SD>         Hi there I was wondering If someone could help me,  
 SD> I'm looking to purchase a complete home powering system,  
 SD> Solar pannels charge batteries then converted to AC with  
 SD> converter & Diesel Generator for back-up. I was wondering I  
 SD> someone could help me figure out the size of batteries  
 SD> needed as well as Solar pannel size ect. I'm not very  
 SD> familiar with the finer points of this but am a quick  
 SD> learner. If you think you could help, please reply back. 
How much bang for buck how soon?  There're new production methods 
coming online now that promise to drive down the cost of PV by a
factor of ten over the next decade or so... 30 cents a watt? 
 
Deep cycle batteries have more watts per cubic inch, but also a 
lot more dollars per watt than generic car batteries.  Over the 
last 20 years, I've not seen the deep cycle to be more resistent 
to sulphation at discharge, nor last longer than generics. 
 
However: if you can find Telco substation cells, they will likely 
be the most watts/dollar/year.  The acid in them is weaker than a 
deep cycle, so the watts/cubic is way down, but also far more able 
to withstand low charge states without sulphation.  I've seen some 
telco cells 50 years old that worked just fine. call the phone co. 
 
The cheapest, simplest, most reliable engine/gen setup that I have 
seen Shane, is a 3hp Briggs, fed propane, and belt driving a truck 
generator (not alternator!).  If you live in a rural area, you'll 
likely find a junkyard with an old bread van full of used Delco 
generators... for 15$ a pop.  you can use a ten ohm resistor to 
power the field windings, and a 30 amp relay instead of a voltage 
regulator.  If you trip the relay, the generator will 'motor'. 
 
If the gas engine is 2-3hp, the motoring generator will have  
enough moxie to *start* the motor. The local propane outfit will 
have a 12volt powered propane valve. drill a hole in the air 
filter, and feed the propane into it, leaving the carb totally 
dry of gasoline. 
 
The engine should have a 6 inch pulley, and the generator 2-3", 
you need the gear ratio to ease the load on a motoring generator. 
This should get you 250-300 watts.  I could not locate an eight 
inch pulley, but that should raise the generator RPM for higher 
output. 
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 * OFFLINE 1.58 * ... mother of invention? You mean necessity is a mother? 
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