What resources to look at for building a quiet generator compartment?

Utahclaimjumper · March 08, 2021, 05:38:01 AM

You might want to take a longer look at a 10K QD rather than 12.5. The ten will more than do the job at less cost,,weight,, fuel burn,, and space. It's obvious that you will still need a large bank and needed associated electrics to round out the system. Why haul around what you won't fully utilize just for bragging rights?.>>>Dan

luvrbus · March 08, 2021, 05:56:44 AM

He had a 10kw ,he must need a 12.5 he spent the dollars for one anyways following Wrico recommendations .it always best to be oversized a little than marginal on a generator because of heat and altitude

belfert · March 08, 2021, 07:24:26 AM

I had an 8KW that was marginal. It was me who decided to spend a little extra on a 12.5KW to make sure I would have enough power. I have three A/C rooftop units plus a large variety of other loads like a 15 CF chest freezer. The price difference between the QD 10KW and the QD 12.5KW is only about $750. The physical size is the same and the weight of the 12.5KW is only 10 pounds more.

I am sick of having trips ruined by generator issues. I want to be able to have every single thing in my bus running and not have to worry about running out of power. Even in September it can be miserable in the Midwest due to high humidity levels. Last year was the first year in a number of years I have not brought along a Honda EU2000 generator to at least have basic power if the generator broke. In 2012 or 2013 I spent an entire day of my trip fixing the generator. I had to borrow a generator that year to keep the fridge and freezer running. The next summer I installed a slideout for the generator to make it easier to work on.

luvrbus · March 08, 2021, 07:35:16 AM

A 10 kw 50 amp is still marginal on a electric coach with 3 roof tops staring and running the roof in the heat roof tops will draw around 18 amps,then add the charging system on inverters plus a fridge it adds up then generators drop amps in heat and altitude,a 8 kw will not run 3 roof tops in Az a 10kw struggles and most of time you can only run 2 after you get the AC compressors started

belfert · March 08, 2021, 08:21:22 AM

I only had two rooftop units when I bought my 8KW generator. If I knew what I know now I would have gone with a 10KW originally. The need for more power is part of the reason I decided not to spend several thousand dollars to fix my Powertech generator. When I was starting out on this journey I figured that each A/C unit takes about 2,000 watts to operate so an 8KW generator should be fine. I wasn't aware of the starting surge back then.

Jim Blackwood · March 08, 2021, 09:39:10 AM

I'm glad you guys do these threads, by the time I'm ready to set up my genny I'll have a good idea of how to go about it. The plan so far is, it's a Wrico residential unit made to run on natural gas so a small pressure adjustment and it'll burn propane. Has it's own enclosure which I'll use, already sitting in the bay. I figure that's good for some sound reduction. McMasterCarr sells isolation pads so I'll get some of those to sit the enclosure on. I like the idea of drawing the air from the front bulkhead and discharging through the floor, and I'm thinking either a box around the enclosure or boxing off half the bay. Not sure if a squirrel cage will add anything or not.

My son has a sound meter and I think it may be capable of giving the peak frequency. If it does I'll borrow that and concentrate on reducing that sound by adding a 1/4 wave trap. That part of it is just math. I want to avoid the expensive sound mats as much as I can. From what I've seen most of that is very profitable for the sellers and other alternatives exist.

Jim

buswarrior · March 08, 2021, 10:52:06 AM

Sitting the generator on small airbags is the high end way...

Seat or cab bags, if you want to re-use.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

6805eagleguy · March 08, 2021, 11:02:06 AM

Quote from: buswarrior on March 08, 2021, 10:52:06 AM
Sitting the generator on small airbags is the high end way...

Seat or cab bags, if you want to re-use.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

If I did another one it would be on airbags

Jim Blackwood · March 08, 2021, 05:59:42 PM

I'd have to take it out of the enclosure to do that... which might be an option but seems wasteful. There is a fairly large airspace under the genset for the air intake. Probably for sound control. Once the weather warms up I'll hook propane up and start it, see how it sounds.

Jim

6805eagleguy · March 08, 2021, 06:18:12 PM

Quote from: Jim Blackwood on March 08, 2021, 05:59:42 PM
I'd have to take it out of the enclosure to do that... which might be an option but seems wasteful. There is a fairly large airspace under the genset for the air intake. Probably for sound control. Once the weather warms up I'll hook propane up and start it, see how it sounds.

Jim

honestly jim id just put the entire enclosure on airbags. if you have the height. i think it would save you from a lot of vibration. but that may be a bad idea, ive never done it before.

silversport · March 08, 2021, 11:45:39 PM

I bought everthing from Dick, 8 K, also went to his seminar at Bus N USA on building a hush box, did not like or have the room for the large fan, went with a 12 volt radiator fan. genset over heated, upgraded to a "racing fan" per Dick recommendation and fans to intake side of box. Very guiet and little vibration for two years.

'

belfert · March 09, 2021, 04:35:17 AM

I talked to Justin for a bit yesterday. He gave me a few more tips, but we didn't talk about things like what soundproofing material to use. Wrico sells a variety of soundproofing material, but it doesn't make sense to ship it except with a generator. Justin said to talk to Dick I would need to call and hope that Dick is in the office when I call. I'm not going to call multiple times per day to see if Dick is in.

chessie4905 · March 09, 2021, 04:46:16 AM

Silverstone, nice install. I would suggest that you encase that wire pair with some split plastic loom or equivalent. It may rub through sometime.

luvrbus · March 09, 2021, 05:44:59 AM

Quote from: belfert on March 09, 2021, 04:35:17 AM
I talked to Justin for a bit yesterday. He gave me a few more tips, but we didn't talk about things like what soundproofing material to use. Wrico sells a variety of soundproofing material, but it doesn't make sense to ship it except with a generator. Justin said to talk to Dick I would need to call and hope that Dick is in the office when I call. I'm not going to call multiple times per day to see if Dick is in.

You need to understand Jeanie his wife has health problems and Dick spends most of his time with her,I am the same I don't answer my phone for days then get around to calling people back

6805eagleguy · March 09, 2021, 06:27:05 AM

Quote from: silversport on March 08, 2021, 11:45:39 PM
I bought everthing from Dick, 8 K, also went to his seminar at Bus N USA on building a hush box, did not like or have the room for the large fan, went with a 12 volt radiator fan. genset over heated, upgraded to a "racing fan" per Dick recommendation and fans to intake side of box. Very guiet and little vibration for two years.

'

A racing fan would save a ton of space, they are not that loud, or expensive. Brian, silver sports compartment looks how I believe yours should look. It's really not too hard. As I said you can just make it out of plywood...
You need the flexible sound mat from wrico, comes in a compact roll so not hard to ship. About 54x48"