Generator quieting

I was deterred by the complexity of his design. I think yours is much more feasible and affordable.

profdant139 wrote:
I've been doing some reading -- always dangerous! -- and thinking about imitating Sound Guy's box.

I'm surprised you didn't built a box like this long ago since you were involved in that discussion started by jauguston back in 2007. :h

I've been doing some reading -- always dangerous! -- and thinking about imitating Sound Guy's box. It turns out there is a difference between soundproofing and sound absorbing materials. Soundproofing actually blocks the transmission of sound, like concrete or lead -- drywall is another example. Sound absorbing stuff blocks the reflection of sound -- things like foam or fiberglass insulation.

It seems like there should be a way to combine the two inside a box.

That is as far as my thinking has gotten -- still pondering.

From marine experience I'd be looking for some sort of sound shield material.

The problem I would think it that the genny needs to keep itself cool. It you put a box over it you will get overheating problems. To correct that you will need to install a fan in the box to draw air in & a large enough vent for the hot air to escape. This in addition to what ever you do about exhaust.

SoundGuy wrote:
He can't. The OP's profile indicates he's here in Canada where Honda Canada offers the EU2000i without parallel capability ... there are ways around this of course

Yeah, using two extension cords. It's real simple, but I'm amazed at how many people go ahead and buy those expensive kits.

Now, if Honda removes the synching electronics for Canadian sales, that's quite different. I don't think they do that.

AFHauler wrote:
Thanks everyone, I am going to install 450 watts of solar and get a Honda 2000I for everyday use.

2oldman wrote:
Good choice. When funds allow get another and run your air.

He can't. The OP's profile indicates he's here in Canada where Honda Canada offers the EU2000i without parallel capability ... there are ways around this of course but if the OP really thinks he may want to eventually parallel two EU2000i gensets then he'd be better off buying two EU2000i gensets in the US that are equipped with parallel ports.

AFHauler wrote:
Thanks everyone, I am going to install 450 watts of solar and get a Honda 2000I for everyday use.

Good choice. When funds allow get another and run your air.

Thanks everyone, I am going to install 450 watts of solar and get a Honda 2000I for everyday use. I have had the 3000EM for a long time. I don't think I have more than a fifty hours on it. It only gets used for the air conditioning, two or three times a year. I had thought of getting a Honda 3000I but it is just to heavy and I have no permanent place to mount it on the TT. Leaving it in the truck is not an option. So , from your ideas I will experiment with some sound reduction boxes, panels etc.

Thanks again.

profdant139 wrote:
After spending a half hour studying Sound Guy's Quiet Box (see link above), I am sure that this method would reduce noise for almost any generator. His link provides detailed guidance.

Two of his innovations are particularly clever -- first, he rigged up a fan, mounted on the box, to blow fresh air into the generator's intake, and the fan is powered by the generator itself. Second, his vertical exhaust port serves as a baffle for the exhaust, without (I think) creating significant back-pressure in the exhaust system.

Thanks again, Sound Guy, and well done!

Thanks, but the credit really goes to jauguston for his own quiet box design on which mine is based ... his rv.net discussion from 2007 can be found here if you're interested.

Although it may not seem so at first glance quiet box design for an enclosed inverter genset such as the EU2000i is entirely different than for an open frame genset. The former has a cleverly designed plastic case that not only helps reduce noise but also directs and keeps separate cooling intake air, hot engine air that needs to be exhausted, and engine exhaust. With open frame gensets there is no control over movement of these 3 elements which simply meander about the generator as it's running ... not an issue when sitting in open air but when enclosed presents the problem as to how to properly intake cooling air and exhaust both hot engine air and exhaust so the engine doesn't overheat and shut down. Typically, most of these open frame generator boxes utilize high capacity fans at both ends of the box, one to intake cooling air in large volumes and another at the opposite end to vent out hot engine & exhaust in large volumes. OTOH, take a look at jauguston's pics and you'll note his inverter genset quiet box design is very similar to some of these clever Japanese quiet box designs which are intended to keep the 3 elements - intake air, hot engine exhaust air, and engine exhaust - completely separate at all times, as Honda engineers intended. Some such as jaguston's don't even utilize a fan but those that are most effective all feature a multi chamber exhaust baffle, another concession I made because I was utilizing an existing plastic box rather than a custom designed box that would be much more costly to build. The principles in designing an inverter genset quiet box are the same, only the execution varying somewhat in the interest of cost ... but they are quite a bit different than a quiet box designed for use with an open frame genset.

After spending a half hour studying Sound Guy's Quiet Box (see link above), I am sure that this method would reduce noise for almost any generator. His link provides detailed guidance.

Two of his innovations are particularly clever -- first, he rigged up a fan, mounted on the box, to blow fresh air into the generator's intake, and the fan is powered by the generator itself. Second, his vertical exhaust port serves as a baffle for the exhaust, without (I think) creating significant back-pressure in the exhaust system.

Thanks again, Sound Guy, and well done!