It’s the A-Weighted version so it should work correctly. Use a tape measure to position it 23 feet away from the generator outside, and it should give you a reasonably accurate SPL measurement. Everything else needs to be quiet…
Mike, there are several apps for iPhone that can be used for spl measurements so a dedicated device isn’t needed for approximate measurements. I use DB Pro which works pretty well. Great article on sound levels from generators.
Yes, iPhones work very well for this, but Android phones need to be individually calibrated to be accurate because of so many different phone manufacturers.
I would be interested to know the sound levels of on board generators for comparison such as the Onan 10k quiet diesel, and a 7k Onan gas unit. I only use my generator when overnighting at Walmart. Usually there are other RVs there running their generators too. Not a big deal.
I have been running 2 Honda EU2000i(yep old ones) for last 16 yrs, tied together to be able to output enough to run my 30Amp RV. Pull start on usually first or second start, get run once a month even here in cold Ohio in the winter. Yep they were expensive but worth every penny and a great work horse, Our latest RV has an Onan on-board so the two EU2000i has been relegated to power outage duty for the house, but wouldn't trade them for anything.
We have a Honda inverter generator which is much quieter than the contractor-grade generators I have heard running. We have not gotten a 2nd generator to bond with the first for higher output, but we would love to hear your thoughts. Also would echo the question on onboard Onan generator sound levels, plus maybe a comment on the more fuel-efficient approach of gasoline vs propane. Love your work! Thanks for all you do!
We were at a campground in Yellowstone. A gentlemen ran his contractor grade 5000 watt generator
Every afternoon for three hours. After three days, a complaint to the campground shut him down. Many campgrounds have noise restrictions on generators. Fortunately the folks in Yellowstone enforce them.
The more quiet the better... I do have a db meter similar to the one shown. It has no scale settings, only on/off and hold. I wonder what the default scale would be on this.
Mike. Our motorhome generators are neither of these two generators for the most part. I have been looking for ways to quiet our onboard generator and haven't been very successful. Any ideas how to improve the noise level? 1999 Fleetwood Bounder with a 5.5 Onan gas generator. Chuck
My first generator was a Champion 3500 watt unit. About 20 or so years ago, maybe more. Noisy with no economy mode. Then I bought two Champion 2000 watters to stack. Nice and quiet. Then I ventured into Harbor Freight territory and bought their 3500 watt Predator unit. Nice and quiet. But THEN, I heard of the Soft Start add-on for my ac and had that installed. Now it's back to a single Champion 2000 watter. And, if the truth be known, I haven't taken a generator with us EVER when boondocking so all this expense and time has been a waste. Except that I kept the noisy Champion for emergency house power - which I've also never needed.
I believe that the inverter generators also produce a true sine wave, while the contractor model produces a “modified” or square wave, which is harder on sensitive electronics.
I am looking for a multi-fuel inverter generator, with an output of around 6,000 watts (peak of around 7,000). Do you know if this exists?
The inverter generators have made an amazing difference. We boondock in National Forests and feel bad when our 7500 quiet diesel runs. It's pretty quiet, but not as quiet as the inverter units.
It’s the A-Weighted version so it should work correctly. Use a tape measure to position it 23 feet away from the generator outside, and it should give you a reasonably accurate SPL measurement. Everything else needs to be quiet…
Mike, there are several apps for iPhone that can be used for spl measurements so a dedicated device isn’t needed for approximate measurements. I use DB Pro which works pretty well. Great article on sound levels from generators.
Yes, iPhones work very well for this, but Android phones need to be individually calibrated to be accurate because of so many different phone manufacturers.
I would be interested to know the sound levels of on board generators for comparison such as the Onan 10k quiet diesel, and a 7k Onan gas unit. I only use my generator when overnighting at Walmart. Usually there are other RVs there running their generators too. Not a big deal.
I don’t have one to measure but I’ll take my SPL meter to the next rally I’m attending and see if I can find one.
CEM DT85A
I have been running 2 Honda EU2000i(yep old ones) for last 16 yrs, tied together to be able to output enough to run my 30Amp RV. Pull start on usually first or second start, get run once a month even here in cold Ohio in the winter. Yep they were expensive but worth every penny and a great work horse, Our latest RV has an Onan on-board so the two EU2000i has been relegated to power outage duty for the house, but wouldn't trade them for anything.
Honda generators are the best. Yes, they’re expensive, but will last forever with basic maintenance.
We have a Honda inverter generator which is much quieter than the contractor-grade generators I have heard running. We have not gotten a 2nd generator to bond with the first for higher output, but we would love to hear your thoughts. Also would echo the question on onboard Onan generator sound levels, plus maybe a comment on the more fuel-efficient approach of gasoline vs propane. Love your work! Thanks for all you do!
We were at a campground in Yellowstone. A gentlemen ran his contractor grade 5000 watt generator
Every afternoon for three hours. After three days, a complaint to the campground shut him down. Many campgrounds have noise restrictions on generators. Fortunately the folks in Yellowstone enforce them.
The more quiet the better... I do have a db meter similar to the one shown. It has no scale settings, only on/off and hold. I wonder what the default scale would be on this.
What is the make and model of your SPL meter?
Mike. Our motorhome generators are neither of these two generators for the most part. I have been looking for ways to quiet our onboard generator and haven't been very successful. Any ideas how to improve the noise level? 1999 Fleetwood Bounder with a 5.5 Onan gas generator. Chuck
My first generator was a Champion 3500 watt unit. About 20 or so years ago, maybe more. Noisy with no economy mode. Then I bought two Champion 2000 watters to stack. Nice and quiet. Then I ventured into Harbor Freight territory and bought their 3500 watt Predator unit. Nice and quiet. But THEN, I heard of the Soft Start add-on for my ac and had that installed. Now it's back to a single Champion 2000 watter. And, if the truth be known, I haven't taken a generator with us EVER when boondocking so all this expense and time has been a waste. Except that I kept the noisy Champion for emergency house power - which I've also never needed.
I believe that the inverter generators also produce a true sine wave, while the contractor model produces a “modified” or square wave, which is harder on sensitive electronics.
I am looking for a multi-fuel inverter generator, with an output of around 6,000 watts (peak of around 7,000). Do you know if this exists?
Thanks,
Tom
I’ve been promised one of these to test…
459cc Electric Start Home Power Back Up 9000-Watt Gasoline/Propane Portable Inverter Generator https://www.lowes.com/pd/DuroMax-9000-Watt-459cc-Dual-Fuel-Digital-Inverter-Hybrid-Portable-Generator/5001851473
The inverter generators have made an amazing difference. We boondock in National Forests and feel bad when our 7500 quiet diesel runs. It's pretty quiet, but not as quiet as the inverter units.