How to Silence / Quieten a Generator

netorius77

netorius77

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I have a 5.5kW petrol generator that I am running during load shedding. Problem is I live in a complex, and the managers have now declared that the maximum noise level must be less than 50dB on the neighbour's boundary. Mine is 60dB.

I need to find some inexpensive ways of quieting the thing down. It is new, so no issue with the actual exhaust, although I suspect this is where the best place is to start. It is also not permanently installed, so I just wheel it out when we need it. I was thinking of a light frame with think pink insulation to try and insulate the sound a bit, but such a hassle factor. I obviously also need to maintain the cooling.

HELP - Any ideas???
5.5kW Generator.jpg
 
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I've read up on quite a few solutions, and so far people say the best way is to hook up a pipe/hose to the exhaust of the genny, then dunk the other end in a bucket of water (making sure its not blocking inside the bucket otherwise its going to push the fumes back into the genny).

Haven't tried it myself yet though.

PS the exhaust etc is going to get hot, so make sure to use a pipe that won't melt.

-G-
 
my advice comes from silencing our medium sized compressor underneath a workbench due to space constraints.

we lined the cubicle that house the compressor with wall to wall carpets and gave the compressor adequate ventilation through an outside vent.

this worked very well and the compressor was only detectable via minor vibrations through the workbench itself.

in your case an extension pipe for the exhaust pipe would be requirement. it has been suggested that you could add another silencer as part of the external exhaust setup.
 
I guess somehow I need to figure out who will make a more "silent exhaust to bolt onto the manifold rather than have to run pipes into water etc. There must be clever exhaust solutions and silencers that can be bolted on. Maybe even a small car silencer with some kind of manifold adapter?
 
It's something I'm having to consider now as well...

Going to build an enclosure for it and line it with sound deadening material and also run the exhaust to a decent distance so the fumes vent away from the house.
 
Thread necro.
So anyone done this successfully ?

Done a bit of research - consensus is that styrofoam and eggboxes do not work.
Plywood will just bounce the sound around
 
Either install it in your garage with an exhaust extension through to the outside, or build a soundproof box lined with rockwool and extend the exhaust to the outside. 10dB reduction in SPL is a lot to achieve.
 
The Darkness said:
Either install it in your garage with an exhaust extension through to the outside, or build a soundproof box lined with rockwool and extend the exhaust to the outside. 10dB reduction in SPL is a lot to achieve.
Click to expand...
Is that what you got? 10dB less
 
I'm all for building such a box if i'm guaranteed 10dB less, but also don't want to spend the same amount as I paid for the genny on soundproofing.

Saw some vids on these boxes.
Needs proper fans to keep things cool inside.
 
Gallderhen said:
I've read up on quite a few solutions, and so far people say the best way is to hook up a pipe/hose to the exhaust of the genny, then dunk the other end in a bucket of water (making sure its not blocking inside the bucket otherwise its going to push the fumes back into the genny).

Haven't tried it myself yet though.

PS the exhaust etc is going to get hot, so make sure to use a pipe that won't melt.

-G-
Click to expand...
Try this first.

What are they using to measure the noise?
 
Yes 12V fan in bottom front connected over battery sucking fresh air in with exit on sides
& ACM has a fire-retardant core
 
netorius77 said:
I have a 5.5kW petrol generator that I am running during load shedding. Problem is I live in a complex, and the managers have now declared that the maximum noise level must be less than 50dB on the neighbour's boundary. Mine is 60dB.

I need to find some inexpensive ways of quieting the thing down. It is new, so no issue with the actual exhaust, although I suspect this is where the best place is to start. It is also not permanently installed, so I just wheel it out when we need it. I was thinking of a light frame with think pink insulation to try and insulate the sound a bit, but such a hassle factor. I obviously also need to maintain the cooling.

HELP - Any ideas???
View attachment 207066
Click to expand...

images.jpeg-453.jpg
 
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