FM Radio Static while using generator

horton333 wrote:

jrkowalski wrote:
It actually is NOT an inverter generator. My shore line connection is in the back of my 26' trailer and I ran the line out it's full length to get it away from the trailer. The station comes in strong & clear when running on battery power, but as soon as the generator is running, it is all static.

I didn't buy it just to run the radio, but would like to listen to it when the generator is running. I suspect I would get similar results from the TV or DVD player?

My last trailer had an onboard generator & I never experienced any issues with static for any of the audio/visual.

So it is radiated interference, which is much harder to fix. The metal 'tent' suggested can always work, but it's awkward and can be harder to make effective than it first seems (you may even have to drive a ground stake, awkward for a mobile vehicle).
As your's is not an inverter generator that radiated noise pretty much has to be the spark circuit radiating. By regulation they are supposed to have suppression of the noise, shielding or resistance. As others are suggesting you are going to have to improve that suppression. The easiest way is to add resistance to the high voltage line; if there is none now. This can be built into the plug or into the wire. You can buy resistive plug wire and cut to size and you can also buy a bulk resistor that will fit at the plug (or perhaps find a resistive plug that fits) and the choice depends on how long the wire is (longer wire has more resistance, more is better for reducing noise till there is too much and the motor does not work as well from lack of spark).
Did you by any chance change the spark plug, you may have switched to a non-restive plug. Another thing is if there is a shield over the wire make sure it is still connected to the metal frame, if it came loose then it will make things worse not better.
Good luck, these problems can be a pain to track down.

BEFORE jumping to conclusions and "butchering" the generator or constructing "Faraday" tents/shields perhaps one should take a couple of steps BACK!

The OP IS dealing with a RV STEREO!

RV stereos are not really well known for quality of any sorts..

OP should FIRST try checking the RFI with a KNOWN GOOD RADIO..

The OPs vehicle radio could be used while the generator is running and see if that radio has the SAME "static".

If the same static appears on the vehicle radio then the trouble most certainly is the generator (most likely ignition noise).

IF no noise is found on the vehicle radio then the trouble could be A CHEAP RV RADIO or something between the generator head and the CONVERTER (IE converter may not like the AC power waveform from the generator).

To test the converter/generator waveform theory one just needs to TURN OFF THE CONVERTER while running the generator and see if noise clears up!

If noise is still present with converter off and gen running AND no noise on a vehicle radio then the CHEAP RV RADIO is most likely the problem..