Making a generator quieter.

[Cycleops]

I realise I probably won't get much response on here as I'm sure not many will have one but I thought I'd try.
I know it's never going to be very quiet but none the less has anyone got any ideas how I might make it a little less noisy?
No suggestions for ear plugs/defenders please

 

[wiggydiggy]

Generators don't have ears, how would ear plugs help

Practical suggestion - how far away can you put it? Behind a big wall? In a hole?

 

[bruce1530]

Not being facetious, but - move it further away and get a longer cable? Inverse square law and all that, move it twice as far away and sound level drops by 4x.
Put some barriers/baffles around it. Behind a brick wall, or behind some sandbags etc?

 

[Jameshow]

Make a plywood cube to go over it?
Put sound absorbing material on the inside? Vent the exhaust via a secondary scooter exhaust and the air filter via a larger panel filter would be my thoughts.

 

[numbnuts]

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Making+a+generator+quieter

 

[presta]

Make a plywood cube to go over it?
Put sound absorbing material on the inside? Vent the exhaust via a secondary scooter exhaust and the air filter via a larger panel filter would be my thoughts.

...and something to stand it on to isolate it from the floor/ground.

 

[cougie uk]

Sounds like a chance to reuse all the egg boxes you have been saving up.

 

[Cycleops]

Sounds like a chance to reuse all the egg boxes you have been saving up.

That's not such a silly idea.

The way I think I'm going to go is with @Jameshow suggestion. The suggestions on YT include adding a car muffer but I don't think that will be effective as the noise comes mostly from the mechanical clatter.
Thick foam insulation board was also suggested to build the cover but don't know where to get it here.

 

[fossyant]

That's not such a silly idea.

The way I think I'm going to go is with @Jameshow suggestion. The suggestions on YT include adding a car muffer but I don't think that will be effective as the noise comes mostly from the mechanical clatter.
Thick foam insulation board wasalsi suggested to build the cover but don't know where to get it here.

What about cooling - you'll potentially restrict air flow so have a think about it. My son's generator is fine, unless it's in blazing sun on a hot day.

 

[Cycleops]

Thanks, that's something else to consider @fossyant as you can imagine it gets very hot here.

 

[CXRAndy]

If you've got the room, build a soil bund high enough to deflect the sound upwards away

 

[fossyant]

Is this just temporary use (i.e. power back up). I would have thought any sort of sheild (keep one side and roof clear) should help.

 

[Drago]

Put it in next doors front room and use a longer extention lead.

 

[slowmotion]

I've sailed on yachts that have electrical generators running for hours every day and they manage to make them almost silent to the people on board. It might be worth scratching around on Google to see how boat designers go about it.

 

[Cycleops]

I imagine those are rather more sophisticated and better engineered than my basic Honda. I should think they are probably water cooled which cuts down a lot of noise @slowmotion