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Home Power Basics

Using Diesel Generators to produce your own power at home

The generator converts the energy in a fuel to rotation of an engine which in turn drives an alternator. The alternator is the device that creates an electric current by means of some rotating magnets.

Generators put out alternating current (AC) which is nearly identical to the electricity provided by 'the grid.' We could use this electricity directly, but that would mean our generator would run all the time, even when we did not need very much power. We'll fix that problem by using batteries and an inverter (more on that below).

Generators are rated by how much power they can put out, measured in watts. Without getting tooo technical, the measure of watts is just voltage times amperage (the measure of current). We typically need a whole bunch of watts, so instead of using big numbers, we use the prefix "kilo" which means 1000, so a kilowatt is 1000 watts.

A good size generator for a home is 5 to 10 kilowatts (KW). For a full fledged homestead with a shop and barn, you should aim closer to 12 to 15 KW.

Your generator could be fueled by gasoline, propane, or natural gas, but it really ought to be fueled by diesel. Here's why:

  • A diesel generator produces twice the power per gallon of fuel that a gas generator does.
  • A gallon of ("off road") diesel is cheaper than a gallon of gas.
  • Diesel fuel does not blow up. In fact, it is hard to get it to burn at all.
  • A diesel motor will last four times longer than a gasoline engine.
  • Untreated diesel fuel lasts longer in storage than untreated gasoline.
  • Treated diesel fuel lasts longer in storage than treated gasoline.
  • Diesel fuel treatment costs less than gasoline treatment.
  • Spoiled diesel can be reconditioned to refinery specifications. Spoiled gasoline can not.
  • Unmodified diesel motors can be run on vegetable oil.

To get all the facts on home power using diesel generators then you should visit www.cheap-diesel-generators.com.

Links to related sites:
Engineering analysis Comparing Solar Energy to Diesel Generators for Home Power
Homesteading Technology
Cheap Diesel Generators