Quiet Generators

[douber1]

When you look at them online or in a store - there should be a db (decibel) rating - the lower the number the quieter it will be.

hi
i have a honda EU 2000 and the decilble is 49 and very quiet and
when it stops running you will know its out of gas
dan
good luck
my son inlaw has reg one and is kinda noisy he loves mine

 

[Honey]

My folks have a Honda generator and it is quite as well. My neighbors, on the other hand, do not and there is a big gap between their house and mine and I can hear their's running. Drives me nuts.

 

[jenkinsph]

Sally,
Honda makes serveral of the quiet models the 3000w with electric start is a good choice to run a few appliances or small air conditioner. Honda also makes 2000w and 3000w pull start models that are light and portable. If you need more power there is also a 6500w electric start unit just more money. I have a 2000w pull start and a 3000w elec start, both have been very good and dependable. To appreciate how quiet these are you need to hear one running.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

I've got a 5000W Coleman. It roars.:tongue:

 

[jross]

We have a 8000/10000w Generac and it is fairly loud. Why so big? After working in the electric utility business for 30 years a big generator has the reserve for when the well pump, sump pump, freezer and fridge decide to load up at the same time. I tested our surge load using the meters on the transfer switch. The initial draw was 5900 watts after quickly flipping the 6 switches, the running draw was 1900 watts, and the lowest load was 900 watts. I know electrical equipment is designed to handle surges in load, just look how it is when the power goes out, on-off,on off..etc then out! Each one of those low voltage, high amp cycles reduces the life of electrical equipment. Each time that generator groans the same thing happens. The thing we have uses a lot of gas though.

 

[djdicetn]

Sally,
Honda makes serveral of the quiet models the 3000w with electric start is a good choice to run a few appliances or small air conditioner. Honda also makes 2000w and 3000w pull start models that are light and portable. If you need more power there is also a 6500w electric start unit just more money. I have a 2000w pull start and a 3000w elec start, both have been very good and dependable. To appreciate how quiet these are you need to hear one running.

IMHO, the Honda generators may be "quiet", but they are also "quite" pricey!!! The 3000w is around $2,000!!! I am an RV'er and what bothers me even more is that for $2,000 you don't even get a 30amp RV plug receptacle:0(
Camping World carries a Champion brand and you can get a 4,000w pull-start for $320 and it has a 30amp plugin!!! They even carry a whopping 9,500w electric-startmodel for half what you would pay for the Honda 3,000w model and the Champion has a 30amp...AND...a 50amp(big RV plug receptacle). Even though the Honda 3,0000w is rated at 49-58 decibels and the Champion 4,000w is rated at 68 decibels, I couldn't justify the $1680 price difference for a little extra....10 decibels "noise"(as well as 30amp compatibility). And for half the price I dare ask if you can guess whether I would invest in the Champion 9,500w(rated at 74 decibels) versus the Honda 3,000w regardless of the noise factor. BTW, just for comparisons a Google of decibel loudness comparisons yields:
Normal conversation at 3' is 60-65dB
Telephone dial tone is 80dB
City Traffic (inside car) is 85dB

Based upon those examples I could definitely "tolerate" the Champion 9,5000w's 74 decibels!!! Also:
Level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss is 90 - 95dB, so 74 decibels is going to be considerably louder than the Honda @ 49-58. And of course this thread is focused on "quiet generators" so my comments about what "quiet" costs may be out of line for the conversation. If so, I apologize for the sidebar.