When I was in the military while in the field we used generators. To quiet them, you dig a small hole and surround it with filled sand bags, little higher than the generator . Totally absorbed the sound!
Exactly. It comes down to basic principles of sound transmission. Dense materials like sand / pile of rocks will do far, far more than some kind of BS frame or enclosure.
Yep, always dug in the gennys if possible. It also helped with identifying direction, that said, the old thumper generators were like a noise beacon in the night, nothing tactical there.
I used to have one of those 2-stroke, 800 watt Harbor Freight generators. Chincy little thing, but it worked quite well for running some lights and fans during camping on hot summer nights. I put the 'genny about 100 feet away, over a hill. Then a 10 foot long bit of electrical conduit large enough to slip over the little exhaust outlet with the spark-screen in it. A small hook clamped about 5 feet down the pipe where a bungee with a metal hook was connected, then the other end connected to the frame of the 'genny to keep the pipe tight against the exhaust. Finally, a Y-shaped branch jammed firmly into the ground to support the far end of the pipe. By the time the exhaust had exited the pipe, it was barely warm. All that, and a few bits of wood stacked as mentioned. This was in a state park campsite. During the still hours of the night I could just barely hear the 'genny. I asked neighboring campers if they heard anything, and if so, if it was bothersome. Nobody, not even the park rangers could tell that it was a generator only 100 feet away. It sounded pretty much like a window air conditioner running across the street. With little load, one full tank lasted all night, and long enough into the morning to make coffee. I sold it to my brother 10 years ago. He still uses it on jobs. Now I have an inverter 'genny. I still use the stacked wood method, but with 2 inch thick, rubberized-coated Styrofoam insulation boards rather than plywood. (Leaving openings for air and fully open on the exhaust end) Cant hear the thing at all. ALWAYS.. ALWAYS! Secure your 'genny with a lock and chain around a tree at least 6 inches thick. Junkies & crackheads are everywhere trying to steal anything to sell for their next hit. CHAIN IT UP!
I know this ia an old comment but i am interested in exactly what materials u used to make your "rubberized coated insulation boards". Were they actual wooden boards lined with styrofoam? Or were they styrofoam only? If styrofoam only what doyou use to keep them from blowing away? What kind of styrofoam? What was the rubberized coating? Rubberized Undercoating? A thin rubber mat? Thanks in advance.
@@webstella What I had was some kind of underlayment my uncle got from a jobsite he worked at. An insulating foam that goes under the steel sheeting. Basically, it was a panel of 2 inch thick, white strofoam with this black cating on it that was elastic and rubbery. But it looked like black cork. I have never seen anymore of that stuff since. But I never really looked for it either. Ok I just googled several keywords, and nothing similar comes up. I was trying to give you a link to a photo or source, but I'm having no luck. The closest thing I could find was Polystyrene "Sandwich" board. But it has metal cladding rather than the rubberized coating. As for the method I used to keep it in place, I used landscaping fabric pins. I just pinned then together in a 3-sided box shape and put it over the "genny, with the exhaust pointing out of the open end. Sorry I couldn't give you more info. I really do wish I knew what the stuff was called.
I mounted a 250 amp dc alternator on the engine of one of my little Honda cars. Then I wired it to a 120/ 240 volt ac inverter . I have a breaker power box that allows me to plug the 10,000 watts inverter to my house through a throwover switch. With an adjustable throttle cable, I can park the car outside my garage and plug my house into the cars power inverter and power most of the house with a cord we got from a trailer house we got rid of some years ago. Our propane house heater is no problem, but can only run one ac unit on the house. But everything else works fine. And you can't hear the car running at all. And since it's water cooled it never overheats. It's the car we take camping, so we always have all the electricity we want. Thought about building a generator head attached to a car motor on a trailer, but this works good as is. And easily portable. You can barely hear the car running.... And the best part I'd it sips gas and I can drive to to the gas station for more gas.
Thank you for sharing this nice video. I apologize if someone else already mentioned what I am about to say because there are currently 397 comments to dig through. People need to be careful modifying the exhaust systems on an engine. All engines have an ideal amount of back pressure required to achieve the most power at the least amount of heat out of the engine while compromising a bit of power loss for noise reduction. There is usually a sweet spot that the engineers already hit for you. Maximize power, reduce heat and decrease noise. When you add another muffler you could be significantly increasing the backpressure on the exhaust port of the cylinder(s). This will reduce power and can also affect carburetor jetting efficiency. The noise mat and sound suppression box are a great approach so long as the engine has proper ventilation. If you stick it in a box, the oxygen level in that box will drop and that will cause the engine to run richer in fuel. So assuring the air intake at the air filter is closest to or outside of the box would be best. All of the better engine companies do extensive testing to maximize the output of their engines. When they run their tests they do so in varying environments such as high altitude, cold climate, hot climates. However they do not assume someone is going to put the engine inside of a box and this could have a detrimental impact on the engines lifespan / fuel consumption and performance. Ok, preaching over with now.
The ideal amount of back pressure is always zero. Any amount of back pressure will reduce power since it requires the engine to do more work to expel the exhaust gasses. Exhaust tuning revolves around pressure waves and their termination. By altering when the pressure wave is terminated, you change what RPM peak torque and power occurs at by making use of the scavenging effect to increase cylinder filling at specific RPMs. That is what hot rodders do with headers and muffler placement. Car mufflers will flow more than enough for any small engine to not add back pressure, however it can change when the pressure wave is terminated and that can change when peak power occurs. Since most small engines operate in a small range of RPMs, 3,600 or less, a shift to a higher rpm would be noticed as a loss of power in the lower operating range because the engine will never turn enough RPMs to achieve the new peak scavenging.
I've had a generator for about seven years now and haven't had to use it for longer than an hour. However, with the recent weather patterns lately, I was wondering about muffling the noise cheaply in case I do have to run it overnight. I like the third option of blocking the noise by placing plywood around the generator. I would probably glue some some soundproofing foam on the plywood and also place a rubber mat underneath the generator. Thanks for the tips!
quick safety tip. I work on powerlines and during storm restoration we love to be able to hear a generator running. If a generator is incorrectly installed it can backfeed the high voltage and kill us. When we hear it, we know to be more wary. Great vid! TLDR: keep it loud after a storm.
My first time using a generator after a winter storm resulted in having the cops come to my house on a noise complaint and me getting a written warning that the generator would be confiscated and I would be fined if they got another complaint.
@@rayhs1 or where I live there are boulders under the surface here bigger than a vw bug. They are building a new house across the street and you should have seen these huge boulders just under the surface.
I did that too but I left it in there too long and when it rained, it got flooded in my hole! Also when I covered my hole, it choked my generator out. I'm going for the vented box now
Maybe you need to cool the generator when it stops working the fan like in tropical/subtropical climates? That's my best explanation,but I'm not very smart about generators...
I always advise against #4 - car muffler. It doesn't make a significant difference AND more importantly it'll increase the back pressure on the engine causing premature failure.
Even a muffler for a 1.3l engine is not going to create any real back pressure in these tiny generator engines. It will not shorten the engines life. Best practice is to use a motorcycle/scooter muffler, with the scooter muffler designed for smaller engines similar in displacement to a generators engine.
@@KhlandestineThe short answer is yes, but it depends on the size of the engine of your generator. You should do your best to match a properly sized muffler to the displacement of the engine. You should be able to find generic guides online.
Thank you so much. I just got a new generator ,well to be honest a friend bought it for us. It's very noisy. I was looking for some ideas to build a box or shed to sound proof and to weather proof the generator. I'm new to the generator world didn't have a clue on what to expect. You gave me some good info. Thank you!
I know this video is older but just fyi. There are recent vids showing that a few dollar piece of drywall leaned against the gen at 45 degree angle deflects the noise from the gen into the ground really really well. You would do this between you and the gen and with exaust facing away like you have in this video. Also there are vids where people demonstrate that the crank case emits most/more of the noise then the exaust. The cheap mufflers on the gens actually work quite well. Separately from the above it did make me wonder if a generator in a large hole in the ground would work really well. Hole… second thought - Would be bad for gas fumes while things were off and no air moving - boom when you started it.
The generator that I've been looking at getting is $1,700, uses propane or gas. The reason I'd want it, is because I'd often be using it inside of buildings that don't have easy access to a 220v outlet. -- So, while I can understand this isn't exactly a common practice use, there are people that would greatly appreciate the machine.
Honda inverters generators are insanely priced too (repeatedly mentioned in the video). If I could parallel 4 of them, I'd finally have a decent sized generator but I'd need a bottomless wallet to due it. It's not hard to be quiet when you're running a Cox 0.049 engine (exaggeration) and take your fuel consumption ratings using 1/4 output (when output is already 1/2 regular generators. Other manufacturers rate sound output and fuel consumption @ 1/2 output, not 1/4. Let's try some apple to apple comparisons. The inverter don't enter into the reason they're quiet it's because they are 1/2 the size both in output power and engine size (or more) along with twice the price tag.
@@Dewey-wz4ny They only let you parrallel 2 to each other. COuld probably switch 4 together. But. fuses might melt. They are quite. But extremely noticeable in a quiet campground at night time. I prefer the silence
I tried an extra muffler i had lying around first, on my Chinese 5kw diesel, but made very little difference to noise outside(generator was in garage with exhaust going thru wall outside). So found a 2 meter long piece of old lead bath drain pipe i had lying around, and attached that instead, worked well, without a meter to test though, but seemed like about 50% reduction.
Oh, man I wonder how long before the box would catch fire with my 8500 watt genny. We had a power outage a few weeks ago and can run the entire house on it, plus one AC. The muffler glows red, you can see it at night. If you stand 5 feet from the exhaust, your legs get hot. This is at 50% load too! Imagine if we cranked up two AC! One thing I can say, enclosures do work, provided they are designed with cooling and exhaust ventilation in mind. For example, look at the Generac 7.5Kw genset. Its basically the same as a caged generator, but in an enclosure. The key though is that it has plenty of ventilation and the exhaust is piped out of the box so it doesn't release its heat inside it. I also know that the alternator in the genny has a good sized fan to suck heat out, so making sure there is good in flow and out flow is key. If you do make an enclosure, make sure the front and back, in relation to the genny, the front would be the motor side, the back the exit of the alternator where the air blows out, and some method of getting the exhaust out, and it will work. Give at least 12" clearance all around. Here is the MOST important ting, Make sure you can open it up to air out BEFORE starting it! Gas fumes can and will accumulate in the box and if you have a power starter, and you push the button, you could very well go BOOM!
Some of these ideas will definitely make the generator quiet but will also cause it to run hot with improper ventilation which will shorten the life of the generator
Everyone talks about inverter generators on how good they are, and how quiet they are. Well, let’s see how long they last and when they do break how much they are to fix. There is a lot more to an inverter generator than just a motor and an alternator. A lot of technology, and you know that technology is exposed to heat, cold, and humidity
The instructions for the generator I have says to leave at least four feet of free air around the unit to prevent overheating. How is enclosing it in a wooden box not going to cause it to overheat and possibly ruin the generator ?
@Michael Miner Isn’t a plywood box a solid barrier? Plywood seem pretty solid to me. I guess that I’ll have to make a 10’x10’ shed with insulated marine plywood walls to give it plenty of breathing room. Another project.
Hey man! You'll have to install some fans/vents. I'm still in the process of designing my compartment for my generator, so I can't help you with specifics, but a dude on a forum told me he built his with vents that had small fans built in, and he somehow wired the fans in with the generator so anytime it was running the fans were running as well
@@jamesgaudreau8315 Sounds cool, no pun intended. I’ll look into the fans, maybe on on each end. Do you think that both should exhaust the air, or maybe one to exhaust and one to bring in cooler air from outside. Just a thought.
Umm I don't think you need a battery powered fan if you are running a generator. Just plug it into the generator (roughly a 100 watts depending on the size of the fan)
Zombie box uses a solar powered fan with a storage battery for night time use. the solar fan can be bought at hardware store if you want to make your own
FYI. Your links are dead. Glad your Amazon storefront is active. Got any recommendations for AC units sitting on the patio? So loud I can’t hear myself think. Built planters around it leaving sufficient airflow, but it still echos off the house. Got anything waterproof?
I rigged my Duramax dual fuel generator with the gen turi exhaust system,which takes exhaust noise up 16 feet thru pipes,and it also takes heat with it,so noise,heat and fumes are up above our campers and others,also have a box that Al this goes into,so on full load noise is around 42 decibels.
All the recommended soundproofing products I talk about in this video can be found in the description of this video. Don't forget to SHARE, LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE. Doing this really helps small channels like mine to have a chance on UA-cam. Thank you!
I'd probably do a combination of lowering the generator in a hole, AND building a sound controlled box, a car muffler (stock ones for a luxury car or a truck tend to be the largest mufflers)...also...raising the tail pipe itself up into the air so the left over sound is well above your ears and provides more distance and I mean like roof level....I have also heard of using a big bucket of water to help absorb exhaust sounds...Anything we can do to lower the pitch of the sound will also help. Also, keeping it well maintained helps.
Unlike a box, the plywood is angled so that the noise is directed downward. A box is not angled, it's just 4 vertical walls which keep the sound inside without any directional focus. So a hole would disrupt the acoustics from being enclosed inside.
He said leaning boards will reduce the noise by 10 decibels. A hole in the box will let the sound waves out. You are trying to compare apples and oranges.
@@user-1A-2A These are two different sound dampenings going on here. Angling the boards against the generator deflects the sound downwards and into the sound absorbing grassy ground. If it were concrete it would not work as well. The other was a cabinet where it is designed to hold the sound waves inside the box and just like a damper in a speaker box if there is a hole in it, the sound waves will escape.
Best way to eliminate generator noise is to put it far enough away from your home so that someone can easily steal it. Once it has been stolen, things will be nice and quiet.
Great video. I live in a tropical country, and have a genset in a subdivision where houses are stacked wall to wall. Overheating and noise is indeed a great deal. I came out with an idea and will hopefully develop it in the future. For those non-engineers, changing the muffler (I haven't done it but decided not to invest on this) maybe not a perfect solution, as the mufflers have internal plates called baffles that are spaced according to the frequencies generated by the exhaust gases getting out of the engine. This gases comes out in "pulses" with a certain timing. Meaning with this, that a bigger muffler just will make the sound bounce inside like the shed example he mentions. Making even a cardboard double walled box with polyestierene foam within, everything duct-taped to make it collapsible for storage, and a small air extractor attached to one side to avoid overheating should work. Mine has a 12v output, and I will plug the fan there. Great video buddy, you solved me a problem! Thanks.
I'm considering buying a generator for any eventual power outage. It will be a cheap (and noisy) generator) as this is a fall back situation only. I somewhat worry about the noise so as not to annoy the neighbors, however, I think that in a eventual power shortage, the neighbors will understand my situation and be a bit tolerant. I already have the electrical connections to my outside shed so that I can put the generator in there if need be. However, I wonder if the generator will choke from the CO2 in there?
I wouldn’t worry about it, just leave the door open a bit and that should be all you need. Most small sheds already have built in vents on the top of the wall close to the roof, look for those and that will also be sufficient in letting most of the fumes and heat out: it really all depends on the climate you live in. Myself, I live in a cold climate when the power is usually out so I don’t really have to worry about my generator overheating. A small shed can also echo quite a bit so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to throw something in the walls of the shed to absorb the noise of the generator. Don’t bother with acoustic panels in a shed, old blankets hung on the wall will do just fine, just make sure they are secure and won’t come into contact with the generator of course. Cheers
@@soundproofguide Hi! Thank you for the prompt response. I live in Québec city in Canada and I wont worry about the heat either in winter. I will follow your advice and also consider putting a fan to push the fumes out of the shed if need be.
I keep my generator inside the garage where I wired in the transfer box. I welded an adapter to vent the exhaust outside. Can keep the things locked up. Note: 1200sqft garage, 50ft from the house, Kawasaki 7500watt generator.
Built my own "zombie" box with 1/2 plywood and 2bys, 1st I heard it called that, anyway used a 12" 1600 fps soffet fan that blows into a 1foot sq exhaust port or box that blows into the earth down outside of the enclosure to keep it cooler and 4 directional 4" intake tubes, (tin exhaust tube) on opposite side and 4 2" vents up top for heat to escape after shutdown. Has 1ft clearance on sides and 2ft above generator. I used rockwool on front, rear and top, it's fireproof and its very quiet at 50 ft, just a slight hum for a fully featured Westinghouse DF 9500watt, has 3yr warranty. Steer away from HF, Chinese junk for same price with no extras, warranty or features! Did put a small desk fan in back that blows across the cylinder, hottest it's ever got out of airstream was 130 on a 100 day, take off any useless heat guards. Has over 1000hrs and can't complain yet! Remote feature is also great.
Moving the generator away from the house requires wire gauge considerations and becomes important ... the longer the wire ...greater the load loss. Can become very expensive.
Two things you didn't mention is you can bury the generator and you can run the exhaust into a bucket of water as long as you leave a small hole for backdraft..I have used boards to silence one and it worked really well...also one thing you said that made me laugh was you could get a battery operated fan to use in the shed....not like there is a huge generator or anything in there to hook up a box fan 😊
Hello there, I am really looking for some advice please. I have just purchased an air compressor to help me operate a cup sealing machine -I found out I also need a generator to power the compressor as its a 2.2kw and unable to use with my home switches without having to go through a whole bunch of electrical work. The issue now is I have a compressor with a 97dB sound and a generator with a 74dB. My solution is to buy a garden shed and then stick the 2 machines in there and off course soundproof the shed. The generator is an LPG hence I wont have to use petrol. I am looking for advice on how to soundproof the shed as these machines will be working along side each other. Your help is much appreciated regards Dela
Obviously - buy a quiet model first, but after that use the landscape to your advantage - put in a dry ditch or behind rocks, or dig a pit and use the spoil to fill sandbags or fabric bags and place around it like sand bags. Stagger an entrance for access and exhaust as sound does not travel around corners well. Then use an old soggy plywood roof, or use earth on top. Parking it on planks or a board supported at the ends like a bridge will prevent the ground vibration problem.
I run my generator in my DETACHED garage. I don't have a problem with heat so much as the generator being in an alcove and it choking itself out on it's own exhaust. All I did was buy a cheap box fan, plug it into an outlet on the generator, set it on the end of the unit and leave it turned on. I have my generator connected to my panel through the 240 VAC @ 50 amp twist lock so I have 4 unused outlets. When I start the generator, the the fan starts with it cycling fresh air to the intake and keeping the unit cool in the summer.
James Condon did a video back in June 2020, where he bought a used generator that had a car muffler installed by a previous owner. He used a decibel meter and found the generator had around a 70 decibel sound level with the muffler installed. He then removed the car muffler and installed a factory muffler and the sound level was then 75 to 76 decibels, so the muffler did quiet the generator around 5 decibels. He had the generator setting about 25 yards away from the decibel meter when testing. Now the car muffler did have a down pipe on the exhaust side of the muffler so the sound was going down into the ground, and the factory muffler was pointed however it was pointed as installed, so that might have had some effect on the sound too. Personally, I don't know why generator manufacturers don't just put better sound deadening mufflers on their generators. Obviously the intent for a generator is to generate electricity a short distance away from it's intended use, and a muffler is intended to quiet exhaust. Why can't the manufacturers combine these to processes? Granted you can buy a Honda generator, pay a couple thousand dollars for what you can pay a few HUNDRED dollars for with any other generator, but the Honda units are supposedly the quietest generators you can get on the market. Oh well, maybe someday it'll actually become a thing. Great video with good info. Thank you.
2:27 the guy running the table saw doesn't know what he's doing to the point of endangering himself and people behind and around him. After running a table saw for a minimum amount of time, it becomes evident as to why. This tells me that this guy has almost zero experience with a table saw. I'm not even going to waste my time explaining it. Other than that, this video was beneficial to me. Cheers
Do you have plans/blueprints for the box for the champion 9500 Watt generator in your example? I have that exact generator and would love to build this.
Im really surprised that you did not mention the cheapest (dollar wise ) method wich is to simply dig a hole big enough to set it down in this and or sandbags are the cheapest methods. Though they do both require quit a bit of work Though I will say lots of people will benifit from your video to include myself. Thanx so much!! Sincerely, Mike Rowe Rowe's Restorations Keep up the good work!!!
I built a large, well ventilated dog house. Removable roof for refueling, and the front wall hinges at the bottom for easy removal and maintenance. I actually painted it to look like a dog house to deter thieves. Next I will insulate it to help with the remaining noise.
That's awesome! You should send me some pictures and details and I could maybe share that on an upcoming video for DIY ideas on generator enclosures. info@soundproofguide.com
@@soundproofguide Ok, but wont have any photos of it until Friday or Saturday. Friends and family got quite a kick out of it looking just like a doghouse and its functionality. I'll take several photo to give those interested an idea of how to build their own. I dont know much tech stuff, and only know how to send photos by Email. LOL! Can barely work this phone! I'm still stuck in the stone age. :)
Just to correct the information, no small engine is splash oiled anymore. Flathead engines will not meet EPA requirements and OHV requires an oil pump. The easiest way to deal with a generator is to make a corral of filled concrete blocks in which to run it. It only has to be as tall as the generator.
You need a thicker cord. If you are going 100 feet, get a 12 gauge cord. More expensive, but it won't heat up and it won't offer as much electrical resistance. It's not just a matter of how much it taxes the generator, but also how much power loss you have at the far end.
You use the proper size cord for the amperage you're feeding and for ever 50' extra length the cord is, you size up (bigger) one guage. For instance, if you're running a standard 15A circuit at 110-125v up to 50 ft you would use a cord that is 14 guage and if it's between 50' and 100' you would size up to 12ga etc. 16 guage is good for 10A at up to 50 ft.
Forget it just spend the money up front and get a Honda inverter. They are the quietest on the market and very well made. I have had a 3000is for 16 years. Runs great, the lowest noise of any gen. On the market. No problems. It is not that heavy. So yes it is worth the $.
or - she could just up and leave you - am sure there are plenty of guys more than happy to listen to her. You don't sound as though you'd be great conversation yourselves :-(
Don't run your extension cords any longer than necessary and if you do need to, make sure you match your gauge size to the distance and load to be used. Running too small of an extension cord a long ways could overheat, causing damage or even a fire.
It also makes the devices consume more amps... You're actually consuming more power from your generator cuz part of it is heat. I found out a long time ago my generator couldn't start a circular saw with too long of an extension cord..... But with a short extension cord.. no problem
Yes, you can have a problem, the engine could overheat. The engine operating temp could be as high as 200* f in that box with no problems. However, the generator wiring insulation maybe only rated at 105*c or 220*f
I used a shyt ton of potting soil to dig it into a "pillbox". Left back side open to redirect sound waves away from residence and allow for adequate ventilation. Like sand bags but dirt bags...lol Been working for years daily
@@FrustratedBaboon I've recently had a Full House generator installed, and I'm looking into ways to mitigate the noise, I'm looking into something I can build myself.
@@sambiscits6711 I'll build my own as well. Gonna spend extra for 500+ CFM exhaust fan and air filter so that the internal temp is only a few degrees higher than outside.
if it will be used in a fixed location. a comcreat base. then cender block walls. insulated roof. this combo will go a long ways to knock down the DB’s. BUT you must also allow enough air in and hot sir and exhaust gases out. so on the bottom layer of the blocks, leave a couple of then out. but have a anti insect screen. plum the exhaust out through the roof. up to the 10 to 15 foot level. and allow hot air out of the shed. but best if a fan is at one of the holes at the bottom to push in cold air. the gen powers the fan. but no direct in or out for the air as sound dies not do corners very good.
Any suggestions for a sound box for a CNC router? The biggest problem will be the viewing window. Plexi would scratch to easily. I was thinking about a homemade three pane window, using silicone between layers around the perimeter. Any thoughts ???
Any box should have fresh air only duct, vent, opening to cool the engine and gen head made in such a way that the intake air does not mix with the heated air under the box. The box will pressurize and will need a vent back out. An exhaust fan will not be sufficient to keep heated air from recirculating though the engine and run too hot. The engine carb intake should have new air also. This is how Enclosed generators work. The front of the engine and the back of the gen head is where air is pulled in.
I also don't understand his statement "make sure every gap and hole is sealed" but also make sure the generator has been of air flow -huh?? Although, I built a box yesterday using a single $20 4x8' sheet of 3/4" MDF and spare 2x2s & 2x3s I had around my property. I've still got some work to do on it, but even after my initial test it made a HUGE difference in sound reduction! I've even left one side of the box 80% open (the side that faces out to the forest behind our house), because I'm too concerned about overheated/causing a fire from the enclosure. I'm even going to place a 24" box fan in front of the opening on hot days for more circulation (here in California our power is often shut off to prevent wildfires on hot/dry windy Summer days). I still plan to silicone the inside corners, and then coat the box inside and out with a paint-on "acousti-coat" sound deadener ($35 for a gallon of it on Amazon). I'm hoping that coating will work twofold: for sound deadening and to help protect it for the elements. Depending on your setup, I also recommend getting castors (wheels) to mount on the box. The box will be heavy as hell, and this will make your life easier if you need to wheel it in/out of the garage for use like i do.
2 in Styrofoam 3 sided box and lid. Leave the exhaust end open facing away from your home . Use velcro and bungee cords to assemble. Easy to take down for storage .
I built a 4’ x 8’ x 8’ wood shed on concrete for my generator pipe for exhaust, insulated walls and ceiling with exhaust fan with thermostat! It hooked up to exterior panel with its own breaker! Just turn off main breaker and turn own it! Safe for linemen and save for me!
Any holes you make in your shed are going to allow sound to escape. The holes need to be covered with a baffle to break the sound up before it reaches open air. This includes air intake and heat exhaust fans. Isn't a gen 'silencer' just another name for a 'muffler'? When building a sound-proof enclosure, you should think in terms of reflective, absorptive, and inert layers. Innermost is reflective, next is absorptive, with the outermost inert. The inert layer prevents the engine's noise from being transmitted into the surrounding environment. See the comments about sandbags below.
I'm wondering how much generator produced noise can be blocked using a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones? I know this would not help regarding neighbors complaints, but from a personal point of view... just turn it up to 11. :)
Lol! Actually noise canceling headphones would work extremely well considering the generator is making a constant noise that doesn’t tend to fluctuate unless you have a load on.
I plan on making a box for my generator due to your video suggestion but I'm concerned with all the pictures and videos of people using wood or MDF for the box. is that not a fire hazard? I was thinking of making mine with a steel frame and some sort of inflammable covering around the outside but if I could get away with wood and traditional insulation that would be a lot cheaper
I'm currently looking at the same setup but to my understanding using steel frame would result in vibrations/rattling noise due to the sound waves bouncing off of the frame which could possibly make it louder. Also the fire hazard you are talking about is in most cases when one has a generator that is faulty or leaking petrol. To remedy this I think it would be best to remove the generator from the box to refuel it and wipe any fuel or wait for a couple of minutes to make sure any spilled fuel has evaporated into thin air. With all that said is like to hear your opinion on all that ivve said d if there are any improvements to be made.
@@fadilthefxtrader7667 so I did end up making my box out of steel but I lined the inside with fire resistant insulation. the insulation cuts down the noise and my generator which is 9000 watts is about as loud as my 2000 watt inverter generator now, so it's really quiet. the fire hazard I was referring to is just heat from the exhaust building up inside the Box. so after half an hour of running, inside the box, next to the exhaust on my generator it gets to be about 250°. Which isn't enough to light MDF on fire but it's a little too close for comfort for me. It would be cool to design a ventilation system with a fan to help circulate air around the engine so the engine doesn't overheat. these are after all air-cooled Motors. and when we seal them in a box they can get hot and overheat pretty easily. but I'm trying to figure out a way to do that without also making it way louder. Oh and in case you're curious the exhaust does vent to outside of the box through a Custom Piping that I welded up but that Custom Piping gets really hot and that's what's heating up the inside of the box even though the exhaust is wrapped in fiberglass
When I was in the military while in the field we used generators. To quiet them, you dig a small hole and surround it with filled sand bags, little higher than the generator
. Totally absorbed the sound!
Sounds like a good idea....could you please elaborate?
I’ve even seen people do same with bags of mulch, soil, sand stacked in a circle around the generator. Stacked as high or higher than generator
Exactly. It comes down to basic principles of sound transmission. Dense materials like sand / pile of rocks will do far, far more than some kind of BS frame or enclosure.
Yep, always dug in the gennys if possible. It also helped with identifying direction, that said, the old thumper generators were like a noise beacon in the night, nothing tactical there.
What if it rains? Wouldn't the generator get submerged?
I used to have one of those 2-stroke, 800 watt Harbor Freight generators. Chincy little thing, but it worked quite well for running some lights and fans during camping on hot summer nights.
I put the 'genny about 100 feet away, over a hill. Then a 10 foot long bit of electrical conduit large enough to slip over the little exhaust outlet with the spark-screen in it.
A small hook clamped about 5 feet down the pipe where a bungee with a metal hook was connected, then the other end connected to the frame of the 'genny to keep the pipe tight against the exhaust. Finally, a Y-shaped branch jammed firmly into the ground to support the far end of the pipe. By the time the exhaust had exited the pipe, it was barely warm. All that, and a few bits of wood stacked as mentioned. This was in a state park campsite. During the still hours of the night I could just barely hear the 'genny. I asked neighboring campers if they heard anything, and if so, if it was bothersome. Nobody, not even the park rangers could tell that it was a generator only 100 feet away. It sounded pretty much like a window air conditioner running across the street. With little load, one full tank lasted all night, and long enough into the morning to make coffee. I sold it to my brother 10 years ago. He still uses it on jobs.
Now I have an inverter 'genny. I still use the stacked wood method, but with 2 inch thick, rubberized-coated Styrofoam insulation boards rather than plywood. (Leaving openings for air and fully open on the exhaust end) Cant hear the thing at all.
ALWAYS.. ALWAYS! Secure your 'genny with a lock and chain around a tree at least 6 inches thick. Junkies & crackheads are everywhere trying to steal anything to sell for their next hit.
CHAIN IT UP!
Holy shit ..
I know this ia an old comment but i am interested in exactly what materials u used to make your "rubberized coated insulation boards". Were they actual wooden boards lined with styrofoam? Or were they styrofoam only? If styrofoam only what doyou use to keep them from blowing away? What kind of styrofoam? What was the rubberized coating? Rubberized Undercoating? A thin rubber mat? Thanks in advance.
@@webstella What I had was some kind of underlayment my uncle got from a jobsite he worked at. An insulating foam that goes under the steel sheeting. Basically, it was a panel of 2 inch thick, white strofoam with this black cating on it that was elastic and rubbery. But it looked like black cork. I have never seen anymore of that stuff since. But I never really looked for it either.
Ok I just googled several keywords, and nothing similar comes up. I was trying to give you a link to a photo or source, but I'm having no luck. The closest thing I could find was Polystyrene "Sandwich" board. But it has metal cladding rather than the rubberized coating.
As for the method I used to keep it in place, I used landscaping fabric pins. I just pinned then together in a 3-sided box shape and put it over the "genny, with the exhaust pointing out of the open end.
Sorry I couldn't give you more info. I really do wish I knew what the stuff was called.
I mounted a 250 amp dc alternator on the engine of one of my little Honda cars. Then I wired it to a 120/ 240 volt ac inverter . I have a breaker power box that allows me to plug the 10,000 watts inverter to my house through a throwover switch. With an adjustable throttle cable, I can park the car outside my garage and plug my house into the cars power inverter and power most of the house with a cord we got from a trailer house we got rid of some years ago. Our propane house heater is no problem, but can only run one ac unit on the house. But everything else works fine. And you can't hear the car running at all. And since it's water cooled it never overheats. It's the car we take camping, so we always have all the electricity we want.
Thought about building a generator head attached to a car motor on a trailer, but this works good as is. And easily portable. You can barely hear the car running.... And the best part I'd it sips gas and I can drive to to the gas station for more gas.
Thank you for sharing this nice video. I apologize if someone else already mentioned what I am about to say because there are currently 397 comments to dig through. People need to be careful modifying the exhaust systems on an engine. All engines have an ideal amount of back pressure required to achieve the most power at the least amount of heat out of the engine while compromising a bit of power loss for noise reduction. There is usually a sweet spot that the engineers already hit for you. Maximize power, reduce heat and decrease noise. When you add another muffler you could be significantly increasing the backpressure on the exhaust port of the cylinder(s). This will reduce power and can also affect carburetor jetting efficiency.
The noise mat and sound suppression box are a great approach so long as the engine has proper ventilation. If you stick it in a box, the oxygen level in that box will drop and that will cause the engine to run richer in fuel. So assuring the air intake at the air filter is closest to or outside of the box would be best.
All of the better engine companies do extensive testing to maximize the output of their engines. When they run their tests they do so in varying environments such as high altitude, cold climate, hot climates. However they do not assume someone is going to put the engine inside of a box and this could have a detrimental impact on the engines lifespan / fuel consumption and performance. Ok, preaching over with now.
Thank you for the comment! I will mention all of this information in a future video and give you a shout out if that's ok with you! :)
@@soundproofguide thanks again for your content.
Good info. Well spoken.
The ideal amount of back pressure is always zero. Any amount of back pressure will reduce power since it requires the engine to do more work to expel the exhaust gasses.
Exhaust tuning revolves around pressure waves and their termination. By altering when the pressure wave is terminated, you change what RPM peak torque and power occurs at by making use of the scavenging effect to increase cylinder filling at specific RPMs. That is what hot rodders do with headers and muffler placement.
Car mufflers will flow more than enough for any small engine to not add back pressure, however it can change when the pressure wave is terminated and that can change when peak power occurs. Since most small engines operate in a small range of RPMs, 3,600 or less, a shift to a higher rpm would be noticed as a loss of power in the lower operating range because the engine will never turn enough RPMs to achieve the new peak scavenging.
I've had a generator for about seven years now and haven't had to use it for longer than an hour. However, with the recent weather patterns lately, I was wondering about muffling the noise cheaply in case I do have to run it overnight. I like the third option of blocking the noise by placing plywood around the generator. I would probably glue some some soundproofing foam on the plywood and also place a rubber mat underneath the generator. Thanks for the tips!
I don't even have a generator and I'm watching this because I'm bored while quarantined...
Awesome! Keep watching and subscribe to my channel and most of all, stay safe ☺️
So cool😂
That's funny, nearly the same situation
lmao
😂🤣😂
quick safety tip. I work on powerlines and during storm restoration we love to be able to hear a generator running. If a generator is incorrectly installed it can backfeed the high voltage and kill us. When we hear it, we know to be more wary. Great vid!
TLDR: keep it loud after a storm.
You should always just be careful
My first time using a generator after a winter storm resulted in having the cops come to my house on a noise complaint and me getting a written warning that the generator would be confiscated and I would be fined if they got another complaint.
What would be incorrect installation?
@@jubhgioubgob with either an auto or manual transfer switch. This isolates the house/generator from the grid.
@@Bobaganusche72 sounds like a jealous neighbour snitched on you who doesn't own a generator
I just dug 4 feet below ground and covered with plywood it worked and cheap
that is not an option when you live at sea level like i do .. most ppl put their gen sets up on a platform actually
@@rayhs1 or where I live there are boulders under the surface here bigger than a vw bug. They are building a new house across the street and you should have seen these huge boulders just under the surface.
I did that too but I left it in there too long and when it rained, it got flooded in my hole! Also when I covered my hole, it choked my generator out. I'm going for the vented box now
Battery powered fan to keep the generator cool. WTF ..its a generator it makes electricity... just plug fan into it
What about the smoke
@@angelusman974 I just replied to video. He talked about using battery powered fan
@@angelusman974 what smoke
Maybe you need to cool the generator when it stops working the fan like in tropical/subtropical climates?
That's my best explanation,but I'm not very smart about generators...
Lol...silly as heck
I always advise against #4 - car muffler. It doesn't make a significant difference AND more importantly it'll increase the back pressure on the engine causing premature failure.
I agree with you
Even a muffler for a 1.3l engine is not going to create any real back pressure in these tiny generator engines. It will not shorten the engines life. Best practice is to use a motorcycle/scooter muffler, with the scooter muffler designed for smaller engines similar in displacement to a generators engine.
@@JV-io3nndoes it actually help at all? The scooter muffler?
@@KhlandestineThe short answer is yes, but it depends on the size of the engine of your generator. You should do your best to match a properly sized muffler to the displacement of the engine. You should be able to find generic guides online.
Yes, point the exhaust toward your neighbor's house!
Loll I'm doing that now😅😅😅🤣🤣
that'll teach them!!!
Lol thats how my dad do it
Thank you so much. I just got a new generator ,well to be honest a friend bought it for us. It's very noisy. I was looking for some ideas to build a box or shed to sound proof and to weather proof the generator. I'm new to the generator world didn't have a clue on what to expect.
You gave me some good info. Thank you!
I know this video is older but just fyi.
There are recent vids showing that a few dollar piece of drywall leaned against the gen at 45 degree angle deflects the noise from the gen into the ground really really well.
You would do this between you and the gen and with exaust facing away like you have in this video.
Also there are vids where people demonstrate that the crank case emits most/more of the noise then the exaust. The cheap mufflers on the gens actually work quite well.
Separately from the above it did make me wonder if a generator in a large hole in the ground would work really well. Hole… second thought - Would be bad for gas fumes while things were off and no air moving - boom when you started it.
Who in the hell would spend $1000 on a box for a 2200W portable generator that costs $500? Those Zombie Boxes are insanely priced.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
The generator that I've been looking at getting is $1,700, uses propane or gas. The reason I'd want it, is because I'd often be using it inside of buildings that don't have easy access to a 220v outlet. -- So, while I can understand this isn't exactly a common practice use, there are people that would greatly appreciate the machine.
Honda inverters generators are insanely priced too (repeatedly mentioned in the video). If I could parallel 4 of them, I'd finally have a decent sized generator but I'd need a bottomless wallet to due it. It's not hard to be quiet when you're running a Cox 0.049 engine (exaggeration) and take your fuel consumption ratings using 1/4 output (when output is already 1/2 regular generators. Other manufacturers rate sound output and fuel consumption @ 1/2 output, not 1/4. Let's try some apple to apple comparisons. The inverter don't enter into the reason they're quiet it's because they are 1/2 the size both in output power and engine size (or more) along with twice the price tag.
@@Dewey-wz4ny They only let you parrallel 2 to each other. COuld probably switch 4 together. But. fuses might melt. They are quite. But extremely noticeable in a quiet campground at night time. I prefer the silence
I agree.
Quieting things is really important to me! Thank you
Shhhh
Yeah stop shouting ffs
I tried an extra muffler i had lying around first, on my Chinese 5kw diesel, but made very little difference to noise outside(generator was in garage with exhaust going thru wall outside). So found a 2 meter long piece of old lead bath drain pipe i had lying around, and attached that instead, worked well, without a meter to test though, but seemed like about 50% reduction.
I wonder how rigid iron pipe would work with a couple extra bends...
I was thinking about doing that. Like welding a second muffler to my generator
Oh, man I wonder how long before the box would catch fire with my 8500 watt genny. We had a power outage a few weeks ago and can run the entire house on it, plus one AC. The muffler glows red, you can see it at night. If you stand 5 feet from the exhaust, your legs get hot. This is at 50% load too! Imagine if we cranked up two AC! One thing I can say, enclosures do work, provided they are designed with cooling and exhaust ventilation in mind. For example, look at the Generac 7.5Kw genset. Its basically the same as a caged generator, but in an enclosure. The key though is that it has plenty of ventilation and the exhaust is piped out of the box so it doesn't release its heat inside it. I also know that the alternator in the genny has a good sized fan to suck heat out, so making sure there is good in flow and out flow is key. If you do make an enclosure, make sure the front and back, in relation to the genny, the front would be the motor side, the back the exit of the alternator where the air blows out, and some method of getting the exhaust out, and it will work. Give at least 12" clearance all around. Here is the MOST important ting, Make sure you can open it up to air out BEFORE starting it! Gas fumes can and will accumulate in the box and if you have a power starter, and you push the button, you could very well go BOOM!
thank you so much for this. well appreciated
I listen only guys who had experience and tried to work around this problem. All rest of you: sceptical criticals- you All just Shut Up!!!
Some of these ideas will definitely make the generator quiet but will also cause it to run hot with improper ventilation which will shorten the life of the generator
I shot my generator with a 9mm, job done, no more noise.
Everyone talks about inverter generators on how good they are, and how quiet they are. Well, let’s see how long they last and when they do break how much they are to fix. There is a lot more to an inverter generator than just a motor and an alternator. A lot of technology, and you know that technology is exposed to heat, cold, and humidity
I was worried about my Gen noise....thnx for a productive video.
The instructions for the generator I have says to leave at least four feet of free air around the unit to prevent overheating.
How is enclosing it in a wooden box not going to cause it to overheat and possibly ruin the generator ?
@Michael Miner Isn’t a plywood box a solid barrier? Plywood seem pretty solid to me. I guess that I’ll have to make a 10’x10’ shed with insulated marine plywood walls to give it plenty of breathing room. Another project.
ventilation ducts
Hey man! You'll have to install some fans/vents. I'm still in the process of designing my compartment for my generator, so I can't help you with specifics, but a dude on a forum told me he built his with vents that had small fans built in, and he somehow wired the fans in with the generator so anytime it was running the fans were running as well
@@jamesgaudreau8315 Sounds cool, no pun intended. I’ll look into the fans, maybe on on each end. Do you think that both should exhaust the air, or maybe one to exhaust and one to bring in cooler air from outside. Just a thought.
one of my employees built a sound box and it overheated after a few uses
Umm I don't think you need a battery powered fan if you are running a generator. Just plug it into the generator (roughly a 100 watts depending on the size of the fan)
You could certainly do that if you don’t need all of the outlets.
@@soundproofguide That's what Zombiebox does with their fan.
Just use an outlet expander of some sort or take remaining power from a multi-outlet cord.
Zombie box uses a solar powered fan with a storage battery for night time use. the solar fan can be bought at hardware store if you want to make your own
In the case of using a box , what about the overheating ?
I simply installed a smaller pipe to the exhaust. It works for motorcycles as well. Easy and cheap. Reducing noise level 50%
FYI. Your links are dead. Glad your Amazon storefront is active. Got any recommendations for AC units sitting on the patio? So loud I can’t hear myself think. Built planters around it leaving sufficient airflow, but it still echos off the house.
Got anything waterproof?
I rigged my Duramax dual fuel generator with the gen turi exhaust system,which takes exhaust noise up 16 feet thru pipes,and it also takes heat with it,so noise,heat and fumes are up above our campers and others,also have a box that Al this goes into,so on full load noise is around 42 decibels.
Please do a video of your setup. This sounds like the complete answer.
Yes those Honda generators are best. Lots of food trucks have them and one does NOT have to raise your voice to talk around them...👍
All the recommended soundproofing products I talk about in this video can be found in the description of this video. Don't forget to SHARE, LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE. Doing this really helps small channels like mine to have a chance on UA-cam. Thank you!
And after 8hrs of use you burn the windings up in the gen and you wonder why..
i just watched nr.3 and hoped for other solutions bruh 😂
Why don't we just design a pyramid box? it's angled to the ground while having slits for exhaust?
Best way to silent the generator is by turn it off.
Thanks for the video. I have no idea how to use Google or how to read reviews on Amazon all on my own.
Thankful for the info. It helps a lot. Utah
Thanks! I live in the middle of the City..😳I need desperately a quiet one!
I'd probably do a combination of lowering the generator in a hole, AND building a sound controlled box, a car muffler (stock ones for a luxury car or a truck tend to be the largest mufflers)...also...raising the tail pipe itself up into the air so the left over sound is well above your ears and provides more distance and I mean like roof level....I have also heard of using a big bucket of water to help absorb exhaust sounds...Anything we can do to lower the pitch of the sound will also help.
Also, keeping it well maintained helps.
Moped Muffler
So a tiny hole in your box will make it useless, but leaning plywood against your generator will greatly reduce sound? I'm confused now lol
Unlike a box, the plywood is angled so that the noise is directed downward. A box is not angled, it's just 4 vertical walls which keep the sound inside without any directional focus. So a hole would disrupt the acoustics from being enclosed inside.
You’re right. He got caught slipping.
Why don't we just design a pyramid box? it's angled to the ground while having slits for exhaust?
He said leaning boards will reduce the noise by 10 decibels. A hole in the box will let the sound waves out. You are trying to compare apples and oranges.
@@user-1A-2A These are two different sound dampenings going on here. Angling the boards against the generator deflects the sound downwards and into the sound absorbing grassy ground. If it were concrete it would not work as well. The other was a cabinet where it is designed to hold the sound waves inside the box and just like a damper in a speaker box if there is a hole in it, the sound waves will escape.
Can you send me the link for instructions so we can build a sound proof box? I can't find them. Thank you !
Hi , I am from Auckland city, we are going to start food truck here, can you please advise the way to use generator outside in rainy conditions ?
I seen a test of a car muffler on a generator before and after and it took the sound from 68db to 62db. actually quite respectable
Get ya one of those new fangled quiet generators. I think they are called solar panels.
What do you do at night?
Also if you Let the Generator far away from your home you will have problem with loss of power. Due to the cable resistance
I would worry more about it being swiped!
The cord also has to have the proper gauge wire for safety reasons. The longer the cord, the lower (heavier) the gauge.
@@GalileonPrime Disconnect the neutral bonding wire from the frame, replace it with one of the 120V hot legs, problem solved.
Best way to eliminate generator noise is to put it far enough away from your home so that someone can easily steal it. Once it has been stolen, things will be nice and quiet.
Nice video. Lots of good information. Thanks!
I've used the plywood method. It works great during the hunting season.
It would probably work all year long.
Great video. I live in a tropical country, and have a genset in a subdivision where houses are stacked wall to wall. Overheating and noise is indeed a great deal. I came out with an idea and will hopefully develop it in the future.
For those non-engineers, changing the muffler (I haven't done it but decided not to invest on this) maybe not a perfect solution, as the mufflers have internal plates called baffles that are spaced according to the frequencies generated by the exhaust gases getting out of the engine. This gases comes out in "pulses" with a certain timing. Meaning with this, that a bigger muffler just will make the sound bounce inside like the shed example he mentions. Making even a cardboard double walled box with polyestierene foam within, everything duct-taped to make it collapsible for storage, and a small air extractor attached to one side to avoid overheating should work. Mine has a 12v output, and I will plug the fan there. Great video buddy, you solved me a problem! Thanks.
I'm considering buying a generator for any eventual power outage. It will be a cheap (and noisy) generator) as this is a fall back situation only. I somewhat worry about the noise so as not to annoy the neighbors, however, I think that in a eventual power shortage, the neighbors will understand my situation and be a bit tolerant.
I already have the electrical connections to my outside shed so that I can put the generator in there if need be. However, I wonder if the generator will choke from the CO2 in there?
I wouldn’t worry about it, just leave the door open a bit and that should be all you need. Most small sheds already have built in vents on the top of the wall close to the roof, look for those and that will also be sufficient in letting most of the fumes and heat out: it really all depends on the climate you live in. Myself, I live in a cold climate when the power is usually out so I don’t really have to worry about my generator overheating. A small shed can also echo quite a bit so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to throw something in the walls of the shed to absorb the noise of the generator. Don’t bother with acoustic panels in a shed, old blankets hung on the wall will do just fine, just make sure they are secure and won’t come into contact with the generator of course.
Cheers
@@soundproofguide Hi! Thank you for the prompt response. I live in Québec city in Canada and I wont worry about the heat either in winter. I will follow your advice and also consider putting a fan to push the fumes out of the shed if need be.
Try using a evaporative cooler unit to blow the fumes outside they don't use much power and move lots of air.
I keep my generator inside the garage where I wired in the transfer box. I welded an adapter to vent the exhaust outside. Can keep the things locked up. Note: 1200sqft garage, 50ft from the house, Kawasaki 7500watt generator.
@@craigwiess1656 you have a great setup. Thank you for the feedback.
Built my own "zombie" box with 1/2 plywood and 2bys, 1st I heard it called that, anyway used a 12" 1600 fps soffet fan that blows into a 1foot sq exhaust port or box that blows into the earth down outside of the enclosure to keep it cooler and 4 directional 4" intake tubes, (tin exhaust tube) on opposite side and 4 2" vents up top for heat to escape after shutdown. Has 1ft clearance on sides and 2ft above generator. I used rockwool on front, rear and top, it's fireproof and its very quiet at 50 ft, just a slight hum for a fully featured Westinghouse DF 9500watt, has 3yr warranty. Steer away from HF, Chinese junk for same price with no extras, warranty or features! Did put a small desk fan in back that blows across the cylinder, hottest it's ever got out of airstream was 130 on a 100 day, take off any useless heat guards. Has over 1000hrs and can't complain yet! Remote feature is also great.
Moving the generator away from the house requires wire gauge considerations and becomes important ... the longer the wire ...greater the load loss. Can become very expensive.
your right JRP , father in law is retired electrician , said don't extend beyond 20 feet , with 10 gauge , my rig , 14 horse v twin 8000 watts B&S
Two things you didn't mention is you can bury the generator and you can run the exhaust into a bucket of water as long as you leave a small hole for backdraft..I have used boards to silence one and it worked really well...also one thing you said that made me laugh was you could get a battery operated fan to use in the shed....not like there is a huge generator or anything in there to hook up a box fan 😊
Haha I also caught that battery-operated fan comment.
How small of a hole for backdraft?
Hello there, I am really looking for some advice please. I have just purchased an air compressor to help me operate a cup sealing machine -I found out I also need a generator to power the compressor as its a 2.2kw and unable to use with my home switches without having to go through a whole bunch of electrical work.
The issue now is I have a compressor with a 97dB sound and a generator with a 74dB.
My solution is to buy a garden shed and then stick the 2 machines in there and off course soundproof the shed. The generator is an LPG hence I wont have to use petrol.
I am looking for advice on how to soundproof the shed as these machines will be working along side each other.
Your help is much appreciated
regards
Dela
Choking off both the proper ventilation for the generator as well as the cooling space required is a sure recipe for trouble.
My 9400 watt duel fuel generator is loud but it's heavy as hell. Its over 250lbs. Its like pulling a car around. Its a beast.
Awesome video.
How do you allow airflow??? That thing would burn up from no air
Obviously - buy a quiet model first, but after that use the landscape to your advantage - put in a dry ditch or behind rocks, or dig a pit and use the spoil to fill sandbags or fabric bags and place around it like sand bags. Stagger an entrance for access and exhaust as sound does not travel around corners well. Then use an old soggy plywood roof, or use earth on top. Parking it on planks or a board supported at the ends like a bridge will prevent the ground vibration problem.
I run my generator in my DETACHED garage. I don't have a problem with heat so much as the generator being in an alcove and it choking itself out on it's own exhaust. All I did was buy a cheap box fan, plug it into an outlet on the generator, set it on the end of the unit and leave it turned on. I have my generator connected to my panel through the 240 VAC @ 50 amp twist lock so I have 4 unused outlets. When I start the generator, the the fan starts with it cycling fresh air to the intake and keeping the unit cool in the summer.
what about using a flex tubing and putting the exhaust end down 5 ft in a well before it hits water.
I put mine in the attic . Works great. I ran the exhaust to the chimney.
That’s a great way to do it if it’s done safe. Thanks for commenting
Take your generators camping everyone.......I love to listen to all that racket when trying to enjoy nature.
What about the heat in the summer of these boxes.
What about routing the generator's exhaust thru a tank of water?
Tim would love the air compressor featured at 1:38.
James Condon did a video back in June 2020, where he bought a used generator that had a car muffler installed by a previous owner. He used a decibel meter and found the generator had around a 70 decibel sound level with the muffler installed.
He then removed the car muffler and installed a factory muffler and the sound level was then 75 to 76 decibels, so the muffler did quiet the generator around 5 decibels.
He had the generator setting about 25 yards away from the decibel meter when testing.
Now the car muffler did have a down pipe on the exhaust side of the muffler so the sound was going down into the ground, and the factory muffler was pointed however it was pointed as installed, so that might have had some effect on the sound too.
Personally, I don't know why generator manufacturers don't just put better sound deadening mufflers on their generators. Obviously the intent for a generator is to generate electricity a short distance away from it's intended use, and a muffler is intended to quiet exhaust. Why can't the manufacturers combine these to processes? Granted you can buy a Honda generator, pay a couple thousand dollars for what you can pay a few HUNDRED dollars for with any other generator, but the Honda units are supposedly the quietest generators you can get on the market.
Oh well, maybe someday it'll actually become a thing.
Great video with good info. Thank you.
2:27 the guy running the table saw doesn't know what he's doing to the point of endangering himself and people behind and around him. After running a table saw for a minimum amount of time, it becomes evident as to why. This tells me that this guy has almost zero experience with a table saw. I'm not even going to waste my time explaining it. Other than that, this video was beneficial to me. Cheers
Exactly
Do you have plans/blueprints for the box for the champion 9500 Watt generator in your example? I have that exact generator and would love to build this.
Im really surprised that you did not mention the cheapest (dollar wise ) method wich is to simply dig a hole big enough to set it down in this and or sandbags are the cheapest methods. Though they do both require quit a bit of work Though I will say lots of people will benifit from your video to include myself. Thanx so much!! Sincerely, Mike Rowe Rowe's Restorations Keep up the good work!!!
And how to protect it from the rain?
Storage tote and something for insolation. Pine needles? Pillow stuffing in a mesh?
I built a large, well ventilated dog house. Removable roof for refueling, and the front wall hinges at the bottom for easy removal and maintenance. I actually painted it to look like a dog house to deter thieves. Next I will insulate it to help with the remaining noise.
That's awesome! You should send me some pictures and details and I could maybe share that on an upcoming video for DIY ideas on generator enclosures. info@soundproofguide.com
@@soundproofguide Ok, but wont have any photos of it until Friday or Saturday.
Friends and family got quite a kick out of it looking just like a doghouse and its functionality. I'll take several photo to give those interested an idea of how to build their own.
I dont know much tech stuff, and only know how to send photos by Email. LOL! Can barely work this phone! I'm still stuck in the stone age. :)
@@billjenkins5693 Appreciate the effort. 😊
Never done this but digging a hole and if it works good luck 👍
I shut the door and turn the TV up louder ... Works great
Thanks great video.
Just to correct the information, no small engine is splash oiled anymore. Flathead engines will not meet EPA requirements and OHV requires an oil pump. The easiest way to deal with a generator is to make a corral of filled concrete blocks in which to run it. It only has to be as tall as the generator.
Bare in mind the longer the extention cord you use the higher voltage the draw will be on your generator.
You need a thicker cord. If you are going 100 feet, get a 12 gauge cord. More expensive, but it won't heat up and it won't offer as much electrical resistance. It's not just a matter of how much it taxes the generator, but also how much power loss you have at the far end.
You use the proper size cord for the amperage you're feeding and for ever 50' extra length the cord is, you size up (bigger) one guage. For instance, if you're running a standard 15A circuit at 110-125v up to 50 ft you would use a cord that is 14 guage and if it's between 50' and 100' you would size up to 12ga etc. 16 guage is good for 10A at up to 50 ft.
I wish that you live here in KSA . thanks a lot
Forget it just spend the money up front and get a Honda inverter. They are the quietest on the market and very well made. I have had a 3000is for 16 years. Runs great, the lowest noise of any gen. On the market. No problems. It is not that heavy. So yes it is worth the $.
Next video you should make:
‘How to make your wife quieter:
9 ways to quiet bliss’
That's not possible!😀😀😀😀
Zombiebox is still a solution for this
or - she could just up and leave you - am sure there are plenty of guys more than happy to listen to her. You don't sound as though you'd be great conversation yourselves :-(
Don't run your extension cords any longer than necessary and if you do need to, make sure you match your gauge size to the distance and load to be used. Running too small of an extension cord a long ways could overheat, causing damage or even a fire.
It also makes the devices consume more amps... You're actually consuming more power from your generator cuz part of it is heat. I found out a long time ago my generator couldn't start a circular saw with too long of an extension cord..... But with a short extension cord.. no problem
Yes it's called resistance
I was thinking your first idea but what really happened with the cooling of Generator ?. We have problem there.
Yes, you can have a problem, the engine could overheat. The engine operating temp could be as high as 200* f in that box with no problems. However, the generator wiring insulation maybe only rated at 105*c or 220*f
I used a shyt ton of potting soil to dig it into a "pillbox". Left back side open to redirect sound waves away from residence and allow for adequate ventilation.
Like sand bags but dirt bags...lol
Been working for years daily
bunker style nice
Can polystyrene be used between 2 sheets of plywood to reduce noise.
Another fine video..Thank you again.
You could create a pyramid kind of with the wood plywood and basically make it more closer together you just have to cut it in the right angles
Thank you for your very nicely produced video and for all of your helpful tips.
Airflow to the generator is very important! You don't want it having trouble producing clean energy with a low THD I think!
What about airflow for cooling
Did you ever test how well the built box reduces the sound and would the box possibly cause air cooling
Sudden increase in severe weather? Likely not an accurate statement, but great video
I worry about overheating it with an enclosure. Trying to use my welder in my garage but feel bad for the neighbors..
I would have the same concerns, it's bound to build it heat Using the zombie box, and I'm sure that would shorten the life of the generator.
@@sambiscits6711 Heat rises and there are honeycomb vents seen in the pics and the top exhaust vent. I hope for the sake of those expensive gens.
@@FrustratedBaboon I've recently had a Full House generator installed, and I'm looking into ways to mitigate the noise, I'm looking into something I can build myself.
@@sambiscits6711 I'll build my own as well. Gonna spend extra for 500+ CFM exhaust fan and air filter so that the internal temp is only a few degrees higher than outside.
@@FrustratedBaboon Sounds like a great idea, I'm going to have to come up with something like that also.
if it will be used in a fixed location. a comcreat base. then cender block walls.
insulated roof.
this combo will go a long ways to knock down the DB’s.
BUT you must also allow enough air in and hot sir and exhaust gases out.
so on the bottom layer of the blocks, leave a couple of then out. but have a anti insect screen.
plum the exhaust out through the roof. up to the 10 to 15 foot level.
and allow hot air out of the shed. but best if a fan is at one of the holes at the bottom to push in cold air.
the gen powers the fan. but no direct in or out for the air as sound dies not do corners very good.
Any suggestions for a sound box for a CNC router? The biggest problem will be the viewing window. Plexi would scratch to easily. I was thinking about a homemade three pane window, using silicone between layers around the perimeter. Any thoughts ???
Great 👍 tips.
Thanks for the video.
Which generator do you recommend for a van ? I would like the quietest generator.
Thanks a lot
Any box should have fresh air only duct, vent, opening to cool the engine and gen head made in such a way that the intake air does not mix with the heated air under the box. The box will pressurize and will need a vent back out. An exhaust fan will not be sufficient to keep heated air from recirculating though the engine and run too hot. The engine carb intake should have new air also. This is how Enclosed generators work. The front of the engine and the back of the gen head is where air is pulled in.
I also don't understand his statement "make sure every gap and hole is sealed" but also make sure the generator has been of air flow -huh??
Although, I built a box yesterday using a single $20 4x8' sheet of 3/4" MDF and spare 2x2s & 2x3s I had around my property. I've still got some work to do on it, but even after my initial test it made a HUGE difference in sound reduction! I've even left one side of the box 80% open (the side that faces out to the forest behind our house), because I'm too concerned about overheated/causing a fire from the enclosure. I'm even going to place a 24" box fan in front of the opening on hot days for more circulation (here in California our power is often shut off to prevent wildfires on hot/dry windy Summer days).
I still plan to silicone the inside corners, and then coat the box inside and out with a paint-on "acousti-coat" sound deadener ($35 for a gallon of it on Amazon). I'm hoping that coating will work twofold: for sound deadening and to help protect it for the elements. Depending on your setup, I also recommend getting castors (wheels) to mount on the box. The box will be heavy as hell, and this will make your life easier if you need to wheel it in/out of the garage for use like i do.
Thanks for sharing! Always love to hear other people’s DIY success projects!
2 in Styrofoam 3 sided box and lid. Leave the exhaust end open facing away from your home . Use velcro and bungee cords to assemble. Easy to take down for storage .
Would have liked a demonstration after each idea 💡
I built a 4’ x 8’ x 8’ wood shed on concrete for my generator pipe for exhaust, insulated walls and ceiling with exhaust fan with thermostat! It hooked up to exterior panel with its own breaker! Just turn off main breaker and turn own it! Safe for linemen and save for me!
Can you bury a generator with plywood around it for further soundproofing?
We are trying this now. Stunned at how little info there is on the internet!?
Any holes you make in your shed are going to allow sound to escape. The holes need to be covered with a baffle to break the sound up before it reaches open air. This includes air intake and heat exhaust fans.
Isn't a gen 'silencer' just another name for a 'muffler'?
When building a sound-proof enclosure, you should think in terms of reflective, absorptive, and inert layers. Innermost is reflective, next is absorptive, with the outermost inert. The inert layer prevents the engine's noise from being transmitted into the surrounding environment. See the comments about sandbags below.
Some Jack Wagon that did nothing but an Google search...here is your participation trophy
I'm wondering how much generator produced noise can be blocked using a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones? I know this would not help regarding neighbors complaints, but from a personal point of view... just turn it up to 11. :)
Lol! Actually noise canceling headphones would work extremely well considering the generator is making a constant noise that doesn’t tend to fluctuate unless you have a load on.
Was that a Binford 6100?
I plan on making a box for my generator due to your video suggestion but I'm concerned with all the pictures and videos of people using wood or MDF for the box. is that not a fire hazard? I was thinking of making mine with a steel frame and some sort of inflammable covering around the outside but if I could get away with wood and traditional insulation that would be a lot cheaper
I'm currently looking at the same setup but to my understanding using steel frame would result in vibrations/rattling noise due to the sound waves bouncing off of the frame which could possibly make it louder. Also the fire hazard you are talking about is in most cases when one has a generator that is faulty or leaking petrol. To remedy this I think it would be best to remove the generator from the box to refuel it and wipe any fuel or wait for a couple of minutes to make sure any spilled fuel has evaporated into thin air. With all that said is like to hear your opinion on all that ivve said d if there are any improvements to be made.
@@fadilthefxtrader7667 so I did end up making my box out of steel but I lined the inside with fire resistant insulation. the insulation cuts down the noise and my generator which is 9000 watts is about as loud as my 2000 watt inverter generator now, so it's really quiet. the fire hazard I was referring to is just heat from the exhaust building up inside the Box. so after half an hour of running, inside the box, next to the exhaust on my generator it gets to be about 250°. Which isn't enough to light MDF on fire but it's a little too close for comfort for me.
It would be cool to design a ventilation system with a fan to help circulate air around the engine so the engine doesn't overheat. these are after all air-cooled Motors. and when we seal them in a box they can get hot and overheat pretty easily. but I'm trying to figure out a way to do that without also making it way louder. Oh and in case you're curious the exhaust does vent to outside of the box through a Custom Piping that I welded up but that Custom Piping gets really hot and that's what's heating up the inside of the box even though the exhaust is wrapped in fiberglass