How to build your own Diesel Generator Power Plant Part I

By John Stafford
During the last thirty years there have been “do it yourself”, survivalist, “back-to-nature” and “mother-earther” driven fanatics who desire to be independent from the worldwide power consortium conspiracy. If this is your desire then this is the plan for you! This plan is for the individual who has the money and the time to create his own diesel power plant.
The first step is a needs analysis of your power requirements. This demands an inventory of every electrical appliance and service you use in a family. There are many free inventories and even ones, which automatically calculate your power requirements. These are available from the internet or your power company. A family of two adults living in a duplex of approximately 1,400 square feet with the acquisitions of thirty-eight years will have a continuous wattage rating of 12,950, a surge wattage rating of 22,900 and a wattage requirement of 16,550. If you want to plan for the worst then your need will be approximately 22,900 watts. A surge rating is the power in watts that would be required if you turned on all appliances and power at the same time. Your needs list should count every electrical device in wattage that you own and use. This list will be smaller or larger depending on this size of the family and its’ living needs.
Now the next step is choosing the size of generator(s) that you will need. Yes, you read it correctly! You will need two generators because this is a serious financial and operational undertaking towards real freedom and independence from your local power company. You need two generators, one primary and one secondary to handle 24-hour operations. You might want to check into selling power back to the power company’s grid if they are agreeable. Remember the small family of two that needed 22,900 watts; this family will require two(2) 30 kW generators costing $19,883 each or a total of $39, 765. The cost of the generators is just part of the investment ahead of the private power producer.
The next planning measure is to construct a power plant port or cabaña with a concrete pad. The generators should be placed in the shade of a roofed cement pad or cabaña. The cost for this addition if you are a handy and resourceful should not exceed $3,800 – 4000. This is only an estimate; approximately $1,800 for a concrete pad and $2,000-3,000 for the generator shed roof. The measurements for a 30kW skid or wheel mounted John Deere when it has a sound abatement enclosure is 82” x 35” x 56”, so you want the cabaña cement floor to measure at least 12’ x 12’. This allows for a space of at least 2’ or more around each generator, which is ample room to maneuver and conduct required maintenance on your diesels.