Real-World Generator Burn Data

[Zhust]

It just seems that having a hushbox is great, but that the enclosed, insulated box, could also pose it's own problems for generators both for performance and health reasons.

My hunch is a swamp cooler is overkill, but it does make sense that the generator would need far more cooling air than it does combustion air. A furnace air filter and an electric radiator fan would solve that (if it's even a problem). A labyrinthine baffle to let air in but keep sound in would be a nice addition, but I suspect the alternative to all this is a 4-sided baffle open-to-the-sky.

Then I start to think it would be cool to have a fuel tank outside the baffle box so it can be refilled without getting close to a hot generator.

Then I remember that I get all pissy about the gasoline and the odor and the noise and the pollution and the maintenance and the dangers—and think to scale down and go with batteries and solar.

[Captain Goddammit]

I think it's not worth the BS of building a fully enclosed hotbox with fans and filters. You likely won't get enough airflow, air-cooled engines need a LOT. A four-sided baffle with an open top works pretty well and won't overheat your generator.
Buying a quiet Honda or Yamaha or maybe even a Kipor is a few extra bucks but totally worth it. In terms of dollars-per-watt, they are far cheaper. A $900 - $1000 EU2000 makes about 2000 watts, all day and all night. A $500 noise factory rated at 5000 watts makes exactly zero watts because you can't stand to run it. It also uses a lot more fuel. Gas cost isn't the issue; the issue is you have to carry and store all the gas you're gonna need.

I wasted a lot of money on several others, from 2500 to 12,000 watts. The 2500-watt was even a Honda, but it was an open-frame EM series, not an EU. I took it to BM2000 and fired it up to turn on lights during setup. Within minutes people started asking "How long are you gonna run that thing?" Within minutes after getting back home, I put it up for sale.
It would have been a lot cheaper in the long run to not screw around wasting time and money on aggravating noise monsters first.

If you just can't squeeze a Honda or Yamaha, try the Kipor. Apparently the reviews on it are pretty good.

[maladroit]

If...

• It doesn't say it's an inverter
• You can see major components of the engine
• It doesn't have an Economy mode
• You have to mix something into the gas
• You can't hold a conversation while standing 3 feet away from the exhaust

...don't bring it to Burning Man.

[Elliot]

If...

• It doesn't say it's an inverter
• You can see major components of the engine
• It doesn't have an Economy mode
• You have to mix something into the gas
• You can't hold a conversation while standing 3 feet away from the exhaust

...don't bring it to Burning Man.

Can we make this a banner over the top of the entire ePlaya -- better yet, the main web site? Please?

[kowtow]

As I've previously stated you guy's suck! And you've cost me a small fortune, but at least I'm not getting steered in the wrong direction, I'm confident of that.

I'm going to count all my change in the piggy bank and I'll find a way to buy the Honda EU2000iA. NOW that you've set me back $1,099.00, I would like to know what are the precautions I should take so that this thing doesn't disappear. If I'm not in camp it will be locked up, but what about when I'm sleeping, or would you suggest I just use it when the batteries reach a certain discharge percentage.

As a broader question, what are your impressions of the general population with regards to theft. Please compare it to something I'm familiar with. I'm very cautious in Oregon State Campgrounds, because I've had people walk off with coolers in the middle of the night. Generally speaking I now lock up most valuables when I'm not around the camp site. I know that's what you're going to tell to do at BRC, but any more specific info would be appreciated.

[maladroit]

It could happen, but it's not ultra likely. Last year we left a pile of cordless tools, food, alcohol, coolers, a generator, etc out in plain view in our camp and nothing disappeared. Our art project always has a Honda generator left out on the open playa and it's always come home. Of course, there are people who have trusted the community and gotten the short end of the deal. You have to make that effort versus potential loss calculation. I only paid $400 for a refurbished Champion inverter generator, so I never got around to pounding in some stakes and looping a bike cable lock through the handle. On Burn and Temple Burn nights, I moved it next to our water barrels and tucked a tarp over it. Those are probably the most dangerous nights, when the camps are deserted and a lot of people are on their way out of the city.

[FIGJAM]

Mostly "Out of sight, out of mind" will cover it.

If it's not in plain sight, it won't get targeted.

[Sunbeam56]

We run a chain through the handle and bolt it to our trailer tongue. No trailer? I would lock it to the towing loops on your car.
Awww heck, thats the wrong term... Most cars have a metal
Fixture where a tow truck can attach and hold the vehicle securely. Thats what i mean.

[kowtow]

We run a chain through the handle and bolt it to our trailer tongue. No trailer? I would lock it to the towing loops on your car.
Awww heck, thats the wrong term... Most cars have a metal
Fixture where a tow truck can attach and hold the vehicle securely. Thats what i mean.

I would probably just put it in the trailer and lock it. Is that not an option for you? I'm paranoid enough that I would probably do that considering it is small and light enough to move around that easily.

[FIGJAM]

A lot of people set their genny's on the edge of the street and do fine, but we can bolt it to the playa if you want to.

[kowtow]

I'm heading over to Camping World tomorrow morning and will buy the EU2000iA (shit! you damn assholes!), I will also get the theft deterrent bracket and the free cover (whooopie). Regardless, I know I'm going to be pleased with this purchase and hopefully any playa neighbors will be pleased with it as well.

[Captain Goddammit]

I don't know how the fuck you spent $20k (!!!!) but you will be happy with the Honda.
I've got a pair of them and I've long forgotten the $$ I spent but am still very happy with them ten years later.
They come in handy when the power's out at home too.
Nothing you did baffle-box-wise was going to equal one of these. Plus you'll get better running time per gallon of gas - that you have to carry.
They cost, but you never hear anyone saying they're sorry they got one.

[GreyCoyote]

Kowtow: You have mail.

All: if you are in the market for an EU2000, PM me. Since joining the world of Amateur Radio, I found an outfit that gives deep discounts if you know the magic handshake. I wont post names or URLs until I have run it by the Mods. (I have no financial interest in the company BTW).

Off to the salt mines...

[GreyCoyote]

I don't know how the fuck you spent $20k (!!!!) but you will be happy with the Honda.

Sounds like KowTow is bringing his A-game! Epic!

[maladroit]

I don't know how the fuck you spent $20k (!!!!) but you will be happy with the Honda.

Sounds like KowTow is bringing his A-game! Epic!

Probably the most epic stealth virgin so far!

I don't know...he might be like me, pretty much going to the playa in spirit years before actually going. Lurking ePlaya. Sitting in Camp Envy saying "NEXT year, for SURE" and fine tuning all the plans until it was impossible not to go. My first year was 2012 and I had a monkeyhut, plywood furniture, solar panel setup, full kitchen, sound bike, light-up outfits, picklebacks, bacon, everything. It all packed entirely inside my Jeep, except for the bike (with a custom hitch rack I welded).

But....I only spent about $2k.

[kowtow]

I don't know how the fuck you spent $20k (!!!!) but you will be happy with the Honda.

Sounds like KowTow is bringing his A-game! Epic!

Probably the most epic stealth virgin so far!

I don't know...he might be like me, pretty much going to the playa in spirit years before actually going. Lurking ePlaya. Sitting in Camp Envy saying "NEXT year, for SURE"

But....I only spent about $2k.

Yes, in about August (2013) last year I was set on this course and I haven't slowed down yet. During the entire week last year I projected the live USTREAM feed to the TV and made anyone who came over watch it. BMIR was broadcasting on the USTREAM feed and I haven't stopped listening to BMIR since. Ya maybe I'm a little OCD about all this.

The enclosed trailer was $5k
Towing setup (brake controller, air springs, hitches, stingers, etc) $0.5k
Solar Setup (Panels, Batteries, mounting, cables, MPPT Controller) $1.0k
Swamp coolers $0.2k
Monkey Hut $0.3k
Direct trailer buildout (insulation, wood, aluminum, convertor, wiring, flooring, etc.) $6.5k
Ticket and vehicle pass $0.75k
Generator $1.0k
Attire $0.5k

So I'm probably only at $16k in materials, but my dry run to Yuma and back in gas and expenses, probably have me closer to the $20k mark.

It's been worth every penny and I'm just fortunate I'm able to attend Burning Man and that I can learn so much from everyone who's attended before me.

Man what a ride this has been!

[tatonka]

wow I spent close to 2000.00 last year, and I thought that was bad

[Captain Goddammit]

You could have bought a really nice motorhome or travel trailer for less than that!

[Sunbeam56]

Doin' good Kowtow... Like yourself im a multi year planner.
I tire people with my enthusiasm... Tough!
Gotta ask, what did you get for an evap? The ones im looking at are $800 ish...

[GreyCoyote]

You could have bought a really nice motorhome or travel trailer for less than that!

Piffle.

KowTow: its important to understand a certain Capt. has spent HOW MUCH on a BOAT that can not ever be put in the water? Just sayin.

For financial advice I suggest you Ignore the lad. (But for tried and true playa tips, listen to CG with both ears. Even if he doesnt seem to have any oars in the water. Hehehe)

[Captain Goddammit]

Well a lot more has been wasted on the one that does go in the water, so yeah... nevermind
As you were.

[kowtow]

Doin' good Kowtow... Like yourself im a multi year planner.
I tire people with my enthusiasm... Tough!
Gotta ask, what did you get for an evap? The ones im looking at are $800 ish...

I built mine, I got instructions off Instructables for Gray-B-Gon. Here is a video of the finished evapatron.

[media]

[maladroit]

Um....you've skipped a few levels here. You could grouse about all the newbies and no one would bat an eye.

[TT120]

The cool thing about Kowtow stealth virgin is that he's going to be in our camp! We'll have to see how drunk we can get him before we drag him to the M&G....

[kowtow]

The cool thing about Kowtow stealth virgin is that he's going to be in our camp! We'll have to see how drunk we can get him before we drag him to the M&G....

Oh fuck. It's not hard to get me drunk, it happens every night. The problem comes when I need to find my way back to camp. Are there designated drivers in BRC? Do Rangers take you home when you can't take you home?

[gaminwench]

Naw, you just pass out wherever you are .
You could sharpie your address on your forehead, so any concerned folk could find your home.

[maladroit]

Hastily crossed-out TT120's camp address

"Orgy Dome" written below

[kowtow]

Naw, you just pass out wherever you are .
You could sharpie your address on your forehead, so any concerned folk could find your home.

Sharpie is a four letter word in my life. Every summer I spend Sunday mornings washing sharpie off my body because I pass out and helpful people write all kinds of shit on my body. Please keep all sharpies far far away, at least for that one week in late August.

I was thinking about getting a toe tag and dog tags that I could impale myself with in the event someone found me near a trash pile.

[GreyCoyote]

Kowtow: You are just MADE for YouTube. Someone needs to bring a lampshade to the M&G...

[FIGJAM]

You mean MORE lampshades?