Larry --

Back in '98 I built a whole-house diesel electric system (30kW).  I run
everything including two heat pumps, (with the aux strip heaters
disabled).  During my search I looked closely at the fuel type problem:

1. Gasoline - Forget it except for little portable units that you drain
down after each run and fill with fresh gas each use.  Gasoline quickly
destabilizes and forms 'varnish' that clogs everything.  Gasoline is
also very dangerous to store.  Max storage time; 6-12 months.

2. Diesel - Fuel oil will remain stable for up to 5 years with an
additive to prevent wax formation.  Relatively safe (the reason that
Diesel power is preferred by all serious power boaters).

3. Propane - An ideal fuel.  Taking a gasoline engine and converting to
a propane carburetor, you give up about 10% of available power.  Propane
in a bottle gas tank will store practically indefinetly.

4. Natural Gas - Basically the same as Propane but has even lower
available energy.  You give up an additional 10% power over Propane. 
Often you can get connected to local gas mains and have a near infinite
supply.

Small generators in the 3,000W to 12,000W can be picked up for a song
after the Y2K fiasco.  Search the internet, goto Home Depot(I saw a gas
unit at the local store recently), etc.  Check out eBay.

Search for Generac.

INSTALL A PROPER TRANSFER SWITCH.  You can kill a lineman before you
even know anything is wrong.

Feel free to email if you have further questions.

	Bob Smith

Larry Cochrane wrote:
> 
> Greetings,
> 
> With all of this talk about blackouts here in California I have been
> thinking about getting a gas (propane?) generator. Can anyone recommend a
> small reliable unit that's not to noisy? I would think a 2500-3000 watt unit
> should be fine. I only want to power a couple of computers, monitors, hubs,
> DSL modems and maybe a few florescent lights. I don't need to power any
> heavy equipment like my refrigerator.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -Larry Cochrane
> Redwood City, PSN
> 
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-- 

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 * * Specializing in small, cost effective embedded control systems * *
Robert L. (Bob) Smith			Smith Machine Works, Inc.
internet   bobsmith5@.............. Lumlay Road
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