playa dust and genny

[spectrabrite]

do I need to build a box or tent to protect my small genny from the playa dust?

has anyone done this with helpful suggestions?

[Elliot]

To my great surprise, my Honda EU3000 has not needed an air filter in a handful years, and I take no precautions. I replaced the pre-filter ("screen") just last year, but I bet I could have washed it out. Seems to me... the air intake must be designed to keep dust out somehow.
Other Burners no doubt have very different experiences. It's Burning Man.

While we are here, I invite you to tell us what sort of generator you have, and we may be able to give you more information.

[Captain Goddammit]

I had trouble in the past trying to use them for mutant vehicle power because of the extra dust, but stationary in camp mine have done well.

[GreyCoyote]

We run EU2000's 24/7 during the week and have found that the generator placement has much to do with how much dust it swallows as anything. When we place the genny directly on the ground we find it sucks a LOT of dust into the intake, but setting it on top of a crate (or the trailer tongue, or just sitting it on a small scrap of plywood on the ground) reduces the dust problem by an order of magnitude.

The EU2000 clamshell really does a remarkable job of keeping the dust away from the intake. But that being said, I would still suggest you bring a couple of spare sparkplugs and a spare air filter just to be safe. Always better safe than sorry.

[spectrabrite]

interesting, I will bring the extra spark plugs and filter, I may still make a pre-filter and get it off the ground for sure

[trilobyte]

You may want to consider building some sort of box or baffle for your generator anyways. They serve a number of functions on the playa - most importantly, they dampen the sound. Unless you're using a whisper quiet model it's absolutely crucial, since the sound it makes will likely keep you, your campmates, or your neighbors awake. Even if you are using a quiet model, if your camp is pretty closely packed, or you've got neighbors right up close... you'll wish you had something to reduce the noise. Beyond that, a baffle will serve as a wind break, which will minimize the dust that gets at it (put something underneath it to really cut down the dust). Your mileage will vary GREATLY depending on brand/make/model of generator, some are designed in such a way that components are protected, others are dust magnets. I don't know if anyone's had a new generator fail during the event because of dust intake over the course of the week, but less dust is generally a good idea for the long term. The third thing a baffle does is obscure your generator from street view. Black Rock City sees very little theft in general, but one thing that's been known to happen is generator theft. Most often, it's in situations where someone's got an easily recognizable fancy generator (ie Honda), it's an extension-cord's length away from the camp, and it's visible from the street.

[spectrabrite]

Mine is a whisper quiet 1000, II was planning to chain it to avoid theft, I will look into a box for it as well

You may want to consider building some sort of box or baffle for your generator anyways. They serve a number of functions on the playa - most importantly, they dampen the sound. Unless you're using a whisper quiet model it's absolutely crucial, since the sound it makes will likely keep you, your campmates, or your neighbors awake. Even if you are using a quiet model, if your camp is pretty closely packed, or you've got neighbors right up close... you'll wish you had something to reduce the noise. Beyond that, a baffle will serve as a wind break, which will minimize the dust that gets at it (put something underneath it to really cut down the dust). Your mileage will vary GREATLY depending on brand/make/model of generator, some are designed in such a way that components are protected, others are dust magnets. I don't know if anyone's had a new generator fail during the event because of dust intake over the course of the week, but less dust is generally a good idea for the long term. The third thing a baffle does is obscure your generator from street view. Black Rock City sees very little theft in general, but one thing that's been known to happen is generator theft. Most often, it's in situations where someone's got an easily recognizable fancy generator (ie Honda), it's an extension-cord's length away from the camp, and it's visible from the street.

[Captain Goddammit]

Be careful with any pre-filter setup because the playa is already at fairly high altitude and you don't want to starve it for air even more.
The Honda filter really does do a great job, I think if you want to be super extra nice to your generator just bring spares and change them now and then. (Or wash them if you have the means.)

[mudpuppy000]

We have a few Yamaha generators in our camp and we haven't had any issues with them out there. I cleaned the air filter on one after it went to BRC last year and it was surprisingly clean. That might have been due to the heavy rain/low dust for 2014.

[Zubeneschamali]

We also run two Honda EU2000's at camp. They are actually used primarily at Burning Man and don't see much run time the rest of the year.

Some issues that we have run into the last 10 years. Yes, they are both still going strong

Both needed new pull cords.
Both needed new chokes
Both receive annual oil, plug, and filter changes.
New gas caps (on/off airflow) replaced every 2 to 3 years
Carb kits are installed about every 5 years
Honda carbs are pretty good. But if it sits use a gas stabilizer if tank is full, or a carb spray if empty.

They are raised off the ground (milk crates) and they run 24/7 out in the sun, during dust storms, drunken idiots have tripped them over. You can build a box, but I don't think its necessary for a Honda.

LOCK THAT GENNIE UP! Gennies are probably right behind bikes as highest theft items. Especially a small 2K watt enclosed model.

[mooserider]

Anyone have any opinions regarding RV-mounted generators? They're a little harder to add shielding to (being bolted to the RV), but partially more protected. I'm wondering if I need to add a pre-filter to the Onan on my RV.

[Elliot]

Regarding pull cords -- and this applies to ALL pull cords -- avoid pulling it all the way out until it stops! That is how it eventually breaks. And... yanking roughly on it when you begin the pull will not help it either. Try to begin the pull smoothly, accelerate briskly, then stop before you reach the end of the cord. It takes concentration and practice, but I have never broken a pull cord on any engine in "half a century".

[Zubeneschamali]

Worthy advice, Elliot. $90 replacement for the EU2000. Also try to pull straight out on the cord, not at an angle, to decrease cord friction.

Much like other things, if you rub it the wrong way it stops working.

[Captain Goddammit]

$90 for a piece of paracord?!!!!

Good god man, just unscrew the case and toss in a new piece of string. It's not rocket science.

[Zubeneschamali]

Yup, that was the quoted price. I did it myself, but I'm always interested to find out what the shop price is.

[FIGJAM]

$100 per hr.

[Captain Goddammit]

I don't see why a shop tech couldn't do it in less than half an hour. I can.
There's a few bolts that a long extension and a u-joint help with, but it's pretty easy.
Remind me to go into the generator repair business!!

[Zubeneschamali]

I'm not mechanical by nature, but when a shop charges $100 an hour I learn pretty quickly.

Anyways, back to topic - OP: Don't worry about dust because its a losing battle to try to fight it. Way more important is to plan on the post-playa clean up. Get compressed air and clean that gennie. Make sure the filters and fluids are serviced.