Generator housing - DIY

W

wonduhboy

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 12, 2008
Messages
456
Hope someone can help:
Bought a generator and having it installed with a changeover switch to DB.
Now - what is the best way to build a 'housing' for the generator?
i.e. cage around, roof to protect from rain etc.

It's a 7.5kva one, so weighs just under 100kgs.

Any advice or plans?
 
S

sovielenamen

Active Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2014
Messages
97
Depends a lot on the cooling of the genny. AIrcooled is more a problem, watercooled would require to lengthen the waterhoses and put the radiator somewhat away from the motor to be able to get decent noise reduction.
Two kinds of noise, well three:
- low frequencies over the ground
- higher frequencies over the air
- the exhaust

Exhaust is often done by venting it under water what works very well.
Ground by putting the thing on some dampening elements, rubber, tyres work
The rest is done by a housing which can be of sophisticated materials or alternativly be double-shell and lots of mass. Say two independent walls, both hollow and filled with sand. Between ground and walls a rubberstrip to prevent sound transmission to the ground. Walls not touching each other and not the floor on which the genny is placed either.
 
T

The_Unbeliever

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 19, 2005
Messages
103,196
I would make a cage about 30cm from the ground so that air/watercooled stuff doesn't suck up dust from the ground.

Then enclose it with wire mesh and put weathergrade masonite around it, leaving a gap for ool air to go in and a gap for hot air to be expelled.

Will dampen most of the noise, keep rain out and keep it out of sight of ne'er-do-wells.

Will be making such an enclosure for myself soon. Just waiting for payday.



if I were to buy a new genny, I would go for a watercooled unit as you can reposition the radiator for best cooling - but also keep in mind the electrical part of the generator (not the motor) itself need cool air as well.
 
R

riscbroker

Expert Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2006
Messages
2,330
Get a big dog kennel. Waterproof but ventilated, crooks are unlikely to peer in there in case it's got teeth.
 
akescpt

akescpt

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 12, 2008
Messages
22,456
The_Librarian said:
I would make a cage about 30cm from the ground so that air/watercooled stuff doesn't suck up dust from the ground.

Then enclose it with wire mesh and put weathergrade masonite around it, leaving a gap for ool air to go in and a gap for hot air to be expelled.

Will dampen most of the noise, keep rain out and keep it out of sight of ne'er-do-wells.

Will be making such an enclosure for myself soon. Just waiting for payday.



if I were to buy a new genny, I would go for a watercooled unit as you can reposition the radiator for best cooling - but also keep in mind the electrical part of the generator (not the motor) itself need cool air as well.
Click to expand...

hope you post this...
 
Grouter

Grouter

Executive Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Messages
5,666
My Housing. Sorry pic is 8 years old and taken while the cement was still drying :). It is all painted white now, waterproofed, and paved. But you get the idea.

DSCF0005.jpg

Centre raised roof section is hinged and houses the engine:

M10-LFrtView-545.jpg


Baffled sound reduction boxes through which air flows are at either end.

Exhaust is routed underground through the slab, through 2 concrete boxes, then exits above roof level.
 
O

onepartscissors

New Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Messages
2
Hi All, i just stumbled across this thread while google searching - i'm a web designer and i just created a landing page for a client who's offering a pretty cool product for this exact thing, so i thought i'd post the link here.

http://generatorhousing.co.za

So full disclosure, i have no affiliation with the company, but i did design the web page for them, and i'm a fan of the company.
 
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