Opinions on 3400 champion inverter generator.

TomG2,

Well, of course. If the genny belongs to me it is silent--in fact it actually absorbs sound so I can hear birds singing in the rain.

If, on the other hand, it belongs to someone else then it is too loud, even when it is NOT even running.

There must be a new sound test for generators which states the obvious, "Yours is loud" and "Mine is almost silent".

horton333 wrote:

Boon Docker wrote:

tdst51 wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
i'm sure you can measure a difference with a Sound Db meter
i'm also sure that there is a Tone difference in the sound generated
between Honda and Champion,
I think there are those that think feel that difference and call it a volume difference
for me the Honda and champ side by side, any difference is too small to make it worth a bother
and I know that (2) honda 2000i's running an AC are just as loud as (1) champ 3000i power an identical AC

now if ALL you ever do is charge batteries with a 40a converter
then yes a 2000i honda will be a bit different than a 3000i champ doing the same thing

sound volume is a very personal perception ?

meters don't lie, the difference between champ 2000i and a honda 2000i is only about 1.5 ~ 2 db
it takes 10db for the avg human ear to perceive a doubling of sound
which is really (3) times the sound energy
and there is not that much Measured difference between Honda and champion

I don't know anything about the 10 decibel doubling thing; irrelevant. I do know that 1.5-2 decibels is an audible difference.

Not quite.

Many studies have shown that an increase of 3 db is not a noticeable increase in sound to a human being, it takes an increase of 5 db.

3 db has been the standard threshold to notice a change for decades in the audio industry, seems strange it would vary for a generator. 3 db is also roughly double the sound power level. It takes 10 dbs, 10 times the power, to be perceived as roughly double the loudness by most people. This explains why my old 2200 cheap generator didn't sound all that much louder than my new Honda, in side by side tests with my ear and specs that make it sound like there is a huge difference be damned.

Interesting "peeing" match(es) -
by those who know *ALL* - and are *ALWAYS* Right!..:S

....and the winner is?? - - (Yet to be determined...:R..)

~

Boon Docker wrote:

tdst51 wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
i'm sure you can measure a difference with a Sound Db meter
i'm also sure that there is a Tone difference in the sound generated
between Honda and Champion,
I think there are those that think feel that difference and call it a volume difference
for me the Honda and champ side by side, any difference is too small to make it worth a bother
and I know that (2) honda 2000i's running an AC are just as loud as (1) champ 3000i power an identical AC

now if ALL you ever do is charge batteries with a 40a converter
then yes a 2000i honda will be a bit different than a 3000i champ doing the same thing

sound volume is a very personal perception ?

meters don't lie, the difference between champ 2000i and a honda 2000i is only about 1.5 ~ 2 db
it takes 10db for the avg human ear to perceive a doubling of sound
which is really (3) times the sound energy
and there is not that much Measured difference between Honda and champion

I don't know anything about the 10 decibel doubling thing; irrelevant. I do know that 1.5-2 decibels is an audible difference.

Not quite.

Many studies have shown that an increase of 3 db is not a noticeable increase in sound to a human being, it takes an increase of 5 db.

3 db has been the standard threshold to notice a change for decades in the audio industry, seems strange it would vary for a generator. 3 db is also roughly double the sound power level. It takes 10 dbs, 10 times the power, to be perceived as roughly double the loudness by most people. This explains why my old 2200 cheap generator didn't sound all that much louder than my new Honda, in side by side tests with my ear and specs that make it sound like there is a huge difference be damned.

To the Mod, I'm not sure if this is appropriate or not for this thread, if not please delete it. Just typing it relieved the stress from reading some of the anti-genny posts.

I don't understand why or how someone feels that they can set standards for how much noise I can create while camping. I am sorry if my generator running bothers you and I would try to accommodate you but I am entitled to enjoy camping too and if I need to charge my batteries I will charge my batteries.

I have a 4500 Onan and I have a Champion 2000 inverter also. Why two? you ask, because I don't like to run the Onan due to the sound level and the Champion is so much quieter we hardly notice it. I can only imagine how much the Onan would bother you if you're camping is ruined by a Honda or my Champion.

Just be happy you are able to hear clearly without little PA systems stuck in your ears like I have. If you would come over and talk to me about when and for how long I run my generator, we might work something out to lesson the aggravation you are feeling. However, if you come over all mad and demanding, I'll just tune you out and take the genny out of econ mode and let it rip or even turn the Onan on instead.

tdst51 wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
i'm sure you can measure a difference with a Sound Db meter
i'm also sure that there is a Tone difference in the sound generated
between Honda and Champion,
I think there are those that think feel that difference and call it a volume difference
for me the Honda and champ side by side, any difference is too small to make it worth a bother
and I know that (2) honda 2000i's running an AC are just as loud as (1) champ 3000i power an identical AC

now if ALL you ever do is charge batteries with a 40a converter
then yes a 2000i honda will be a bit different than a 3000i champ doing the same thing

sound volume is a very personal perception ?

meters don't lie, the difference between champ 2000i and a honda 2000i is only about 1.5 ~ 2 db
it takes 10db for the avg human ear to perceive a doubling of sound
which is really (3) times the sound energy
and there is not that much Measured difference between Honda and champion

I don't know anything about the 10 decibel doubling thing; irrelevant. I do know that 1.5-2 decibels is an audible difference.

Not quite.

Many studies have shown that an increase of 3 db is not a noticeable increase in sound to a human being, it takes an increase of 5 db.

I've used both the Honda 2k and the 3400 Champion, when the Honda is charging the batteries or powering the microwave it has to rev to the limit to handle the load so it is loud, when the Champion is running it is idling most of the time so it is not any louder than the Honda, if it has to rev to handle the air it will be about as loud as the Honda at full RPM. Hope this makes sense, also fuel usage is about the same again because the Champion is idling where the Honda is revving.

MrWizard wrote:
i'm sure you can measure a difference with a Sound Db meter
i'm also sure that there is a Tone difference in the sound generated
between Honda and Champion,
I think there are those that think feel that difference and call it a volume difference
for me the Honda and champ side by side, any difference is too small to make it worth a bother
and I know that (2) honda 2000i's running an AC are just as loud as (1) champ 3000i power an identical AC

now if ALL you ever do is charge batteries with a 40a converter
then yes a 2000i honda will be a bit different than a 3000i champ doing the same thing

sound volume is a very personal perception ?

meters don't lie, the difference between champ 2000i and a honda 2000i is only about 1.5 ~ 2 db
it takes 10db for the avg human ear to perceive a doubling of sound
which is really (3) times the sound energy
and there is not that much Measured difference between Honda and champion

I don't know anything about the 10 decibel doubling thing; irrelevant. I do know that 1.5-2 decibels is an audible difference.

i'm sure you can measure a difference with a Sound Db meter
i'm also sure that there is a Tone difference in the sound generated
between Honda and Champion,
I think there are those that think feel that difference and call it a volume difference
for me the Honda and champ side by side, any difference is too small to make it worth a bother
and I know that (2) honda 2000i's running an AC are just as loud as (1) champ 3000i power an identical AC

now if ALL you ever do is charge batteries with a 40a converter
then yes a 2000i honda will be a bit different than a 3000i champ doing the same thing

sound volume is a very personal perception ?

meters don't lie, the difference between champ 2000i and a honda 2000i is only about 1.5 ~ 2 db
it takes 10db for the avg human ear to perceive a doubling of sound
which is really (3) times the sound energy
and there is not that much Measured difference between Honda and champion

pianotuna wrote:
The technology exists to have a solar system do everything a generator can do. Last time I listened to my panels they made no noise at all.

Not much room for anything else in the RV if you had enough panels to power the air conditioner that so many people like. Me I rarely use A/C, but just for the record....