Generator noise level

[gruntfuttock]

Hello everyone, I have a question about generator noise levels. There has been a bit of activity on some of the bookFace pages I am on about should generators be allowed, hours to run, noise levels etc with some extremist news from both sides. What solutions have people used with what outcome? I have seen a few things on YouTube etc, but it would be great to talk to someone who has actually done something.

Thanks.

[Tins]

Well, they are annoying... You could try Moe's trick:


https://youtu.be/5zwc5mdEbDI

[gruntfuttock]

Thanks this is one I have not seen….. yet

[Tins]

Thanks this is one I have not seen….. yet

Pretty simple.. may not be what you are looking for though...

[gruntfuttock]

Well, they are annoying... You could try Moe's trick:


https://youtu.be/5zwc5mdEbDI
Thanks for this, as stated, this was one that I have not seen before, its great to have something that has some fact in it.
Yes I totally agreed 100% that they are annoying and mine is only intended to be used in a “when needed” situation as we like the peace and quiet hence the question of decibels. We love hearing all the birds before sunrise, not 15 generators!!

[gruntfuttock]

Pretty simple.. may not be what you are looking for though...

I might try this with some sort of foam on the inside on 3 of the sides.

[p38arover]

The last time I went camping, I needed to use the generator. I went to a couple of nearby camp sites and told them. They were ok with me using it.

I started it then went back to the campsites to listen and it was almost inaudible.

No, it wasn’t a Honda or similar, it’s a cheap Chinese GMC (remember that brand from Bunnings?).

[gruntfuttock]

The last time I went camping, I needed to use the generator. I went to a couple of nearby camp sites and told them. They were ok with me using it.

I started it then went back to the campsites to listen and it was almost inaudible.

No, it wasn’t a Honda or similar, it’s a cheap Chinese GMC (remember that brand from Bunnings?).

Thanks, most people are ok providing its used within due limits, however some have some extremist views. I personally don’t particularly like them but at times they are an evil necessity.
One person, on one of the pages even suggested that “if there is anyone using a generator near me I would take an axe to his cables and possibly the generator itself. If you cant go 100% solar then don’t go”. Rather intolerant I think.

[Tins]

Rather intolerant I think.

Extremely. Does he walk to the campsites?

[gruntfuttock]

Extremely. Does he walk to the campsites?
Maybe hahaha, I just wonder at some of the extremist views at times if they fart into a can and then sell the methane? 😂

[Tins]

Maybe hahaha, I just wonder at some of the extremist views at times if they fart into a can and then sell the methane? 😂

Stephanie Matto, whoever she is, made over $200K doing just that. Never mind every minute, there's one born every second.

[p38arover]

One person, on one of the pages even suggested that “if there is anyone using a generator near me I would take an axe to his cables and possibly the generator itself. If you cant go 100% solar then don’t go”. Rather intolerant I think.

I ran out of battery. There was mostly cloud over a couple of days so my solar panels couldn’t charge the fridge batteries.

I could have started my car to charge them but it’s not the most efficient way as there isn’t a lot of charge at idle. I didn’t want to break camp to go driving to charge the batteries.

[gruntfuttock]

I ran out of battery. There was mostly cloud over a couple of days so my solar panels couldn’t charge the fridge batteries.

I could have started my car to charge them but it’s not the most efficient way as there isn’t a lot of charge at idle. I didn’t want to break camp to go driving to charge the batteries.
Exactly one of my thoughts. Maybe someone might invent a little hamster wheel with hamster that can do the job silently and environmentally safe. [bighmmm][bigwhistle]

[BradC]

I might try this with some sort of foam on the inside on 3 of the sides.

Last year we had a number of planned and unplanned outages > 6 hours. Any night it was stinking hot I ran the generator for a couple of hours to run the split A/C in the bedroom an keep the UPS(s) charged up.
We live in a suburb, so it's not ideal.

I found the best results using boards to direct the sound straight up. It was incredibly effective. I assembled them around the gen, left the top open and the exhaust end board at about 45 degrees so the hot air followed the noise up.
I'd done a bit of a walk around the surrounding area doing some before and after subjective listening tests and it ended up barely audible over the neighbours fence.

I played with some old insulated panels I had lying around and if there was a difference it was imperceptible. The concept of reflecting the sound seemed to work just as well.

[gruntfuttock]

Last year we had a number of planned and unplanned outages > 6 hours. Any night it was stinking hot I ran the generator for a couple of hours to run the split A/C in the bedroom an keep the UPS(s) charged up.
We live in a suburb, so it's not ideal.

I found the best results using boards to direct the sound straight up. It was incredibly effective. I assembled them around the gen, left the top open and the exhaust end board at about 45 degrees so the hot air followed the noise up.
I'd done a bit of a walk around the surrounding area doing some before and after subjective listening tests and it ended up barely audible over the neighbours fence.

I played with some old insulated panels I had lying around and if there was a difference it was imperceptible. The concept of reflecting the sound seemed to work just as well.

I’ll definitely give that a go. Thanks.

[biggin]

...and it ended up barely audible over the neighbours fence.


How much noise does your neighbours fence make?

[emoji53], sorry.

[BradC]

How much noise does your neighbours fence make?

[emoji53], sorry.

In the wind, a bit. When the kids are banging on it, a lot. When the dog hits it running full tilt chasing a rat, it's like thunder.
The generator is inconsequential by comparison! :tease:

[scarry]

People idling their vehicles to 'warm them up ' is more of a real nuisance,and a dumb idea,than a quietish gen going for an hour or so,not that we have ever used one.

Last year at Canarvon Gorge in the middle of winter, a coach driver decided to 'warm' up the engine,it was idling for well over 45 minutes,before it was even loaded.
Bloody noisy and annoying.
And unnecessary.

[Tins]

And unnecessary.

The only real reason for doing this is to get the cabin temp to a comfortable level for the pax, who usually insist on it. This takes forever at idle.
The only other reason I can think of is a poorly maintained air system for the brakes.

45 mins does seem excessive though. Having it running as they board has a placebo effect, more so if it's hot and the aircon gives them the perception of being cooler.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

There is a huge noise difference between that generator in the utube thumbnail and a modern Honda or Yamaha.

[gruntfuttock]

There is a huge noise difference between that generator in the utube thumbnail and a modern Honda or Yamaha.
Thanks fore replying
Agreed on that however there is also a huge difference in price as well. I am fully aware you get what you pay for, and Honda, Yamaha have deservingly a very good name, but some people don’t have $2000 or more for a generator they may use a few times a year at best.

[Tins]

There is a huge noise difference between that generator in the utube thumbnail and a modern Honda or Yamaha.

Absolutely. A proportional decrease in sound on one of those would render them almost silent.

[Tins]

Thanks fore replying
Agreed on that however there is also a huge difference in price as well. I am fully aware you get what you pay for, and Honda, Yamaha have deservingly a very good name, but some people don’t have $2000 or more for a generator they may use a few times a year at best.

Outages are reasonably common where I live, or I wouldn't have one at all. I had one from Aldi which did what I needed, but apparently someone needed it more than me.... When we had that massive wind storm here a couple of years ago I raced down to Kings and got one of theirs. Not a Honda by any means but not as bad as you'd think. I really only used it for the three weeks I had no power, but got no complaints as everyone else was doing the same thing! That genny will travel with me as an "emergency" supplement to the solar. I don't consume a lot of power.

[p38arover]

Last year at Canarvon Gorge in the middle of winter, a coach driver decided to 'warm' up the engine,it was idling for well over 45 minutes,before it was even loaded.
Bloody noisy and annoying.
And unnecessary.

This is not the common for coaches. Tins’ suggestion that it’s to make the coach comfortable for pax makes sense. I’d never thought of that.

[Tins]

This is not the common for coaches. Tins’ suggestion that it’s to make the coach comfortable for pax makes sense. I’d never thought of that.

When you're the focal point for 40 people's compliments or complaints you soon learn..

[W&KO]

We have been on the road for 12 months….except for a bit of work here and there.

I cannot recall being annoyed by a generator to date…..

When we pull into a free camp we tend to park as far away from the vans…..and if we happen to spot a generator than we go to the opposite side.

WA national parks have designated gennie area, again we don’t book the camp next door but at the other end.

The only time we’ve been slightly annoyed is when a guy beside us got up twice or three time during the night to run his car for an hour……due to a battery issue i the van. I did say mate, you could have given us a heads up and we would have happily moved

[scarry]

When you're the focal point for 40 people's compliments or complaints you soon learn..

In summer with high amdients i can see the reasoning,but mild weather,not hot or cold,i can't see any point.

AS we all know leaving an engine idling for long periods of time not only wastes fuel,but doesn't do the engine any real favours.

If he was warming the engine up a far better thing to do would be drive it sensibly until it warmed up,it will warm up much quicker being used than idling.

[Tins]

In summer with high amdients i can see the reasoning,but mild weather,not hot or cold,i can't see any point.

AS we all know leaving an engine idling for long periods of time not only wastes fuel,but doesn't do the engine any real favours.

If he was warming the engine up a far better thing to do would be drive it sensibly until it warmed up,it will warm up much quicker being used than idling.

Mostly agree. But a bus with no opening windows can be a bit of a greenhouse. For me it was 5 mins at the most ( except at the bloody snow ). Like I said there was a placebo effect, and it also focussed them into getting on, as I never had a cattle, or should that be sheep, dog to round 'em up.

[B.S.F.]

Sometimes upon arrival at a camp site I used to go around and ask people 'have you got a dog, a generator or a chain saw ?' Depending on the answers we stayed or moved on.
The 'yes' answers were usually accompanied by 'it's only a small dog, it's a well behaved dog it won't do any harm, it's a quiet generator, I won't be using the chain saw for long etc.
We live in the country in a quiet neighbourhood, we don' really want to spend our holidays in a place that's noisier than home.
.W.
Some national parks now have camp site areas set aside for people with generators.
.W.