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Frequenty Asked Questions

PTO Generator Basics
Power Take Off (PTO) generators offer a very cost effective way to produce electrical power. It eliminates the need of the tractor owner to maintain an additional engine.

It allows the tractor owner to utilize their tractor that is normally well maintained and ready to run rather than a portable generator with a light duty engine that does not want to start after it has been sitting with stale fuel, varnished or stuck carburetor, and a dead battery.

PTO generators operate from the tractor's power take off to produce clean, reliable power. Brushless PTO generators require no maintenance. They have a useful life many times greater than engine generators.

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1. Who can use a PTO Generator?
2. How do I power my whole breaker panel?
3. What size PTO do I need?
4. What Horse Power (HP) tractor do I need?
5. What does all copper windings or all copper wiring refer to?
6. Why is the TigerPower's Digital Frequency Meter superior to other meters?
7. What is class "H" Insulation?
8. What does Tropicalized mean?
9. What is the difference between the many ratings?
10. What is an Automatic (or Electronic) Voltage Regulator (AVR) and the meaning of +/- percentage ratings?
11. What is better continuous duty rating at a higher or lower ambient temperature?
12. Can TigerPower PTO generators be operated outdoors?
13. Why would I buy TigerPower PTO Generator over another brand?
Other questions or concerns?

#1 Who can use a PTO generator?
Anyone with access to a tractor equipped with a power take off.

#2 How do I power my whole breaker panel?
A Manual Transfer Switch is required to safely transfer between the PTO generated power and the Power Company to your breaker panel. Reference the TigerPower Installation and Operation Brochure #185-INSTALLATION-05A

#3 What size PTO do I need?
A PTO generator should be sized to power critical demands in a start-up or "surge environment." Your load must be determined by the critical electrical demands need to be supported when utility power is down; with a specific focus on any equipment with electric motors.

2 Kilowatt (kW) per motor (based on Code G motors) horse power is required to allow the PTO generator to provide the required starting amps to start an idle electric motor.
For example: a customer that needs to support (2) 2.5 HP motors will need at least a 10 kW PTO (5 HP x 2 = 10 kW)

If the customer's load is all resistant load (like light bulbs), simply add the wattage of each load. For example: a warehouse has (40) 100 Watt light bulbs, a 5000 watt electric water heater, a 700 watt refrigerator, and a 5 watt phone system will need a 10 kW PTO (4000 watt + 5000 watt + 700 watt + 5 watt = 9705 watts = 9.705 kW)

Reference the TigerPower Installation & Operation Brochure #185-INSTALLATION-05A for a load calculator OR go to the TigerPower website for an automatic kW and HP calculator at: http://www.tiger-power.com/calculator/sizingcalculator.asp

#4 What Horse Power (HP) tractor do I need?
The customer will need at least 2 (HP) per kW. For example, a customer needing a 10 kW PTO will need 20 PTO-HP.

Larger tractor than required for the generator. If you only need 10 kW and own a 24 PTO-HP tractor, you can still use a 10 kW PTO generator. You will only generate the 10 kW rating. You will have the benefit of better surge capacity and less speed variation with the extra tractor HP.

Larger generator than tractor can handle. If you only have a 24 PTO-HP tractor and purchase a 15 kW generator, you will only generate 14 kW output. There will be a benefit of added surge capacity and less speed variation due to the additional mass that gives additional momentum (Flywheel effect).

#5 What does all copper windings or all copper wiring refer to?
All copper winding and wiring refers to the same thing. It simply means that the material used in the generator windings are made of 100% copper. Some manufactures use copper coated aluminum to reduce cost, which expands and contracts causing connection failures and does not conduct power as efficiently.

#6 Why is TigerPower’s Digital Frequency Meter superior to other meters?
There are three main alternatives to using the “FreqMon2005”; the analog hertz meter, the digital hertz meter and the three light displays. The analog meter can be prone to errors from vibration and can be difficult to see in low visibility situations. Both the analog and digital meters have no indicator to determine what the acceptable range is for the PTO to operate safely. The three light displays provide very limited information. It only informs the operator if the frequency is good or bad, it cannot indicate how close the frequency is to good or bad.

The “Freqmon2005” is an innovative display that solves all of these problems. Its solid-state design makes it immune to the problems caused by vibration. It is capable of displaying 11 different frequency ranges showing the operator how close they are to the safe operating frequency. To use correctly the only thing the operator needs to know is that green is good, yellow is marginal, and red is bad. Its five, high visibility, LED’s make it easy to see from the tractor so the operator can easily adjust the RPM’s to obtain the proper setting.

#7 What is class “H” Insulation?
Class H refers to the temperature rating of the insulation. Insulation is degraded by long term exposure to high temperatures. Higher temperature class insulation can also withstand higher temperatures without failure. Class H insulation is rated for 180º C continuous operations without shortening insulation life.

#8 What does “Tropicalized” mean?
This refers to the resin used to coat the generator windings. Tropicalized windings are coated with a resin that protects the winding from adverse weather conditions and salt air.

#9 What is the difference between the many ratings?
Standby rating - The rating that is assigned to a unit to be used as an emergency backup source. Generator will produce the rated kW for a short amount of time. This is a very common rating of large standby power systems for facility backup power.

Surge rating - The rating at which a sudden temporary variation (surge) in current, voltage, or frequency can occur without harming or stalling the generator. This is the rating used by portable generator manufacturers. It can be very misleading if you are comparing this rating to commercial duty equipment such as a TigerPower PTO.

Continuous Standby rating - Refers to the rating that is assigned to a unit to be used as an emergency backup source with varied load. This generator will produce continuously at the rated kW at varied loads. This is the rating TigerPower uses for their PTO generators.

Continuous rating - The rating at which the generator can operate with a constant non varying load for an unlimited time. This is set by the manufacture and is the machines capability to produce “x” amount of power continuously if the load doesn’t change. This is a typical rating for large engine driven units used for peak shaving.

Prime rating - The rating at which the generator can operate with a varying load for an unlimited amount of time. (24/7/365) Used when the generator is the sole power supply.

#10 What is an Automatic (or Electronic) Voltage Regulator (AVR) and the meaning of +/- percentage ratings?
A generator with an AVR monitors the output voltage and automatically adjusts the output voltage to maintain a very stable voltage. The +/- indicates the window of accuracy. If you set the unit at 240 Volts and the regulator is +/- 2%, the voltage will be maintained between 235.2 and 244.8 volts, which are within 2% (+/- 4.8v) of 240.

#11 What is better continuous duty rating at a higher or lower ambient temperature?
The ambient temperature refers to the temperature of the air surrounding the unit. It is best to be able to operate at a higher ambient temperature. Most generators are designed to operate at an ambient temperature of 40º C.

#12 Can TigerPower PTO generators be operated outdoors?
Yes they can. The TigerPower PTO is designed for “Drip-proof” operation. Drip-proof is an industry term meaning having ventilating openings constructed so that drops of liquid or solid particles falling on the machine at an angle of not greater than 15 degrees from the vertical cannot enter the machine. Sheltering the PTO unit is highly recommended for use during inclement weather.

#13 Why would I buy TigerPower PTO Generator over another brand?
Highest quality product, simple to use, 5 year parts and labor warranty, competitively priced, detailed product literature and knowledgeable sales professionals and support staff

Other questions or concerns? We would love to talk with you. Call your local TigerPower Dealer or TigerPower directly at (800) 779-8809