Actual Dog House (bow-wow!) For Generator SoundProofing!

[kctrading]

Champion 5500 Watt (6750 surge) 11 HP generator...got this on Craigslist for $150...nice thing about it is that it has a 25amp/3000 watt 110v RV plug, Total 110/220V amp ratting is 40/30 amps, so I could also run a second cord and run up to another 15 amps on 110....only problem is it is loud at 74 db.

Soo........

Has anyone actually used a Plastic Pet Dog-House for a Generator Cover for soundproofing? I have a 31" wide x 37" long by 31" tall Petnation Dog House my pup does not use or like...picked it up on Craigslist for $15 (Last time I looked there were at least a dozen on there for sale!)...for the heck of it I took off the wheels on my Champion Generator and sat the generator down inside the bottom of the house (house like these easily split into) Pulled the starter cord and then installed the top portion of the doghouse and it cut the noise in half and with out any noise insulation/sound proofing...had the exhaust pointing out the doggy entry side

I did try placing a stock Harley Davidson XL1200 stock muffler over the exhaust port but it really didn't make that much difference...(it's got a pretty quiet muffler) just slight reduction in noise. Most of the noise is coming from the intake air side where the pull cord is!!!

I figure if I install some insulation and redirect the exhaust out a bit further with a pipe and install some ducting on the output of the generator cooling duct to the front as well (to keep any of this intermixing with the cool intake) it should run cool and quiet with out spending a ton of money on this project...nice thing about the dog house is as I said it splits into at the middle and you can place the top side inside the bottom half...and this can sit over the top of the generator in the back of my pickup!

If you have a smaller generator you could use a Med size dog house.

Any other suggestions are welcome!

Ken
Hemet, CA

Dog1
Dog2
Dog3
Dog4

[kctrading]

Champion 5500 Watt (6750 surge) 11 HP generator...got this on Craigslist for $150...nice thing about it is that it has a 25amp/3000 watt 110v RV plug, Total 110/220V amp ratting is 40/30 amps, so I could also run a second cord and run up to another 15 amps on 110....only problem is it is loud at 74 db.

Soo........

Has anyone actually used a Plastic Pet Dog-House for a Generator Cover for soundproofing? I have a 31" wide x 37" long by 31" tall Petnation Dog House my pup does not use or like...picked it up on Craigslist for $15 (Last time I looked there were at least a dozen on there for sale!)...for the heck of it I took off the wheels on my Champion Generator and sat the generator down inside the bottom of the house (house like these easily split into) Pulled the starter cord and then installed the top portion of the doghouse and it cut the noise in half and with out any noise insulation/sound proofing...had the exhaust pointing out the doggy entry side

I did try placing a stock Harley Davidson XL1200 stock muffler over the exhaust port but it really didn't make that much difference...(it's got a pretty quiet muffler) just slight reduction in noise. Most of the noise is coming from the intake air side where the pull cord is!!!

I figure if I install some insulation and redirect the exhaust out a bit further with a pipe and install some ducting on the output of the generator cooling duct to the front as well (to keep any of this intermixing with the cool intake) it should run cool and quiet with out spending a ton of money on this project...nice thing about the dog house is as I said it splits into at the middle and you can place the top side inside the bottom half...and this can sit over the top of the generator in the back of my pickup!

If you have a smaller generator you could use a Med size dog house.

Any other suggestions are welcome!

Ken
Hemet, CA

Dog1
Dog2
Dog3
Dog4

[Steve,N,Jan]

I would not do this I had a generator in the back of my truck once running some stuff and did not realize my plastic tool box was 2 foot away untill I smelled plastic burning and found 1/2 of the box melted ,GONE.

[Ray,IN]

A great deal of perceived sound comes from the generator itself, not engine exhaust. What you propose may work, or may overheat the genset enough to destroy it. These type gen sets require "open air" for proper ventilation. Consider incorporating a car electric radiator fan into the doghouse.

[TXiceman]

As already noted, most of the noise from these generators come fro mechanical sources like the valve train on the engine, windage noise from the generator and engine cooling fans. You can not easily go back and make a cheap generator less noise.

If you put the generator in a box , you will need to ventilate the box. The box will have to be lined with the correct sound absorbing materials to absorb the sound.

Next problem is you will need to baffle the air inlet and outlet. Sound travels in a straight line and will reflect off of hard surfaces. Their are special techniques to deaden the sound at air inlets and outlets.

In a former job, we built specialized low noise air conditioning equipment and it is not easy to get the noise level down.

I would not wast the time of effort to try and reduce the sound from your generator. You area also taking a big chance in damaging the generator or engine due to heat build.

[kctrading]

Good info guys! Funny thing is my Dad came over last night and said he had two honda generators in his garage ! Thought he sold these at his garage sale a few years ago...I may trade him mine since he does not need one for a RV. This one would make a good home back up gen or for powering tools the the back of his property.

Ken

[kctrading]

Just found this...check out post 5 and 7 For under $200 he was able to lower the db comparable to a lower wattage honda generator, he also converted his Champion generator over to LPG...lots of pics

post 5 and 7

Over 6,000 replies on this thread...wow!

Ken

[TXiceman]

Ken, I have watched this thread and wonder how it will do long term. He may get by in cooler climates, but I think he is looking at trouble long term.

I am also concerned how he obtained his "sound readings". There is a lot that goes into obtaining correct sound data.

All Honda generators are not created equal. There those with Honda engine and are basically a commercial design and are not nearly as quiet as the EU series.

Ken

ken