What does it feel like to sleep over a generator? We are looking at class c's and I'm concerned about generators under the bed. Do they vibrate the bed? How much? What is the noise like, is it consistent or does it change frequently? TIA for any input!!

The noise consistency will depend on what it's powering. As an example, you know how microwaves power themselves on and off depending on what power setting they're set on - our generator, if absolutely nothing else is drawing power, will rev up when the microwave power cycle kicks on and then go back to an idle when the microwave power cycle kicks off. So the noise level goes up and down and the microwave power cycle kicks on and off.If you're running it at night, I'm assuming it will be for air conditioning? So yes, it could change its noise level as the AC kicks on and off if there's nothing else drawing power from the gen set to keep it's revolutions up producing the power.I wouldn't want to listen to a gen set under my bed all night and it will add some heat to the bedroom over it. The heat increase could be a little or a lot depending on the build of the generator compartment.Bill

You'll know it's running, but I don't think the vibration will be much different at the genny vs. near the genny. That said, I don't think too many of us sleep with genny running unless it's a daytime nap while other people are dong other things. Thoughts that come to mind:1. Unless you add a vent kit, there's risk of carbon monoxide entering the non-moving coach.2. Many (most, actually) campgrounds have night time quiet hours when you are not allowed to run your genset.Class C we have uses the ONAN 4KY and that's what I base the above on. Previous coach didn't come with a genny and I added an old ONAN BFA. Both were 4KW and the BFA was a longer-lasting genny, but it was rough and loud in comparison. Like we had a garden tractor in our closet - trying to get out.

Thank you, Bill, what about vibration?I was told by an RV dealer that most class C's carry their generator under the bed, as a selling point for the one we were looking at that did NOT have the generator under the bed. So, perhaps its not true that most have them under the bed? There would likely be few intances where we would need the air conditioner at night.

It all depends on the mounting of the generator, acoustic insulation used, if the pipes and wires are places so they don't carry vibrations, and if they used the Onan resonator. Badly done, it will be like a magic fingers bed. Done right, it will be noticable, but you can still sleep.I highly recommend having at least two CO monitors, one that shows PPM just in case, as well as considering a Gen-Turi or similar unit to disperse exhaust gases above the roof.

I've had 4 Class Cs, none of which had the generator under the bed.

Sleeping over generator | Good Sam Community

pnichols
Explorer II
May 19, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
And that is why I refuse to run a generator while sleeping.

Don .... then, please, never ever tour the Southern U.S. during July or August and find yourself drycamping en route between full hookup commercial campgrounds!

We have done it when there was no way around it, but our genny is well installed and we also now keep the coach pressurized when it's running.

I've heard ultra quiet generators running in Class A motorhomes for long hours, maybe sometimes all night, but I can't recall for sure. In my opinion, running a properly installed motorhome generator while sleeping is probably a lot safer than operating an unvented propane heater all night in an RV. :)
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 18, 2015
Hi,

And that is why I refuse to run a generator while sleeping.

maillemaker wrote:
You might make them more environmentally friendly with less particulate emissions, but at the end of the day you are burning gasoline and you are going to have carbon monoxide.

Dirty or not, it will kill you dead.

Everyone ought to have CO and propane detectors in their RVs.
maillemaker
Explorer
May 18, 2015
I think it is ridiculous these things have such dirty exhaust in 2015. This is my number one pet peeve with RV technology. The least suitable to purpose system in the RV-dirty exhaust a few feet from a living space. The clean up using today's technology would be trivial.

There's not much you can do about it. You might make them more environmentally friendly with less particulate emissions, but at the end of the day you are burning gasoline and you are going to have carbon monoxide.

Dirty or not, it will kill you dead.

Everyone ought to have CO and propane detectors in their RVs.
pnichols
Explorer II
May 15, 2015
Our Onan doesn't smell too much (from the outside) .... I like to delude myself into thinking that just maybe the green E3 spark plug I use in it has something to do with this.

However, we also keep positive air pressure inside the RV whenever running the Onan to make sure physics is on our side in keeping any and all generator fumes from entering.
tpi
Explorer
May 14, 2015
I think it is ridiculous these things have such dirty exhaust in 2015. This is my number one pet peeve with RV technology. The least suitable to purpose system in the RV-dirty exhaust a few feet from a living space. The clean up using today's technology would be trivial.

If I could find a right sized heat shielded catalytic converter I'd give it a try-get it close to engine where it heats quickly. The altitude adjustment screw allows some mixture adjustment (doubt it would take much adjustment-just slightly leaner than stock). Especially at a light to moderate load I bet it could be cleaned up nicely. At a heavy load it may need enrichment (as modern car engines do when they go open loop). Heck it may reduce the useful life a bit- but probably not much if you don't lean it out under heavy load. It may be lean enough in stock configuration anyway..
rockhillmanor
Explorer
May 14, 2015
Check your exhaust pipe. I found on most RV's the darn exhaust extends only inches past the edge of the side of the RV.:R

I wrote all my headaches off to various things. I tend to end up sleeping on my couch where the gen is. It was the exhaust fumes. Not enough to knock you out but as we all know you don't really have to smell it for it to be dangerous.

Here is what it looks like, if you are not familiar with the Gen-Turi.This picture also looks like the gen is located in the back like yours is.

I don't leave home without it.:C
pianotuna
Nomad III
May 14, 2015
x2 on fumes.
rockhillmanor
Explorer
May 13, 2015
Samantha525 wrote:
What does it feel like to sleep over a generator? We are looking at class c's and I'm concerned about generators under the bed. Do they vibrate the bed? How much? What is the noise like, is it consistent or does it change frequently? TIA for any input!!

the fumes is what I would be worried about. My gen is under the couch in my MH and depending on the wind it goes under the MH or right up the side where the window is and permeates the inside of the coach. I had headaches all the time.

Bought a Gen-turi generator exhaust for MH to eliminate the fumes. Was amazed how it eliminated the fumes inside the RV. And my headaches gone.
crawford
Explorer
May 13, 2015
All you all on the same page, mine in under rear, mounted in frame and while it is under and in the main frame it is not really mounted under the bed. Do I make any sense ? And while it's running there is no vibration at all ,yep you can here it running but not anymore then you hear at a rest stop with your friendly truckers running all night.
Hank85713
Explorer
May 13, 2015
pnichols to answer your question, from what I have been told is YES, the lot lizards can be very annoying or accepted depending on the driver! An rv not so much, but then again who really knows?

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