GENERATORS:   It's important to have a GOOD engine driven generator— and then use it as little as possible.

LOW INITIAL COST: During dark snowy winters of some northern areas, you could not meet 100% power needs with solar even with 10 times more solar and batteries. There we design for 80 to 90 percent annual power from solar generation, and use other generation sources to make up the seasonal shortfall. Wind power, and seasonal flow water power can help, but most often folks use an engine generator and a fast battery charger.

Fuel, limited engine life, and maintenance, along with pollution and noise make a generator the highest cost of all energy sources. So we want to shorten the hours the generator is used. Larger battery banks accept charge faster than a small one; so with a large battery and a high rate battery charger you store more energy in less generator time. Do most generator charging in evening hours of highest power need. Wash clothes, vacuum, etc while the generator runs to charge the batteries.

ALL THE EXTRA POWER YOU WANT, when you want it:  There will be times when you want to use more power than your system is designed for. You sized the solar panels conservatively, knowing you can add more or trade to a larger inverter. Meanwhile, high power demands for guest’s extra lights and laundry, for building projects, or pumping a deep well can be met by a generator.

PROPANE fuel fits residential use better than gasoline or diesel. Propane is connected from the same tank at the same pressure that supplies the home stove and water heater. No more running out of gas, handling fuel, or dirt or water getting in the fuel. Propane keeps longer than gasoline or diesel. The engine runs clean, oil stays cleaner. Exhaust is clean - no odor. Propane starts easily even in winter cold without a choke, so can be started and stopped from inside the house year round. Likewise, propane is easiest to connect to automatic start systems.

DIESEL fuel generators are preferred by some folks for durability. Kohler diesel generators have factory estimated 15,000 hours between rebuilds. These models are 1800 rpm, water-cooled, with a cast iron engine block. Absolutely top quality. If diesel fuel is a part of your current homestead's operation, consider one of these generators.

CHOICE OF GENERATOR

A generator dedicated to a home need not be portable and should last a decade or two, run quietly and start easily from inside the house. When Backwoods Solar operated from the Willey's home,  where the sun shines only a few days each winter month, our generator ran about 250 hours a year, all in the winter months, to guarantee sufficient power.

QUALITY, STATIONARY GENERATORS: Call for recommendations.

PORTABLE GENERATORS are designed  to run power tools, and are not intended for electronic chargers or extensive running. Small low cost generators usually produce only a fraction of the expected battery charging amperes with most battery chargers and some standby inverters. 

EXCEPTION: We recommend Electronic Inverter-based variable speed generators like the Honda EU6500i as well as the Yamaha 2800I or 3000iSE which can be purchased locally or on the internet. The engines are variable speed depending on the amount of load on the generator, extending engine life. The AC power is electronically created and is high quality true sine wave, so battery chargers typically deliver up to 100 amps, 12 volts (50 amps, 24 volts) with 3000 watt models and even more current with the 5000 and 7000 series by Honda.

SMALL ENGINE & CAR ALTERNATOR make an economical DC-only battery charging generator for small power systems. We offer this in kit form for lowest cost. The small engines run easily at slow RPM for longer engine life than a low cost AC generator with a plug-in battery charger.

A FIX FOR LOW BATTERY CHARGING BY GENERATOR:

Some car-type battery chargers and the DR model inverter standby chargers deliver only a fraction of advertised battery charging amperes when powered by a low cost generator.

Voltage boost transformers can restore full advertised battery charging rate.

KOHLER 10ERG GENERATOR - PROPANE FUEL
10 KW • QUALITY • CAST IRON ENGINE BLOCK • QUIET •1800 RPM• WATER-COOLED

NO LONGER AVAILABLE

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BACKWOODS BATTERY BOOSTER KIT

12 volt or 24 volt
16 x 16 x 18 inches, plus separate control box

Run a low-cost engine driven car alternator to charge batteries when you don't need an expensive AC generator. Charge amps adjusts manually and holds your setting, does not taper off. Alternator delivers over 55 amps, or runs 40-45 amps at easy low engine speed. (25 to 30 amps at 24 volt). Runs very quietly if adapted to a flex exhaust hose and automobile muffler. Runs several hours on a tank of gasoline.

Complete kit of parts: New 6.5 horsepower electric start Briggs "INTEK" overhead valve engine, mounting base plate with belt tension adjuster, alternator, rheostat field control box with amp meter. Includes 5' pulley & 26" belt on 12 volt model, or 7" pulley & 29" belt on 24 volt model. Available without engine to use your own 3 or 6.5 horse. Five horse recommended and will give you 45 amps; 3 horse gives you 35 amps.

COMPLETE KIT WITH ENGINE

GK-KIT/12 volt: All components described below: $935
GK- KIT/24 volt: As below but  with larger pulley & belt, and modified circuit:   Regularly  $955

  UPS Shipping for complete kit with engine is $65 in 48 states

SEPARATE PARTS

GK-NOENGINE: Kit, all parts except the engine (shipping $35) 12 volt version:  $420
24 volt version:  $440
GK-ENGINE: New 6.5 horsepower ELECTRIC START  Briggs "INTEK" overhead valve engine with float carb, cast iron bore, 3 quart tank runs about 2.5 hours at 40 amps. Low oil shutoff, 2 yr warranty:  $580 (shipping $30)
GK-CONTROL: Control Box for Delco (pictured on right in above picture), with ammeter, rheostat, switch, field fuse, alternator cable, main fuse (shipping $10) Setup for 12 volt:  $185
Setup for 24 volt:  $205
GK-BASE: Heavy gauge steel mounting base only, with belt tension adjuster arm. Drilled, bolts included to attach a 3-5 horse engine, start button and Delco alternator listed below:  $140 (shipping $18)
GK-DELCO: Rebuilt 62 amp alternator, 6 month warranty: $72 (shipping $10)
GK-P&B: pulley & belt for kit engine. Specify if 12 or 24 volt charging:  $58
GK-RHEOSTAT: replacement rheostat for GK control box $58

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