🚀 go-pugleaf

Marcel Burlet (marcel@ictv.com) wrote:

>Since we live "in the country" by California standards (well, _not_
>city water; septic system _not_ sewer; Electricty doesn't run all day,
>every day), we are looking for a backup generator. (The thought of
>waiting 2 or 3 days to 

To send this interesting thread down a slightly different course...
I'm in a similar situation.  The idea of utilizing the substantial 
engine sitting in my garden tractor for driving a generator has been
sitting in the back of my mind for a while now.  The tractor has a 
14 HP gas engine, with a power take-off to drive the mower deck.  The
PTO is accessed as a v-belt pulley.  It seems to me that it would be useful
to rig up some kind of contraption that could provide a means to couple
the engine to a generator.  The one (I'm sure there are others) problem
that I foresee is the matter of governing speed.  How critical is it 
to maintain 60Hz @ 120VAC?  There is a throttle control, which could
be built into the equation.  How is this accomplished in a dedicated
engine/generator arrangement?  Is this a totally loony idea?  Are there
any aftermarket products intended for this?  What about coupling the
PTO to other non-speed-critical aparatus, like water pumps, saws, etc.?
BTW, the garden tractor in question here is a John Deere LX176.
--

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