The smaller Yammies and Hondas are fairly quiet. Or at least, a hell of a lot quieter than the el-cheapos. I bought a Honda eu2000i some years ago, they are more expensive but then ya get what ya pay for. I would say they are fairly loud when under load.

With a little care depending on location there are always better places than others to site the generator to minimize noise pollution. Someone could make a nice little cottage industry rigging up noise reduction for them. Some kind of extension exhaust/hose maybe running through water, baffles etc.

There are a lot of aftermarket accessories for these. One of the problems with the portable generators is they can become just a little bit too portable, and thieves will cruise campgrounds to pilfer valuables and gear. Generators are a target. I use a length of heavy chain and installed the reinforced handle, then lock it around a tree, truck axle, etc. Won't stop a determined thief but will keep the casual crooks from simply walking away with it.

 

For quiet, never heard anything more quiet than a Panda marine generator. No sound and could just barely feel a minor vibration. But they were far from in expensive.

In general, lower priced generators do not have a reputation of a long life. One possible way to cut the purchase price is to watch Craigs for nearby listings of used units.


To the original question about a dual usage generator (home and RV), yes it is possible. *BUT* you need to fully understand the load limits and work within them. As an example, when big storms come through, sometimes it is days until we get utility power back. Had a 3KW (3,500 surge) and it handled the home just fine, but we also did not expect hot water as the 4,500W electric DHW was too much for the unit. In the summer, the 3KW did manage a window air conditioner, a couple of fridges, all the lights, and electronics. In the winter, there was less load as the heat came from fuel.


Two big lessons learned for home use (from research and not experience):
- Get an automatic transfer switch for the home hook-up. Very bad things happen when the utility power returns and the generator has a direct connection to the grid while also supplying power (Hint: think *BOOM*!). Also, not a good thing for anybody working on the lines near your home if the generator is able to supply power back to the grid.

- Get a generator that is capable of 110 / 220, connect it to a 50Amp outlet (behind a transfer switch) at the main breaker box, and put the generator in 220V mode. Reasoning is that no matter what the wattage size generator, it will supply power to the whole home and not just half. Also, have yet to see a generator manual where (buried in the disclaimers) there is not a comment that the only way to get full potential out of the unit is to use the 220V outlet. A more simplified explanation of why to get a 110 / 220 unit is that when looking at the main breaker box, chances are very good that the breaker box has two columns and a near even loading of breakers in each column. Each side needs 110 volts, so the whole box actually needs 220. This is where the need for a 50Amp / 220V outlet comes to play; it will provide 110V to each side of the box in addition to any 220V appliances that you can / want to use (presuming the generator can handle the load). When using the generator for the RV, put it in 110V mode and get a pigtail for the 220V outlet. Also, naturally, using the 50 Amp outlet at the main breaker box presumes that the generator is at or under this rating.


Definitely agree with comments about getting a generator with low DB's and their more desirable effect on the surrounding residents. Another reason for a quiet generator is that when the whole area lacks utility power, a loud unit advertises 'come-get-me' to those lacking a generator.

Bonus on the list is something CARB compliant as we all have to breathe the results

If in doubt about any of this, highly recommend working with a certified electrician and avoid DIY'ing

 

I too have an eu2000i and it does ok. It is loud when it kicks in high capacity. Been shopping for a larger one, got my eye on the Champion 2800W Inverter Generator, found at Costco. Good price, cheaper than my Honda. Specs on both are similar, big difference in the engine, 98.5cc (H) vs. 171cc (C). dba's are bout the same, 59 vs. 58 and run time is same, 8 hr @ 1/4 load. Weight is different, 45.6lb (H) vs. 96.3lb (C)m but the Champion comes on wheels w/handle, Honda does not. Also like the running wattage of 2800 vs. 1600 with Honda. Will finish out this race season on the Honda, and get the Champion next year.

 

What's wrong with your Honda though?

Can't see any reason to ditch that, just to pick up another 800 running watts. The weight difference is substantial

I haven't measured it, but I'm pretty sure the dB stats are BS. The Honda is quiet-er than the competition but let's be clear, they are all loud as hell. The RPM has a lot to do with it, the Honda is less objectionable than some of the cheap units.

For brute force wattage, one of the cheap your-neighbors-will-hate-you models might be the way to go. Use propane, then there's no worries about gasoline fuel storage or stablizers. The prices are pretty reasonable for a whole house unit. Spend the money saved on professional installation of the isolation box and the rest of it at the service box and breaker panel.

 

I have a Champion 2800W / 3100W Inverter Generator. Not as quiet as a Honda 3000 but does the job at a price I can afford. When camping we run off the batteries and solar unless the air conditioner is needed. At the races this weekend I am going to build a plywood pyramid around it to see if it makes any difference. Just 4 sides that slope inward a little with openings at the corners for plenty of airflow. or even just on the exhaust side.

 

What I've found over the past 2 years using it, is I seem to have outgrown it. Can't run multiple appliances, i.e. microwave, hairdryer (wife), coffee pot at same time. Due to its limited capacities, we find ourselves exceeding capacities often. The car trailer becomes our home away from home at race events and usually run multiple things at the same time, especially in the morning when time is short handed. Thought about phasing another Honda but at the price of the Champion and its lager capacities......

 

add the white hard Styrofoam insulation. (home depot).. 1 or 2 inch.. plywood will do little. I used the 2 inch...

I know..

<< Edit >> just seen you said 4 sided... you need cross flow... lots of cross flow.. air cooled engine..

 

Buy another Honda 3000 and run them in parallel. They sell a kit to sync them together. Something to think about.

If you need more capacity I'd think you'd want to make a bigger jump than just 800 watts. Hair dryer, coffee pot, frying pan etc usually run about 1500 watts each iirc.

 

I would think that egg carton foam would do a better job of cutting the noise. Either way, I would be concerned about heat buildup.

 

Your suggestion make sense, just not sure I want to haul 2 generators around. You're right though, an additional 800W isn't much, may have to consider the 3400W if I go that route.

 

I got a Champion 3500 watt generator for when I need to bring my own power. However, the last time i took it out it was loud. Then again the valves might need a lashing check up. Don't know if I can toss a cover over it to kill the noise. I know a bunch of owners of the generator too. We all like them and they are generally good on fuel. I would run it for about 4 hours in a clip. However, I am thinking about replacing it for an inverter style. I was looking at HFT's new 3000 watt inventer generator however it doesn't have a true RV outlet. To me it's kind of a dealer breaker. I cannot see spending the coin on a honda if I only need it 3 times a year when i camp off grid.

However, I bought a 5500 watt Champion about 6 years ago. I used it with the trailer twice and about 6 times with the house. It ran pretty much 10 days straight during the aftermath of Sandy. So it was definitely worth its salt.

 

X-2. To really get into the Db figures, it is necessary to find the distance of the reading. When I last looked for generators, noticed that manufacturers measure the sound from different locations. Some did not disclose the distance at all. Hmmm . . .

 

Regarding noise there loads of examples on the Internet showing boxes folks made or purchased to reduce noise.

Regarding what I opine as less stellar makes of generators, on occasion I had the opportunity to check voltage output and for some (not all), they would put out about 120 out of the box and immediately drop to barely over 100 with a load. Just not very stable power sources.

Again my two cents, but even with generators, you really do get what you pay for. My 2400 Yamaha still starts the first pull every time and is going strong after 12+ years.


Steve

 

I looked at the spec sheet for my Onan 5500 Marquis Gold and it says that it produces 69 dB at 10 feet. It further goes on to say that the noise level may go down depending on the enclosure. That sounds (no pun intended) to me like Onan measures dB with the generator outside a trailer.

Im50Fast, are you looking for an on-board or portable generator?

 

on my home portable 7k generator... I added an rpm meter and a Volt meter..

as rpm and output are connected..along with frequency.. aka 60 cycles.