Posted: 2/2/2011 11:25:38 AM EDT
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Tried a search, but didn't hit on exactly what I was looking for. I would like to enclose my portable generator in something like a rubbermaid storage shed that is purpose built for that use. Not permanent storage, just a place to park it while it's deployed. Initial issues I see: 1) Exhaust baffle needs to be addressed, but don;t see any aftermarket muffler that divert through b-vent pipe, or other... 2) Airflow across the engine and generator head, generator is air-cooled 3) Additional sound insulation increases interior heat, and potentially creates a combustible surface inside a hot enclosure So can anyone illuminate my mind with solutions? I'm new to this side of the house, so don't be a dick –– you'll get what you give.  Thanks in advance to anyone who helps out, I'm sure it will help others too. |
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I would build your own! Note in the thread linked below I was a bit foolish and I tried to incorporate a steel generator shed that I had purchased. I would not do that again, just build a very robust wood shed! Also note that while I built mine to be a generator shed, it's most useful nature is as a secure fuel shed. The same vents that allow air flow to keep the generator cool allows any gas fumes to vent plus it gets all that fuel out of the garage. I store my generator in the garage and if I needed to use the generator I would take the fuel inside the house and put the generator in the generator shed and hook it up! Anyways, here is my Generator Shed: http://www.ar15.com/archive/topic.html?b=10&f=18&t=626894 It was cheaper to build this then to buy a plastic one and convert it. Mine has more nails, screws, bolts, ect then you can imagine but I wanted to make it a challange for anybody to break into the unit! |
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Here is one I found somewhere on the net. I'm building this same thing but first putting a concrete pad underneath. http://good-times.webshots.com/album/552681627qtWJmd Good luck! |
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build a "dog house" with a swing open door and a hinged roof so you can get in it with plenty of room. this. put it on a small concrete slab and set some large eye bolts for chains/locks in the slab too if you are in an area where a genny may grow legs lol This is my next summer project. J- |
| Unfortunately I do not have any pics, but I have made them for people with portable type generators out of PVC pipe with a tarp bungee corded for the sides and top with the front and back left open for air flow. I made it in panels and drilled through the joints and pipe and used QD trailer type pins to assemble it, while the other joints were permanetly glued. You could put it up and take it down in under 5 min. Just remember to use stakes or weight to keep it in place. IIRC total price was well under $100. |
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Unfortunately I do not have any pics, but I have made them for people with portable type generators out of PVC pipe with a tarp bungee corded for the sides and top with the front and back left open for air flow. I made it in panels and drilled through the joints and pipe and used QD trailer type pins to assemble it, while the other joints were permanetly glued. You could put it up and take it down in under 5 min. Just remember to use stakes or weight to keep it in place. IIRC total price was well under $100. Apparently, someone has been reading your mind... 
SuperGen Products GenTent 
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Quoted: Quoted: Unfortunately I do not have any pics, but I have made them for people with portable type generators out of PVC pipe with a tarp bungee corded for the sides and top with the front and back left open for air flow. I made it in panels and drilled through the joints and pipe and used QD trailer type pins to assemble it, while the other joints were permanetly glued. You could put it up and take it down in under 5 min. Just remember to use stakes or weight to keep it in place. IIRC total price was well under $100. Apparently, someone has been reading your mind... SuperGen Products GenTent http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4820/allflapsopen2.jpg That looks interesting, but appears to only address the keeping elements at bay during use and not the sound signature reduction I'm looking for. |
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That looks interesting, but appears to only address the keeping elements at bay during use and not the sound signature reduction I'm looking for. Actually, sound reduction is its main purpose. The weather protection is secondary. One of the regulars over at RV.net tested one, and measured 9 dB of sound reduction in all directions except the open side. 9 dB is very significant - It's roughly the equivalent of going from an open-frame conventional generator to an enclosed-frame inverter model of similar size and power output. |
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Quoted: Hmm...maybe I just didn't believe the marketing on their page. But if someone tested it, it might be worth checking out.Quoted: That looks interesting, but appears to only address the keeping elements at bay during use and not the sound signature reduction I'm looking for. Actually, sound reduction is its main purpose. The weather protection is secondary. One of the regulars over at RV.net tested one, and measured 9 dB of sound reduction in all directions except the open side. 9 dB is very significant - It's roughly the equivalent of going from an open-frame conventional generator to an enclosed-frame inverter model of similar size and power output. |
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Tried a search, but didn't hit on exactly what I was looking for. I would like to enclose my portable generator in something like a rubbermaid storage shed that is purpose built for that use. Not permanent storage, just a place to park it while it's deployed. Initial issues I see: 1) Exhaust baffle needs to be addressed, but don;t see any aftermarket muffler that divert through b-vent pipe, or other... Take a look at http://www.alpharubicon.com/altenergy/gensetquiet.htm, and see what he did with mufflers. You could do something like that, and vent all the way to the outside, so that the heat from the exhaust (and the exhaust itself) does NOT build up in the shed. |
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Tried a search, but didn't hit on exactly what I was looking for. I would like to enclose my portable generator in something like a rubbermaid storage shed that is purpose built for that use. Not permanent storage, just a place to park it while it's deployed. Initial issues I see: 1) Exhaust baffle needs to be addressed, but don;t see any aftermarket muffler that divert through b-vent pipe, or other... Take a look at http://www.alpharubicon.com/altenergy/gensetquiet.htm, and see what he did with mufflers. You could do something like that, and vent all the way to the outside, so that the heat from the exhaust (and the exhaust itself) does NOT build up in the shed. I've looked at that on many occasions and did some minor testing. The bulk of the noise comes from the fact that my generator is air cooled and is inherently noisy. Take an old towel and BRIEFLY hold it over the exhaust port with you generator running. THAT is about the level of noise reduction you can expect. Not much in my experience. An insolated enclosure would probably be more effective. |
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Tried a search, but didn't hit on exactly what I was looking for. I would like to enclose my portable generator in something like a rubbermaid storage shed that is purpose built for that use. Not permanent storage, just a place to park it while it's deployed. Initial issues I see: 1) Exhaust baffle needs to be addressed, but don;t see any aftermarket muffler that divert through b-vent pipe, or other... Take a look at http://www.alpharubicon.com/altenergy/gensetquiet.htm, and see what he did with mufflers. You could do something like that, and vent all the way to the outside, so that the heat from the exhaust (and the exhaust itself) does NOT build up in the shed. I've looked at that on many occasions and did some minor testing. The bulk of the noise comes from the fact that my generator is air cooled and is inherently noisy. Take an old towel and BRIEFLY hold it over the exhaust port with you generator running. THAT is about the level of noise reduction you can expect. Not much in my experience. An insolated enclosure would probably be more effective. I mounted up a car muffler to my generator and it made ZERO difference in the over all noise level. It was still ridiculously loud. |
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The question is are you trying to quiet it down for a camp ground (that is what the PVC tube and cover is for) or are you trying to secure the generator. My shed was built primarily to secure the generator but my 5/8 plywood shed is certainly going to be much quieter then cloth. It's the vibrations from the generator that make the noise and my shed as an example likely weighs 300-pounds or so without anything in there. It could be heavier, obviously I never weighed it. Regardless, I will restate that if you plan to build an enclosure for the generator, it is a good time to evaluate using the structure to store fuel as well. Now, if you make it out of plastic tubes and a tarp I guess putting your 40-gal (say 8 x 5gal) of gas worth $3+/gal ($120+ plus cost of cans) in there might not be a good idea. |
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The question is are you trying to quiet it down for a camp ground (that is what the PVC tube and cover is for) or are you trying to secure the generator. My shed was built primarily to secure the generator but my 5/8 plywood shed is certainly going to be much quieter then cloth. It's the vibrations from the generator that make the noise and my shed as an example likely weighs 300-pounds or so without anything in there. It could be heavier, obviously I never weighed it.
Regardless, I will restate that if you plan to build an enclosure for the generator, it is a good time to evaluate using the structure to store fuel as well. Now, if you make it out of plastic tubes and a tarp I guess putting your 40-gal (say 8 x 5gal) of gas worth $3+/gal ($120+ plus cost of cans) in there might not be a good idea. Well, I have a garage to keep gas cans in. I can't run the generator in the garage with it closed up to dampen the noise. This little tent is a movable solution to keeping the rain off of it and the sound damped a little. Especially since my inverter generator is so quiet already. I am betting people could walk by my house and not realize a generator was running. |
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I'm new to this side of the house, so don't be a dick –– you'll get what you give.
You needn't worry too much about people on "this side of the house." Folks over here tend to be very helpful and, for the most part, uninterested in playing the stupid internet games that get played elsewhere.
I have an almost identical (if not identical) genset from NT. This past storm left me wanting exactly the kind of enclosure you're seeking. I'm not so much worried about noise as I'm just wanting a weather barrier that lets me emplace the generator and hook it up before the storm hits. Being able to run the generator with the cover in place is a nice bonus. I'd buy the enclosure Skibane posted as it's reasonably priced. Unfortunately, I don't think it'll fit my generator. ETA: Generator dimension––32 x 24 x 23 Tent dimensions––26 x 23 x 22 |
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Quoted: The question is are you trying to quiet it down for a camp ground (that is what the PVC tube and cover is for) or are you trying to secure the generator. My shed was built primarily to secure the generator but my 5/8 plywood shed is certainly going to be much quieter then cloth. It's the vibrations from the generator that make the noise and my shed as an example likely weighs 300-pounds or so without anything in there. It could be heavier, obviously I never weighed it. Regardless, I will restate that if you plan to build an enclosure for the generator, it is a good time to evaluate using the structure to store fuel as well. Now, if you make it out of plastic tubes and a tarp I guess putting your 40-gal (say 8 x 5gal) of gas worth $3+/gal ($120+ plus cost of cans) in there might not be a good idea. Really looking at all the options, but probably leaning towards a semi-permanent/permanent enclosure. I really need max sound attenuation. Our neighbors are no more than 40' from us on the side the generator will sit. Doing the legwork now for a spring project. Will likely never take it camping, per se... |
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Quoted: You needn't worry too much about people on "this side of the house." Folks over here tend to be very helpful and, for the most part, uninterested in playing the stupid internet games that get played elsewhere. Hehe, appears to be accurate. I just had to say it because one time I posted an honest question about AK's in the AK forum, and people acted all stupid. Not being a newb, knowing the line I could walk, and having a semi-bad attitude for tolerating assholes, it turned ugly fast. I'm glad to see some parts of this forum are helpful and considerate, kudos to the Survival Forum guys. |
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Unfortunately I do not have any pics, but I have made them for people with portable type generators out of PVC pipe with a tarp bungee corded for the sides and top with the front and back left open for air flow. I made it in panels and drilled through the joints and pipe and used QD trailer type pins to assemble it, while the other joints were permanetly glued. You could put it up and take it down in under 5 min. Just remember to use stakes or weight to keep it in place. IIRC total price was well under $100. Apparently, someone has been reading your mind...
SuperGen Products GenTent http://img820.imageshack.us/img820/4820/allflapsopen2.jpg Thats pretty darn close to the ones I made, they have a nicer cover than the tarps I used though. |
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Tried a search, but didn't hit on exactly what I was looking for. I would like to enclose my portable generator in something like a rubbermaid storage shed that is purpose built for that use. Not permanent storage, just a place to park it while it's deployed. Initial issues I see: 1) Exhaust baffle needs to be addressed, but don;t see any aftermarket muffler that divert through b-vent pipe, or other... Take a look at http://www.alpharubicon.com/altenergy/gensetquiet.htm, and see what he did with mufflers. You could do something like that, and vent all the way to the outside, so that the heat from the exhaust (and the exhaust itself) does NOT build up in the shed.[/quote I've looked at that on many occasions and did some minor testing. The bulk of the noise comes from the fact that my generator is air cooled and is inherently noisy. Take an old towel and BRIEFLY hold it over the exhaust port with you generator running. THAT is about the level of noise reduction you can expect. Not much in my experience. An insolated enclosure would probably be more effective. I mounted up a car muffler to my generator and it made ZERO difference in the over all noise level. It was still ridiculously loud. I have always found the "quitest " running small engines seem to be Honda. I have thought about trying to use one of the quiet exhaust kits they sell for ATVs for hunting to mine. |