What size of Generator would I need...?

[Exfarmer]

Nonsense question really, but...

Would my little 46hp DB be happy to turn it on 1000 PTO, so only doing 1100 engine revs...

Worried that it will either abuse it, or, be light running causing it to glaze...

Much as I liike DB's I think you will be pushing it running a genny of over 10KVA on the 1000 rpm setting. As you need stability on most electronics and if you are running a welder the load would reduce the voltage below working parameters.
The 540 at 1,800 revs would be far more settled

 

[Selectamatic]

Much as I liike DB's I think you will be pushing it running a genny of over 10KVA on the 1000 rpm setting. As you need stability on most electronics and if you are running a welder the load would reduce the voltage below working parameters.
The 540 at 1,800 revs would be far more settled

Really? I have no real idea, and am open to the experience of others...

 

[S J H]

When I briefly looked at them, you could have a silent generator with a switch connected to the lights, so it started automatically, I think starting a tractor each time would stop me from boiling the kettle.

 

[Forever Fendt]

Have you any poles on your ground or underground cables ,sometimes a deal to be done!

 

[Spud]

We occasionally use a 20kva pto genny, usually on the MF3075, occasionally on the Ford5600. It has three lights on it, re pto speed - too slow, too fast, and sweet spot. What tends to happen with a big load (less so for a light load) is when the tractor is cold, you set it so the sweet light is on, then 10mins or so later, go shut the throttle down a bit, cos the too fast light has come on. Failure to do so causes upset at the trip box, and a blown circuit board on the grader

Not had the same bother with silent box purpose built gennys, seem to be set up so its not a problem. I know someone with no 3phase. He has a single phase control system in his taty shed, and when fans are required, the system starts the genny automatically. Works well.

 

[Warp Land Farmer]

More power, much less money...?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PTO-TRACT...991418?hash=item2f06a5ca3a:g:0HUAAOxygPtSqMSF

Buy a combine engine and link it up permanently?

 

[Y Fan Wen]

When I briefly looked at them, you could have a silent generator with a switch connected to the lights, so it started automatically, I think starting a tractor each time would stop me from boiling the kettle.

Lister Startomatic, very popular in the 50's before the grid had got round everywhere.
We had the 1.5kw one from 1957 to 1963 when the mains came.

 

[upnortheast]

Get a bigger one than the sums show.
Years ago we had a 16kva mains supply which ran everything with ease. We had a 16KVA genny for power cuts. While milking had to make sure supper was not being cooked in the house and the water boiler was off or the overload would trip.

 

[jendan]

Nonsense question really, but...

Would my little 46hp DB be happy to turn it on 1000 PTO, so only doing 1100 engine revs...

Worried that it will either abuse it, or, be light running causing it to glaze...

No! It would not run it at 1000pto,it would just stall.You need 60-70hp even for an ordinary smallish gen.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Start up currents are your main concern.

It be tempted to buy a fixed unit bigger than you need on auto start up.

Get a decent spark to do all your start up and running needs first then match accordingly

 

[multi power]

@Selectamatic we have a 21 KVA at home, will run lights etc fine on 1000 on the 1394 but needs to be in 540 to run parlour, tank water heater etc
Anyway I can't think of a much better excuse to fire up a nice classic tractor

 

[Blue.]

My bro runs his workshop with a 20kva 3ph genny run by his db880,it runs it fine.

 

[Netherfield]

Nonsense question really, but...

Would my little 46hp DB be happy to turn it on 1000 PTO, so only doing 1100 engine revs...

Worried that it will either abuse it, or, be light running causing it to glaze...

Yes it would run it OK on a fixed load, but striking the arc with a welder will drag the revs down too much and it will struggle recover from 1100 revs, whereas at 1800 revs the engine torque is better and will recover sooner. Been there,done that with a 4cyl 880 implematic.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Hello everyone!

Shed is up, the next plan is electricity in it...

A connection is eye wateringly expensive, so much so that it is out of the question.

A idea that I have is that I have plenty of tractors, so why not have a tractor mounted generator?

Noise is a downside I suppose, but, I could put the tractor outside?

The question is... how much capacity should I be looking for?

I'll want to power...

Lights
Arc Welder
Inverter Welder
New Manchester Saw
Grinders
Pillar Drill
Steam Cleaner
Kettle
Microwave

Or a combination of the above...

Suggestions, anyone?

Where's all the gear currently running? Can you get a clamp meter on the supply while your running each bit of gear and stuff that will be simultanaeously loaded. Otherwise your pissing in the wind a bit. You need a reasonable baseline of load to make an informed decision. You could be wasting a lot of money otherwise on capital and unnecessary diesel to run or worse undersize it.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Did you get sorted? This came up on facebook today.

 

[fermerboy]

I used to drive a mobile grain dresser with a 3 phase 40kva genny on a 6310 JD on the 750rpm PTO, most of the time it was grand but when you hit the switch for the big dresser motor she coughed a bit.

Later we had a 6630 JD on it and it could handle it on the 1000 PTO no bother, once warm and set she held the RPM spot on all day. One day I had to put it on my TM140 , tried the 1000 PTO thinking I'd a bigger tractor, but it couldn't hold the RPM steady, up and down like a yo yo, blowing trips the lot. Stuck her on to the 540E(750) and it was grand again.
Been told that many older type engines are very slack in the governers that is the bother, for speed crucial jobs anyway.
Something to watch for at low revs.

 

[Badshot]

I used to drive a mobile grain dresser with a 3 phase 40kva genny on a 6310 JD on the 750rpm PTO, most of the time it was grand but when you hit the switch for the big dresser motor she coughed a bit.

Later we had a 6630 JD on it and it could handle it on the 1000 PTO no bother, once warm and set she held the RPM spot on all day. One day I had to put it on my TM140 , tried the 1000 PTO thinking I'd a bigger tractor, but it couldn't hold the RPM steady, up and down like a yo yo, blowing trips the lot. Stuck her on to the 540E(750) and it was grand again.
Been told that many older type engines are very slack in the governers that is the bother, for speed crucial jobs anyway.
Something to watch for at low revs.

The modern tractors management system makes it possible to maintain a set speed regardless of load.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

It's a good point that's raised. The governor on a dedicated genset is setup to regulate revs very tightly around 1500 rpm in order to maintain output frequency at 50 Hz or thereabouts.

A tractor engine governor has completely different droop characteristics as it has to operate and regulate over a much wider rev range and some (perhaps latter electronically governed) engines may hold set revs steady better over time or varying (electrical) load.

Frequency stability is very important - but the effects of instability on connected gear will vary depending on what kit is connected - elements won't matter, motors will speed up/down, control systems, breakers etc may trip. Your mileage may vary as the yanks say.

 

[upnortheast]

It's a good point that's raised. The governor on a dedicated genset is setup to regulate revs very tightly around 1500 rpm in order to maintain output frequency at 50 Hz or thereabouts.

Before we got 3phase we ran the bottling plant on a genny. - about 24 hours / week. Could never work out why the boiler time clock didn`t keep time. Sparky thought because the clock "speed" is controlled by the Hz. Mains supply is consistently at 50 Hz where the genny supply drifts

 

[Selectamatic]

Resurrecting this thread... I've been given a suggestion...

Rather than a generator, how about some solar panels, that cleverly charge batteries, which in turn run an inverter...?

Any suggestions or experiences?