Whether you’re stealth camping or regular camping, you need a source of power to cook food and keep your GPS device active. Generators are ideal for this purpose but they can also be annoyingly loud which defeats the whole purpose of being out in nature and away from the noise pollution of the city. That’s probably why you’re reading this article on how to make a generator quiet for camping.
You want to enjoy your camping trip in peace without worrying about the noise created by the generator and how it’ll interrupt your peace.
After all, the whole point of camping is to enjoy the outdoors, explore the wildlife and experience ecosystems that are far removed from the norm. Although you want to unplug, you must still bring a few conveniences to make your trip comfortable, including a GPS device, a cell phone, and flashlights.
This is where the generator comes in. It’s an essential part of any camping trip and will ensure that you continue to enjoy the little creature comforts that are possible on the road. But, you need to learn how to make a generator quiet for camping so you don’t have to deal with the noise it makes.
How to Make a Camping Generator Quieter
In the following article, we will highlight the top ways to make a generator quiet for camping but first, you need to ground your generator for safety reasons. Then you can use these tips whenever you need to use a generator at home too.
1. Buy a Quiet Generator
A traditional generator is usually very large because it’s made to be used in construction sites. People in these environments usually don’t mind the noise but it will drive you crazy. That’s why if you’re going to use a generator at home or while camping, then you should look for a quiet model.
Quiet generators are usually very easy to work with and you don’t need to “fix” them prior to use. But, they are pricier than their noisy counterparts so the one you pick will depend on how much you’re willing to spend for your peace of mind.
2. Place the Generator as Far Away from the Tent as Possible
When camping, place your generator as far from your camping tent as possible. It should be about 7 meters or 20 feet away and make sure the exhaust pipe is facing in the opposite direction of your tent.
If you’re using a generator at home or with your tent with AC port, then you should place it just outside the house or better yet place it in a soundproof and locked cage just to be safe. Whatever you do, don’t place it anywhere you’re your bedrooms or living rooms. It should rather occupy a spot that’s far away from high traffic areas.
3. Use Water
Water is a great way to block the sound of a generator. All you have to do is attach a hosepipe onto the exhaust of the generator. Then, insert the loose end of the hose into a shallow water bucket to dampen the noise coming from the exhaust and the generator alike.
4. Move the Exhaust Pipes
Another way to shut off a noisy generator is to position the exhaust pipes differently in order to shift the noise direction. Generator pipes usually face outward thus projecting all the noise externally.
Inverting the pipes moves the soundwaves up instead of out, thus reducing the amount of noise that’s projected into the surrounding environment.
5. Build a Shelter Box
One of the best ways to silence a generator is to keep it in an enclosed shelter. There are generator shelter boxes that are designed specifically for the purpose of blocking out any noise caused by a generator.
You don’t have to buy these of course, because you can build one by using a few simple DIY tools. But if you don’t have the time for that then the ready-made ones are actually quite accessible.
6. Get a Sound Deflector
This is a type of device that works by deflecting noise from one spot to another. All you have to do is place it in an area where you’d like to prevent the noise of the generator from reaching you. That’s because the sound deflector works by deflecting noise away from that particular spot.
It won’t necessarily quiet the generator itself but it will prevent the noise from getting to you. So, if you want to sleep peacefully then you should place the deflector inside your tent.
Sound deflectors are even more effective when used in conjunction with some of the other methods mentioned in this article.
7. Replace the Muffler
When looking for information on how to make a generator quiet for camping, there usually isn’t much data available on how to work with older models.
If you’re using an older generator, then you should consider changing its muffler. Your local mechanic can help you with that. The engine might be faulty thus causing the engine to be noisy.
If your generator is cheaply made, then you should probably invest in a newer model that actually works properly. It’s worth noting that you can find generators worth thousands of dollars that don’t make less noise, so it really depends on the specific make and model.
8. Put a Sound-Absorbing Mat Under the Generator
Most of the noise generated by a generator comes from the vibrating motion of the machine itself. Therefore, it makes sense that placing a generator on top of a sound-absorbing mat is one of the best ways to keep it quiet.
The mat absorbs all the sound vibration emanating from the generator and can significantly reduce the noise levels produced. In case you’re wondering, sound-absorbing mats are typically utilized to quiet the sound of pool pumps so they aren’t able to handle aggressive sound vibrations.
Final Thoughts
Well, there you have it! That’s how to make a generator quiet for camping in a nutshell! Whichever method you pick, make sure to get your generator checked first and always invest in a good quality model that doesn’t make that much noise, to begin with. Or you can try primitive camping and not have to take the generator with you at all.