When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

[jkru]

Hi All --

I just baught a small generator for my boat to run a cofee maker and/or for other small emergencies . I started the generator, grabbed my sound meter and measured the noise to be around 81db at 6 feet. I offten moore at a location where there is no electricity and need the power. I was thinking on sitting this on the dock at around 9am and running it to make coffee and/or what not. My question is does this distrub most people? Me personally I would care but i was wondering if there is any rule around this or suggestions for running a generator appropriatly etc. Anny comments, suggestions or experiences would be appreciated.

For reference here is a sound map:

Noise Levels
Both the amount of noise and the length of time you are exposed to the noise determine its ability to damage your hearing. Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB). The higher the decibel level, the louder the noise. Sounds louder than 80 decibels are considered potentially hazardous. The noise chart below gives an idea of average decibel levels for everyday sounds around you.

Painful
150 dB = rock music peak

140 dB = firearms, air raid siren, jet engine

130 dB = jackhammer

120 dB = jet plane take-off, amplified rock music at 4-6 ft., car stereo, band practice

Extremely Loud
110 dB = rock music, model airplane

106 dB = timpani and bass drum rolls

100 dB = snowmobile, chain saw, pneumatic drill

90 dB = lawnmower, shop tools, truck traffic, subway

Very Loud
80 dB = alarm clock, busy street

70 dB = busy traffic, vacuum cleaner

60 dB = conversation, dishwasher

Moderate
50 dB = moderate rainfall

40 dB = quiet room

Faint
30 dB = whisper, quiet library



Thanks
JKRu

 

[mscher]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

My experience in the great outdoors is that some people who do not use generators, HATE hearing everyone else's run.

We ran one at remote lake cabin in MN. An hour or less in the morning and 2-3 hours in the evening. When we turned it off, we could hear other campers, clapping and cheering in the distance.

Legally, you can probably run it when you want, but IMO, if other's are sleeping on their boats, your neighbors will smile at you more (maybe because they are more rested), if you make your morning coffee, with a percolator on a gas stove.

Regards

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Noise issue or not, running a generator just to make coffee is like killing ants with a bazooka. Sure, it works, but is it overkill and expensive. I agree with the camp stove and perculator or one of these inexpensive Coleman dripmakers:

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5008C700

Target also has them for 40 bucks.

 

[jkru]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Noise issue or not, running a generator just to make coffee is like killing ants with a bazooka. Sure, it works, but is it overkill and expensive. I agree with the camp stove and perculator or one of these inexpensive Coleman dripmakers:

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5008C700

Target also has them for 40 bucks.

So I guess running my nightlight is out of the question? ;-)

Yah more or less I just want it incase my battery goes dead. I think ill pick up one of those coleman things. I bet you if I looked I would find a 12 volt cofee maker.

 

[RollingWanderer]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

So I guess running my nightlight is out of the question? ;-)

Yah more or less I just want it incase my battery goes dead. I think ill pick up one of those coleman things. I bet you if I looked I would find a 12 volt cofee maker.

Most 12v coffee makers are terrible and take forever to get warm/make coffee. My personal fav for making coffee is a french press. All you need is a gas stove to warm water.

If you really have to have an electric coffee maker, I'd suggest looking at a power inverter big enough to run the coffee maker from your on-board batteries. Many sites that specialize in rv supplies, such as Tweetys.com, carry a wide selection.

As for emergency situations...A genny can be a life/property saver...

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Noise issue or not, running a generator just to make coffee is like killing ants with a bazooka. Sure, it works, but is it overkill and expensive. I agree with the camp stove and perculator or one of these inexpensive Coleman dripmakers:

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5008C700

Target also has them for 40 bucks.

I have one of these in my trailer, and I gotta say it is about the slowest way to make coffee that I've tried. End up using the percolator as it takes 1/3 the time.

And when I want my coffee, I want it now, dagnabbit.

 

[bootle]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

A french press is hard to beat for good coffee in record time.

 

[bjcsc]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

A french press is hard to beat for good coffee in record time.

They're hard to beat for good coffee period. Coffee from a press has way more body than from any other method...

81dB is too loud. Get something around 60dB...

 

[Bamby]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

There is no appropriste time to run a generator. Anyone who feels they haft to have power needs to stay at a facality that supplies it. No one wants to hear the drone of a generator running. If you were near me I would make fish habitat out of it.

 

[v1_0]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Hi All --

I just baught a small generator for my boat to run a cofee maker and/or for other small emergencies . I started the generator, grabbed my sound meter and measured the noise to be around 81db at 6 feet. I offten moore at a location where there is no electricity and need the power. I was thinking on sitting this on the dock at around 9am and running it to make coffee and/or what not. My question is does this distrub most people? Me personally I would care but i was wondering if there is any rule around this or suggestions for running a generator appropriatly etc. Anny comments, suggestions or experiences would be appreciated.

JKRu

You could look into ways of damping the sound. I suppose that adding a better muffler to the exhaust would be an excellent way of cutting the sound down, but would probably require a degree in differential equations and vector analysis to get right.
Or, you could look at what the Army does: they use sandbags to create a ring around a noise source (generator), and that dampers the sound quite a bit. [Actually, it gets deflected up] Perhaps some sort of tarp to create a screen arangement? Just for ha-has, maybe one of those inflatable kiddie pools... (just not too close or you will need marshmellows and a stick..)

-V

 

[dave11]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Walmart has a nice "stove top" expresso maker for under $20. Makes great strong coffee. I cut it about 50/50 with milk.

 

[gss036]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

You could get a 4 ft piece of steel flex tubing that fits the generator exhaust and run the end in a buck of water or into the water around you.
I aways considered the best time to run one when you needed the power(;-.

 

[i386]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Charge up a small UPS with your generator or dock power and plug your coffee maker into it in the morning. Should be more than enough juice to get a pot of coffee going.

 

[jameskb2]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

A big UPS, good idea! Running the exhaust extension under water, good idea!

I have seen small compact QUIET models in the 2500 watt area. Sounds like a small electric motor running it's that quiet. I also have personally outfitted my 6000 watt with a modified exhaust that runs through a tractor muffler. It's actually very quiet. I did it for job sites because the stock exhaust was pretty loud.

I was thinking of even running two of these mufflers in series to see if I could get it down to almost no noise as an experiment, but never did.

 

[bassman284]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Get a Yamaha. Quietest generator I've ever not heard.

I'm guessing you have a Briggs & Stratton. Noisiest generator I've ever wanted to kill the owner of.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

We have an Onan and it's very quiet. 1800rpm yields a very quiet machine.

 

[uscboy]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

Hondas have a great reputation for how quiet they are also. Look at the
1000 series with eco-throttle.

Warning though, Honda or Yamaha, you're going to pay for quiet... don't
expect any $150 specials here.

 

[BF]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

ditto the sentiments above to figure a way to not use the generator. Yes I do find it extremely annoying to have a constant drone of generators that campers "need" to do basic things like make a pot of coffee. Most times, they don't actually need them, they're just too lazy to figure out a way to do the stuff like make coffee or light their trailer/boat/RV using either gas or DC power. Some have figured out sound deflectors that keep a lot of the annoying noise directed away from them, but usually towards some neighbor.

Nothing like going to the great outdoors and getting to listen to someone's generator.... As for whether it's a problem or inconsiderate to run it 9:00 am, how would you like it if your neighbor ran their stereo (with whatever music you can't stand) at 9:00 AM ? Then maybe again for a couple hours later in the evening? To me a generator is the same thing... just as inconsiderate, just a different sort of noise pollution. A lot of campgrounds, that is what you hear when sitting around the fire now, not squirrels or loons... just briggs & straton.

Coleman stove and big perc is the answer... Get one at least twice the size that you'll think you need so that you can offer your neighbor's a cup and enjoy the quiet morning.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

There is no appropriste time to run a generator. Anyone who feels they haft to have power needs to stay at a facality that supplies it. No one wants to hear the drone of a generator running. If you were near me I would make fish habitat out of it.

I see. Well, maybe you'd do that, but I doubt it. I don't use a generator, and I'm marginally annoyed by the sound of them when I'm out in the backwoods, but there it is. Most campgrounds have rules regarding their use, with limited hours, etc.

We have a lot of rights in this country, but the right not to be annoyed isn't one of them. And taking someone's property and throwing it in the lake might not be a safe thing to do, I'm thinking.

BTW, sailboat and canoe folks hate the sound of engines on the water, too. It disturbs their peaceful day on the water. How's that sound to ya?

 

[642mx]

Re: When is it appropriate to run a Generator?

I have a Coleman Powermate generator that I use to power my enclosed trailer at motocross races. Its reasonably quiet, but people will complain about anything. Its a free country, run your generator when needed and offer any annoyed neighbors a cup of coffee if they get upset with the noise. Or you could let them pull an extension cord off of it and they can run their own electrical stuff.