People think they have to be all exotic in power generation. Some are naive, some are in the know. I will give you a three minute trainer on everything you need to know.
If you have diesel - or think you can get it in a pinch - you can use a road sign generator to make power and just invert the power from the battery that it charges.
Inverting power means taking it from 12VDC (direct current) and make it into 120 VAC (Alternating current) which is what you house uses. It is far easier to convert from DC to AC since most camping equipment and your RVs and camp trailers work on 12VDC. When you invert, you waste about 20% of your generated power turning the direct current into a sine-wave that your household appliances can use. The absolute best use of power is 12VDC.
Here is the deal. To stay warm, if you have a situation where you have no wood, but have diesel, you can charge a battery using an alternator (what your car has), and use a 12VDC heating blanket instead of a mattress heater which is an energy hog, because it is inverted. Here are some cheap 12VDC blankets that I just discovered that will keep your wife warm while traveling and possibly save a marriage:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_211719_211719?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Heaters%2C%20Stoves%20%2B%20Fireplaces-_-Electric%20Heaters-_-33615&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=33615&gclid=CPDi3t-Em7sCFY-VfgodEmkAjA
As I said before, being able to heat someone in a pinch who may die from hypothermia (remember what Spencer had to say about lack of heat the first winter) is a good thing.
I just acquired a Lombardini diesel that was used on a road sign that will charge a single 12VDC battery rather quickly on a quart of fuel in one hour. It is shown here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJtZlJHst8w
I have been focusing on diesel because it stores forever (2-3 years, or longer with an additive) and it is the most BTU-dense fuel out there - which is why we run our airplanes on the stuff. It is also less volatile than gasoline - which lessens the chance that static electricity could ignite it, etc etc. I have a Honda 2000 Watt generator that is very efficient, but it is gas and it is not as efficient converting electricity to something that stores it, such as a battery, etc. Also, if you focus your alternative energy solutions around battery power, you can couple that with solar panels:
And with special purpose-built alternators (from cars):
http://www.windbluepower.com/category_s/1.htm
attached to quite efficient props to get wind power, as shown here:
http://www.windbluepower.com/Rotors_s/31.htm
So, there are many options, but this is the best. The 12VDC generators and solar panels can all be tied together using a charge controller to obtain a "BEST OF ALL WORLDS" system that will pretty much guarantee a constant supply of power for what is coming.
Where you have to run large 220VAC items such as welders, you will need a gen-set and a larger diesel such as a tractor running one off a PTO, as shown here:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_36914_36914?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Generators-_-PTO%20Generators-_-165929&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=165929&gclid=CLmLqeOMm7sCFQllfgodwQUAbA
Each one can be adapted to your energy requirements so that you use the least amount of fuel required for your application.
The big thing is to think outside the box - and you will save money. Hit the "POST MORE INFO" button if you would like me to go a little more into this topic.
If you have a steady supply of power - you will have guaranteed "rock-star status" when things get tough. Or, you will be the first one they bump off when your more well-armed neighbor decides he would like to have lights and heat on a bitter cold day.....
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