Generator dB rating

[swimmer_spe]

Is there anywhere that shows a comparison of the quietest generators and their dB rating? I want Honda quiet, but not with Honda money.

[wing_zealot]

I don't know what you mean by "Honda Quiet". Since Honda doesn't make a 3500 W generator, there is nothing to compare it to. So how many dB's do you consider to be "Honda Quiet"?

Secondly, are you looking for 3500 W surge or continuous?

At least for me, It's hard to be helpful when the parameters seem to be rather vague.

I'd also like to mention, that i thought dB measurenments for portable generators was always at 7 meters, at 1/4 load. That's the only dB ratings i ever recall seeing.

[Boon_Docker]

swimmer_spe wrote:

jjrbus wrote:
I find the dB ratings to be misleading, not useless. Some sounds within a rating can be more annoying. Then "quiet" generator is relative, A quiet Honda generator is quiet compared to an open frame construction generator. But hardly quiet.

What I speak of is that.... You can carry on a conversation around the Honda ones.Good luck doing that to a Champion.

That's funny and doubtful.

Honda 2000 - 57db
Champion 2000- 53 db

How can the Honda be quieter with a higher db rating?

[valhalla360]

routeforty wrote:
We have lake property where we use it. Sits about 25-30' from camper, With the windows closed you have to listen for it. With windows open you can hear it, but it is no distraction. Thinking of putting a box around it. Then you probably would forget it's running. Gary

I was playing around last summer with our Champion 4500 dual fuel. We were in a site that backs up onto a valley, so no one behind us. I just put a 4x4 piece of plywood propped up in front of it.

Went from barely heard at the road in front of the camper to I couldn't hear it.

A box with some sound deadening foam would really kill the noise.

[cptqueeg]

jjj wrote:
I just heard my brothers 3500 Harbor Freight Predator just the other day and I was really impressed with how quiet it was. I have 2 Honda 2000's and I swear it was possibly a little quieter then my 1 Honda alone. I wish they would come out with a dual fuel as I want to dump the Hondas so I do not have to carry fuel. I always have 2 extra propane tanks with me and don't have to worry about gas.

Dutch Mountain offers dual/tri fuel retro fit kits for your Honda's. I adapted mine and it's sweet, although it can go through some propane.

Quality equipment from quality people.

[swimmer_spe]

ScottG wrote:
When it's making power for you it's a lot more quiet than it is for your neighbor.

Where I'll be using it, there will be others around. My goal is not not know mine is running, except for the ice cold AC.

[swimmer_spe]

jjrbus wrote:
I find the dB ratings to be misleading, not useless. Some sounds within a rating can be more annoying. Then "quiet" generator is relative, A quiet Honda generator is quiet compared to an open frame construction generator. But hardly quiet.

What I speak of is that.... You can carry on a conversation around the Honda ones.Good luck doing that to a Champion.

[routeforty]

bgum wrote:
Westinghouse igen4500
$699 now on sale at Home depot. Electric start

that's what I have. We have lake property where we use it. Sits about 25-30' from camper, With the windows closed you have to listen for it. With windows open you can hear it, but it is no distraction. Thinking of putting a box around it. Then you probably would forget it's running. Gary

[ScottG]

When it's making power for you it's a lot more quiet than it is for your neighbor.

[Chum_lee]

Another thing to consider is the "relative quiet" of your generator. For example, if you measure the relative ambient background dB before you start your generator and it's quite high, for example, you are at the beach, an airshow, a NASCAR event infield, or near a major highway, your generator may seem very quiet. But if you are at a place like Chaco Canyon where at night you can hear rabbits scampering about 100' away, (read: dead quiet) even the quietest generator can seem obnoxious.

Chum lee

[jjj]

I just heard my brothers 3500 Harbor Freight Predator just the other day and I was really impressed with how quiet it was. I have 2 Honda 2000's and I swear it was possibly a little quieter then my 1 Honda alone. I wish they would come out with a dual fuel as I want to dump the Hondas so I do not have to carry fuel. I always have 2 extra propane tanks with me and don't have to worry about gas.

[valhalla360]

One other thing is to consider how hard the generator is working. A 2000w Honda maxed out putting out 1600w may be louder than an off brand 4500 idling along putting out the same wattage.

[bgum]

Westinghouse igen4500
$699 now on sale at Home depot. Electric start

[jjrbus]

I find the dB ratings to be misleading, not useless. Some sounds within a rating can be more annoying. Then "quiet" generator is relative, A quiet Honda generator is quiet compared to an open frame construction generator. But hardly quiet.

[Michelle_S]

Be very careful with those db ratings, 54db at 25 feet is much quieter than 54 db at 50 feet. I don't believe there is any standard for the db rating at X number of feet.

[swimmer_spe]

bgum wrote:
Westinghouse igen2500

I want 3500 or higher.