it's one way to go. I don't think it's the ideal way (I don't think it's ideal to run a big diesel just to charge batteries) but it's an acceptable compromise for some people. I think a quiet generator is a better approach, and solar and wind even better.

I run the diesel sometimes just to get hot water, and that's not efficient either. I like that ITR Hurricane system someone else posted about. Maybe one is in my future.