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cfcubed's avatar
cfcubed
Explorer
Jun 08, 2017

Plastic tote Portable 2000W Generator quieting box

Hi, first post to this forum. Having tent camped, then used a pop-up for a decade, find ourselves now towing a 27ft Airstream (which was to be a sailboat then an R-Pod:) Anyway now have occasional need for small generator to charge batteries during boondock trips more than a couple/few days.

Having gleaned info for years from this forum (& others) via web search hits thought I'd try to give something useful back.

Anyway, I found myself wanting to quiet down my already quiet Yamaha EF2000is. This after camping in a couple/few parks/campgrounds allowing generators but with mostly tent campers OR rules allowing only onboard generators. After lots of searching for a lightweight, portable, inexpensive solution decided there wasn't any ready-made & would have to make my own. This project could probably be adapted/modded for use with other 2000W class generators like Honda EU2000i & others.

See also UPDATE 06/30/17 09:23am post I built it in fall of 2015 have used it a few times since and been quite happy with the way its been working so felt it may be good & proven enough to document. I did so in Instructables "EF2000is Portable Generator Sound Deadening Enclosure Box" project (link removed). Here's a few pictures:









Stored for travel:


There's been a few somewhat similar projects around but I didn't find any like this one with powered ventilation, automobile hood adhesive-backed insulation, easy to tote around, etc. (<<< UPDATE: Oops, at least at this point in the size/cost/weight/effort/efficacy continuum - Thanks SoundGuy & others!) Maybe this will be helpful to others considering this sort of thing.

Chris

Standard disclaimers apply, you build this project at your own risk and take full responsibility for any consequences. This project directly violates product warnings and warranties and introduces possibly flammable materials in close proximity to the generator.
  • cfcubed's avatar
    cfcubed
    Explorer
    Jul 16, 2017
    Traildust wrote:
    I cannot look at these designs without thinking of overall operating temperatures of the generators. Has anyone placed any type of thermometer inside to read operating temps? Since by design, intake air adds to cooling where are the air intakes on these boxes?

    Prior to my attempt I'd searched for others (missed some:) & if you search you'll find (sometimes anecdotal) info on their experiences e.g. "used this about X times for about X hours & working fine". Some talk about intake/exhaust/baffling can be found.

    I'd checked gen case temps for my initial design in/out of box & they'd been "fine" the few times of less-than-heavy testing I'd done. But temps got too high for my comfort during a heavy/max load session (running A/C that just had an EasyStart installed).

    I'm modding the design to have single intake fan w/about 2X the CFM (240) & larger, passive, 12" long cut from a steel mailbox for exhaust port/exit. Will do more thorough testing / temp measurements of that design. Will get to it in a couple/few weeks & expect it to perform pretty well.

    Traildust wrote:
    I
    I love this idea, we have a pair of Honda EU2000's and I usually only operate one unless I need the AC. I would love to know how much the DB readings are after the box.
    Bill

    Posted this info for my initial design in my instructables dot com project. IMO the noise reduction was well worth the effort as its not just about ave DB but frequency profile & any box should reduce the most "offensive" mid- & upper-frequency components of the noise.
  • SoundGuy's avatar
    SoundGuy
    Explorer
    Jul 16, 2017
    Traildust wrote:
    I cannot look at these designs without thinking of overall operating temperatures of the generators. Has anyone placed any type of thermometer inside to read operating temps? Since by design, intake air adds to cooling where are the air intakes on these boxes? I love this idea, we have a pair of Honda EU2000's and I usually only operate one unless I need the AC. I would love to know how much the DB readings are after the box.


    Check out the link I provided back on Page 1 to jauguston's description from 10 yrs ago of his own EU1000i quiet box and you'll find discussions that address all of these issues. ;)
  • ICamel's avatar
    ICamel
    Explorer
    Jul 16, 2017
    Traildust wrote:
    I cannot look at these designs without thinking of overall operating temperatures of the generators. Has anyone placed any type of thermometer inside to read operating temps? Since by design, intake air adds to cooling where are the air intakes on these boxes? I love this idea, we have a pair of Honda EU2000's and I usually only operate one unless I need the AC. I would love to know how much the DB readings are after the box.
    Bill


    I did..............here is my post from a year ago.
    https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28956619/gotomsg/28964092.cfm#28964092
    With a remote sensor placed near the exhaust outlet of my box the temp recorded was 134F after running for 15 minutes.
    The inside box temp with the sensor placed near the top handle of the Honda remained at the outside air ambient temperature of 72F. No fans added to move air inside the enclosure.

    The key as others have noted is to isolate the exhaust(both genset and motor) from the engine side.
  • Sonora108's avatar
    Sonora108
    Explorer
    Jul 16, 2017
    OK you got me, I will not ask anymore questions before I do the research myself. I just spent over an hour reading one link that lead to another link and so on. I know a lot of you have spent a lot of time working on this and I hope I did not upset anyone with my stupid questions.
    Bill
  • rickhise's avatar
    rickhise
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2017
    Have u given any thought to the life of these engined
    Heat is its demise.
    Don't kid your self put a thermostat that reads the temp
    sometime, you will quickly learn regardless how many
    times u change the oil. The heat has this motor doomed
  • cfcubed's avatar
    cfcubed
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2017
    rickhise wrote:

    Don't kid your self put a thermostat that reads the temp
    sometime, you will quickly learn regardless how many
    times u change the oil. The heat has this motor doomed

    Of course this is a primary concern, one that "proper" testing & temp readings should address, at least to the satisfaction of builders/users of boxes. Though it'll be tricky to get internal temp measures (engine,gen,inverter) I'm going to try.
    As always in DIY, you research/assess info & reports and decide cost/benefit for yourself.
  • jjrbus's avatar
    jjrbus
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2017
    Traildust wrote:
    OK you got me, I will not ask anymore questions before I do the research myself. I just spent over an hour reading one link that lead to another link and so on. I know a lot of you have spent a lot of time working on this and I hope I did not upset anyone with my stupid questions.
    Bill


    Don't worry about stupid questions, some of us have lot's of stupid answers.

    When I did my Honda box I started with premise that it needed no fans, which seems to work for some. After thinking about running gen while traveling and vacuum and vortex and black holes decided it might not be the best idea.

    So utilized a fan. I have a $1000 genny on the line here so did many tests observing the temp. Little difference in temps under any conditions in the box.

    Honda in Asia sells a sound box for their Honda inverter generators, no auxiliary cooling. So all the hype on not enclosing is questionable.

    Edit, so now of course the picture won's show.

    [img][/img] Hopefully?

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