Generator noise

You probably know this but just in case. What ever you use or how you do it don't restrict air flow around the generator. Evan shrinking the space from the unit to the wall of the cabinet will change the air flow and cause coiling changes.

You probably know this but just in case. What ever you use or how you do it don't restrict air flow around the generator. Evan shrinking the space from the unit to the wall of the cabinet will change the air flow and cause coiling changes.

Given the room, you can make an RV Onan as quiet as you want. You have to deal with a couple of issues- you can have transmitted sound- through the enclosure, or you can have reflected sound- from openings for cooling in the enclosure.
Most modern Onans already do pretty well with transmitted sound, but it can be made better. Mass is the standard for reducing transmitted sound (hence the lead), but changes in mass can do wonders- 2 layers of 1/2" plywood alternated with 2 layers of thin foam do better than 1 layer of 1" ply and 1 layer of foam.

But- reflected sound is the major complaint now- that can easily be helped with baffles lined with sound absorbing material- just make it so there is no line of sight to the noise producing item. Onan installation manuals give great instructions on baffling.

The final issue is exhaust- most reviews of the add on Onan resonator have been very positive- it quiets the exhaust, and makes it much "mellower".

ryegatevt wrote:

SoundGuy wrote:

ryegatevt wrote:
You would be amazed at the sound deadening properties of cheap foam earplugs, available at hardware stores! Dogs barking, folks yelling, loud music, or even thunderstorms or fireworks - those earplugs work! And... they are not uncomfortable to use or even when sleeping. Try it!

buta4 wrote:
Oh my gosh- you've got to be kidding, right?
:S

Tell that to his wife when she wants to "communicate".
Or when the phone rings.
Or the birds are singing.
Or when watching the TV.
Or when he wants to listen to music.
Or someone yelling "Fire".

The OP wants to quiet down the generator, not shut out the entire world!

I'm trying to picture handing out earplugs to everyone else in the campground so they don't have to listen to the racket either! :S

Nope, I'm NOT kidding! I'm concerned about neighbors, but I trust them to find their own solutions to noise. My A/C & Heat Pump are noisy, and the earplugs solve this problem. And since I can't soundproof every generator or external noise (like fire works!) around me I use the earplugs.

One more time, "THE OP WANTS TO QUIET DOWN HIS GENERATOR", PERIOD.

(starting the popcorn now, lol)

OOPS!

SoundGuy wrote:

ryegatevt wrote:
You would be amazed at the sound deadening properties of cheap foam earplugs, available at hardware stores! Dogs barking, folks yelling, loud music, or even thunderstorms or fireworks - those earplugs work! And... they are not uncomfortable to use or even when sleeping. Try it!

buta4 wrote:
Oh my gosh- you've got to be kidding, right?
:S

Tell that to his wife when she wants to "communicate".
Or when the phone rings.
Or the birds are singing.
Or when watching the TV.
Or when he wants to listen to music.
Or someone yelling "Fire".

The OP wants to quiet down the generator, not shut out the entire world!

I'm trying to picture handing out earplugs to everyone else in the campground so they don't have to listen to the racket either! :S

Nope, I'm NOT kidding! I'm concerned about neighbors, but I trust them to find their own solutions to noise. My A/C & Heat Pump are noisy, and the earplugs solve this problem. And since I can't soundproof every generator or external noise (like fire works!) around me I use the earplugs.

ryegatevt wrote:
You would be amazed at the sound deadening properties of cheap foam earplugs, available at hardware stores! Dogs barking, folks yelling, loud music, or even thunderstorms or fireworks - those earplugs work! And... they are not uncomfortable to use or even when sleeping. Try it!

buta4 wrote:
Oh my gosh- you've got to be kidding, right?
:S

Tell that to his wife when she wants to "communicate".
Or when the phone rings.
Or the birds are singing.
Or when watching the TV.
Or when he wants to listen to music.
Or someone yelling "Fire".

The OP wants to quiet down the generator, not shut out the entire world!

I'm trying to picture handing out earplugs to everyone else in the campground so they don't have to listen to the racket either! :S

ryegatevt wrote:
You would be amazed at the sound deadening properties of cheap foam earplugs, available at hardware stores! Dogs barking, folks yelling, loud music, or even thunderstorms or fireworks - those earplugs work! And... they are not uncomfortable to use or even when sleeping. Try it!

Oh my gosh- you've got to be kidding, right?
:S

Tell that to his wife when she wants to "communicate".
Or when the phone rings.
Or the birds are singing.
Or when watching the TV.
Or when he wants to listen to music.
Or someone yelling "Fire".

The OP wants to quiet down the generator, not shut out the entire world!

You would be amazed at the sound deadening properties of cheap foam earplugs, available at hardware stores! Dogs barking, folks yelling, loud music, or even thunderstorms or fireworks - those earplugs work! And... they are not uncomfortable to use or even when sleeping. Try it!

BurbMan wrote:

JiminDenver wrote:
We run a small window shaker off of the solar so we still don't listen to a generator.

What's a window shaker?

Window ac unit.



Mike