Message Forums

All things considered I think we should give the generator a miss. Thank you all for the advice youve saved us some ear ache from other campers.

I noticed in Argos theres a mains connector lead is this for electric hook up? And would it do for our tent . Many thanks Dast x

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=3801&productId=161401&clickfrom=image

item number 0194545

Quote: Originally posted by dastube on 08/08/2005

---

I noticed in Argos theres a mains connector lead is this for electric hook up? And would it do for our tent . Many thanks Dast x

---

If its the blue one dont get it they are really crappy!!!!

Mine is languishing in the shed after a disasterous showing at Le Mans this year. 

They are 2 stroke, noisy, smoky, and rattle the hell out of the carbs and likeages.

Save your pennies and get a honda they are the best.

Hairy Rod 

Hi Rod

Some of them are it depends, I think a few less reputable suppliers have been buying the reject ones and selling them.

I have owned and used one of those (exactly the same as the Makro one) and I also own an onboard Honda (mega expensive) and also a little eu10i Honda, the Cheapo's are far better value for money, The Honda's definately have the Quality, as rob says they are the best, but you can buy 20 of these cheapo's for the price of one Honda, the cheapo's are not that much more noisey than the Honda.

Hi Sharpe - This is the Makro model, I bought it a while ago it was a disaster.

Oaaarrrr - Rod

Honda forever...LOOK  There IS a difference  As said just a few more decibels is a lot on the human ear!! Plus the 2 stroke smell !!   With buyers its all down to Cost!!!   But I have bin there done that and TRUST me The Old Honda EX650 is wonderful and you can get a used one for 150 to 170 pounds OR a used 1000 watt Honda EU10i. But that’s the new model costing 600 pounds BUT 350 at BEST if you search for one!!

With the EX650 you do get quiet!!  AND Stable to use on Computers TVs etc..BUT here is the thing..Someone earlier touched on the subject of putting one in a box with a hole for the exhaust. Well this alone will not work due to Overheating...BUT it WILL work if you cut a round hole at the Opposite end to the Exhaust outlet hole. And in this round hole you insert a 240 volt extractor fan working to suck cool air INTO the box to pass over and through the intakes of the generator and on to chase out any exhaust fumes that may not pass out of the exhaust hole under blast alone ..........Now line the Box with a sound deadening foam...and put on the lid. What you get is a rain proof box with a 240 volt fan plugged into the Honda that only starts as the genny fires up so it Cools the Genny in the box. This cuts the ALREADY LOW HONDA noise to a minimum.. Place the Box away from all caravans with the lead Then ask ANY caravaner (NOT TENTER) to close their door and listen hard You wont hear a thing. If there is no fence or tree to Chain the genny to (Valuable item). Then get a dog tether (Steel corkscrew spike.) Wind this into the ground and chain it to that. Wire cable is best… The chain or cable would kink up if they tried to Unscrew it. and they will need bolt cutters to get it off, But no matter what If they want it they will get it.

The Box Idea WORKS   I do it ...Buy get the BIGGEST box from B+Q ..Boy it is big but if you want Silence Do it this way .....Paul  Photo supplied if requested.

IF you have a Static caravan without power. Get a Concrete Coal type bunker Fan cool it the same way and you get almost total silence Unless you are 10 feet from it!!

To prove my point Put your running Honda in your car hatch back / boot and shut the lid.. SEE you hear nothing!! Get it out fast cos it stinks the car up!!!   Yes I admit I did try it …WHY that is the question…

Hi

If anyone camped with one of them by me there would be a banana in its exhaust pipe, or maybe id just move it inside their tent

Can you imagine a site full of these, no thanks lol

Pete

Here is ANOTHER way to cut Genny Noise. Not as good as the BOX idea but simple and no cooling fan required.

Its simple Get Three pieces of 6MM ply about 50MM by 50MM each.

Hinge them together and place on the ground around the Generator like a U shape.  This will cut the noise in the backward direction BUT it will megaphone it louder in the OPEN end direction. To use this method you need to be camped on a fence to direct the noise away from other campers.

The best way to hinge thin ply is to make and use Webbing and staple it to the ply Also it will fold Flat to carry it.

Don't expect miracles but at 30  feet it will chop a bit of noise off.

The only real answer to the Noise intrusion to fellow campers is to NOT buy CHEAP and get a HONDA...Then silence it in a cooled box ....Then When on site START IT and go to the neighbours on Either side (No further necessary ) and ASK them if they can HEAR your genny and if they MIND.

They may ONLY JUST be able to make it out BUT inside their caravan NOT A PEEP will be heard. Asking breaks barriers and gets you off to a good start.

I also offer them power to their Charger (ONLY) so their battery is getting topped up at little cost to you!!.

Only try the BOX and baffle methods with a HONDA  Dropping just couple of decibels from 87 will be noticeable on the human ear BUT a few DB from a noisy one is a waste of time!!