Quieting Onan Generator

[exqueen]

We have a 7500 Onan. It is rather noisy. It annoys other campers around us. Any ideas on how to quiet it down? It is in our Itasca Horizon in a front slide compartment.

[paz]

We have a 7500 Onan gas generator, so it's probably noisier than yours. We don't use it much, so I was never that concerned about it.

One thing that may help is a Genturi Exhaust. It will definitely carry the fumes, and hopefully some of the exhaust noise, up over your neighbors' heads.

[Good man]

Quote:

Originally Posted by exqueen We have a 7500 Onan. It is rather noisy. It annoys other campers around us. Any ideas on how to quiet it down? It is in our Itasca Horizon in a front slide compartment.

Exqueen,
'Was tempted to give you the quick retort: "Yes, don't run it!" ...But I don't know you at all and I certainly don't want to risk offense.

So, first of all, ensure that the genset is up to specifications as far as the correctly sized muffler being in good repair and not missing any FACTORY INSTALLED insulation or sound-deadening materials which may have come un-glued from the access door or enclosure.

Then, determine (by a trained ear) what exactly is making the offending noise? Has it always been that noisy? Has something changed?

A leaking exhaust manifold gasket can be very noisy. "Scored" bearings can produce a lot of noise just before they totally lock-up (with major damage to the engine and/or alternator). Missing rubber vibration dampers or sagging isolation springs can cause the generator to contact the frame and resonate throughout the entire chassis. The sound inside the coach will be deafening.

If all those things are proven to be good, have a knowledgeable technician evaluate methods of providing additional sound-dampening without compromising the air flow for cooling the motor/generator set. Yes, a generator can be reduced to a barely audible hum by packing the compartment slam full of insulation... but the noise from the responding fire trucks within less than an hour will defeat the purpose.

Most factory-installed generators operate well-within acceptable noise levels, but ALL of them DO produce some level of noise and can thus be called "rather noisy". The point at which the noise begins to cross the threshhold of being offensively loud is a very subjective value judgement.

You stated that your generator "annoys other campers". Please permit me to politely ask, ...have you actually been frequently told that YOUR generator is disturbing other campers, or are you perhaps being overly self-critical of the noise as you attempt to be a very good neighbor? If so, Thank You for being so considerate. If other campers look in your direction with a raised eyebrow, it may due to the fact that YOU can run that additional A/C unit, microwave and plasma TV while THEY are sweating it out... having nothing at all to do with being annoyed by the noise, per se.

And finally, please bear in mind that reasonable generator noise within the proscribed operating hours is an acceptable norm of crowded campgrounds.

I hope you find an answer in there somewhere... Best of luck to you!
Jim