Ways to quiet down a generator??? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

Brad75 · 06-20-2008, 06:31 PM

I am wanting to quiet down a generator for camping. Wife wants to go camping and told her the only way I would do it is to take a A/C with us for the tents.

I have a generator but it is really noisey. What is a good way to quiet it down??

Anybody ever done this!!

Thanks,
Brad

WoJo · 06-20-2008, 06:38 PM

Long extension cords and put it over the hill.

Dig a hole and put the generator in the hole.

Park the truck away from camp and put the generator on the other side of the truck with anything else that can deflect the sound.

Luck_of_the_Draw · 06-20-2008, 06:39 PM

You can make a sound barrier out of some plywood and face the exhaust away.

Add a larger muffler.

Bones · 06-20-2008, 06:41 PM

2 or 4 stroke? I have had some luck retrofitting a small quiet car muffler to limit exhaust noise but the engine noise on a 2 stroke is substantial and not quieted any by a muffler.

Bily Lovec · 06-20-2008, 06:48 PM

I put a small car muffler on a 4 stroke genny, made a huge difference

cosmiccowboy · 06-20-2008, 06:49 PM

We had a hunting camp generator that we built a plywood/shingle shroud around (still accessible for oil, gas, etc) and then built a 1/2" pipe adaptor from the exhaust tapping up about 15' off the ground and screwed the muffler back into the adapter...probably cut the noise to at least 1/3 of the previous level but not really practical for camping.

I googled "quiet generator mufflers" and found this along with some other links...

http://www.jackssmallengines.com/strapmain.cfm

Tmag · 06-20-2008, 06:52 PM

We built a 3 sided box with a roof to cover ours. Open side and exhaust facing away from you. Also, used a 100' heavy extension cord to carry the load. Worked real well year after year.
Of course you can buy a Honda and you'll have quiet.

Brad75 · 06-20-2008, 06:56 PM

This is a 4 stroke engine and I was thinking about the shroud and the plywood ideas but was wanting to see what else was out there.

Thanks guys!!

Bill in San Jose · 06-20-2008, 07:26 PM

Somehow adapt the output of your current muffler to the input of a larger one. Here's a link to building a "Swiss muffler" to quiet aircraft, maybe it would work too?

http://www.piteraq.dk/flight/muffler.html

Peta-hata · 06-20-2008, 08:23 PM

I saw one once that had an automobile muffler attached with a long pipe running straight up in the air, higher than the roof on the motor home and it was quiet.

Landrover · 06-20-2008, 08:40 PM

Good thread!

Jaspro · 06-20-2008, 08:52 PM

Stay in a motel.

Lip · 06-20-2008, 09:11 PM

I can't believe nobody has stated the obvious yet:

Turn it Off!

Dahmer · 06-20-2008, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad75

This is a 4 stroke engine and I was thinking about the shroud and the plywood ideas but was wanting to see what else was out there.

Thanks guys!!

Brad PM me the dimensions of your generator and I will build you a muffling box to put it in this week at work. I'll bring it out to you in a couple weeks and you will be good to go.

kfd82 · 06-20-2008, 09:33 PM

http://www.kooleraire.com/kooleraire25.htm

portable ac unit. Fits on an icechest. Just need to figure out how to plug in the 12v cig adapter to something. (Park close!)

kfd82 · 06-20-2008, 09:36 PM

Sorry double post.

kfd82 · 06-20-2008, 09:40 PM

Just read on that site that one of those portable jump starters will rin it for 27 hours.

So if you already have one of those you are good to go!

quicksilver437 · 06-20-2008, 10:33 PM

look at the honda genarators there really quiet you can have a normal conversation right buy it without yelling, or you can build like a wooden box for it. When you build it just leave the font of it off so once your finish you sound just has the top the back and the sides and have the front missing.

wes122984 · 06-21-2008, 12:23 AM

check out Q link
quiet and designed after the hondas
i picked up a new one for 3500w for 275 reg price is 550
some guy sells them new with electric start that cheap on craigslist

CastAndBlast · 06-21-2008, 03:51 AM

I agree with the long extension cord idea. It works.

keep · 06-21-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad75

This is a 4 stroke engine and I was thinking about the shroud and the plywood ideas but was wanting to see what else was out there.

Thanks guys!!

The shroud works well but instead of plywood I have used the insulation board (not real sure of the name) I had 3 sides and a top. Plus it's light wieght.

bboswell · 06-21-2008, 07:44 AM

I tried one of the "super quite" ATV mufflers.............DID NOT work. 1st it didn't make much difference and most importantly it created so much back pressure that the blow by oil clogged the air filter and killed the generator at 3am.

I might try the car muffler though.

Keith · 06-21-2008, 09:00 AM

If you build a box to fit around it, leave at least a foot from the generator to the walls for air flow. You don't want to overheat the generator, that would be expensive.

OS_BRANDON · 06-21-2008, 09:04 AM

honda..

cj7zrcool · 06-21-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dahmer

Brad PM me the dimensions of your generator and I will build you a muffling box to put it in this week at work. I'll bring it out to you in a couple weeks and you will be good to go.

Nice gesture.

pazthru · 06-21-2008, 09:41 PM

I was sucessful making one of the three sided covers(KEITH) using A/C duct board (KEEP).
I cut it and taped the parts so it would fold flat with metalic tape "hinges"and pinned the unit together with framing nails. When finished with it , I pull the nails out, fold it flat and stow it.
This coupled with a 100' extention cord (CASTANDBLAST)made for a quiet , lightweight, compact storable cover.

06-20-2008, 06:31 PM	#1
Brad75 Ten Point Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dos Condados Ranch Charlotte, Texas Hunt In: Dos Condados Ranch and Everywhere I can!!	Ways to quiet down a generator??? I am wanting to quiet down a generator for camping. Wife wants to go camping and told her the only way I would do it is to take a A/C with us for the tents. I have a generator but it is really noisey. What is a good way to quiet it down?? Anybody ever done this!! Thanks, Brad

06-20-2008, 09:36 PM	#16
kfd82 Pope & Young Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Madisonville Hunt In: Backyard	Sorry double post. Last edited by kfd82; 06-20-2008 at 09:39 PM. Reason: posted twice

06-21-2008, 03:51 AM	#20
CastAndBlast Pope & Young Join Date: May 2008 Location: The Woodlands, TX Hunt In: Liberty Co.	I agree with the long extension cord idea. It works. Last edited by CastAndBlast; 06-21-2008 at 03:54 AM.

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06-20-2008, 06:38 PM	#2
WoJo Ten Point Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Flower Mound, TX Hunt In: Cottle County	Long extension cords and put it over the hill. Dig a hole and put the generator in the hole. Park the truck away from camp and put the generator on the other side of the truck with anything else that can deflect the sound.

06-20-2008, 06:39 PM	#3
Luck_of_the_Draw Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North DFW Hunt In: Thinking of taking up fishing.	You can make a sound barrier out of some plywood and face the exhaust away. Add a larger muffler.

06-20-2008, 06:41 PM	#4
Bones Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006	2 or 4 stroke? I have had some luck retrofitting a small quiet car muffler to limit exhaust noise but the engine noise on a 2 stroke is substantial and not quieted any by a muffler.

06-20-2008, 06:48 PM	#5
Bily Lovec Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fulshear & Padre Is	I put a small car muffler on a 4 stroke genny, made a huge difference

06-20-2008, 06:49 PM	#6
cosmiccowboy Pope & Young Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Antonio hunt Medina/Atascosa	We had a hunting camp generator that we built a plywood/shingle shroud around (still accessible for oil, gas, etc) and then built a 1/2" pipe adaptor from the exhaust tapping up about 15' off the ground and screwed the muffler back into the adapter...probably cut the noise to at least 1/3 of the previous level but not really practical for camping. I googled "quiet generator mufflers" and found this along with some other links... http://www.jackssmallengines.com/strapmain.cfm

06-20-2008, 06:52 PM	#7
Tmag Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Tarkington Prairie, TX Hunt In: Depends on the TPWD draw results!	We built a 3 sided box with a roof to cover ours. Open side and exhaust facing away from you. Also, used a 100' heavy extension cord to carry the load. Worked real well year after year. Of course you can buy a Honda and you'll have quiet.

06-20-2008, 06:56 PM	#8
Brad75 Ten Point Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Dos Condados Ranch Charlotte, Texas Hunt In: Dos Condados Ranch and Everywhere I can!!	This is a 4 stroke engine and I was thinking about the shroud and the plywood ideas but was wanting to see what else was out there. Thanks guys!!

06-20-2008, 07:26 PM	#9
Bill in San Jose Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Jose, CA Hunt In: CA, CO, OR, and TX	Somehow adapt the output of your current muffler to the input of a larger one. Here's a link to building a "Swiss muffler" to quiet aircraft, maybe it would work too? http://www.piteraq.dk/flight/muffler.html

06-20-2008, 08:23 PM	#10
Peta-hata Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2007	I saw one once that had an automobile muffler attached with a long pipe running straight up in the air, higher than the roof on the motor home and it was quiet.

06-20-2008, 08:40 PM	#11
Landrover Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Spring Hunt In: Wherever & Whenever	Good thread!

06-20-2008, 08:52 PM	#12
Jaspro Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006	Stay in a motel.

06-20-2008, 09:11 PM	#13
Lip Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Houston Hunt In: Victoria	I can't believe nobody has stated the obvious yet: Turn it Off!

06-20-2008, 09:33 PM	#15
kfd82 Pope & Young Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Madisonville Hunt In: Backyard	http://www.kooleraire.com/kooleraire25.htm portable ac unit. Fits on an icechest. Just need to figure out how to plug in the 12v cig adapter to something. (Park close!)

06-20-2008, 09:40 PM	#17
kfd82 Pope & Young Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Madisonville Hunt In: Backyard	Just read on that site that one of those portable jump starters will rin it for 27 hours. So if you already have one of those you are good to go!

06-20-2008, 10:33 PM	#18
quicksilver437 Four Point Join Date: Sep 2007	look at the honda genarators there really quiet you can have a normal conversation right buy it without yelling, or you can build like a wooden box for it. When you build it just leave the font of it off so once your finish you sound just has the top the back and the sides and have the front missing.

06-21-2008, 12:23 AM	#19
wes122984 Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Anna, TX Hunt In: Atoka County OK	check out Q link quiet and designed after the hondas i picked up a new one for 3500w for 275 reg price is 550 some guy sells them new with electric start that cheap on craigslist

06-21-2008, 07:44 AM	#22
bboswell Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery County Hunt In: Where ever I can	I tried one of the "super quite" ATV mufflers.............DID NOT work. 1st it didn't make much difference and most importantly it created so much back pressure that the blow by oil clogged the air filter and killed the generator at 3am. I might try the car muffler though.

06-21-2008, 09:00 AM	#23
Keith Administrator Join Date: Jan 1998 Location: Sulphur Springs, TX	If you build a box to fit around it, leave at least a foot from the generator to the walls for air flow. You don't want to overheat the generator, that would be expensive.

06-21-2008, 09:04 AM	#24
OS_BRANDON Ten Point Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: San Antonio	honda..

06-21-2008, 09:41 PM	#26
pazthru Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, Texas Hunt In: Wherever gracious invitations allow, South Africa and 160 ac. Huntsville, Tx.	I was sucessful making one of the three sided covers(KEITH) using A/C duct board (KEEP). I cut it and taped the parts so it would fold flat with metalic tape "hinges"and pinned the unit together with framing nails. When finished with it , I pull the nails out, fold it flat and stow it. This coupled with a 100' extention cord (CASTANDBLAST)made for a quiet , lightweight, compact storable cover.