husband is looking for something that he can use for power that is more economical. (no natural gas lines)
You will not be able to use a home generator to make electricity cheaper than the utility sells it to you. There is substantial economy of scale that the utility puts into play and frankly you just cannot compete. Typical utility cost of generation is 4 - 8 cents / KW hr; typical larger home generator cost of generation is over 20 cents / KW hr.
Do you really mean as electric source and not as emergency back-up? Diesel would probably be the best choice for fuel economy/reliability. (Since it's not for roadway use, you can probably arrange to buy it untaxed.) For back-up power, you'd have to have a lot of long outages to recover the extra cost of the diesel engine set. For 'Prime power' - 24/7 , you're not going to beat electric utility energy rates even with diesel, as the required size generator for your peak loads will be idling most of the time. (Engine/generators are very fuel-inefficient at low loadings. - With a water-cooled unit, you can capture waste engine heat for house heat in winter though.) If by total electric' you mean heating as well, long term, you'd probably save on fuel if you had a smaller 'back-up' unit to carry the smaller home load when the heating system isn't required.
pghmarty and Michelle are incorrect. An alternator received't artwork and not using a battery to excite the sphere coil and an induction motor received't generate electricity less than any circumstances. you desire a DC motor with magnets and brushes to generate electricity with. It received't placed out a lot inspite of the reality that. and also you may run it both direction. you're dropping a even as in case you favor to do something functional with it. Been there, finished that, were given the T-blouse. 'Nuff stated?
It is very difficult to have your own generator and make electricity as cheaply as the power company. You have to have generators up in the megawatt size to compete with the power company. Even if you go with solar power, you will find the cost to be very high. It takes up to 10 years or more to get you investment back on such a system. The only practical thing to do is try to reduce your consumption by installing the most efficient light bulbs you can, being sure your insulation is complete and try to eliminate air infiltration at doors, windows, entrances to attic spaces and turning off stuff when it is not in use.
No, not if you are talking about running this all the time 24/7, if this is what you are implying to here. You can not run a home on any generator as cheap as the utility company sells it for. Now if you are referring to a back up system just in case power goes off then yes propane is not bad as far as the cost goes. With the prices of fuels Propane for me right now is less expensive then diesel fuel is, which diesel gen set would be a good option as well. If you are talking about a total electric home with heat you are talking a big generator anyway I would not use anything less then a 23.5 kw or larger if you are in a cold climate. depends on your actual demand but if you have electric heat they use a lot. As compared to a home with gas heat and they can get by with some as small as 9 .5 kw to get them by. If you want to check in to green or free power solar does help as well as a windmill. The initial cost is very expensive to start though.
