Generator exhaust plumbing

dougyes · April 28, 2011, 06:29:03 AM

We picked up a 5KW ETQ diesel genset (noisemaker) to make it through the summer until we can get a more civilized unit. We want to put it in a bay, so I'm thinking of welding a larger exhaust pipe to the present "muffler", running it under the bay and adding a real car muffler. Hope fully this will quiet it down a bit. Will this work? Is there any thing I'm not considering here?
Thanks!

bevans6 · April 28, 2011, 06:36:30 AM

A lot of the noise is from the engine, not the exhaust, so don't expect it to be much quieter. To make it quiet you have to surround it with an insulated isolation box, then it will overheat, etc. They just are not very happy-making kinds of things. I had a Yamaha 6500 watt construction gennie mounted just like you plan in a bay, it stayed for about 10 minutes after I turned it on. Previous owners idea.

Lin · April 28, 2011, 08:02:12 AM

Our generator exhaust goes through the floor and runs to the side beneath the genset. The pipe pokes out just below the radiator so that the radiator air flow blows that exhaust away from the bus. Since ours is gas, it is really not that noisy, but we do have an add on tube to bring the exhaust up to the roof. This does reduce noise a bit and keeps the fumes from bothering others.

eagle19952 · April 28, 2011, 12:05:29 PM

Quote from: Lin on April 28, 2011, 08:02:12 AM
Our generator exhaust goes through the floor and runs to the side beneath the genset. The pipe pokes out just below the radiator so that the radiator air flow blows that exhaust away from the bus. Since ours is gas, it is really not that noisy, but we do have an add on tube to bring the exhaust up to the roof. This does reduce noise a bit and keeps the fumes from bothering others.

I have about the same set-up, had a shop with a bender make me a custom offset 90 pipe so that the two piece vertical extensions is about 2-3 inches parralell to the side of the bus,and I topped it offf with a stock Harley Davidson muffler...

...works great !! $$ about 60$ (free muffler.nice chrome)

eagle19952 · April 28, 2011, 12:14:01 PM

ooops

double post

JohnEd · April 28, 2011, 01:51:46 PM

What Lin said.

bevans6 · April 28, 2011, 02:06:11 PM

I think your gen is like this one, yes? http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/365804227/5KW_Power_Diesel_Generator.html

If so I am really interested in your results. It says 70 db, which is pretty loud, but I will be looking for any updates since I am shopping for a diesel standby gennie for my house and if it is usable this sort of unit would do the job. I have only heard that at 3600 rpm, single cylinder air cooled it is a very rough and noisy unit, so I really wish you good luck. I came real close to buying one for my bus.

Brian

babell2 · April 28, 2011, 03:47:20 PM

I was just over working on my bus. Earlyer I downloaded an application on my phone that measures noise levels. With no muffeler running in the front pit of the bus my diesel 6.5 measures 80db. Inside the bus with the door closed readings were 70db. hopefully when I build the gen house where teh condenser coils are now. I will be able to quiet things down some.

Brice

dougyes · April 28, 2011, 04:30:28 PM

This is the one:
http://www.homedepot.com/buy/electrical/alternative-energy-solutions/etq/5000-watt-diesel-generator-6000-surge-wattage-94621.html
I'll measure the sound and let you know.

robertglines1 · April 28, 2011, 04:36:49 PM

Good to put your general location. Never know someone near you might have a gen set deal/steal. really be careful with carbonmonoxide getting into coach. make sure exhaust is sealed and extends past coach and is not under a window opening. Safety first. A detector would be a good investment. Bob

Lin · April 28, 2011, 06:18:46 PM

I think there have been serious discussions about his before, but I will bring it up again. That generator is probably not built or rated for RV use. If you are going to have it sitting on the ground nearby, it's one thing, but putting it in a bay could be a problem.

FloridaCliff · April 29, 2011, 03:49:56 AM

Quote from: bevans6 on April 28, 2011, 06:36:30 AM
A lot of the noise is from the engine, not the exhaust, so don't expect it to be much quieter. To make it quiet you have to surround it with an insulated isolation box, then it will overheat, etc. They just are not very happy-making kinds of things. I had a Yamaha 6500 watt construction gennie mounted just like you plan in a bay, it stayed for about 10 minutes after I turned it on. Previous owners idea.

I just finished closing in my generator compartment, its a diesel Powertech and I can testify that the vast majority of noise is coming from the cooling fan and not the engine.

I can push my ear too the output of the box and its not bad, but the noise from the engine mounted squirrel cage blower is the major culprit in my set up.

With them isolated it was easy to identify the source of most of the noise

If your trying to quiet down a construction gennie, you may be chasing your tale so to speak....

Not even getting into the problem of making it safe!

Cliff

luvrbus · April 29, 2011, 06:10:37 AM

You will find out most of the noise will come from the air intake on a diesel generator I never ran a muffler on my generator and it was quite if you work at it you can make about any generator quite