Generator Noise Levels

Topic: Generator Noise Levels (Read 924 times) previous topic - next topic

Generator Noise Levels

May 17, 2023, 10:51:45 am

Hey,

My coach generator shot craps and rebuilding it isn't an option as it is too old and parts are unavailable. My plan is to buy a 12000 watt dual fuel that has a 50 amp plug and run it directly to shore power. At $1200 dollars I could go through nearly ten of them before I match the cost of a new Onan in the coach. My question has to do with noise levels. I know that some places limit noise levels to 60db and this one runs at 72db. Being decibels are exponential, that's quite a bit louder. We'll be staying off grid most of the time and if we're in a campground we won't be using the generator.

Has anyone here run into a problem with noise levels while camping in a national park or on BLM land?

Thank you in advance!
Erik

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #1 – May 17, 2023, 10:57:20 am

Quote from: Uninjected – May 17, 2023, 10:51:45 am

Has anyone here run into a problem with noise levels while camping in a national park or on BLM land?

National park, yes. BLM no. It's very common to run into other boondockers that're running contractor grade generators on BLM land. These are the facts I know about loud generators, now ask me my opinion

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #2 – May 17, 2023, 11:02:31 am

What's your opinion?
I'm genuinely interested

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #3 – May 17, 2023, 11:11:10 am

What went bad? generator or engine? I have rebuilt those Onan air cooled engines many times and not that difficult.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #4 – May 17, 2023, 11:13:32 am

The motor still runs fine, it is the generator side that's bad. It's only putting out 67 watts. But... the motor has nearly 12000 hours on it. So it could probably use a complete overhaul.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #5 – May 17, 2023, 11:25:09 am

Old generators and parts are what you say unavailable or very expensive.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #6 – May 17, 2023, 11:34:00 am

Quote from: Uninjected – May 17, 2023, 11:02:31 am

What's your opinion?
I'm genuinely interested

Coming from the "solar crowd", I can tell you there's a general disdain for people that constantly run their generators in close proximity to fellow boondockers. Yes I know it's as much their public land as it is mine, and yes I know it used to be the norm, but my experience from multiple years of full-time boondocking with large groups tells me this is the general consensus . Truthfully it doesn't bother me much unless it's egregious. I've had some neighbors that run theirs all day long so they can power their kid's gaming console and that drives me nuts but if it's just an hour in the morning and an hour at night and you're not right on top of me, I'll choose to worry about bigger things.

I once boondocked RIGHT next to a early 2000s prevost, maybe 20 ft away, and they ran their generator non-stop for the whole evening without me even knowing it until I walked within a couple feet of their rig. I don't know how they got it that quiet but it was incredible.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #7 – May 17, 2023, 11:39:15 am

Quote from: Uninjected – May 17, 2023, 11:02:31 am

What's your opinion?
I'm genuinely interested

Contractor grade 12000watt generators are LOUD no mater what situation they are used in. I boondock a lot, if I see an open contractor grade generator I try to get as far away as I can from it as I can. And some folks that run generators constantly drive me nuts. My personal opinion ( you asked for it) it one feels the need to run a generator 10-12 hours a day might be happier plugged in to the pole. If I was going with a portable I would go with a 7500 watt or so Honda/Yamaha enclosed inverter style generator, quieter use less fuel.
I just replaced the generator head on my 10k powertech, for 3K. And I use a 2200w Honda, for days when the solar doesn't keep up and no air needed.
Keep in mind unless you can figure out how to run it going down the road you won't be able to run roof air.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #8 – May 17, 2023, 12:25:25 pm

Maybe I'll rethink my strategy. I know Hondas are pretty quiet. Winter time won't be an issue being the solar will (hopefully) run everything needed. But, there's no way I want to be in the coach when it's 100 degrees without air conditioning.
Anyone have any leads on used generators ?

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #9 – May 17, 2023, 12:34:13 pm

Quote

Anyone have any leads on used generators ?

I know FOT has about 4-6 sitting on their lot. Not sure what the problem is with them but might give them a call and they might sell you one or two.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #10 – May 17, 2023, 12:35:08 pm

Quote from: Uninjected – May 17, 2023, 12:25:25 pm

Maybe I'll rethink my strategy. I know Hondas are pretty quiet. Winter time won't be an issue being the solar will (hopefully) run everything needed. But, there's no way I want to be in the coach when it's 100 degrees without air conditioning.
Anyone have any leads on used generators ?

98% of people with solar will be running their generators when it's 100 degrees out too.

I'd snag a single Honda 3000, install a Micro Air EasyStart in one or both ACs units, and call it good.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #11 – May 17, 2023, 01:40:20 pm

Quote from: Elliott – May 17, 2023, 12:35:08 pm

98% of people with solar will be running their generators when it's 100 degrees out too.

I'd snag a single Honda 3000, install a Micro Air EasyStart in one or both ACs units, and call it good.

I got 3 comments
1. You then have to deal with picking up, moving, storing, along with having to carry a gas jug. I have a 3500 Generac inverter and I am getting too old to move that generator around without help.
2. You are never going to be driving though Texas in the summer, unless in the middle of the night, and your dash air is working great.
3. Going to hurt your resale if you ever plan to sell coach someday.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #12 – May 17, 2023, 01:54:21 pm

Quote from: turbojack – May 17, 2023, 01:40:20 pm

I got 3 comments
1. You then have to deal with picking up, moving, storing, along with having to carry a gas jug. I have a 3500 Generac inverter and I am getting too old to move that generator around without help.
2. You are never going to be driving though Texas in the summer, unless in the middle of the night, and your dash air is working great.
3. Going to hurt your resale if you ever plan to sell coach someday.

All valid points. I agree that a built-in system like came from the factory is the way to go if viable for the OP

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #13 – May 17, 2023, 02:00:35 pm

Also, for what it's worth, the only things I've ever purchased from harbor freight and been happy with are their gas engines. The predator line of generators might be the best bang for your buck if you choose to go with a standalone generator.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #14 – May 17, 2023, 02:27:55 pm

Quote from: Elliott – May 17, 2023, 02:00:35 pm

Also, for what it's worth, the only things I've ever purchased from harbor freight and been happy with are their gas engines. The predator line of generators might be the best bang for your buck if you choose to go with a standalone generator.

We bought one for a job when we needed a generator and it was quicker getting one at HF. That thing smoked from the first minute we got it. We did have power on the job and did not have any mosquitos.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #15 – May 17, 2023, 02:28:59 pm

Only valid if your coach is a pusher....
I strongly considered putting our 3000 Honda UP FRONT of our Grand Villa. There's plenty of room up there for it especially if you removed all of the dash air equipment. This is of course after it had been converted to propane. Little bit of wiring to be done and some propane and exhaust plumbing also but doable Then we could have putted down the road with at least one (soft start) roof air going. Or maybe yank out the old geny and put it in the same compartment ??

I still haven't given up on the idea completely but we have been boondocking a lot less lately and I'm still tweaking our dash air. Also , anybody know where the fuse for the fan blower (dash heat/air) is Chuck.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #16 – May 17, 2023, 02:36:48 pm

Quote from: turbojack – May 17, 2023, 02:27:55 pm

We did have power on the job and did not have any mosquitos.

I always love a good multi-tool. Many of the things I have bought from them ended up being multi-tools. Part tool, ~~part~~ mostly paperweight.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #17 – May 17, 2023, 03:12:32 pm

My vote is get all the generator your budget will allow. While they have caught a pretty bad rep along with their owners for the noise, some warranted some probably not, when it comes to needing x Amt of power at a given time they are the go 2 and the more power the better.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #18 – May 17, 2023, 03:29:44 pm

Quote from: Uninjected – May 17, 2023, 12:25:25 pm

Maybe I'll rethink my strategy. I know Hondas are pretty quiet. Winter time won't be an issue being the solar will (hopefully) run everything needed. But, there's no way I want to be in the coach when it's 100 degrees without air conditioning.
Anyone have any leads on used generators ?

I too pondered the same thing when my generator end quit. I just couldn't come up with a workable solution to running airs in the summer, as any portable that would do that is just too heavy to handle. S I bit the bullet and replaced the bad end on mine( with a lot of help here on the forum) to the tune of $3500.00 just for parts, but in the end everything works as it should. You might do a search for RV salvage yards, there are several, along with ebay and Craig's list. I'll bet there are a bunch of them out there just finding them.
Do you actually know not voltage regulator/ loose connections, brushes sticking?
I just saw one on Craigs list in Phoenix 6500 Onan running 180.00

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #19 – May 17, 2023, 03:33:32 pm

Ill second that.
As my solar installer said " to much is just right " and i believe it. I am not in the camp of calculating how much power you can get by with. We seem to be power hogs, cause the DW likes to have every light in the coach on. Good to have 100% LED.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #20 – May 17, 2023, 03:51:34 pm

I took the coach up to Cummins repair and they told me that the rotor/ stator was bad. I suspected that was the case when I brought it to em and figured the 600 bucks initial charge would go toward the rebuild. As it turns out, they cannot get the parts and I payed them 600 bucks to tell me something I pretty much already knew. So, that was fun. I've been looking online for used, but there doesn't seem to be much out there. An RV junkyard is probably the way to go. Or maybe buy a trashed out class A, take what I need and part out the rest. But, that's another project that I don't really have time for.
I'll try FOT and see what they say, or maybe some RV repair shops closer to me.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #21 – May 17, 2023, 04:13:25 pm

Quote from: Uninjected – May 17, 2023, 03:51:34 pm

I took the coach up to Cummins repair and they told me that the rotor/ stator was bad. I suspected that was the case when I brought it to em and figured the 600 bucks initial charge would go toward the rebuild. As it turns out, they cannot get the parts and I payed them 600 bucks to tell me something I pretty much already knew. So, that was fun. I've been looking online for used, but there doesn't seem to be much out there. An RV junkyard is probably the way to go. Or maybe buy a trashed out class A, take what I need and part out the rest. But, that's another project that I don't really have time for.
I'll try FOT and see what they say, or maybe some RV repair shops closer to me.

Ive never known how these people sleep with themselves at night, How long would it take with the tools you would expect a company like Cummins to have to find such a major issue, probably before 650 should rightly be gone thru...Ive paid my share of such after being on the road 50 years but never came to get used to it much less get satisfied with it.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #22 – May 17, 2023, 04:23:52 pm

What about a diesel generator out of a wrecked coach? Buy the entire package including the quiet box. Converting to diesel my be a easier way to go? Any way you go is going to be painful financially.

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #23 – May 17, 2023, 04:46:45 pm

I've been looking around at RV salvage yards and on a whim called a general salvage company. They do architectural salvage and so forth. I asked the guy about RV generators and he's like, yeah we have a bunch of em just sitting around. They scrap them for the metal value. I explained what I need and he said they have a 7000 Onan Marquis that he'd sell me for a thousand bucks! Has a hundred hours on it. Come to find out, he and his partners, just this week, discussed selling the generators instead of scrapping them as they thought it a shame to waste them like that... what a blessing!

Re: Generator Noise Levels

Reply #24 – May 17, 2023, 05:15:20 pm

Cool. That sounds like a win.win.

Affiliate Notice