Rupe ~ I have done a fair bit of what you and Wolfgang and others are taking about. You'd think, at my age, I'd know better....but.... I fear not!!!
I have learned many hard-won truths about wants, needs, necessities and fripperies though, so "this time round" I intend to do it a lot easier on myself and a lot more realisticly. (She Who Must Be Obeyed says I better, or....)
To that end, I thought this idea might spur you on a bit.
http://users.olis.net.au/strathsteam/
They make 2 k.v.a generator kits. I've spoken to Rod, via email, and the fuel requirements seem manageable. I like the idea of being "on the grid" but with a few solar panels and the steam genie, feeding back in to the grid so I get "credits", not a huge bill!
Last edited by Gravelrash; 01-05-2009 at 10:15 AM.
"Those were great old days. Everthing is very quiet now, isn't it?" Elfego Baca