generators
- Thread starter DahRock222
- Start date
MagnusTheBrewer
IN MEMORIAM
- Jun 19, 2004
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I'm looking to get off the grid and need some help disigning a good power source. Wind,Solar and Hydro + batterys are in the works but in need to know how many batterys and if i need backup generator
waffleironhead
Diamond Member
- Aug 10, 2005
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Why are you getting off the grid? I personally think its better to do an intertie system and sell the excess back to the power company(if allowed in your area).
You will need a backup generator almost certainly.
Hint: DO NOT, and I will repeat.. DO NOT get a generator with a regular 4 stroke gasoline engine that spins at 3600RPM to produce the rated output.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have a lot of research to do.
Originally posted by: Eli
You will need a backup generator almost certainly.
Hint: DO NOT, and I will repeat.. DO NOT get a generator with a regular 4 stroke gasoline engine that spins at 3600RPM to produce the rated output.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have a lot of research to do.
any suggestions?
Diesel and an 1800RPM genhead is the only way to go if you care about longevity.Originally posted by: Wheezer
Originally posted by: Eli
You will need a backup generator almost certainly.
Hint: DO NOT, and I will repeat.. DO NOT get a generator with a regular 4 stroke gasoline engine that spins at 3600RPM to produce the rated output.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have a lot of research to do.
any suggestions?
Regular 4 cycle engines will only give a few thousand hours of service before needing to be overhauled.
herm0016
Diamond Member
- Feb 26, 2005
- 8,510
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Originally posted by: Wheezer
Originally posted by: Eli
You will need a backup generator almost certainly.
Hint: DO NOT, and I will repeat.. DO NOT get a generator with a regular 4 stroke gasoline engine that spins at 3600RPM to produce the rated output.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have a lot of research to do.
any suggestions?
take some EE classes on power generation, multi phase systems and the difference between DC and AC.
what is your daily power requirement in different seasons? what is the max voltage you need? 110? 220? 440? do you have anything that need more than one phase? can you convert stuff in your home to 12 or 24v dc to skip having an inverter off the batteries? how are you going to regulate your power sources so they do not feed back into one another? .....
MichaelD
Lifer
- Jan 16, 2001
- 31,528
- 3
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"Off the grid" implies that you will 100% provide ALL your own power 100% of the time. Unless you live in the middle of desert where the sun shines brightly 12 hours per day and are willing to have half your house dedicated to battery storage, getting off the grid completely is doubtful.
One of the writers in either PC World or PC Magazine (I get both) recently had solar panels installed on the entire square footage of his roof. He had it professionally done, wired, calibrated, etc. His grid consumption dropped by something like 60%. BUT, the inital cash outlay was pretty big.
It was a very good series of articles, complete with a "6 months later" follow up. It's from one of those mag's websites.
As far as a backup generator goes, one word: Diesel. (not the jeans dammit, what the generator runs on). And keep it as far from the house as possible. Buddy of mine lives out in the boonies of south Texas and his power frequently goes out. He's got a 10Kw diesel on-line generator (power goes out, it auto-starts). He's also got a 100-gallon tank feeding it. Louder than hell, but powers his whole house for days.
Actually, it's not hard to find houses that are completely off the grid - built that way on purpose. They're "common" in Colorado.
They ALL have a backup generator though.. It's just not possible to generate all of your electricity with windmills and PV arrays in most areas and without absurd upfront costs.
They ALL have a backup generator though.. It's just not possible to generate all of your electricity with windmills and PV arrays in most areas and without absurd upfront costs.
alkemyst
No Lifer
- Feb 13, 2001
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Zenmervolt
Elite member
- Oct 22, 2000
- 24,514
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Originally posted by: Eli
Diesel and an 1800RPM genhead is the only way to go if you care about longevity.Originally posted by: Wheezer
Originally posted by: Eli
You will need a backup generator almost certainly.
Hint: DO NOT, and I will repeat.. DO NOT get a generator with a regular 4 stroke gasoline engine that spins at 3600RPM to produce the rated output.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have a lot of research to do.
any suggestions?
Regular 4 cycle engines will only give a few thousand hours of service before needing to be overhauled.
What about Propane?
ZV
Propane in a gas engine, or diesel?Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Eli
Diesel and an 1800RPM genhead is the only way to go if you care about longevity.Originally posted by: Wheezer
Originally posted by: Eli
You will need a backup generator almost certainly.
Hint: DO NOT, and I will repeat.. DO NOT get a generator with a regular 4 stroke gasoline engine that spins at 3600RPM to produce the rated output.
If you don't know what I'm talking about, you have a lot of research to do.
any suggestions?
Regular 4 cycle engines will only give a few thousand hours of service before needing to be overhauled.
What about Propane?
ZV
You could build a reliable generator out of a gas engine, but it's all about the RPMs.
A high quality gas engine(read: taper main bearings on both ends, cast iron cylinder sleeve, separate valve guides, automotive quality air filter, pressurized lubrication) can last quite a long time, a lot longer than ~2,000 hours.
Cheaper gas engines have plain bearings, aluminum bores, aluminum valve guides, etc. They also produce their max output at their redline, which is usually 3600RPM. You can see why the engines won't last long under these conditions.
1800RPM genheads are generally designed with a diesel in mind, and therefor use higher quality bearings and are just generally more robust. Beware of Chinese genheads though.
It's hard to build a 1800RPM generator out of a 3600RPM engine. Obviously the engine is producing very little power at 1800RPM..
I've gotta go to a birthday party, I will post more later.
Red Squirrel
No Lifer
If you're relying on a generator to be off the grid then it defeats the purpose. It will make way more pollution and cost more. But if it's strictly for backup then yeah its fine.
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