OK, really, how viable are generator enclosures?

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:11 pm

Looking at generators. VERY concerned about generator noise as I don't want to be a bad neighbor. Looking at the quiet Honda and Yamaha models but choking on the cost. So the question is: do generator enclosures for cheaper, non-quiet generators really work? Is it really viable to expect to be able to economically build a generator enclosure that is functional AND mutes the noise comparably to a quiet Honda or Yamaha?

phil · Post by **phil** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 1:59 pm

I don't have any personal experience owning a generator and only bad experiences having them inflicted on me at BM, so I can't vouch for the accuracy of this site:
http://www.hot-pages.com/generetiquette/
but it has several pages on sound redirection, placement, and such.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:35 pm

This is a topic that I've spent a lot of hours researching and trying things. My first stop was the link mentioned above and I built a plywood box. IMHO it sounded like I had a big drum sitting there, the exhaust noise seemed to vibrate the box and I felt it amplified the sound level.

After putting Google to work for more tips and tricks I tried some other strategies like building a box out of homosote, the same fiber material model railroaders use for building train layouts. It's supposed to deaden the sound...it did to a small degree but not much. Source: http://soundproofing.org/infopages/generator.htm

Next I tried a quieter muffler from these guys: http://www.jackssmallengines.com/Quietmuf_index.html for my Tecumseh engine. I was not impressed and during our 9 day ice storm / power outage the neighbors bitched up a storm about the noise even with the "quiet" muffler.

If you can imagine it, I've tried it. Soundabsorbing paint. So called acoustic foam. Everything sucked, either it didn't work, it didn't handle the heat, it was awkward to transport and assemble...or it was moop city. I've thrown about $400 and a bunch of donated materials and samples into soundproofing concepts before I finally gave up and bought the Honda. After that I've had it running in campgrounds and people didn't know I had it until I talked about it. I'm sure someone will pipe up and say my box design works. More power to them.... I'd love to see what others came up with.

The other thing is weight. Hauling the big box and the genny and the extra fuel as they are not as fuel efficient as the Hondas was a pain in the butt I am glad to be rid of. YMMV.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 4:43 pm

It can be done, but I think you are correct that the added weight and expense make just buying a quiet generator model up front the prefered solution.

The low frequency noises can only be redirected (up) or absorbed once the generator creates them. Walls should be stiff and heavy, ideally 2 layers with a compliant material (foam) in between. Openings should be minimized, but this causes problems with over-heating unless you install cooling fans. And it makes starting/stopping/refueling a pain.

By the time you build an effective enclosure, you could have afforded a better generator.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 5:08 pm

dragonfly Jafe wrote:By the time you build an effective enclosure, you could have afforded a better generator.

That's what I'm starting to think. I'm also thinking that cheaper generator = lower quality generator = wears out faster and I don't plan on buying another one anytime soon (the "quality is cheaper in the long run" concept).

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:22 pm

AntiM and I made an enclosure for an inconsiderate neighbor at our lat regional group: wooden pallets wrapped with tarps on both sides (we used billboard vinyl for this: our answer to everything). It worked like a charm: we had to go over to it just to see if the generator was even running.

Plus, it's modular.

HughMungus · Post by **HughMungus** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:45 pm

Ranger Genius wrote:an inconsiderate neighbor

ha. Did they ask or did you tell them beforehand?

"Where is our generator?!"

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Sun Jul 24, 2005 11:55 pm

We asked them to do something about it, and pretty much got a "we were here first. move if you don't like it," which was an especially stupid a response since both of our camps were mapped, and they were not in their mapped location. So we actually stole a few of THEIR pallets to make our sound barrier. The billboard was our own.

RegRad · Post by **RegRad** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 5:14 am

DallasPlaya: The incloser will work better if you use a thicker piece of wood.... I can see how thin ply wood will resonate the sound rather than buffer it. Also wrapping the box in some kind of cloth or tarp as Ranger Genius mentioned would help as well. The key here is THICKER IS BETTER!

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:07 am

That's why the pallets worked so well, they're double-sided, the vinyl over them made air pocket insulation. Also, we had a heavy duty stapler on hand, made the enclosure go together like a charm.

And then a third person pulled a camper in between us and the genny enclosure and set out their generator ... but they ran it sparingly rather than constantly and didn't point it at our tents. No problem.

ejl · Post by **ejl** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:49 am

DallasPlaya wrote:Looking at generators. VERY concerned about generator noise as I don't want to be a bad neighbor. Looking at the quiet Honda and Yamaha models but choking on the cost. So the question is: do generator enclosures for cheaper, non-quiet generators really work? Is it really viable to expect to be able to economically build a generator enclosure that is functional AND mutes the noise comparably to a quiet Honda or Yamaha?

I have been looking at some cheap (Chinese made?) Power Master generators that are on e-bay for $160 delivered. The specs claim 56db which compares favorably to the Honda 2000, but I worry that the quality might be too shoddy to last more than a few hours.

Kinetic IV · Post by **Kinetic IV** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 7:52 am

I've got enough billboard vinyl to engage the overload springs on an F-350 pickup. And I tried making multi-layer boxes with it as a covering, I even got fancy and tried making various honeycomb patterns in between the layers. It still didn't work for me, YMMV.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:07 am

The only foolproof method is to wrap the OWNER of the loudass generator in billboard vinyl. The noise should stop in a few minutes.

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:36 am

The only foolproof method is to wrap the OWNER of the loudass generator in billboard vinyl. The noise should stop in a few minutes.

And AntiM has the heavy duty stapler, which _will_ be required. :->

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 9:49 am

phil wrote:
The only foolproof method is to wrap the OWNER of the loudass generator in billboard vinyl. The noise should stop in a few minutes.
And AntiM has the heavy duty stapler, which _will_ be required. :->

YES- For the YOU COULD BE NEXT sign, stapled to their forehead.....The Postmortem Generator Jackass Vinyl Burrito has to be prominently displayed in camp so as to serve as a proper lesson. (Maybe a Generator Criminal mannequin should be a fixture in Hushville.....our own Guy Fawkes!)

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:48 pm

I have a bag of mannequin heads ... hehehe.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 2:08 pm

robotland wrote:The only foolproof method is to wrap the OWNER of the loudass generator in billboard vinyl. The noise should stop in a few minutes.

Sounds like "Air Cloth" to me! Have you seen Purple-Grey lately? And how does one de-consecrate an RV to utilize the sacred fluid within without angering the gods?

benenergy · Post by **benenergy** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:11 pm

I've been looking at the Power Master too. Has anyone tried them out and seen how loud they are compared to the Hondas? Do they produce less even or clean power than the Hondas? Is it only the larger generators that are really noisy? I want one to put on an artcar.
Thanks.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 10:53 pm

Ranger Genius wrote:AntiM and I made an enclosure for an inconsiderate neighbor at our lat regional group: wooden pallets wrapped with tarps on both sides (we used billboard vinyl for this: our answer to everything). It worked like a charm: we had to go over to it just to see if the generator was even running....

This sounds brilliant! I have some of that material, and a double layer of that over pallets should work great. Did you leave the top open? I could even see filling the inner spaces with foam for more deadening. And the best thing is, if care is used in the construction - they are still pallets!

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 11:41 pm

Exactly. Yes, we left the top (and one side, actually, facing away from any nearby camps) open. The sound just reflected out away from everyone. It was quite effective. I believe the pallets got broken up and used as burn barrel fuel afterwards. I think that foam would probably have less effect than just air space. Think glass bricks and acoustics. The air vibrates the first layer of vinyl, which then vibrates some air, which then lacks the force to significantly vibrate the second layer of vinyl. Sort of a vacuum insulator, only without the suction. The less dense the area between the two walls, the better.

keith · Post by **keith** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:39 am

I have a motorhome with a onan generator they are tywin cylindar and run at about half the speed around 1800rpm versus around 3500 rpm making then quieter they are also more of an industrial type so they last a long time the one in my motorhome is 6500watt runs 2 a/c fridge micro and is runs fine even though it is a 1980 model, a local junkyard that deals in motorhomes sells used ones for around 500-700$ in the sacramento area i hope my generator doesnt cause any hard feelinga , i plan 2 let peop[le plug in and use lights ang charge batteries as needed. ill mark were the exhaust comes out with a sign "generator here" and try 2 keep it out of everyopnes way. Keith

Ranger Genius · Post by **Ranger Genius** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:31 am

keith wrote: onan generator

Wait, what?

OK, really, how viable are generator enclosures?

OK, really, how viable are generator enclosures?

Re: OK, really, how viable are generator enclosures?