Page 1 of 1

Any suggestions for this picky problem

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:20 am
by 41Woodie
I usually don't sweat little things but this is really bugging me. The hour monitor for the generator is mounted on the front of the cabinets by the kitchen sink in our 24' RB and the thing is driving us nuts. It reminds me of the cartoons in the 50's of the water dripping into the sink that becomes bombs dropping one by one.
I don't want to disable the meter but is there a reasonable way to get the clicking noise stopped? My hearing is pretty poor but I would think that the sound would really be annoying for someone that hears well. Any suggestions appreciated.

Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 12:56 pm
by whemme
Normally, since the hour meter for the generator only runs when the generator is running, the sound level of the generator normally drowns out the clicking noise of the hour meter unless your sitting real close to it. If the hour meter clicking is really loud, I would say that it is probably defective and a new replacement meter would be quieter.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 8:32 am
by 41Woodie
Well Sam, I guess this is the second best news I could get, if there's not a fix at least it's comforting to know I'm not suffering alone.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 9:38 am
by John S.
I hear the click too and think there goes 30 cents and again and again. It is ok I can sleep with it and the generator is a nice noise that will lull me to sleep. I will admit it is noisier than I expected it too be but it does give the power we need. I will say that if I am using the genset it is because I am using the AC so that does drown out the noise eventually.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 10:24 am
by 41Woodie
I always sleep with a fan running for white noise so sleeping with the generator running is do-able but the clicking makes me nuts. Seems like it would have been just as easy to put the meter on the generator where it wouldn't matter if it played the trumpet. If I'm in the coach and can't figure out that the generator is running I have no business driving on public roads.

Reduction of external noise INCLUDING generator

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 3:50 pm
by BornFree_n_Now
For TEMPERATURE control & NOISE control (won’t help with regard to clicking of the hour counter BUT does wonders for the generator), we placed FATMAT http://fatmat.com/ on the inside of each of our outer storage access doors, around our generator compartment, and all along the bottom of our chassis heat shield (the metal portion which is mounted with an inch of airspace below the floor).

Then we cut Foil Bubble Radiant Barrier Insulation (Double Bubble), panels which fit inside of each of our outside storage access doors ~ these just stand up by themselves immediately inside of the doors, and we simply move them out of the way when we want to place or retrieve items in/from the storage areas.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Foil-Bubble-Radiant ... 2a0234b004

The end result is truly amazing both with regard to noise level and temperature control ~ with regard to road noise, it produces a difference similar to that between a normal and luxury vehicle. Generator sound is reduced by a guesstimate of 50% when inside the coach.

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 9:18 pm
by Dallas Baillio
I can put up with the generator noise and even sleep with it running, but what keeps me from getting a good night's sleep is the vibration. It is really distracting in the cab over or on the couch in my 26RSB. The rear bed, farther away from the generator, is not nearly so bad. We've had no choice but to use the generator on hot and humid nights as the lesser of two evils. Progress being what it is, someday current air conditioning will be replaced by a simple, uncomplicated, quiet, vibration free heat removal system. Science will find a way, but not in my lifetime!

Re: Reduction of external noise INCLUDING generator

Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 9:23 pm
by 41Woodie
Looks like a great idea, did you cover the grill in the door covering the generator? Dynamat gets a lot of use from the hot rod crowd, really helps with noise and heat transfer

BornFree_n_Now wrote:For TEMPERATURE control & NOISE control (won’t help with regard to clicking of the hour counter BUT does wonders for the generator), we placed FATMAT http://fatmat.com/ on the inside of each of our outer storage access doors, around our generator compartment, and all along the bottom of our chassis heat shield (the metal portion which is mounted with an inch of airspace below the floor).

Then we cut Foil Bubble Radiant Barrier Insulation (Double Bubble), panels which fit inside of each of our outside storage access doors ~ these just stand up by themselves immediately inside of the doors, and we simply move them out of the way when we want to place or retrieve items in/from the storage areas.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Foil-Bubble-Radiant ... 2a0234b004

The end result is truly amazing both with regard to noise level and temperature control ~ with regard to road noise, it produces a difference similar to that between a normal and luxury vehicle. Generator sound is reduced by a guesstimate of 50% when inside the coach.

Re: Reduction of external noise INCLUDING generator

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:49 am
by BornFree_n_Now
41Woodie wrote:Looks like a great idea, did you cover the grill in the door covering the generator?
No, left the screen open but lined all of the surfaces which could be reached inside of the enclosure ~ there is actually so much room to the front of the generator that it acts like an echo chamber of sorts and the FATMAT really cuts down on the incursion of sound from that effect. Note, we also attached (zip tied), a large computer case fan to the inside of the generator door screen with a switch inside of the door. In hot weather, this seems to help considerably in getting airflow over the generator and making its life a bit easier and seemingly more productive.

With regard to the vibration, the FATMAT also seems to attenuate same, though not to the same extent of the interior noise reduction.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:55 am
by 41Woodie
Larry I have several Hot Rod buddies that have been quite pleased with Dyna-mat. There is also a product called Lizard-Skin that can be sprayed on virtually any surface and has the same effect. One of the advantages of Lizard Skin is that it can be sprayed inside doors and body panels that might be difficult to apply a sheet product. All good information, now if I could figure out how to silence that pesky hour meter (short of a hammer) I'd be ready to go.

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 9:59 am
by BornFree_n_Now
41Woodie wrote: now if I could figure out how to silence that pesky hour meter (short of a hammer) I'd be ready to go.
Humm, may consider imbibing a shot of your favorite libation at each click until you "forget" about the issue :>)

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:41 am
by 41Woodie
Wouldn't take many clicks to get the job done nowadays! Thanks
BornFree_n_Now wrote:
41Woodie wrote: now if I could figure out how to silence that pesky hour meter (short of a hammer) I'd be ready to go.
Humm, may consider imbibing a shot of your favorite libation at each click until you "forget" about the issue :>)

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 3:58 pm
by bcope01
Woodie, why not replace it with a digital hour meter, such as this:

http://www.alpharubicon.com/altenergy/g ... nytoyz.htm



Bill

Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 4:06 pm
by 41Woodie
Now we're talking, thanks Bill
bcope01 wrote:Woodie, why not replace it with a digital hour meter, such as this:

http://www.alpharubicon.com/altenergy/g ... nytoyz.htm



Bill