the pump motor doing this?

I doubt you'll damage the pump for the short period of run time it takes to fill a tractor tank.

I was doubtful about the capacity of these 5AH tool batteries at first. I was surprised to find I could empty that 30 gal. barrel and still have half a charge left. I have a couple of 12AH batteries I use in my mower, and was prepared to use one of those but the 5AH work just fine.

I don't usually leave the battery on the pump in the unheated garage. I take one off the charger in the shop and put it in my pocket if I need to pump fuel. I treat the pump just like any other cordless tool.

 

[RjCorazza]

I may get one of those tool battery converters for my 20v DeWalt batteries. 30 gallons is quite a bit more fuel than I would have guessed a tool battery could pump, with power to spare.
I did have the lead acid battery left over from my truck, which was removed from service at 50% capacity.
Glad to hear I'm not likely to damage the pump by leaving the charger on.... one less thing to mess with!

 

[ponytug]

Don’t think you are hurting your pump motor. Low voltage more of a concern than charging voltage.

Pumps usually have a duty cycle. The Vevor pump is 10 minutes. That’s 110gallons. I tested for 5 minutes and drained less than half of a 5ah dewalt battery recirculating back to tank. In theory could dispense the whole 107 gallons on one battery pack. Don’t have power in tractor shed so the rechargeable battery trick works well. Can easily switch to battery clips and use tractor batteries if needed.

From an engineering perspective would like to see data of actual under load voltage and amps these battery converters deliver with this application. An incorporated digital voltage gauge would be a nice feature.

That is impressive performance. I would not have guessed that much fuel could be moved. Thanks!

There are versions available with battery gauges/voltage meters, but as they aren't built in to the battery, I would not place much trust in the capacity. Bottom line is that I am not sure it buys you much extra information.

All the best,

Peter

 

[bdhsfz6]

In most cases, these transfer pumps don't have to lift or pump fuel to any great height. The pump tank is usually at or close to the same height as the tank you're filling. The actual pump amp draw is usually far less than it's rating.

Even if a 5AH battery wasn't sufficient for how much you pump, have a spare handy just like you would with a cordless tool. Most of us with cordless tools have more than one available.

 

[lincmercguy]

I did some research and asked around here as well. I'm probably going to go with the Winco 15k. I'm still researching a type of quick connection for it. My transfer switch currently has a 50A twist lock, wouldn't be enough for this one under heavy load.

 

[Hughman]

I did some research and asked around here as well. I'm probably going to go with the Winco 15k. I'm still researching a type of quick connection for it. My transfer switch currently has a 50A twist lock, wouldn't be enough for this one under heavy load.

The WinCo comes with a 60A plug to go into the generator. Just add it onto the cord from the transfer switch (assuming the switch can handle 60 amps).

 

[lincmercguy]

The WinCo comes with a 60A plug to go into the generator. Just add it onto the cord from the transfer switch (assuming the switch can handle 60 amps).

The transfer switch can handle 200A. It currently has the 50A twist lock on thr bottom of the box. Easy to swap, but I'd rather not have a cord hanging out of it all of the time. I was researching what I needed to do something similar, but I got distracted with other projects.

 

[bdhsfz6]

View attachment 1841352
Winco 10kW. Three houses, barn requires mobility. 0.56 gallon per hour with the B26.
View attachment 1841353
107gallon tank just put into service.

Even with best precautions, running a generator inside is risky. Do have a Miller Bobcat welder/generator in the shop, exhaust routed outside. Run with garage door open and fans running when operating. Always risky.

Anyone interested in the 58 gal version of the Vevor fuel transfer tank, Amazon has a Cyber Monday deal going for 20% off:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B..._AGH3Col0305IMG_pd_ot_dealz_dotd_2p_5_lm&th=1

 

[Hughman]

The transfer switch can handle 200A. It currently has the 50A twist lock on thr bottom of the box. Easy to swap, but I'd rather not have a cord hanging out of it all of the time. I was researching what I needed to do something similar, but I got distracted with other projects.

I also have a 200A xfer switch (inside the basement). I wasn't able to source a 60A female outlet so I simply have 30' of cord hanging on a hook outside the basement wall that will reach the tractor when needed.