Running Gen set in back of Wagon

[xcvator]

If I mounted a small (2kw) remote controlled genie in the back of my wagon and extended the exhaust outlet to reach outside the car would this act as an effective noise control for the genie ?
Of course the windows would have to be opened marginally for air supply.
NO BODY WOULD BE IN THE CAR WHEN THE GENNIE IS RUNNING
what's your thoughts please
cheers Keith

[Tjupurula]

Hi Xcvator
Tried tha tunst only once ever, with my smaller scorpion gen set, never again.  Getting the stench of exhaust out of the upholstery never happened, I end up replacing my two front seats, and getting the rear seat re-covered, it was shocking.
I have now made up boxes with 5 ply, outer layer and innerlayer, with old mattress foam in between, and the sound is muffled to the extent that at 15 metres, it can not be easily heard.  I extended the exhaust through the side of the box, and breathing holes  where the air filters are.
Regards
Tjupurula

[speewa158]

l love the smell of 2stroke in the morning    Get a long lead ,chain the genny to a tree ,get a box as described . At worst get a cardboard carton  face it away from camp .  OR get solar from Mandrake & a huge deepie or 2 to supply your power needs . That solar is a lot easier than a gen set 

[BigJules]

You could make a folding box setup, like a Jimmys Thunderbox, and place that over it.

[Bird]

whats the reason for wanting it inside the car?

so theres no noise outside? or other?

[xcvator]

whats the reason for wanting it inside the car?

so theres no noise outside? or other?

I was looking for a cheaper way of heating the camper than a diesel heater, 2 many $$, when I saw some 2kw genies on evilbay with a remote control start/stop for about $500 , aha, a thought crossed my mind, I could put that in the back of the car where it would be totally  silent, I can turn it on/off from in bed and have it run an 1200w electric ceramic heater to keep shwmbo nice and warm ( course I'm a tough old sod so it wouldn't be for me  )

[BigJules]

Tell her it spooning or freezing.

[austastar]

Hi,
   Rob Gray describes a generator fire in his website here





Having read this, I wouldn't be too keen on running a generator in the vehicle, especially if it is out of sight most of the time.

While using Google to find this again, I came across some USA data on Carbon Monoxide poisoning  inside houses where storm power outages caused owners to use back up generators, and placed them within 7 feet of the house.

I think generators are best kept on the end of a long lead, in an open area.

cheers

[Matto]

I came across some USA data on Carbon Monoxide poisoning  inside houses where storm power outages caused owners to use back up generators, and placed them within 7 feet of the house.

Not just in the US, unfortunately. The only fatality during Cyclone Yasi was from a fellow using a generator incorrectly, and suffocating. I think people underestimate just how little carbon monoxide you need.

Back on topic - xcavator - whilst I think your idea is possible, I suspect it would be far too much trouble than it's worth. That Rob Gray had a problem with his gen is concerning - he's been around the block enough times to know which is the sharp end of the stick. That said, big boats run gennies in their engine rooms in a very similar setup to what you're describing (external intake, external exhaust) and don't have any problems with it, so I'm sure it's possible. I would suspect that by the time you built a sufficient muffler for the gen though, you wouldn't have much in the way of rear cargo area left. I wouldn't like to refuel the gen while it's in the car either - I have a habit of spilling petrol everywhere even when the genny is sittong on the ground at my feet.

I know it's not the cheapest option, but if it were me I think I'd just have to save up and plonk in one of these:
http://caravansplus.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=10881
(ebay has them slightly cheaper, plus I've seen them on getawaeco.com.au every now and then)

Get it installed by a professional gasfitter, plumbed into the gas tanks on your camper. Pull up, open camper, turn on gas, instant heat. No fumes, no generator running, no petrol needed, no problems. Granted, it's pretty much a single-use piece of equipment, unlike a genny that you can use for a lot of other tasks.

That's my $0.02. If you do decide to go ahead with your original plan though, I'd be very interested to see how you go with it. It's certainly possible, and I've learnt to never underestimate the inguinity of swaggers when it comes to figuring things out.

Good luck!
Matto

[Eureka]

Ships/boats also use vibration isolating feet, water cooled alternators and IC engines ( the water jacket is a noise silencer in itself) , and noise insulation on all walls and roof.
 A genset inside a car will work, but as written above, the cooling air also carries oil and particulate matter , leaked carbon monoxide and plain old dirt after going throught he set once. A run over night would definitely cause some issues.  if you do go this route , as a minimum please get some of those CO tags, the ones that change colour in the presence of carbon monoxide and stick one on the windows .

A better system is to put a better muffler on the set, have some fin rattle rubber fitted ( or a thick line of silastic down the fins) and get some noise abatement rubber/ foil sheet and cover the genset external covers.

And rather tha using that ceramic heater, use an electric blanket. Much less wasted heat and a much lower current draw. A little 1Kw genset/inverter would run a blanket!

[speewa158]

l run the lecky blanket through the inverta from the deepie battery . Charged from solar or the tug or genset depending on the need . Really dont want to run the gen at night 

[xcvator]

Sorry I didn't make myself clear, the geni would only be running before we went to bed and then 1st thing in the morning, and that's the time I don't want to disturb anybody else,rest of the time it would not matter

[jasonw]

ive got a jimboomba excalaber camper and it is setup with a honda 2 gennie in a box near the front. the box is setup with a hole/port?? in front of the exhaust with 2 extraction fans (run as soon as the gennie fires up) that blow the gasses down under the camper, with the door closed its reasonably quite. so yes you could do it if you made a box with air in and air out through a window or something.
however id buy a battery, solar panel and one of these
http://www.tektrek.com.au/#!12v-electric-blankets