Generator fully enclosed or not?

PRZNBUS · January 25, 2016, 03:01:06 AM

In the market for about a 10K generator and wondering what others have. I will most likely get an Onan diesel but wondering if I need a fully enclosed model or if one without the enclosure would still be fairly quiet. I'm not sure if I'll mount it in the mesh AC bay on the drivers side on my MC 9 or if I can get a smaller one with no enclosure and possibly modify the front tire bay to accept it.

Bruce

Oonrahnjay · January 25, 2016, 04:23:26 AM

Quote from: PRZNBUS on January 25, 2016, 03:01:06 AMIn the market for about a 10K generator and wondering what others have. I will most likely get an Onan diesel but wondering if I need a fully enclosed model or if one without the enclosure would still be fairly quiet. I'm not sure if I'll mount it in the mesh AC bay on the drivers side on my MC 9 or if I can get a smaller one with no enclosure and possibly modify the front tire bay to accept it.

Bruce

I have an Onan 10K "Quiet Diesel", fully enclosed. I don't have an AC bay so I had to build a bay next to the stairs going upstairs on my bus. It's good but not as quiet as I'd like. I can't imagine living with a non-enclosed model.

uncle ned · January 25, 2016, 04:27:13 AM

Love my power-tech in its home build-in box. Quite always starts has never gave any trouble in over 12 years.

uncle ned
HUGGY BEAR

lvmci · January 25, 2016, 04:31:12 AM

hi Bruce, I just put a writer in my air conditioning there with a mesh door, quieter is better, lvmci...

TomC · January 25, 2016, 04:41:45 AM

I have a Powertech 10kw bought without enclosure and remote radiator. With my transit, there were limited spaces to mount it. I created a space next to the driver's seat like a front engine. The generator was mounted through the front door with a engine hoist. It is also serviced through the top door inside. I created the enclosure with 3/4" plywood, 1/4" steel plate for the base and insulated with 1" leaded insulation. You can't actually hear the generator, but do hear it through the vibration-so if you have the room, air bag mounts are good (that I wish I had). The remote radiator (since the generator compartment is too small) is mounted under the driver's seat with a squirrel cage blower sucking the air through exiting out the side of the bus belt driven with a 1/2hp fully enclosed fan cooled ball bearing 2spd motor. High speed during the day, low speed at night for quiet operation. I have an 8" inline bathroom ventilator to push air through the gen compartment.
Onan's enclosed 10kw is made for one reason-it is a snap for manufacturers to initially install. It is not very easy to service and it isn't that quiet. Example-I was parked across from a S&S with the 10kw Onan "Quiet" Diesel running. As I walked towards my bus, I couldn't hear my generator running till I was within 10ft-then started to hear it. Dick Wright even commented how quiet it was. Highly recommend you get an open generator and make your own enclosure. Remember-there is no such thing as a too quiet generator. Good Luck, TomC

brmax · January 25, 2016, 05:21:01 AM

Hey Bruce great post! very interested your findings on this and will chime little as I need some more input and tips from others in my own fabricating, just stoked to listen.
I do need to build an generator enclosure or whatever the group can call it, at times ive had the pc on all day looking thru search's it seems and still I'm asking or listening really.

Tom is that leaded foil style and can you explain a bit more, sounds super quiet do you have carpet to covering also. thanks

Glued! here ( and where's the big thumbs up amogee )

Thanks
Floyd

TomC · January 25, 2016, 05:26:08 AM

Not sure they still make the 1" foil covered foam insulation with lead sheet in the middle since everyone's so paranoid about lead these days. But there are good sound insulators available. Good Luck, TomC

luvrbus · January 25, 2016, 05:47:08 AM

Another option is check into the EPS line of generator,they are advertiser here it's a good unit and the enclosures are super quite compared to Onan and Powertech I have a EPS generator and it's quite.
You can still buy lead sheets and sandwich it between 2 pcs of plywood,another option is to use lead filled dry rock (sheet rock) like hospitals and quite rooms use but it needs to be covered to prevent damage I know of a couple of people using it and theirs is over 20 years old with no problems.My lead egg crate foam was a good material but it started to crumple and flake in about 10 years.You will find that 75% of the noise will come from the exhaust and air intake and that is a easy fix.
The super quite generators all have a Isuzu or Cat engine with a turbo never saw a small Kubota powered generator with a turbo they probably have one though

azdieselman · January 25, 2016, 06:20:34 AM

You could contact Connel. He may still have a new 10K genset for sale.

papaseagle@gmail.com

Emcemv · January 25, 2016, 06:24:56 AM

I can't take the credit for it but our bus has an interesting generator installation, it is a 10.5KW Atomic, I think it is a marine model, it has a water cooled exhaust, the conversion company made an enclosure out of 3/4" plywood, lined with lead lined foam. There is a large squirrel cage blower pulling air through the enclosure down a chase from the roof where the exhaust is routed, it blows out under the bus. The whole exhaust chase up through the bus is lined with lead lined foam. I think the water cooled exhaust is quieter and lowers the exhaust pipe temperature, I have measured it at about 120 degrees where it goes up through the bus. The whole thing is on a slide so servicing is pretty good. I've had to replace all the wiring and breaker panel and it was pretty easy. This setup is very quiet, as someone said, the generator can't be too quiet! the PO spent a lot of time on this and it paid off. I can share some pictures if there is any interest.

luvrbus · January 25, 2016, 06:36:27 AM

I had a 12.5 Universal marine generator made in WI with the water cooled manifold it was quite too.Back to the Onan in a enclosed housing fwiw if you ever need to change a fan belt on 1 there will be nasty words spoken

PRZNBUS · January 25, 2016, 06:58:32 AM

I appreciate the input. The generators without the enclosure seem quite a bit cheaper and I could make the area quiet I guess. I like the remote radiator idea. How far could the run be for a radiator without putting undue stress on a water pump?

Bruce

PRZNBUS · January 25, 2016, 07:00:42 AM

Another question, I like the variable speed demand type generators. I know Onan makes them but what about other companies?

Bruce

buswarrior · January 25, 2016, 07:05:47 AM

Quiet generators make friends, noisey ones make you an outcast and a target.

Silent running attracts no attention in rest areas, parking lots, friends' driveways, all the places that pissing peeps off, or attracting attention means being asked to leave...

In the design, strongly consider the risk of fire and how to detect/defend against that danger in the enclosure.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

brmax · January 25, 2016, 08:16:12 AM

I think one of the 3 cyl diesels is the real ticket. I have an older gen but it seems the preffered kw size for most is the size your asking and now many are available in 3 cylinder.

Its possible Kubota has a turbo 3cyl but not sure on a gen head, I agree a quick check with regular busnut advertiser sites.

Looking around for lead covered sheet goods and found a few, but at this time did not contact the industrial type companies for a possible close supplier.
It might be the price might scare me

I'm committed to the silence but hey, a step at a time.

And for sure I'm interested in seeing any pics or links to this topic you all can gen up on the subject or direct a feller.
I had the other day started in projects from the last page coming back up but getting side tracked just enjoying the ability to look through many of the projects in general, fwiw it was cool

Thanks, and were rollin now!