Generators

PaulatDeathrowpets · Newbie

Generators

ballast2 · Guru

A bit much me thinks. What about the newer quiter generators such aas the honda inverter? my research shows they are almost silent compared to the older types. We are going to start our lap in june/july next year. I will be buying one before we start. Have toured before but never free camped. We will be doing to do this as much as we can to help with costs. For reasons personal this time we will need to run a genni from time to time. What could be wrong with running one for 2 to3 hrs before sunset when required. Have gas but it can't do every thing. There is one thing to remember when traveling. Hopefully you will not be with the one who annoys you often. Comments from our more experienced nomads would help me with this delicate subject.
Jack

Disco Duck · Guru

I'm with Paul, Ballast2.

We have a genset but run it during the day if we have to, so we don't upset anyone or worse......ruin our own peace and quiet. No matter how quiet they are they are still louder than the peace and quiet we go bush to find!!

In my opinion...........if you absolutely have to run the genny.............don't camp near anyone else!!

jimricho · Guru

I too do not like to have my peace disturbed by a noisy generator but I must say I find your post "a little over the top" for this particular forum.

I agree that some people use their generators without regard to other campers and this is, to put it mildly, bad manners. Other campers however do consider their neighbours and use only the newer quieter ones at an appropriate time in an appropriate place so I feel it is unfair to lump all generator owners in together.

Keep it friendly and you'll be most welcome to this forum

regards,

Jim

PS: I do not own a generator.

Smokeydk · Guru

With Solar available and batterys now ...Generators are a thing of the past.....but unfortunately...some still need them for medical reasons at night...I've seen some use gennys just to run multi flood lighting and their boom boxes...those I hate passonately

Dave

jimricho · Guru

A few years back I was with a convoy that camped in caravan park/campground in the NT where they only ran the park's generator during daylight hours. They do not permit campers to use generators however a young couple near us had a baby with a medical condition that required them to have power so they were given permission to use their generator. The park owners explained that to us and that they would relocate either us or them if it was a problem. The couple themselves also approached us.

The only time I could hear the generator was during the quiet of the night and then it was not at a level that I found disturbing.

Martin · Veteran Member

generators are as offensive as you state and as your forum pseudonym is. Why forum owners allow such offensive pseudonyms is amazing. Forums of pleasure are not the place to make public statements of horror.

biggles · Senior Member

Grumpy lot today.
did anyone go over and have a chat to the bloke with the genny. He might have had 10 reasons why he needed to run his little noise maker. Sometimes people are ignorant about genny protocol, until someone gets in their ear. You can meet a great mob of people that way, go bearing gifts - little red , a little white greeting cards, it all about education, both ways.
If I had to use a genny, I would slip around & ask the people it will effect most, then only run it between 2 - 4pm.

Its very quite all the time when your dead, so I'm lead to believe. So if people make a lot of noise with music, then it an automatic invitation for me to join them. If I cannot sleep , I join them..
Happy trails to everyone - especially those annoying buggers with those noisy generators...

DeBe · Guru

Hi Paul You beter not go on a house boat they run generators alot & the sound carrys well over water. The worst one Ive heard was the Proud Mary it was near the Murray Bridge caravan park & its generator was a big 2 stroke GM diesel that was noisy. Im the od one that can sleep well with generator noise, if it stops then ime awake instantly. This comes from woking on fishing boats where engines run 24/7, & if they stop it means something is wrong. Paul enjoy the comforting sound of engines. Cheers Daryl

ElBe · Veteran Member

DeBe can go into raptures just listening to any form of engine, Iv'e seen him cosying up to a fishing vessel at Robe, when I asked him what he was doing he said having an orgasmic moment. Really I will never be able to part him from his genny, but hope to train him to be responsible in company

milo · Senior Member

we have a generator, honda, but not sure how loud it is as we havent used it yet, We'd only run it for a couple of hours in the evening then turn it off at night ,

Terro · Guru

I don't have a generator and don't think I will be going that way rather going with solar panels but that is another topic. now I'm sure Mr Duck and many of you will put me straight in my naivety here. I thought that the "Honda" generators were supposed to be virtually silent! I realise the cheaper workplace units are noisy but don't Honda advertise quietness? OK shoot me down.

Terro.

Rolly · Guru

How quiet is quiet?

Away from the otic pollution of towns and human activity, excessive noise can be that generated by flatulence in the full closed-up motorhome on the other side of a 20 hectare paddock. biggrin

I have tinnitus.
In and around the suburbs I hardly notice it.
Out in the bush, it sometimes annoys the very bejaysus out of me.

rosey · Senior Member

There was a large caravan close beside us one night in Tasmania and all was well till they started their Genny at 5am! It wasnt a particularly noisy one (Possibly one of those Honda "silent" type) but at such close proximity and at that hour it was loud enough to be very annoying. Impossible to go back to sleep, we should have knocked on their door and politely asked what their problem was, as you suggest Biggles, however that would have meant getting up and dressed etc. We ended up feeling grumpy about Generators now and forever more!

Genny owners who run their engines at times/ distances not to disturb their fellow travellers have my thanks! biggrin

Disco Duck · Guru

I would never try to shoot you down Sit Terro. You just might just shoot back and guns and ducks don't mix.

Yeah......the new Honda gennys are real quiet and that is what I run, but I am still conscious of disturbing other campers. Even the quietest gen set can sound like a roar when it is very quiet .......if you know what I mean.

We don't sit and watch TV or DVDs when we are out camping as we are enjoying the sights and sounds of the nature that we came to see, so I guess we would hear them more than some.

We usually camp on our own so it isn't much of a problem. A few months ago we camped on the Murray for a week just out of Wentworth and there were about 6 or 8 vans about 200 yards from us. They had a genny running during the afternoon to charge batteries and work the freezer. At about 5 they shut it down and peace reigned as we had the sundowning Yummies for the day. Perfect!!

As Jimricho said......there are some exceptional circumstances and we all accept that these occassions are unavoidable. They are also rare.

I agree with what you say DeBe. The sound of a motor on a boat is sweet. I spent many a night asleep in the engine room at sea only to wake up at the slightest rev change. But that is work and I go camping for the relaxation and peace.

Terro · Guru

Rolly, am I incorrect in thinking that some background noise can be a relief for tinnitus? A couple of people I have worked with over the years have said that a bit of music from a small radio under the pillow really helped.

Terro

Rolly · Guru

Terro wrote:

Rolly, am I incorrect in thinking that some background noise can be a relief for tinnitus? A couple of people I have worked with over the years have said that a bit of music from a small radio under the pillow really helped.

Terro

That was more or less my point, Terro.

The "White Noise" generated by human activity in metro areas serves to mask the tinnitus.

Out bush, where I want to hear the quiet sounds around me, the tinnitus masks them.

Mostly, though I can pretty well ignore it, but I do have to ask people to repeat themselves occasionally.
Since the tinnitus occurs in the higher frequencies it almost completely obliterates the voices of my grandkids when they are being polite and quiet. hmm

But that is such a rare occurrence, it doesn't bother me much. biggrin

Terro · Guru

I thought I was on the right track. What a bugger not being able to hear the sounds of the bush. My sympathies are with you. Is there any marvellous modern aids that can help apart from back ground noise?

Terro

Disco Duck · Guru

I suffer from selective deafness..............Does that help Sir Terro?? hehe

I have a mild case of tinnitus and I do stress mild but it can still be annoying and there is nothing that can be done Sir Terro!!

I also have industrial deafness (caused by listening to DeBe's damned boat engines ) and that stops me hearing the high notes and if there is background noise it is very hard to hear some people talk........sometimes .....not a bad thing :)

5 am for a genset?? Love thine neighbour ........with a bigger stick.

justcruisin01 · Guru

Terro wrote:

Rolly, am I incorrect in thinking that some background noise can be a relief for tinnitus? A couple of people I have worked with over the years have said that a bit of music from a small radio under the pillow really helped.

Terro

         In the quite of night when the tinnitus is having a real good go you feel like

           screaming , its so annoying.

         as for the genny ,some times you have to use them , solar does not work at night , or very well in cloud /rain days .

           batteries only last so long before they need a top up.tes ,be considerate in the hour they run .

            If you know you are going to use one ,& first in camp ,sit the gen out on display , others can park further away if poss, before setting up.

        I use one when ness,but not in inapropriate times .

        If you can please some ,some of the time we are doing well.

Basil Faulty · Guru

Rolly wrote:

Terro wrote:

Rolly, am I incorrect in thinking that some background noise can be a relief for tinnitus? A couple of people I have worked with over the years have said that a bit of music from a small radio under the pillow really helped.

Terro

That was more or less my point, Terro.

The "White Noise" generated by human activity in metro areas serves to mask the tinnitus.

Out bush, where I want to hear the quiet sounds around me, the tinnitus masks them.

Mostly, though I can pretty well ignore it, but I do have to ask people to repeat themselves occasionally.
Since the tinnitus occurs in the higher frequencies it almost completely obliterates the voices of my grandkids when they are being polite and quiet.

But that is such a rare occurrence, it doesn't bother me much.

Rolly, I have been given a cure for my tinnitus, I have a whisteling sound like the sound of tuning in a shortwave radio. I found however my wife came up with a brilliant solution for it and for a small consideration I'll let her share it with you....
Yarp, Yarp, Yarp,

Yarp, Yarp, Yarp,
Yarp, Yarp, Yarp,
Yarp, Yarp, Yarp,

Rolly · Guru

Terro wrote:

I thought I was on the right track. What a bugger not being able to hear the sounds of the bush. My sympathies are with you. Is there any marvellous modern aids that can help apart from back ground noise?

Terro

When somebody comes up with an "Elixir of Youth", maybe; but at present, no.

I'd like to live for a long time, but this growing old has got knobs on it. furious

Rolly · Guru

Somewhere, back along the track, we were discussing those who pull up and camp really close despite there being plenty of room to spread out.

I wonder if starting up an unmuffled 3 KVa diesel genny of the 1960s kind would be an effective deterrant? evileye

rosey · Senior Member

Rolly wrote:

Somewhere, back along the track, we were discussing those who pull up and camp really close despite there being plenty of room to spread out.

I wonder if starting up an unmuffled 3 KVa diesel genny of the 1960s kind would be an effective deterrant?

Our thoughts exactly !!!

ElBe · Veteran Member

5am arrrgh never, 5pm to 7pm maybe

wendyv · Guru

We have solar panels to provide power for lights and our 12v fridge, when bush camped. For years I resisted having a generator. But there were times we had to leave great bush camps before we wanted to, because of a run of dull days. In 2004, we were camped at Thomas River, in WA. A Nat Parks study group came and camped in the next bay. They ran a Honda 10i - I was amazed at how quiet it was, so we went and bought one. Do not use it much - our van is fairly minimalist so we do not draw much power. I do not think our Honda, run in the daytime, would be very intrusive - provided neighbours had not camped uncomfortably close to us.

reza · Senior Member

ohh well i admit i run a honda 30iu in bush camps or road stops but i DO ask around if it upsets in saying that i dont run it all night usually when we pull up i just heat the water for a shower and charge the lappy i have to admit a few weeks ago on the way back from WA yes i had to run the a/c but Honda not bad

Basil Faulty · Guru

Does anyone use a wind generator?
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MG4520&keywords=wind&form=KEYWORD

ibbo · Guru

I am a wind generator.................tried all kinds of treatments but to no avail.Cheers.Ibbo............................nick off Disco.lol

justcruisin01 · Guru

After reading this post a second time I think it is totaly over the top.
It would appear that any one that has a geny is targeted at the same level
which is unfair .

I beleive a big % of people carry a genny for those needed times .
Ifr you wish to abandon your self from this many people ,their capabilities & social activites ,then thats your lose.

However , I do beleive in giving credit where credit is due ,
Mate ,you come accross as being the perfectly balanced bloke,
You have a chip on both B##### shoulders.