How do you run your generator?

My generator is for emergency only. Like a surprise snow storm that bogged us in or a heat spell we cant escape. Since we use no 120v appliances, running off of our two 6v batteries backed up by 300w of solar takes care of all our needs.

Hey Rovito, First and foremost; do not run your generator in an enclosed space. If you are to run in a sound dampening box of some kind you want to make sure it is well ventilated. you can search how to build sound dampening enclosures on youtube and similar products can be purchased. For those looking to buy I would simply recommend purchasing an INVERTER generator which going to be much quieter than a conventional generator. In addition to being quieter, inverter generators are also compatible with sensitive electronics and will not damage the microprocessors found within. Rovito since you have already bought the inverter and are looking to run it as quietly as possible I would just run an extension cord away from your trailer. Hope this helps somewhat.
All the best,
Dave
http://www.quietpowergenerators.com/

I put mine at the rear of the trailer. Where we mostly boondock, we back up to a wire fence and then there is a road. We sleep in the forward compartment of the trailer.

When cleaning out the garage recently we found a small tarp that has grommets on both sides. This year we will back close enough to the fence to bungee the tarp between the trailer bumper and the fence. This will provide rain cover.

Artum Snowbird wrote:
Use inexpensive inverters to power chargers and TV's as much as possible.

Way more efficient to run chargers and TVs off 12V if possible. With an inverter, you are converting 12V to 110V AC and the adapter then has to convert that 110VAC back down to 12V or lower.

I'm of the camp that only runs my generator (a Champion 3100 inverter) during the day every 48-36 hours to maintain the batteries. However, when I do I usually find some terrain to place it and aim it so the sound goes in the most benign direction I can find.

We mostly camp with hookups, but I have an open frame Champion 3650 /4500 that we'll bring along with us on occasion. It's not all that loud, but I've built a box to knock down the sound a bit more and to keep it out of the rain and snow. It's a simple plywood box that's been lined with Roxul sound insulation. It doesn't make the generator whisper quiet, but it is very unnoticeable when it's several feet from the trailer. If I was to stick one of the quiet generators in there then you'd probably barely hear it running. To keep it cool I put in two 12" radiator fans and added a high temperature kill switch to the generator as a backup.

I leave my generator in back of truck, open bed cover about half way, put something in to deflect exhaust up and run it.

SoundGuy wrote:

Unyalli wrote:
Supergen sound deadening tent small

Useless. :( If it were this easy we'd all be using one. :R

What's your beef w/ it?

2112 wrote:
I witnessed one of these in operation last year at a county fair. He was running a Champ 3500 under it. He added a V shaped panel covered with what felt like metallic scouring pad material at the exhaust side.

I was impressed with how well it worked.
Now I know where he acquired it. Thanks

When I first saw it it was quieting an open frame 3500/4000 RV ready unit also. I heard a difference.

- Jeff

Unyalli wrote:
Supergen sound deadening tent small

I witnessed one of these in operation last year at a county fair. He was running a Champ 3500 under it. He added a V shaped panel covered with what felt like metallic scouring pad material at the exhaust side.

I was impressed with how well it worked.
Now I know where he acquired it. Thanks