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Hopefully, I didn’t send too much extraneous info, but I assumed that you’ll be grid-tied (i.e., are connected to the power company and want to install backup power). ...wasn’t sure.

Never hurts.

I do have a rather complicated hybrid system. For battery power (12-L16s), I use the GenTran 10 circuit manual transfer switch. This one can remain on with power from the inverters, however I keep it isolated. We have had a couple lightening strikes and one primary drop onto the secondary in the past. In the most likely Argentina model there will be rolling blackouts. In our current situation we are the last on our power leg. Always the last house back on. Temporary (2-days) quiet backup power (critical circuits) is a dream and works well in most of the situations. There is always the "ONE HOUSE OFF IN THE HILLS THAT LETS THEIR GENERATOR RUN ALL NIGHT". I digress.

When charging with the generator I have a whole house manual transfer switch (for extended outages). Was going to go with a permanently installed NG generator, but went with a "portable" 10KW multi-fuel. We just take it out of the garage and plug it into a remote outdoor terminal for a couple of hours. When charged we put it back in the garage. I have the NEC manual as toilet reading. ;-)

The final area I will be working on is "packet ham radio". After all of this we will be literally "prepped" for a throw the switch scenario. We are covered for food, medicine, heat, water, most communications and the best security possible for an isolated rural neighborhood. Here is and interesting site for some home security ideas. This item you may want to consider. I consider it necessary for a worst case scenario.

If there is a worst case situation and I consider that only if the grid goes down, we have enough Helios (12-85watt in storage) to provide water and keep the deep freeze going. In this part of Western Pennsylvania, Solar and wind are not economical. We are truly sun deprived and the wind seems to always come "all at once".

It looks like you're built and improving the system then.

"Was going to go with a permanently installed NG generator, but went with a "portable" 10KW multi-fuel."

I was unaware of those and did a search. That appears to be a great choice.

"I have the NEC manual as toilet reading. ;-)

Good. We keep that around and read it to confirm what's found in how-to information elsewhere (e.g., MC4 connectors for PV modules). We'll probably go high voltage (72V) for installing our larger array on sheds (copper prices, newer MPPT controller design, etc.) with a 24V battery array (Sundanzer DC fridge and freezers sold not far from here). ...will probably use a little voltage converter (step-down transformer) for running the low-wattage pumps for the solar-radiant heating system. ...running 12V for the RV situation in the meantime.

"The final area I will be working on is "packet ham radio". After all of this we will be literally "prepped" for a throw the switch scenario."

That's a good part of a radio system, IMO. But it is slow, so I'll be pairing some very old style mail and browsing packages with it. AX.25 does work for the essentials, and there are some free patches to the Net here and there. It'll be a way to get the distant news, if things ever degenerate so much.

...which is possible. Quite a few wireless Internet carriers are expected to close, if the economy sinks much lower. ...worse, if anything more destructive occurs.

"Here is an interesting site for some home security ideas. This item you may want to consider. I consider it necessary for a worst case scenario."

Thank you. I'll search statutes here, to make sure that it's a go in this State. ...probably is in most states with a safe, alarm-only setup. That would scare some bad boys away. ...played with those a lot in my Army specialty in the Guard, BTW. ;-)

We're installing camera systems with software motion detection--cheap with free operating systems and the like. They'll auto-upload to remote servers. Some pretty decent cameras that will do starlight or near (very low lux) can be had for about $100 now, but they need to be sealed and covered against weather. The infrared cameras are a pain (use too much power for us, pick up too much dust, moths, etc.).

"If there is a worst case situation and I consider that only if the grid goes down, we have enough Helios (12-85watt in storage) to provide water and keep the deep freeze going. In this part of Western Pennsylvania, Solar and wind are not economical. We are truly sun deprived and the wind seems to always come "all at once"."

I don't know of anything else for your climate, offhand, except maybe wood-fired steam engines for driving alternators. That's very expensive, though, due to dangers and regulations on steam engines. But they do work.