Generator Noise

How to Make your Generator Run Quietly
https://www.thereadystore.com/featured/17634/how-to-make-your-generator-run-quietly/

Generators are a major asset when the power goes out. A generator acts as a backup power supply. Most are gas powered and come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and prices. Many generators can be very loud which can make using them a pain. Here are a few simple tips to make your generator run smoothly and quietly.   ---CONTINUED---

This article, like most on this subject, are aimed at cutting the noise from levels that interfere with living near them, to levels that are pretty tolerable. In addition, I wonder, since he doesn't allow for cooling airflow, how hot the inside of that generator box will get. Hopefully, not hot enough to boil the gasoline in the fuel tank.

Especially in a grid down environment, any generator noise after the second day can be a serious problem, so I think we need to go a bit further.

Here is an old article that outlines some of the problems and solutions to quieting the generator a great deal more. Unfortunately some of the pictures are no longer there, but that only detracts a little from the usefulness of the whole.
Silencing a Cheap Noisey Generator

This still doesn't go far enough, but it outlines some of the considerations for later discussions.
Heat levels in the enclosure,
air for the engine to breath
fire hazards from enclosure materials and gasoline
exhaust routing to deal with noise and heat
touches on the subject of burying the whole thing

Good article TRex.

My plan on a long term power outage is to back the vehicles out of the garage and run my generator in the garage. I have a separate breaker box just for the generator to backfeed the power to the house. My garage is separate from the house and is about 80 feet away.

I've down this numerous times and all you hear is a low humming noise from about 100 feet away.

rick1 wrote:Good article TRex.

My plan on a long term power outage is to back the vehicles out of the garage and run my generator in the garage. I have a separate breaker box just for the generator to backfeed the power to the house. My garage is separate from the house and is about 80 feet away.

I've down this numerous times and all you hear is a low humming noise from about 100 feet away.

All depends on locations and circumstances.
(How far away are the neighbors, and how likely
are they to want to take your generator.)

I assume you had someone who knows their stuff
do your interconnect, although that is a different thread.

You seem to have a suitable solution for your location,
although I don't know much about your situation.

TRex, I live on a farm (about 125 acres) and my nearest neighbors house (another farmer) is about 300 yards away and they have the same set up as I do.

I did the setup myself, but I had my son in law's brother (electrician) check and meter everything before I ran anything.

rick1 wrote:TRex, I live on a farm (about 125 acres) and my nearest neighbors house (another farmer) is about 300 yards away and they have the same set up as I do.

I did the setup myself, but I had my son in law's brother (electrician) check and meter everything before I ran anything.

I am not quite as isolated as you are. There are two walking paths and another house within 200 yards of me. There will be hostiles in this area (in very small numbers, but it only takes one) so I will have to create a fairly stealthy setup. (It is on my plan for 2020)

I bought a Dual fuel 7500 watt Generator from cosco.. mounted it on a concrete platform Long bolts so technically Permanent hookup but NOT fed to house-got it to propane tanks (with legal permit). if my neighbors complain---so be it---they can stay in the dark.
keebler

Silencing Small Fueled Engines and Other Considerations
https://modernsurvivalonline.com/the-panhandle-rancher-speaks-silencing-small-fueled-engines-and-other-considerations/

Everyone knows small gasoline fueled engines are noisy and loud enough that hearing protection should be used when working with or around devices thus powered. Noise pollution is serious, especially in urban areas but little thought is generally given to the racket when out in the country. In a world without rule of law (WROL), anything that draws attention can be lethal. ---CONTINUED---

ReadyMom wrote:Silencing Small Fueled Engines and Other Considerations
https://modernsurvivalonline.com/the-panhandle-rancher-speaks-silencing-small-fueled-engines-and-other-considerations/

Everyone knows small gasoline fueled engines are noisy and loud enough that hearing protection should be used when working with or around devices thus powered. Noise pollution is serious, especially in urban areas but little thought is generally given to the racket when out in the country. In a world without rule of law (WROL), anything that draws attention can be lethal.   ---CONTINUED---

I think he stumbles onto the real answer at the end.

A future project might be to connect the exhaust to a buried drum and then run an exhaust out of it.

He needs to bury that muffler, and run a "several foot long" exhaust tube to the buried muffler. He might also consider building a "dog house" enclosure to contain the generator and exhaust tube (requires cooling fans). If he buries the muffler in loose dirt, the soil will absorb most of the vibrations. Alternatively, a 20 foot, 6 inch stove pipe, buried in sand, then covered with soil should also work. I haven't tried either of these, myself, but I know some people who used those techniques, or similar ones, in the middle east.

How To Modify A Generator To Run Almost Silently With A Muffler
https://knowledgeweighsnothing.com/how-to-modify-your-generator-to-run-silently-well-almost-silently/

 (BIG Snip) ... Luckily though, you can relatively easily adapt and fit a DIY muffler to your generator, and dramatically reduce the noise it generates. The video tutorial below explains exactly how to do it. ---CONTINUED ---