On 9/29/2011 1:00 PM, dpb wrote:
On 9/28/2011 5:10 PM, dpb wrote:
On 9/28/2011 4:36 PM, bud-- wrote:
...
If 540 RPM is not fixed how do you run a genset? You don't have to run
the genset while moving, but it would be real nice if there was speed
regulation to control the frequency.

There is, it's throttle speed (and any tractor any more has a tach for
operator feedback that will show pto as well as engine rpm).

The input rpm is set by the engine throttle speed and it has some but
not perfect regulation w/ load. If one were looking for perfect
frequency control this wouldn't be the way (but very little on a backup
generator will really matter that much on exact frequency control,
anyway, so I'd not expect it to be an issue.

...

You and Roy both talked about a 540 RPM PTO. That sort of implies that
it is a constant speed and I wondered if it was and how they did it -
inquiring minds want to know. Your answer that it is not fixed answered
the question, thanks.

Back when I was around farm tractors (when I was a kid) they had maybe 6
gears forward and one reverse. Now air conditioning and GPS control.
Then again, the farm I used to spend time on was 160 acres, a
significant part pasture. Wouldn't work so good now. Compared to now the
machines were really simple, but I enjoyed nosing around the machinery
shed and tractors.


Speaking of which, is that really any different than the throttle speed
control on conventional gensets? They don't do anything more
sophisticated than that, do they (at least the homeowner variety)?

--

My lawnmower has a very rudimentary governor using a blade in the
cooling air flow. Would think small generators would have something much
better, but I haven't looked at a generator control. There is a big
change in mechanical load from low power use to max, for which there
must be some kind of speed regulation to control frequency.

Or the DC generators feeding an inverter.

--
bud--