Have you seen an old Benz engine turned into a mini electric company?
I envision something that can be effectively soundproofed.

Seems like a way to live off of the grid, in a rural area
that would require far less of a 'start up' investment,
compared to something like solar.

A trip once a week to gather WVO and you're set.

You have a well, you have a satellite dish...
what else do you need?

__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

septec system!

I think North Korea is still spreading their Night Soil on their crops?

I think I'd kick it down a notch and channel it to tunnels, surrounded by trees.
They love the stuff.

As for the power...
I wonder?
Could you take a bunch of salvage generators
and put larger pulleys on them,
so that they spun at optimum charging speed, while the engine idled?
You'd have power to run quantities of them, since you don't also have to power a vehicle.

You could charge a large bank of 12v batteries
and use inverters to run all your appliances and tools.

If you could hook up a dozen alternators,
You might only have to run the thing 10 hours a day?

Cheap way to convert vegetable oil to electricity.
Maybe it would be even better to be ON the grid?
Don't most power companies have to buy back your excess?

__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

There's a community just outside of Taos that is completely off the grid (Earthships??) I bet the people there have good ideas on this kind of topic.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Steve Spence is the guy to talk to.... http://www.green-trust.org/wiki/index.php?title=Green-Trust_Heat_%26_Power_System
There may be others?

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1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

Depends on the laws where you live. Most don't have to. And, the deal breaker (for me anyway) about selling to the power company is the expensive interface box you have to have. It costs $1500 to have them install it last I checked-and they won't let you do it. Its like a big breaker that shuts you down when the grid goes down so your power supply won't potentially fry a utility repairman. I'm all for safety, but you'ld have to collect a LOT of vegoil to produce $1500 worth of current at a rate of, what, $.10 per kilowatt hour. My back aches just imagining all those buckets!

Scot

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"Be kind to thy ass for it bears thee" -John Muir

83 300TD & 84 300D

Here are some interesting inexpensive off grid units, though not quite as powerful as a 617.
http://www.utterpower.com/
Lots of cool diesel projects.
Never enough time

__________________
04 Sprinter 140" 2500
97 F450 7.3L
97 K2500 6.5L
76 Mercedes 300d 98k original
78 300CD 133k
"It has recently been discovered that research causes cancer in rats." -Steven Wright

How to pull a 617 engine?
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/135081-how-pull-617-engine.html#post993102

240 diesel generator?
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/103839-240-diesel-generator.html#post712673

Mercedes diesel as a genset engine
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/102511-mercedes-diesel-genset-engine.html#post701352

WVO generator powerplant
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/alternative-fuels/93427-wvo-generator-powerplant.html#post623346

__________________
ASE Master Mechanic
asemastermechanic@juno.com

Prototype R&D/testing:
Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
Heat exchanger durability.
HV-A/C Climate Control.
Vehicle build.
Fleet Durability
Technical Quality Auditor.
Automotive Technical Writer

1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

I know it could be made to work! NOW....start thinking of ways to salvage the heat off the engine....like a closed loop heat recycler for HOT WATER! Showers are nice, even in the sticks! You can devise a system to use both the engine coolant (closed loop) and the exhaust heat from the tailpipe.....the more heat you can "steal" the better your overall fuel efficiency will be. In fact, a great deal of a cars fuel use is wasted as by-product heat.

A good friend built a cabin the sticks, wound up having to live there....he drove 20 miles or so to town to work....he rigged up a battery bank in the back of the truck that charged as he drove...when got home he plugged the truck into the house to power his "Grid". Solar hot water, 12 volt lights, radio, TV, wood burning stove, propane powered ice box, a few chickens, some deer hunting & fishing....he is very self-sufficient and still is today....his electric bill payment stays in his bank account.

Keep thinkin'!

Hunter, you are like the spawn of The Library of Congress,
mated with the computer from Star Trek.
I'm surprised Google or Gates haven't snapped you up yet.

Yes Mismost, I'm all for using that heat energy.
Showers are an easy one though.
It's a perfect way to harness Solar energy, with a tiny investment.
Black pipes on a roof will get water so hot,
you will have to plumb in a way to add cool water to the mix.

It would be ironic if those who've shunned the shackles of society,
were all driving Mercedes Benzes !

It will confuse the Hell out of people.

__________________
'87 300SDL

dieselbenz

LMAO!

__________________
79 300SD - $50 out of pocket purchase
03 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD
2003 VW Jetta TDI

I would love to get paid for doing this all day.

whunter,
Keep doing it for free so I can afford you.
ralph

Sounds like some guys are ready for Homepower magazine.
You can download the December/January issue free:
http://www.homepower.com/

Me, I vote for finding a big expanse of land that's dirt cheap because it would cost $30,000 to run the grid to it. That $30k would buy one heck of a solar/wind system, with enough left over to set up a cogeneration system for heat and electric in the winter.
Imagine a 1.6L Rabbit engine turning a generator, with your house's hot water heating system serving as a radiator. (and a water cooled exhaust on the generator engine too)

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'79 300SD W116
'86 190E 2.3-16V W201
'92 300D 2.5 W124
'99 E320 4MATIC S210

a lot of off gridders in indiana. ohio and pennsylvania too.

they're called amish!

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.