From what I've found so far, you can get an off brand gasoline powered generator that produces enough power to run my freezer, fridge, and charge batteries or run 1 or 2 light bulbs for $120 to $200. These are 950 to 1200w, run on gas or an oil-gas mixture, and generally run about 3-4 hours on a gallon of gas.
Harbor Freight tools has something else that caught my eye. It's a generator head that you hook up to your own engine. The one they have works on a 20hp gas engine, but I didn't see smaller ones you could hook up to a push mower, which would make the perfect size for occasional home use. Anyone have any plans or ideas on this subject??Don't leave me "in the dark" on this (pun intended)
Let there be light the man says....
Get a propane refrigerator and a wind generator.
Well maybe not for 200 dollars, but you might be surprised at what you can get on free cycle groups.
I honestly as so far out of date that I can’t offer you what you need to know.
I sold a rock house that was wired for 12 volt and 110, with a bank of telephone company batteries that were charged when the generator came on, generator was gas as I recall.
I would have to say “where will you get the gas to run the generator?”, when it hits hard.
wind power would be great, but is expensive, unless you build it yourself.
Before the science nuts discovered wind power I knew all about it, as Ben Gilbough had worked on the patents for it and he and Barney Oldfield held the patent for the “hot tube” the forerunner of the spark plugs we use today.
Ben was using a 1912 Franklin rear end, on the top of his windmill and had it hooked to a ? [magneto as I recall, as from a Model A]
It did power a couple 25 watt light bulbs in his house.
Years ago, I saw a neat one at Meadview.
Think of a carnival Ferris Wheel, lay it on the side, replace the seats with 55 gallon barrels, that have one side cut, to leave a flap to catch the wind.
It is mounted on the base, just enough off level, that it will push itself around and run a generator that charges the batteries.
It was fun watching it move, with no wind.
Do you have a hill?
Dig a deep tunnel in it, it will be a cool place for food.
A propane refrig and freezer is just the kind of things that will show up on free cycle.
You might find an answer here:
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HunkerDown06/
He is a regular poster on the below group:
Book review for homesteaders
Posted by: “lamar5292”
Date: Tue Feb 10, 2009 2:17 pm ((PST))
My book “Simple Solar Homesteading” was just reviewed on raw land
guides for anyone interested.
Heres the link:
http://rawlandguide.com/?p=172
LaMar
http://www.freewebs.com/simplesolarhomesteading
To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/simplyoffgrid/
Glad you are asking before you buy...
1. Generators is good. (I have 2)
2. Caution: Not all generators will run your refrigerator or freezer.
a. Check the wattage on the data plate - Add those you will be using at the same time to get the minimum needed.
b. If your data plate has Amps. you can calculate the wattage by multiplying the amps times the voltage. (so if it is 2.5 A and 120 Volts, it will consume 300 Watts - that would be 2.5 X 120 = 300 Watts.
c. Since you will be using alternating current AC, there are several ways in which it is produced. Generators usually produce it as a pure sine wave - Alternators (which most of them are now) have to create the sine wave - some of them do not create a very good wave. Some motors - like some of the compressors in refrigerators etc. will not run on the stepped sine wave that is too coarse. A smoothed sine wave generator is usually best if you want to be sure to run motors as well as for your computer.
3. For the detached generators, check the specs. they may not be recommended for vertical shaft mounting. Many of them will not give long term service if mounted vertically. I had considered mounting one on a 22 HP lawn tractor I have but use for everything but mowing. Since most mowers have a shaft that is vertical, it should be considered. It has to do with bearing loads that they are designed for - thrust bearings are needed for the vertical mount.
Hope I haven’t muddied the water too much...
Harbor Freight is good as is Northern Tool.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category_6970_36
http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=generator&Submit=Go