Your last generator Maintenance Run

[fatjay]

My generator is as loud as a mower, but I have it in a 3 sided box that directs 90% of the noise to the back, and it makes a big difference. It's attached to the house on the same wall as the living room, but I don't hear it through the block walls.

I hear my neighbors generators more than I hear my own. There's something to be said for a generator shed. I have a box fan that blows on the generator and the door is half way up when it's in opperation to get airflow. The exhaust is piped out through a hole in the wall.

 

[3930dave]

Machine choice is a good place to start, but there are various sound-mitigation techniques that work surprisingly well.

Modern (factory) enclosures can be pretty good, but it depends on the price-point being targeted, from both ends of the deal.

Rgds, D.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

The largest percentage of engine and fan noise can be eliminated by simply eliminating all line of sight passages. Build an intake and discharge hood, add some baffles inside or make it a U path and you will stop most all the noise but nothing is free.

Manufacturers would already do this if it weren’t for the fact that it produces equally large increases in restriction requiring larger fans and more power devoted to cooling which comes straight off the available kW. We all know the buyer will always choose the unit with 1 more kW shown on the box.

 

[Popgadget]

Air cooled engines generate a lot of mechanical noise, cooling fins do not help either. A labyrinth will work the best for the mostly high frequency noise.
The best solution to E Gas is to use aviation 100LL. It has a pretty much unlimited shelf life and works well in equipment without a catalytic converter.
I just replaced my 25 year old homemade standby with a Generac 22kw, which is a 3600 rpm 2 pole generator. It’s reasonably quiet in its enclosure, I have it placed behind a shed close to 100 feet from the house, so it’s not really audible in the house.
And the backup to the backup is a 25kw Dayton PTO driven unit.

 

[TractorGuy]

Yesterday!

I load bank my diesel generator once a month but with two storms heading for the gulf I figured it wouldn't hurt to be sure.

 

[3930dave]

We all know the buyer will always choose the unit with 1 more kW shown on the box.

.... then complain about the noise !

Some people are always expecting the Free Lunch.....

Rgds, D

 

[3930dave]

Air cooled engines generate a lot of mechanical noise, cooling fins do not help either. A labyrinth will work the best for the mostly high frequency noise.
The best solution to E Gas is to use aviation 100LL. It has a pretty much unlimited shelf life and works well in equipment without a catalytic converter.
I just replaced my 25 year old homemade standby with a Generac 22kw, which is a 3600 rpm 2 pole generator. It’s reasonably quiet in its enclosure, I have it placed behind a shed close to 100 feet from the house, so it’s not really audible in the house.
And the backup to the backup is a 25kw Dayton PTO driven unit.

Like the double backup .

I don't follow aviation really closely, but that last thing I stumbled across referenced LL getting phased out (?). Till then, may be a nice option for folks that can't get Efree.

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

Yesterday!

I load bank my diesel generator once a month but with two storms heading for the gulf I figured it wouldn't hurt to be sure.

Extra Insurance Run Done..... those 2 storms likely will divert........ Dancing with 'Ol Murph !

Rgds, D.

 

[PILOON]

To lower noise, line the generator enclosure with old carpeting.
That cuts down a bunch of noise.
Next (if U can) direct the exhaust into a hole in the ground . Yes an actual hole!
Many years back I had a cheap genset and it was near an existing hole. Also had some appropriate piping so I re directed the exhaust into that hole.
Surprise, in the house we could hear the valves clacking as the hole absorbed tons of exhaust noise.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

A small generator in a hole is actually much quieter in the surrounding area, again because much of the sound travels line of sight.

As you get farther away there is less reduction of noise though. It’s also much less effective if there is tree cover or anything else above to reflect the sound.