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Power stability with PTO generators
A standalone generator engine has a governor that attempts to maintain rpm under varying loads and so does the tractor engine. As Harvey noted, having a PTO generator that's capable of sustaining a load that the tractor can't carry is a bad idea, although potential problems could be managed by using smaller main breakers if somebody is around to reset the breakers.
Yikes, back-feeding a utility line with a 150hp tractor sure could knock linemen off poles for quite a distance. Fortunate there weren't any nearby indeed. Some immediate probably thought power was coming back on.
I know that utility companies aren't very happy about any kind of transfer switch but they might be even less happy at the idea of somebody hooking into one side of a disconnect. I think transfer switches are set up so it's virtually impossible for the gen feed contacts to be made unless the utility feed is disconnected. Around here we have to use 3-point disconnects and I imagine that most disconnects and combination service panel mains have 2-point disconnects.
Irrespective of code requirements, I like my linemen and know they work in conditions I wouldn't want to work in. I want them be happy so I'll what ever equipment the utility says I have to use even if I'm certain I'm not going to backfeed a line.
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Power stability with PTO generators
Harvey: I'll bet the codes for transfer switches are different now. They got very particular about them 5 - 6 years ago around here.
A generator's main breakers are intended to protect it from overload and the breakers should work irrespective of tractor HP. But as Art said, they don't. I believe what is going on is that most generators have something less than a 100% duty cycle. They are capable of sustaining peak loads for limited periods and the breakers are sized to accommodate the peaks not the continuous rating of the generator. I think it's possible to burn up most any generator by carrying loads in the peak power range indefinitely and the mains won't pop.
I think most manuals sort of suggest this problem but they don't indicate the consequences very well nor say how to tell when loads in the peak rage occur. My Honda seems to cycle between full and partial throttle under heavy loads. If I hear that other than briefly when a motor is starting I figure that I have to reduce to load within 15 minutes or so. I'm not certain that's a reliable procedure but it's the only one I have.
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