Older generators will often have very complex and possibly malfunctioning voltage-regulating hardware that can cost more to straighten out than the machine is worth. And remember, don t buy a generator that is capable of producing way more power than you need. In the long haul, a diesel wins every time. When you figure in the fuel savings and replacement costs for the several gas engines that it would take to equal the life of a diesel, the higher price of the diesel generator becomes insignificant. Remember, this is your home.
Dependability is what it s all about.
An application of a larger diesel generator is an installation which would serve several neighbors. Each neighbor s house would have its own battery bank and inverter. The generator would come on-line for a predetermined duration each day, supplying each home with large amounts of power and charging the batteries to carry the load for the balance of the day. The cost of the machine and the maintenance chores would be shared by the neighbors. This kind of arrangement must be put together very carefully, and a provision must be made for the eventual possibility of one or more neighbors either selling their home or wishing to pull out of the agreement.