Generator use real world

[Apex JakeParticipant]

Something to think about regarding generators.  When Hurricane Michael hit NW Florida, power was out for a minimum two weeks in Panama City and small towns immediately East.  For the first two weeks, there was a dusk to dawn curfew.  Those folks that were using gas or diesel generators quickly found out that the noise of those generators attracted some bad folks, and some not so bad just looking for refuge, etc. But it was attention getting.

With no power around, it is deathly quiet and DARK at night.

Lesson here is possibly go a more silent route for power production, like a solar/battery system.

[namelusParticipant]

Or get a muffler and a sound box….. can’t hear my 30kv 4 cylinder deisel standing  5 feet away.

[Mama candoParticipant]

namelus,  have stand by and will be getting an extension for the muffler to keep it quiet but what’s a sound box. Been reading I could put the end of muffler extension in a 5 gal. bucket filled with water buried partway in the ground. Haven’t tried it yet but what are your thoughts or anyone’s thoughts on keeping a stand by QUIET. I’m also trying to figure out how to silence the sump coming out of the house. One idea I have is to build a sound deadening box to go around the pipe outside. IF you hear it ergo, they have power even if everything else is quiet or deadened. I have a battery back up but it will eventually die, just don’t want to tip off anyone that by golly her 12 hour back up is still running the sump after a few days.

[corsaireParticipant]

When the power went out during Irma, it was actually noisy with all the generators buzzing. Lots of folks in my neighborhood have them, as I live in a hurricane prone area

But a valid point, dont be a sitting duck, and yes it is dark. I am looking a solar and battery exterior lights now.

[John ParkParticipant]

Great point, thank you!
I also live in a high generator density region, but the OP is still something important to consider. Our plan is to basically run it a few hours to keep re-chilling the frig & freezer, then shut it off to conserve gas as much as possible.

PS: Now we will consider running it late at night if the sound isn’t going to be covered by the neighbors running their own! Then any would be predator will need to be awake to hear it, wander the back roads in the dark, and then actually get to our place.

And again, now that you’ve put the idea in my head, I might just sit in the dark and guard it.

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  John Park.

[James MitchnerParticipant]

I have to run my large generator, (12Kw Winco) if I want to use my well.  I will also run it in the evening for a few lights, taking showers, checking emails on the computer… that sort of stuff, then shut it down.  I have a small Honda 2Kw that runs very quietly and sips gas that I use at other times sporadically  just to keep the refrigerator and freezer cold and get the coffee going in the morning.  Where I live I’m not really concerned about having either of them stolen even though sound travels a good distance, especially at night.  But I seldom run the noisy one at night.

[namelusParticipant]

Just get inverter and battery bank… charge batteries and invert power so you only use generator to charge batteries, when you have $$$ add the solar. You can run <span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>11,000</span> watt gen 3 hours a ever 3-5 day with standard  appliances.

 

48v dc battery systems are the best for long life as they don’t stress the batteries as much.

 

 

calculate amp draw and do the math to get battery size

• This reply was modified 1 year ago by  namelus.

[corsaireParticipant]

I have an inverter generator. @namelus can you provide a link/pic to the 48v dc system you mentioned?

[namelusParticipant]

@mama cando a sound box is a box that covers the generator while still allowing air in and heat out. It is layers  of materials meant to reduse and shatter sound harmonics. Inside layer is a perforated metal, it shatters sound waves and causes cancellation feed back, second is absorber a medium density house insulation like roc wool, third is a isolator a gap between first two layers and outside shell. You can repeat first two layers to increase efficency.. it can also be as simple as a wood box with insulation ( pink house stuff) around engine make sure you have air intakes and exhaust vents.

Plus this makes it consealable can look like more cupboard space or a planter if out side. This design when grounded can be a Faraday cage.

 

Running exhaust through water can cause issues if it causes too.much back pressure it can affect engine function.

Most small generators have exhaust pipes same size as motor cycles you can get used ones cheap.

 

 

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  namelus.

[Mama candoParticipant]

@namelus, Thank you Didn’t know/ realize about the possible back pressure on the exhaust.As for sound box, sounds as if It might be that I can build myself to put around the whole house (stationary) generator. Now I just have to figure out how to do it.Geez, just wish my dad were here, he was super about figuring out how to do things like this. He was a (published) inventor, figured out to do a portable rigging system for people that had little or no use of their legs for their cars so one could move it from car to car instead of having to buy two vehicles but his employer(major Car manufacturer) STOLE it from him and then buried it.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  Mama cando. Reason: Spelling

[LittlesisterParticipant]

We also have a whole house natural gas generator. And yes it is loud.  I have been thinking about talking with our generator guy that does the repairs and maintence to see if there is a way to quiet it down. It can and will get someone’s attention.

[Author]

Posts