interesting way to make 3phase power

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "Jim Lux" <jimlux-at-earthlink-dot-net> 

Honda has a very nice series of "inverter based" AC generators (they use a
DC generator driving a solid state inverter, so the motor can run at varying
speeds depending on load).

These can be paralleled to increase output power, so the solid state
inverter has some scheme to sense the load and stuff (maybe it measures
power factor?)

Conceivably, one could build a little box that provides a low power phase
reference, then use 3 of the honda generators connected in Wye to make
120/208Y.  Perhaps a small 3 phase motor might be the way to provide the
phase reference for synch?

These things are available in 3 or 4 power ratings (1kW, 2kW, and 3kW plus,
I think a 700W version)...
The 1kW version is around $700, the 2kW version is $900
They are very quiet, and you can rent them too...

Actually, now that I think about it, you could probably use the much cheaper
non-inverter style generators in the same way, except that syncing will be a
bit more challenging (especially getting into sync at first)...  I see that
there are lots of (noisy) generators in the 5kW range for $500 or so.

Hey, they just announced that outages this summer are very likely (no
investment in infrastructure, increasing population, improving business
climate), so you need to convince your significant other that an investment
of a few kilobucks will allow you to keep the refrigerator, a/c, and big
screen TV operating when things get toasty in June.