Community Forums

sdavidson031 · 03-17-2015, 03:04 PM

Hi all,

First time poster here, largely because I'm also a first time RV owner. I'm a VERY experienced forum person (I actually run a large national car enthusiast forum) and firmly believe in the value of forums for owners who actually care about their [whatever].

I say that to say this: I did a lot of searching and reading on here before I chose to ask this question again

but what I found was a lot of suggestions and not many results, and definitely not any photos to accompany.

I have a 2008 Winnebago Access 31J with an Onan 4K MicroQuiet(ish) generator. The generator makes quite a bit of noise, I believe largely from vibration, and I am trying to figure out why and if there is anything I can do for it.

Heres what I know:

Generator is good, Onan just serviced/checked it. It's a 3600rpm model
Muffler is still good (same reason as before)
Compartment is in good shape
VERY little rust or degradation of the original condition

Here's what I've read:

Vertical exhaust can help with both noise and fumes
Carpet on the ground under the space can help
DynaMat or Fatmat can help

Here's what to worry about:

FIRE!
Damaging the gen, usually via overheating

So here's the actual question: what have you done and what has actually helped or not helped? Any pictures of installs of sound mats would be great. I worry about how to get the mat installed in such a way that it won't be too close or fall on the gen if the glue breaks down.

Thanks in advance to everyone!

NITEHAWK · 03-17-2015, 03:13 PM

Have you checked the condition of the generator rubber mounts? Check for contact of the generator with the compartment walls.

I read somewhere that every time you change direction the sound level drops 50%. So I welded up a direction changing box and mounted it under the generator where the fan exhaust comes out the bottom of the compartment. Big difference, but now I have to figure out a way to reduce the sound level coming out the louvered door on the side of the coach. Can't take pics because coach is in storage 19 miles away, in the dark, with the gen side close to the wall.

sdavidson031 · 03-17-2015, 03:17 PM

Good point on the rubber mounts. I would hope that the Onan guy would have told me about them since I asked him about the noise, but I'll check it anyway. Even in normal conditions those would be degraded after 7 years of travel.

Interesting suggestion on the direction changing box. I could actually mimic that without permanently mounting something to the rig to see if it works.