| Click to Post a New Message!
Page [ 1 ] |
|
|
|
PTO Generators Observations
Sounds like a good present and good it's working beyond expectations. I think what you are experiencing is that ratings for AC equipment are pretty conservative and houses usually are running much below the service rating.
Even fairly high starting surges for electric motors are of short duration. There's a decent change that inertia of the engine, drive train and larger generator is sustaining the rpm for the short time it takes for a motor to come up speed even if the requirements are greater than the tractor's pto hp. A larger generator and higher surges will be a bit harder on the pto clutch. You probably don't have to consider if the generator is exceeding it's duty cycle though.
Several motors starting up at the same time could be a different story though. I know that's what my 6.5kw standalone doesn't like much--never have popped a main though. It is possible for a big generator to bring a tractor down. That might be an issue if a number of large motors are on the system and it's running unattended. If it's an issue smaller mains probably could be installed.
|
|
 Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
PTO Generators Observations
Good to hear a happy man! The issue of big tractors with small generators may be an issue for people still looking but not for Harvey. I think most melt downs come from people running a generator between its continuous and peak ratings for times longer than the duty cycle rating. That can easily happen with small lower-end generators. The may be advertised to impress by low cost and high peak ratings but at the expense of shorter duty cycles. The generator's breakers protect against peak loads but not against prolonged loads between the continuous and peak ratings. To manage this problem, the generator has to be larger than typical continuous loads. Harvey isn't likely to have this issue but I do. The automatic start up panel discussed here awhile back that shuts down circuits on a priority basis to manage load is a potential fix.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
PTO Generators Observations
With an oversized generator, you do have to be very sure of the loads. People do forget to turn things off or somebody else can turn something on unexpectedly. Brown-outs can overheat electric motors without popping a breaker.
A trick for people who don't have freq meters is to compare the times between an AC clock with a sweep second hand and a battery clock. My VOM has a freq meter section so that would be my alternative. Motors do run hotter at low frequencies and it's good to make sure the frequency is right.
Harvey's case is about the only reason I can see to run a generator that can demand appreciably more than the tractor's HP--and I'd take his deal most any day. Usually bigger generators cost more and the capacity can't really be used. They also put a bit more wear and tear on the pto drive. However, an advantage would be that the generator's continuous rating may be above the tractor's HP. High loads could be run continuously without heating the generator as long as the engine wasn't lugging. Don't know why generators don't have thermo switches but maybe high end ones do.
|
|
Add Photo
Bookmarks: |
|
| |
|
Page [ 1 ] | Thread 72825 Filter by Poster:
10 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
|
()
Picture of the Day
Coachlarry
Unanswered Questions
Active Subjects
Hot Topics
Featured Suppliers
|
Gas Generator Weather Protecti
01-01-2004, 11:35 
Digg It 
Del.icio.us