Onan genset, old tech, too loud.
I am typing this about 10 feet from my MH. We are dry camped, and I need a couple of hours of battery charging. No solar, but we are in deep cover anyway. This is the first time I've ever let the O...
Forum Discussion
Snowman, my first two RV's were B's with underhung 2800 Microlite Onans. I suppose your 4000 is a Microquiet, but I dunno the details of how it's mounted.
On mine, the first thing was the exhaust. Be sure the tailpipe is free to move, not rigidly attached to anything (this lets the anti-vibration mounts in the box work). I made a spring hanger to replace a rigid one. Install the Onan resonator. It won't make a huge difference in noise level, but will lower and smooth the tone so it's less irritating to most folks. Rodger (old B forum mod) also bought a small Supertrapp spark arrestor to use on the end of the pipe when parked.
If the Onan is mounted by being hung on end plates, use longer bolts, Loctite, and rubber washers to reduce the metal-to-metal contact. Loctite keeps you from having to tighten the bolts beyond just 'snug', so the rubber can flex. If your mount uses a 'V' brace on the side opposite the service door, be sure it's not rubbing on the box's upper lip (was on one of mine).
Read the installation manual and do some measuring and thinking. You may have room for some sound deadening above the box, on the bottom of the floor. It's unlikely to be worth all the effort, but you may be able to fabricate a metal baffle that wraps around the air inlet area, and line it with sound-absorbing material like underhood Dynamat. The manual gives needed clearances.
Finally, the worst source of noise is the downward cooling air exit around the exhaust pipe. If yours is high enough off the ground for it not to present a fire hazard, put a square of old carpet under the generator when parked. It'll absorb some noise before it bounces off the pavement.
Jim, "Vote early, and vote often!"
On mine, the first thing was the exhaust. Be sure the tailpipe is free to move, not rigidly attached to anything (this lets the anti-vibration mounts in the box work). I made a spring hanger to replace a rigid one. Install the Onan resonator. It won't make a huge difference in noise level, but will lower and smooth the tone so it's less irritating to most folks. Rodger (old B forum mod) also bought a small Supertrapp spark arrestor to use on the end of the pipe when parked.
If the Onan is mounted by being hung on end plates, use longer bolts, Loctite, and rubber washers to reduce the metal-to-metal contact. Loctite keeps you from having to tighten the bolts beyond just 'snug', so the rubber can flex. If your mount uses a 'V' brace on the side opposite the service door, be sure it's not rubbing on the box's upper lip (was on one of mine).
Read the installation manual and do some measuring and thinking. You may have room for some sound deadening above the box, on the bottom of the floor. It's unlikely to be worth all the effort, but you may be able to fabricate a metal baffle that wraps around the air inlet area, and line it with sound-absorbing material like underhood Dynamat. The manual gives needed clearances.
Finally, the worst source of noise is the downward cooling air exit around the exhaust pipe. If yours is high enough off the ground for it not to present a fire hazard, put a square of old carpet under the generator when parked. It'll absorb some noise before it bounces off the pavement.
Jim, "Vote early, and vote often!"
