OK- So what am I missing? For a small scale, single family dwelling, how come alternative energy has to be so complicated? I'm not talking about creating myself the ability to get completely off the grid, but suplimenting my 110V. 50 years ago, they made a generator that would rub on a bike tire and light a lamp. With what's available today for the RV and Semi market for 12V accessories, I'd think a guy could pretty easily power some things like a TV, some lights, coffee maker, etc., with a simple windmill coupled to an alternator, maybe charging a battery bank???
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>>>*You and I are thinking alike, I plan on doing exactly the same thing, except with water.

The problem with hooking up to the main power grid is electricians, permits, forms to fill out, convertors to buy, and if someone actually DOES come up with a home built system there is no way they will ever get it approved. Government insists on well tested designs they can control...and tax.

So I am designing a hydro powered wheel (since everything commercially available is antique technology)..I have to build that myself, easy stuff.

Then I plan to just hook it up to a battery bank, I hope to get that out of one of those Hybrid vehicles, maybe someone will wreck one for me.

With that I can charge the batteries 24/7 and run 12 volt lights in the house. I would leave some on the grid for backup. I also plan to use them with a reducer to hook up to my car batteries, so those won't be plugged in all the time either. (Like my Corvette, it sits for a month and the battery is dead)

Dollars? The big expense will be the wrecked car, the rest I can make.

We have enough water to run a pretty good size power plant, I know I could probably even sell power. But the cost to do the government thing is amazing. (Part of why we have the current mess, too)

My way is nice and cheap, besides, it's fun...*EB