Generators

[melbornj]

I am not sure if this is the right place for this but, I am considering purchasing a generator for my Roo 233S. Does anybody have any idea how big of one I should get and how loud they are?

[rkswyo]

What do you intend to run with it? If you run the AC you will need a 3000 watt or 2 2000 watt paralleled. I have a 2400 watt Yamaha that will just run my 13500 AC. Honda and Yamaha are about the quietest. The Boliy gets some good reviews.

[bikendan]

knowing the type of a/c in the Roo, i'd recommend a Yamaha 2400 or the Boliy 3600.
both are around 75lbs. and should run the a/c.

if you have the money, either the Honda or Yamaha or Champion 2000 inverter gennies with parallel kit.

that way you only need one if you don't need the a/c.

[melbornj]

I found a 3500 Watt Champion at TSC for 299 but I can't find how loud it is. It seems like a good price and runs 9 hrs with the 4 gallon tank full. Any ideas?

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by melbornj

I found a 3500 Watt Champion at TSC for 299 but I can't find how loud it is. It seems like a good price and runs 9 hrs with the 4 gallon tank full. Any ideas?

If they don't advertise the DBs you can bet there are a LOT of them.

[rkswyo]

I forgot to mention that I installed a hard start capacitor on my AC. My Yamaha 2400 would not start the AC without it. I am at 7000ft elevation and typically camp at 8000ft. Like Herk said, usally if the decibel rating isn't advertised they are loud. I can tell you I have camped with folks that had the Chapions and they are very, very loud compared to my Yamaha. The quietness comes at a price but it is well worth it in my opinion. The last thing I want to hear is a loud generator when I am camping.

[chiro]

Get either a Honda 3000 or 2 Honda 2000 and parallel them or a Yamaha. They have the longest run times and are the quietest. You wont be happy with anything else.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by melbornj

I found a 3500 Watt Champion at TSC for 299 but I can't find how loud it is. It seems like a good price and runs 9 hrs with the 4 gallon tank full. Any ideas?

go to Champion's website, i think it's 68db, which is quieter than similar open framed Chinese generators but way noisier than the inverter generators.

you have two choices, price or quietness. you can't have both. decide which is more important. if you choose price, realize that using a cheap generator in a campground will not make neighbors or the campground owner happy.
but if you plan to boondock or go to auto races, then something like the Champion will be a fine choice.

there are newer Chinese-made inverter generators with similar db ratings to the Hondas and Yamahas, that are cheaper.
Kipor, Boliy, Champion's inverter 2000, Magna and Dometic, to name a few.

[Titleguy]

Just like RKSWyo I live in Wyoming at 7000 feet and own a Yamaha 2400. Mine will run the A/C just fine without the hard start capacitor. I am not sure if it is a difference in brands of A/C or what. So the Yamaha will run some 13.5k A/C's without any mods. I have tried mine up to 8000' as well. I also agree on the noise of some of the cheaper generators. You can hear them all the way across the campground. I can barely hear mine if I am inside the trailer with it sitting right outside. The last thing most of us want to listen to in the great outdoors is a loud generator run all day.

[acadianbob]

Originally Posted by melbornj

I found a 3500 Watt Champion at TSC for 299 but I can't find how loud it is. It seems like a good price and runs 9 hrs with the 4 gallon tank full. Any ideas?

For the sake of your fellow campers, please do not go in this direction. These are noisy units. If you can get a DB rating, please be aware that DB is not a linear rating; it is logrithmic. Every 3 DB approximately doubles the sound pressure. So, going from 56 DB(Honda) to 59 DB, for example, may sound like "not much", it is, in fact, very different. Good luck on your search.

[cootr68]

http://www.jackssmallengines.com/Quietmuf_index.html this site claims to have quiet mufflers don't know anything about them just thought I'd pass the info.

[rkswyo]

The muffler is only part of the problem. General engine noise is a huge part as well.

[cootr68]

Originally Posted by rkswyo

The muffler is only part of the problem. General engine noise is a huge part as well.

Yes for the same reason you hear a diesel motor its the same theory. Lifters,valves, combustion etc.....

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by rkswyo

The muffler is only part of the problem. General engine noise is a huge part as well.

yep, for cheaper generators, "quiet mufflers" are a waste of money. the manufacturers do all they can, cheaply, to get the noise down.
the vast majority of noise is from the engine, not the muffler.