Do you love camping and want to be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of nature without hearing the noise of a generator running in the background? If you regularly go camping, you’ll probably already have a generator to power your electrical devices such as lighting, heating, and air conditioning. The amount of noise your generator makes depends on several things, and it is possible to make your generator quieter. Some generators are very loud and irritating; this article will give you some tips to help you make a generator quiet for camping.
Tips to Make Your Generator Quieter
1. Sound Proof Your Generator
The best way to make your generator quieter is to soundproof it. There are several different ways that you can do this. One of the simplest is to purchase rubber feet. Alternatively, buy a rubber mat to sit your generator on. Your generator will vibrate when in use and this causes it to make a noise, by insulating the generator with rubber you’ll reduce the noise it makes.
A rubber mat will often be all you need to quieten your generator. However, if you want to add extra soundproofing, you can build a wooden enclosure to house your generator. To do this, create a wooden box and line the bottom with a rubber mat. You can then insulate the sides and top with a fireproof material that will absorb and deflect the noise. You should ensure that the box you build has adequate ventilation to eliminate the build-up of heat and fumes from the generator.
If your DIY skills aren’t up to the job of building your own soundproofing box, you can buy a readymade baffle box. This is a box that has been specifically designed to enclose and quieten a generator. Before purchasing a baffle box, you should determine that it’s the correct size and that your generator can work effectively once inside. There should be enough space inside the baffle box for you to access the generator’s controls.
A generator has a muffler in its exhaust, which can be changed to reduce noise pollution. You can install a larger muffler on the exhaust, and this will reduce the noise.
2. Move the Generator Away from Your Tent
It may seem obvious, but it’s incredible the number of people who don’t realize that they can make their generator sound less noisy by moving it further away from their tent.
Where you put your generator has an influence on how quiet it seems. Run a longer cable from your tent to the generator and put it further away from your campsite.
In some campsites, you’ll be limited by the amount of space you’re allowed to take up, and it may not be possible to keep the generator too far away from your tent. If this is the case, soundproofing is probably the best option for you.
Make sure that you haven’t got your generator sitting on a block of hard concrete or wooden platform as this will increase the vibrations and make the generator seem louder.
You may also like to invest in a sound deflector to help divert the noise away from your campsite. A sound defector will make the generator seem quieter or sound like it’s further away, but in reality, it isn’t making the generator quieter, just deflecting sound.
Move the Generator’s Exhaust Pipes to a Vertical Position
Another fantastic tip that will immediately quieten your generator is to change the position of the exhaust pipes. If you have the pipes in a horizontal position, your generator will be noisier, moving them to a vertical position will have an instant effect on the about of sound produced.
3. Water can be used to Quieten Your Generator
You can use water effectively to quieten your generator by connecting a small piece of a hosepipe to the generator’s exhaust pipe. You should then put the other end of the hose into a bucket of water. If you want to try this technique, you’ll need to have enough water in the bucket; a 5-gallon bucket should suffice. This will reduce the noise of the generator by dampening it.
You should, however, be very careful that water doesn’t get into the exhaust of the generator. This can be easily prevented by making a small hole in the hosepipe near where it’s attached to the exhaust.
Conclusion: Make a Generator Quiet for Camping
Hopefully, after following some of these tips, you’ll be able to reduce the rumbling sound of your generator and get a good night’s sleep. One of the best things to do is to move your generator away from your campsite; this will allow you to get to sleep easier after a long day hiking or exploring the great outdoors.
Just like every machine that you own, you should service your generator regularly to ensure that it remains in good working order. This will allow you to carry out any necessary repair and maintenance, which may also reduce the noise levels. You should check your generator’s controls, engine, and exhaust. You could also have your generator professionally serviced if you don’t know what you’re looking for yourself.
If your generator is very old and you’re still having problems reducing its noise levels, you may like to consider purchasing a new generator. If you decide to do this, you should look for a brand that is well known for producing quieter generators. The noise levels often depend on the technology used and the energy levels of the generator. Generators either use conventional or inverter technology.
Generators that use Inverter technology are the quietest on the market as they produce at least 300 dine waves for each rotation of the engine. They also generally have smaller motors, as well as options such as eco-modes and noise mufflers.
If you’re worried about the noise, you should buy a generator that produces just the right amount of power for your needs. For example, a 4000-watt generator will be noisier than a 1000-watt generator.
It’s a good idea to choose a generator that’s easy to use and starts quickly, as well as being very quiet while it’s running. Most good quality generators come with a manufacturer warranty of at least two years.