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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / How do you deal with generator noise?
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socceronly
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 08:49
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I have neighbors, and I really don't want to bother anyone.

Can't run the pump on a smaller Inverter generator and can't really afford the 5K (cad$) for the Honda 7000.

I was looking at people that built 'sound proof' sheds, but they didn't seem to be very sound proof. Building a seriously sound proof shed, like way better than the ones on YouTube, roxul, multiple layers of drywall, green glue ect... it seems like I might as well spend the money on the Honda.

I think this whole post is simply about rationalizing buying the Honda....lol

Have to go rob some liqueur stores.

Nate R
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 08:55
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Run which pump? Well pump? Submersible? How deep?

socceronly
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 09:11
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I don't have the exact specs off hand.

It's a submersible pump. Down around 10 feet, with an additional 40ft rise up to the cabin. Power would need to run almost 200ft, so 230V.

I was planning on getting the Honda 3000is. The water guy felt it would be a lottery if it would trip it. By his calculations the start up would be 200w over.

So I considered getting a cheaper dedicated generator. But those things are brutal loud. The inverter I could put in a simple shed and no one would know it was there.

Jebediah
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 10:39 - Edited by: Jebediah
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Not sure how praticle a hole in the ground would be for your genny, we used do that in the military. We had long lengths of exhaust pipe and bury that also....if we were in one place for a long time we would put a roof over the hole...it worked pretty good....

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 11:42 - Edited by: Steve_S
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Why such a pump is curious. My well, 260' deep + 65' to house uses a 120 Volt Soft Start deep well pump (sitting @ 250) and keeps 45PSI like a swiss watch and no power hits when it starts and surprisingly does not draw that much when running. My water pump btw is a Grundfos SQ-5 which is not a cheapo but not crazy expensive either.

Sound proofing can be done in different ways and with different approaches depending on your generator. Exhaust & muffler are the first step to ponder. Fuel Type will also have an impact on the amount of noise generated but all Air Cooled generator's are noisier than liquid cooled (as with all Internal Combustion Engines).

One reasonable alternative would be to use a whole house LPG fueled Generator such as the one below and they are NOT 5 or 7 grand either.

https://www.championpowerequipment.com/products/generators/home-standby-generators/


Available from TSC, Canadian Tire, Homedepot and even Costco I believe now.
http://www.tscstores.com/8500W-CHAMPION-STANDBY-GENERATOR-P41919.aspx
@ TSC $3,000 in Canada. HomeDepot USA $1999 USD

EDIT: Btw I'm solar, off-grid, 2 gennies 1 heavy Champion 7200/9000 and 1 King Canada 3kw Inverter Genny with over 400 hours on it now and still perfect. King Canada has released it's 4kw Inverter Generator which replaced the 3kw unit and at the same price.

REF:KCG 4000i

KCG 4000i @ Costco - $1099

TO NOTE: King Canada products are designed & engineered in Canada and made to spec in China for Canada. I've never had any issues of concern with their Generator and I've used it hard when building etc... Although, I am somewhat fanatical about maintenance and after break-in (2 oil changes) I switch to pure synthetic 0w30 oil and eagle eye it constantly. I don't burn up power equipment not get lazy about it because in my situation my life could depend on such equipment should something go amiss.

Nate R
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 13:20
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And the 120v well pump is what I was getting at. In this case, might be cheaper to go with a 2-3 kw inverter generator, AND get a new 115V 2 wire well pump. Depending on your wiring setup/scenario, still might be worthwhile, despite the 200 ft run.

DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 23:04
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Sound dissipates into heat. It needs material to trap the sound waves. Google Foam Acoustic Panels. Installation caution, they are flammable, need to keep from being too close to top of generator and exhaust.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 3 Apr 2018 23:31
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I dealt with it by buying a Honda(s). Problem solved.

creeky
Member
# Posted: 6 Apr 2018 10:55
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For sound dampening I would use Roxul. They have a specific product for it. Non-flammable being part of the allure.

For 5k. I'd build a solar system. I have one. It is very quiet and disturbs no one. Plus I don't have gas bills.

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 7 Apr 2018 22:03 - Edited by: KinAlberta
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Just providing some random comments (many may be bad or totally clueless or counterproductive) as I don't understand all the factors and have only read random articles over the years on the whole process of silencing a generator.

Not sure how you'll go about it but I understand that layering and air gaps between layers helps but it is important to seal any holes and cracks. (Just open any door or window ever so slightly and note how much noise gets in.)

Roxul seems like a given on any project. Rubber too but that can be expensive. May be that there are cheap alternatives.

I've tried to think of cheap material I could use if and when I need to silence a generator. (Our old wood generator shed was ok with our low pitched onan generatir but a neighbour's was just horrible. His high pitched gen noises penetrated the air. He hated it.)

I've always thought that I could use concrete sidewalk blocks on edge if I needed a cheap source of mass. But noise would get through the gaps and some noise transmits right through hard surfaces so would have to be muted first and concrete would be a final barrier.

Even the studs could conduct noise so some sort of gap between the interior paneling and the studs would be needed. Maybe a bead(s) of silicone on each stud and allowed to dry would act like rubber bumpers. Drywall screws though would transmit panel vibrations into studs to outside wall. Alternatives????

I'd build a sound deadening box or generator cabinet inside a larger sound insulated shed.



Interior wall covering? Drywall is cheap. Cement board might work. Corrugated panel (steel or fibreglass or to disburse sound waves. Or that cheap wavy roofing stuff Lowes sells.

Rubber between drywall is one technique but maybe pricy. However asphalt shingles could be layered and used like a rubber layer between drywall with added benefit of adding an air gap(s).

A long exhaust long pipe emptying into some thing might help.

Shed could be on a gravel floor.

Four fence posts could be pounded into the floor and a generator pad (plywood?) could be hung by bungees to the posts to prevent vibrations from making noise. Some sort of interior box or cabinet would then enclose it.

bc thunder
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2018 00:53
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egg cartons.....

KinAlberta
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2018 16:38
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So it all comes down to egg cartons.


Where were you before I posted that mess of thoughts above.

bc thunder
Member
# Posted: 8 Apr 2018 20:08
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....LOL.......

socceronly
Member
# Posted: 10 Apr 2018 10:43
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The best soundproofing stuff you can get, that is affordable that is, is drywall, roxul and Greenglue.

Layered drywall with Greenglue works really well. I have used it a few times.

It used to be hard to find, but they sell it at HD now.

JoeInBucks
Member
# Posted: 16 May 2018 20:35
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You could build a plywood vented or partially open enclosure, dog house like structure but open under the eaves and vented near the exhaust. Line with sound proofing panel designed for boat engine compartments. It’s not all that expensive.

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