For those unfamiliar with backup generators let me explain this comment ". . . in the first world you need to tie a generator into the house wiring, so you need an electrician." You do not actually need to do this, but it is a good idea. It is easier and cheaper than it used to be.
My sister lives in the middle of nowhere in Virginia. After the recent derecho, she discovered her 3 kW portable emergency generator was not working. The power was still out a week later. She borrowed a generator from a friend. It was not tied into the house wiring, so it was of limited value. She could not run the pump or air conditioner. They had no water or washing machine. It got old after a few days. She plans to get a 5 kW generator and tie it into the distribution panel, with a manual switch. This is the trend nowadays for people living in the country where the power often fails. You can get an 8 kW generator powered by natural gas with an automatic switch for $2,400. That is much cheaper than they used to be. Go to a site such as Lowes.com and look up: Centurion by Generac Power Systems 8000 Watts (LP)/7000 Watts (NG) Standby Generator with Automatic Transfer Switch I believe that price includes installation. Here is a 20 kW unit for $4,600: Centurion by Generac Power Systems 20000 Watts (LP)/18000 Watts (NG) Standby Generator with Automatic Transfer Switch This is safer and better than having a stand-alone gasoline powered unit chugging away in the yard. These units are not designed for full time operation, but similar devices for remote locations such as cabins in the wilderness are designed for 24/7 operation. They are not much more expensive. A first-generation cold fusion generator will resemble one of these. I assume it will also have some means to capture waste heat, for co-generation space heating in winter. I have no idea what the cost will be for the first few thousand units. They would sell like hotcakes at a price. $250,000 each would be no barrier. After things settle down and competition begins, there is no reason why they should cost much more than today's stand-by generator. Maybe $5,000 to $15,000 depending on capacity. Many decades from now, most machines will be self-powered with cold fusion and thermoelectric devices. There will be no house wiring. At least, there will be no copper wires with enough electricity to drive an appliance as large as a refrigerator or toaster. There may be low-powered control wires, similar to today's ethernet wiring or a USB wire. They will be used to turn on something like an overhead light, or to have various appliances and fire and burglar alarms coordinate with one another, or report their status on-line. By the way, I doubt we will ever see refrigerators reporting that you need to buy more milk, as predicted a few years ago. That's kind of silly. It is too much computer and sensor power for a single application of limited value. I do expect that instead of this, household robots will be smart enough to open the refrigerator and see that you are low on milk. Eventually they will be smart enough to buy milk, and have it delivered by the grocery store delivery-bot. By the way, I used to have a 3 kW generator. I gave it to a friend in the construction biz, and bought a $100 car-battery inverter that produces 1.2 kW. My lights and refrigerator are now so efficient I no longer need as much backup power. I confirmed that 1.2 kW is enough for the emergency sump pump under the house, which I can connect to with a long industrial extension cord. It looks like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Power-Bright-PW1100-12-Inverter-1100/dp/B000NIG2FG/ref=sr_1_5 That takes up much less space than a gasoline generator. It sits in the closet indoors. You do not have to store gasoline. Just connect to the car battery and let the car engine idle. Granted, I wouldn't want to connect it in a driving rain. I think there is a way to connect it inside the Prius, in the back cargo section, on the right. I have not tried that yet. I have used it only once during a 6-hour blackout. It probably saved ~$100 worth of groceries in the fridge. It was nice having lights in the kitchen and living room, and Internet access. I tied it into the Geo Metro battery because there it is, easy to find, red to red, black to black and Bob's your uncle. Simpler than cranking up a gasoline generator. You can get a portable ~2 kW gasoline generator for $700: http://www.lowes.com/pd_28153-24212-0057930_4294747146__ 50 lbs. Kind of pricey. Here is a 1 kW unit that weights 28 lbs, also pricey: http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-EF1000iS-4-Stroke-Generator-Compliant/dp/product-description/B002RWK9LY $800! You can see why an inverter is a better deal, especially for occasional use. - Jed
