Neighbors generator running all night

[adarklake]

Ok, so this isn’t a noise complaint. Also, this isn’t a noise complaint. The sound does not bother me, I just want to understand why because it doesn’t make a lot of sense.

We are at a fairly packed campground in the full hookup section. 30/50A at the pedestal. Neighbors class A is plugged into shore power. It was cold last night, maybe in the 40s. He ran his onboard generator all night, 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off. This was not a furnace, this was a small gasoline engine sound.

My question is why would you possibly need to generate electricity when you are hooked in to 50A?

And yes, it is plenty rude to run one all night with neighbors 25 feet away on 3 sides of you. It probably annoyed the other two neighbors and possibly more.

[TheWolfPaq82]

Does the CG have a "Rule" about running Genny at night ? If NO, then you just have to deal with it. Some people are going to do what they do.

[adarklake]

Of course the campground has a rule about generators during quiet hours. But this isn't a noise complaint.

[rsdata]

I camped next to a big rig during a cold snap... I did not hear a generator, but I sure did hear a FURNACE, ( sounded like a heat-pump unit) loudly running, like you said ON for 5 or 6 min then OFF, all night long. I thought it was incredible how loud that darn thing was in a quiet campground. I figured they had it set to 75 degrees for it to be running that often.

I have a hybrid so it bothered me and the wife more than others with hard-sided trailers I'm sure. The next night I introduced some white noise in the interior of my trailer to even out the noise level. I use electric heaters when I need a little warmth overnight, and they do not make any noise.

Makes me want to find shorter campsites and nothing close to pull-through sites.

[adarklake]

It really didn't sound like a typical propane furnace, nor did it sound like a compressor. It sounded like a typical onboard generator, ground level. I'm not sure where they stick the heat pumps on a class A, but if it was one, it has a serious problem! Heh. You could be right if perhaps something was really loose.

[ken8246]

I guess you can go ask your neighbor as to why they were running it all night they may have a good explanation?

[Lfresin1]

You're right in thinking there's no reason to run a generator in a campsite that supplies full power.

Reasons they didn't want to use shore power might be...

1. Newbies who didn't know how short power works.
2. They wanted to test their generator in preparation for the next trip.
3. They got a cheaper rate from the campsite if they promised not to use shore power.
I never heard of this type of deal, but you could probably work something out if short on funds.
4. Shore power connection broken and low no house batteries and they needed heat.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by rsdata

I camped next to a big rig during a cold snap... I did not hear a generator, but I sure did hear a FURNACE, ( sounded like a heat-pump unit) loudly running, like you said ON for 5 or 6 min then OFF, all night long. I thought it was incredible how loud that darn thing was in a quiet campground. I figured they had it set to 75 degrees for it to be running that often.

I have a hybrid so it bothered me and the wife more than others with hard-sided trailers I'm sure. The next night I introduced some white noise in the interior of my trailer to even out the noise level. I use electric heaters when I need a little warmth overnight, and they do not make any noise.

Makes me want to find shorter campsites and nothing close to pull-through sites.

Why do you suppose so many people are starting to boondock more?

As for complaining? Most campgrounds close their offices at night and when the sound of a running generator wakes someone up there's nobody to report them too. The next morning the "offender" leaves early, often waking everyone up with their loud engine exhaust.

[adarklake]

Originally Posted by ken8246

I guess you can go ask your neighbor as to why they were running it all night they may have a good explanation?

They took off this morning thankfully (weekenders). Plus the guy seemed like a real grouch so I wouldn't have wanted the attitude associated! Forum folks are (generally) nicer, so I figured I'd ask here for theories. Maybe someone would know more about the class A generators than I.

[adarklake]

Originally Posted by Lfresin1

You're right in thinking there's no reason to run a generator in a campsite that supplies full power.

Reasons they didn't want to use shore power might be...

1. Newbies who didn't know how short power works.
2. They wanted to test their generator in preparation for the next trip.
3. They got a cheaper rate from the campsite if they promised not to use shore power.
I never heard of this type of deal, but you could probably work something out if short on funds.
4. Shore power connection broken and low no house batteries and they needed heat.

The campground is modern and the pedestal looks brand new. Could have been their power cord maybe. No deals on discounted power.

[Flybob]

5 mins on and 5 mins off does not sound like normal generator operation. If you are really curious, you can mention to him what you though you heard and suggest he check his auto transfer switch. You may save him from a problem or just get an answer you don't expect. At least this way is will not be viewed as a complaint.

[Mikeytheb]

Originally Posted by Lfresin1

You're right in thinking there's no reason to run a generator in a campsite that supplies full power.

Reasons they didn't want to use shore power might be...

1. Newbies who didn't know how short power works.
2. They wanted to test their generator in preparation for the next trip.
3. They got a cheaper rate from the campsite if they promised not to use shore power.
I never heard of this type of deal, but you could probably work something out if short on funds.
4. Shore power connection broken and low no house batteries and they needed heat.

Never heard of a discount for not using shore power, but if there were it would seem (to me) that the gas to run genny would be more than discount. On board genny in a class A would use on-board fuel. Also class A genny usually very quiet. Unless it was an aftermarket. The Oman they usually come with are VERY pricey, but designed for enclosed space (for exhaust gas routing, noise and cooling).

[wjrdmr]

I agree that it may not have been a generator. The poster didn't indicate if the unit was occupied. I have stayed near Class A rigs that were left hooked up but unoccupied for extended periods in cool weather- people took their second vehicle and we're gone for weeks at a time - and heard something similar cycling on and off, although not as frequently as described. Not sure what the source was or what was controlling it.

[old40ford]

Originally Posted by rsdata

I camped next to a big rig during a cold snap... I did not hear a generator, but I sure did hear a FURNACE, ( sounded like a heat-pump unit) loudly running, like you said ON for 5 or 6 min then OFF, all night long. I thought it was incredible how loud that darn thing was in a quiet campground. I figured they had it set to 75 degrees for it to be running that often.

Same thing happened to me and I was in a full sided 5th wheel. It’s amazing what sounds come from our units.

[dbledan]

What model of class A? Many of them have very different heating options that may be noisier? I always thought the alternative heating options were quieter but maybe not.

My personal guess is either its the heat pump or they are new to it and dont understand how the generator auto start works? Whatever it is it has to be automatic because they dont want to sit there and turn it on and off just to torture folks most likely.

I parked next to a guy once in vermont whos furnace was jet engine loud. I could hear it inside my trailer with my furnce running. I could not ask him to turn it off because it was cold out.

[dward51]

A few years back after we retired we started sleeping with a "white noise machine" at the house to block out neighborhood sounds in the mornings. Best money I've spent on such a simple device. We now have 2 of them (one for travel) and it's perfect for the trailer. It's a small electric fan inside a housing that makes a "whoosh" noise that masks pretty much every other sound. It will mask the furnace and even AC sounds or TV if it's low and one person is in bed late. I've seen them as low as $25 on sale. This is the models we have, Marpac Dohm is the brand and make.

https://www.amazon.com/Marpac-Classi.../dp/B00HD0ELFK

They have a "Connect" model that is a little more expensive. It runs off 12v (comes with a 110 to 12v adapter) and also interfaces with your cell phone via an App. I've not used one of those, but the 12v power option is a plus. I think they also have a 12v version of the Uno model (entry level model).

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Flybob

5 mins on and 5 mins off does not sound like normal generator operation. .

^^^^ What Flybob said. Could it have been a waterpump? If he had a leak, it could have been pressuring the lines. Maybe that's why he looked so grumpy.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

^^^^ What Flybob said. Could it have been a waterpump? If he had a leak, it could have been pressuring the lines. Maybe that's why he looked so grumpy.

Good point, but unless he was a real newbie, he could have simply turned the water pump off overnight.

[K5460]

We recently stayed at a major chain rv park in Indiana. Mid July, temps and humidity in the mid 90s. Brand new pedestals with 50amp service. The problem was leg 1 on the 50 amp plug was 102 volts, leg 2 was 96 volts. Can't run a 50 amp coach with that kind of service. Several other campers had gone to Tractor supply to buy generators, so they could run their a/c units. Park maintenance told us that all of our rv's had problems and it was not their problem.

[Steve-W]

Aquahot system for heat and hot water. Sounds like a jet engine when running.