We were at the beach this last week and due to use of laptops we had to run the Onan to recharge the laptop batteries. Our genny is an ONAN 4GBEF82 and it is 26 years old. I feel it is very noisy and the cooling fan has a bottom discharge that clears away anything loose on the ground in about a 4 or 5 foot diameter area. I use a Gen-turi but the old style where the elbow does not go into the 3 in vertical tube. It helps with noise but not much.I know most of us are in campgrounds to enjoy life in a less noisy environment than we find in the city and I hate to subject my neighbors or us to the noise, so my question is, are the new (made in the last 5 or 6 years) house generators significantly quieter? I'm not going to add solar to this rig, it's on it's way to someone else in January so I'm not going to spend that kind of money on it. We'll probably go solar on the replacement but for those times I really need it both on the road and at the S&B, I was thinking about either a Honda or a Yamaha 1K inverter type generator as a quiet backup.I think I should add that without my hearing aides, I'm very hard of hearing and this Onan bothers me both when inside and outside. It is in good shape and the Tech at the Cummins/Onan shop assured me that it is not unusually noisy.Just trying to be a nice neighbor and not drive myself nuts doing it.

The Onan 5500 in our 96 Southwind is quiet. If I was getting an inverter generator, for the price difference I would go with a 2000 watt rather than a 1000 watt. It seems it would be more useful.

Hi, those 1 to 2 k. generators from Honda and others are very quiet compared to the built in ones. Some are also programmed with a proper sine wave signal that is needed when using a laptop. Next to solar they work well at keeping peace with the neighbours.

D.E.Bishop wrote:We were at the beach this last week and due to use of laptops we had to run the Onan to recharge the laptop batteries. We'll probably go solar on the replacement but for those times I really need it both on the road and at the S&B, I was thinking about either a Honda or a Yamaha 1K inverter type generator as a quiet backup.Running a big loud generator to charge laptop batteries is totally unnecessary. That's usually for microwaves and air conditioners. A Honda 1k would do well, and is extremely quiet. Solar and inverter .. even better.Thank you for thinking of your neighbors.

We really enjoy our Yamaha 3000 and now 2000w inverter gensets. The 2000w inverter was not too much more money wise (than a 1000w), and isn't that much bigger either. Under 500w loads both of these gensets are extremely quiet.

That Onan Model number doesn't register anything when I google. Given the age I suspect its an ONAN 4000 BGE which I own and isn't that loud. If so - It's not as quiet as some of the newer larger high end models but it's a rock solid model that isn't noted for being extremely loud. It's certainly not as quiet as a Honda or some of the other models but while I don't run mine often in campground I have never had a complaint.Some purchase a muffler extension baffle - haven't needed it myself. I have read post where people put material on the ground where the fan exhaust (don't recall what type of material .. but you can use the forum search feature) ... that's suppose to reduce the sound.Hope this helps.

Noisey House Generator | Good Sam Community

j-d
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2015
BGE "Emerald" Series? We had a BFA that looked like a BGE and our engine mounts were collapsed. That transmitted vibration which translated to noise, throughout the coach. I lined the genny compartment with insulation board, don't know how much hit helped. Nor sure fiberglass is the correct medium for sound suppression. Foam board might be better.

For the neighbors, a folding three-sided "box" of foam board could do a lot to contain the noise.

BFA and BGE are twin-cylinder 1800-RPM machines. We now have a 4KY Microlite that's single-cylinder 3600-RPM. It may be "quieter" in dBA terms, but I find its tone more annoying.
copeland343
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
We have a Onan 4BGE that I installed in our toy hauler. My truck is louder then the generator. I installed a automotive muffler on it and ran about 8 feet of tailpipe to quieten it down. The 4bge is a twin cyl.direct drive running at 1800 rpm's. The newer generators are single cyl. belt drive engines running at 3600 rpm's with small mufflers. To me they are very loud. I think your Onan can be quieter you might have to change a few things. Also check your motor mounts.
D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
Thanks for the feedback, I guess part of my problem is my DW complaining about a vibration and the noise and part because I don't want to offend. I'm not terribly PC but noise and bright outside lights disturb a lot of folks and I do like to have friendly neighbors. Sometimes the genny drives me nuts, it's not so much the volume, but the droning noise that is tiring. I have the rig in front until Tuesday so I'll check the motor mounts before taking it back to storage.

As far as using an inverter, when I converted all my electronics to 12vdc, I moved it to the garage. We do have an inverter hard wired but it is getting old and I don't trust it any longer.

I like the idea of having the portable one for emergencies at home and because the DDs have an isolated cabin in the desert and we are 6/10 of a mile from the nearest power pole. The last time the DW checked Edison wanted over $20,000 to bring power to us. We need to paint and power wash the cabin and a 1K would be adequate to do that.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
****
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 20, 2015
Mean time between failure on hardwired inverters is 17 years. What is not to trust?

If you hate the noise, get a mid to large solar system. Folks who have 600 watts and up, find that they almost never run a generator.

D.E.Bishop wrote:
As far as using an inverter, when I converted all my electronics to 12vdc, I moved it to the garage. We do have an inverter hard wired but it is getting old and I don't trust it any longer.
TEXAS
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
That should be BGEFA. Not what you posted. The BGE is on a three point mount. When they collapse they will rub into the frame. Can cause noise and vibration. The BGE is one of the last 1800 rpm units Onan made. Before they went to the 3600 rpm screamers.

I have been working on Onan since 1980 retired 2007.
MrWizard
Moderator
Dec 20, 2015
If your going to look at inverter generators
Don't forget the champion models, a very good value for the money
More bang for the buck!
hershey
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
If all you are recharging/running are laptops (and phones) a 300 watt inverter will do the deed nicely and in 100% quiet (other than possibly a cooling fan running).

He indicated that he needed the generator to recharge the batteries, not operate the laptops.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 21, 2015
Hi hershey,

Quote We were at the beach this last week and due to use of laptops we had to run the Onan to recharge the laptop batteries. Unquote.

I stand by my statement that a 300 watt inverter would easily do this for the OP.

hershey wrote:
pianotuna wrote:
If all you are recharging/running are laptops (and phones) a 300 watt inverter will do the deed nicely and in 100% quiet (other than possibly a cooling fan running).

He indicated that he needed the generator to recharge the batteries, not operate the laptops.
AllegroD
Nomad
Dec 21, 2015
If this MH is going to someone else in Jan, do nothing. You won't get very much back on any installs.

Look at the next one and think about what you want on/for it.

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