How to quiet a portable electric generator on a budget

[MrGraygrizz]

Just buy one of those quiet Honda generators!

[KapteinOpel]

Hmm I would rather turn the frame around the generator into a box I think Double walls: Sheet of steel, thin insulation, sheet of steel. Thick glass would be even better but would become heavy...

[mrgrivers1]

Sorry a few people bad mouthed your dog house, u need to raise that muffler as high as you can get it, at least as high as your trailer or tent. Those exhaust fumes well kill you. One other thing, if u can make it come apart for transport it would be more practical. I had something like this i mind with similar materials but thicker walls and held together with velcro strips. What I haden't thought about was the added muffler or the fan. those were great ideas, thanks. Peace-out-corn bread

[chris52383]

I knew it would not work when i heard i just need some duct tape

[chris52383]

that was a complete waste of time. I have been camping my whole life and we put our generator in a wood box and point the open away from us. even at night i dont notice it running. that was a complete waste of time my man...I knew something was wrong when i heard all i need is duct tape

[GINGERDAVID90]

good idea but id rather use a honda gen thats already quite or just a inverter powered by a leisure battery

[PilotVBall]

Why go camping when they make perfectly good hotels!?!

[KapteinOpel]

@PilotVBall Because not all of us in this world s**t money...

[bigman55434]

Looks like that setup reduced the noise level from 120db to about 110db. 

[walkertongdee]

@bigman55434 right

[sugerbear520]

nice

[MrSalmonguy]

Acoustic egg crate foam would work better than the insulation. With all the added accessories needed, this looks pretty cumbersome to transport to a campground. And no, we can't tell whether the noise was cut down dramatically because you didn't provide any before noise levels. I would also be concerned with it blowing over since it's made of light weight material.

[schickmann]

what a waste of time... i should have drank a fifth and belived this worked in my alcohol induced visions....

[MrThorsfar]

waste of time -

[Max1Chase1]

That is still too loud for a Campground, I would close the entire system in and run a House AC vent to circulate air into the unit cause noise is coming through the fan opening, and put hose floor vents on the top to vent any heat and noise, the exhaust should point upward to disapate the noise to the sky, Good idea with the insulation sheets and fiber insulation.

[CoBSquirt]

more like how to make your generator louder to piss of your neighbors

[prodigy777777]

the carport made it sound loader.Good idea thanks.

[taineasy]

We just bought a used dog cage (large or xl) and lined it with rubber sheeting cut from a 4x7 sheet of barn stall rubber flooring. The rubber is amazing at deadining the sound.

[Blaze4052]

That....S.U.C.K.S. waste of 10 mins

[decoysk]

ARE YOU ON CRACK??? THAT SHIT DIDN`T DO A DAM THING! FUCK THE NEIGHBORS. TURN UP THE STEREO TO DROWN OUT THE GENERATOR !

[biguceduce]

pretty cool idea, It was still loud on video anyways, but i think the noise escapes the box through the holes, maybe redesign the box to blow in the air without putting the muffler out of the box or stuff the whole muffler in the box too and close up the holes a little bit more. good video thanks.

[SuperMadmax61]

WTF, I cant hear you its so loud

[Dreemwever]

cut to the chase already! Blah....blah.....blah......

[rlewis1946]

Small camera microphones are notorious for their "loudness", as compared to the human ear. That may be why the play back audio sounds loud to the YouTube viewer.

If the "dog house" had more mass, for example, if it were made from 3/4" plywood) it would dampen the sound more.

I like the idea of an external muffler. Just don't use one of those tuned ones that sound like a muffled Harley and drive me nuts....cause I like my Harley's loud!!

Thanks for posting.

Roy Lewis Atlanta, Georgia USA

[zakosutra]

you should run generator after and before. because it sounds very loud.

with respect. sorry about my bad english

[honeybaby000111]

@MagnusAtheos1 RACIST!!!!

and ever one else get a honda cheaper too or a 1500 watt solar power pack

[cass121248]

Thank you for posting this,

You did some nice work, and on the cheap.

This will be my next project. I've been using an expensive extension cord to reach my generator far enough away to allow normal conversation.

[knotenough2]

doesn't heat rise ? veant out the top

[tock101]

I would somehow connect a fan blade to the motor directly. Or a pulley system like a car does. This would get rid of the electric motor for the fan. Also as a intake tunnel that has that installation. Also a sound reducing platform to sit on.

[yakdung]

The generator is really loud!

[eric91792]

it's hard to tell the sound difference when he hadn't run the engine before putting the box in. to me it still sounds kinda loud.

[N2Ndistance]

@MagnusAtheos1:Why you have to put an example with asian especially Philipinos? Are the Philipinos only group that are so loud in your ears? You are so fucking RACIST shame on you! Your handle name represents a bad upbringing by your parents.... but maybe they are like you too a RACIST!

[codeyw84]

lame still loud

[dieselworld]

Get a diesel generator and you wont have to build that box. That generator is VERY loud and cant tell its any better in the box.

[tonyswhirl]

@dieselworld It's better - the fact that you could hear him talking proves it. Without the box he would

have had to scream, yet, he talked in a normal voice.

[RickM1953]

The noise cut down you're noticing is due to HEARING LOSS. Sorry, I think it's still very loud. Good try anyway.

[andyass3]

The reason its seems loud afterwards is because cameras have a directional microphones, if the sound was recorded with an omni directional mic you would realize the difference. The microphone would have to be at a fixed location for before and after so that you could have a reference point and be able to notice the sound difference.

[kheartsify]

hell that sounds louder than it normally is

[MrFtroop72]

dude i can hear that thing in the west coast

[Dorisequador]

Love you Generator dude and you huge box but it's still very loud...and I mean LOUD!

[Jeepjones85]

I don't understand all the dislikes everyone know that the camra mic makes everything loud lol great job. I'm sure that it dropped the noise db down.

[raneve23]

That sounds pretty loud

[CritikylMass]

HAHAHA Laughing my f'n ass off...i can fix that noise with my shotgun

[roadmilker]

@CritikylMass

gun nuts have to shoot everything

dont get pissed im a gun nut :)

[proaudiohd]

Steps for soundproofing, in this order: 1) Airtight 2) Mass 3) Isolate. You can't make a generator box airtight since it needs cooling, but you can make your ducts turn 2 corners inside the box. That prevents much of the reflected soundwaves from making it out. Make the box HEAVY as you can. 3/4 plywood with 2x4 bracing at a minimum. The heavier the box, the quieter it will be. If you need even quieter, make an inner box that is seperated from the outer box by foam on all sides. No screws!

[ZimZimAllahBim]

Hey! Don't make fun of this installation. That particular generator is VERY noisy without sound dampening, which the box provides. For what is invested in it, the author has done a really nice job doing what he wanted to accomplish. Sure, the Honda's and Yamaha's are quieter, but they're a good deal more expensive per watt.

I'm already thinking of how to improve this design for my system, ie. more permanent and durable. It'll be a little more expensive, but not much. Thanks for the ideas!

[OTGinNYC]

camera microphone amplifies the sound. it probably isn't that loud where he is standing. lol

[flasks3]

What's the point of all the "box" and fan assembly since 99% of the noise is created at the end of the exhaust? Putting an additional muffler with coupler to the original muffler would have been just as effective. You have an engineering mind no doubt, but you need to expand it. Video was well put together, very informative, great photography but I wouldn't undertake the project even if the material was free.

[wh250]

@flasks3 -- That's simple not true. Adding a car muffler makes almost no difference to overall noise level.

[loansharky]

"As you can tell the noise is cut down, dramatically"

LOL! Can we?

[redman68au]

thank fuck i went straight to the end to hear the result! imagine how many other poor fuckers didn't! wont they be pissed when they get to it! lol

[Cowcharge]

You call that a "portable" generator? And it's for TENT camping? LOL. Man, you need to publish where you're camping so everyone else can avoid the place.

[hookahdude1]

fag



[edwound]

i skipped a good portion, but did you run the thing without the box at any point in this video? should really have recorded it with and without the box and played them back to back.

[panchohughes]

Thanks for posting your vid. I had a couple of thoughts- 1) it would be much quieter if not sitting on that concrete. 2) Video cameras have AGC (auto gain control) that makes the generator sound much louder than it actually is. I also noticed that you had the fiberglass insulation inside taped up. I think the tape itself is still reflecting quite a bit of sound. I think egg-crate foam would work really well with it's wavy surface. Would work better as acoustic baffle.

[rogelio67]

add a pipe extender then run the pipe to a bucket of water,,, much cheaper and better

[brodie1709]

or just spend the extra money and buy one of those really quiet honda generators.

[theonethatgoofs]

I WOULD HATE U IF I WAS YOUR NEIGHBOR .I went the quiet way solar panels and a large inverter.

[mmolez]

really bad design...

what is the point of all that "sound proofing" if your just going to cut a huge hole in the side?

[Mrphatbastard1]

Or you can just buy a Honda and call it day!!!

[master777999]

that is terrible

[taineasy]

should have had the KIPOR 3000 inverter jenny. quiet as a church mouse

[drummerg2]

still loud

[Jackcc5]

well done mate

[MrSCOOTEROCKET]

Do some research before wasting time. There are a number of companies that specialize in sound control. Start with soundown.com

[MrSCOOTEROCKET]

As loud as it still is, it's amazing he'd think it's OK to run that thing at a campsite where there are other people within 1/4 mile . Perhaps if he has a long enough extension cord, he could put it in another county. It would be better for any chance of success to start the project with a comparatively quieter generator. Even then, you'd have to have a superb design to be able to run it at a camp site without pissing everyone off and risk having it thrown in the creek.

[MagnusAtheos1]

@MrSCOOTEROCKET Try being surrounded by Philipino's at a campground for an entire weekend. I bet you would rather listen to the generator!

[TACOVAN]

@MagnusAtheos1 But I am Filipino!

[MagnusAtheos1]

@TACOVAN Well then all I can say is I hope you are more considerate than the 8 families of Philipino's I was surrounded by at the campsite I was at last summer. Tell you what, when you are camping, don't cut through other peoples lots, don't steal other peoples firewood, and don't open all the windows of your car and start playing loud music at 7AM.

[Back2Dixie]

@MagnusAtheos1 Leave some steak by their tents at night, they will leave very fast...lol

[MrSCOOTEROCKET]

Two mass layers with a decoupling layer is ideal. If you must use fiberglass as a sound absorbing layer, used fiberglass designed for it such as duct liner - buy it at any heating and supply contractor. The unbaffled humoungous fan and exhaust holes guaranteed his design wouldn't work and are much larger than needed. Make both channels with at least one or two 180 degree turns lined with sound absorbing material. Bottom of box should be same as sides.

[MrSCOOTEROCKET]

Looking at the poor design of the box, I knew it would not be very effective in suppressing that generator's noise and it wasn't. The box needs one mass layer of dense material such as partical board, MDF, lead sheet, or thick vinyl loaded with mineral. Plywood is not nearly as good but better than nothing. Decoupling layer between mass layers could foam board bonded to both mass layers. Acoustic absorbtion material is needed inside. The fiberglass he used is poor but better than nothing.

[julesagogo]

Love this! What would be great would be 1. an explanation of why/how the plywood was put on and 2. a demo of the before/after noise, because it sounds pretty dang noisy to me. I live in a city in a hurricane-n-snow zone with a yard and alley so want something to make it neighbor-soundproof. :)

[jadedhellyeah69]

fukn fail !!!

[MagnumForce51]

Please note to users who think it's still "loud". He didn't run it out side the box in the video. So we don't have a starting reference point for how loud the generator normally is. So don't be quick to consider that still loud or have no difference. ;)

[ctgoalie5577]

If this guy camped next to me, he would find his cords and gas line cut in the middle of the night. He thinks that's quiet???

[baldrickthefifth]

ridiculous, he 'invented' a box, and a sound-reflective one ffs

[SaGalv]

nice zip tie on the trottle, guessing the governer stopped working?

[FordRulesChevySucks]

Maybe the generator noise we are hearing is the generator powering his camera ?? Ha

[routuberz]

thats so bad I you fucking kidding me

[IRONMAIDENFAN2006]

you want a good solution use a car muffler 80 bucks and your done

[fritzduval]

wow sounds really loud!what the hell was the point of that?that dude owes me 10min of my life back..............shit!!

[hughjaynuths]

@fritzduval You had to watch all 10 minutes to figure out you didn't want to watch the video?

[noxxing]

@fritzduval i know..cut down dramatically my ass

[LiquidChem]

this is so awesome... you can put a buffer space between the doghouse and fan, like an extra wall with a space on both ends, you would eliminate more sound.. or maybe even one doghouse, then another bigger one on top with the fan facing opposite.. well theres my 2 cents.. great video!

[Guacatechs]

excellent idea, specially for people using cheap 2 cycle gensets at campgrounds that are horribly loud. The only change to your design i would make, is to use flashing tape instead of duct or boxing tape, it is more resistant to rain and sun.

[usernameofutube]

i was watching the entire video and in the end (finally having it fired up) it was quite louder then expected.

I need to build something similar at my cottage so I was searching around...your idea is nice but I would use better materials.

[christofice]

why not just buy a running silent generator ?

[Guacatechs]

@christofice they are very expensive, and they do not produce as much power as his genset. his design is great for big generators, used for camping or for long power outages. I would have used a car radiator blower instead, they are water sealed and run on 12 volts, but his design is great, using odds and ends he already had.

[GatheringSticks]

I like your video..you did a nice job.

[monkey19582008]

How many (db) decibels before and after?

[MondoBeno]

Just build a box lined with fire-retardant insulation foam.

If you use wood, the heat from the generator can set it on fire.

[moonsmilelucide]

did you even watch the whole movie? he has been taken measures to remove hat risk

[yourafrickenidiot]

try buying a honda

[immadodgeguy]

thats actually not that bad.

your not screaming over the noise from it and that says somethin right there

[ZILLO1972]

jeez ...just wasted 9:59min of my life

[1120pro]

just close it up more! and put the homemade filter on

[7777777fresh]

its loud

[05clenharth]

what engine is that on that generator

[NOLIMIT69NOLIMIT2000]

Yea still sounds like shit. If I were your neighbor I would fucking shoot you.

[rsfeller]

I'm sure it's quite but this video does it no justice...even with the car muffler it sounds horrible!

[chupalia]

I think it would be quiet with the muffer alone

[mursalot]

i noticed that too. started with just foam board and packing tape. then he added: spray adhesive, duct tape, ply wood, insulation, fan, fan box, flex hose, muffler, and hardware to hold it together. i would have just dug a hole and piled sand bags around the edge.

[tarpumpphillips]

good idea, only I thought that the escape for the hot air would have been in the top, since hot air rises.

[OnADimeDesigns]

I hate being on camera. Did this video as a favor for a friend.

[19wael96]

why you look fine i like the video