Here are six great tips on how to make a generator quieter while reducing the noisy decibel level for your mobile detailing business.
Generators become an absolutely crucial part of the mobile detailing setup, powered by all your important tools and equipment on the go.
They can come in handy when doing vehicle detailing on location, whether for small things such as the detailing lights or bigger applications like the water pump or air compressor.
The downside, of course, with using a generator to power your mobile detailing equipment is the noise that this produces.
When we started our mobile detailing business, we made the mistake of buying the cheapest generator we could find. That was a huge blunder, and—lo and behold—within a year, we’d have the value of another generator in parts. We’ll get into the top six tips for how to make a generator quieter, so you can be on your way to a more peaceful and productive detailing experience without sacrificing the power you need.
1. Purchase a Generator That Will Suit You
You should also let someone know that you would know what your power needs are before making your purchase. Remembering the above, if you had to know your power needs before purchasing, you would go to any length just to avoid the noisy generator scenario.
The more power you want your generator to put out, the more noise it will make in comparison. Weigh how much power is necessary against how much noise it will generate and how much money you will spend on one.
Some of these detailers will need power only to replenish their tools like the detail lights, polishers, and vacuums among other basics. If you think about this, charging such gadgets then, of course, a smaller and less powerful generator will get the job done. In fact, several thousand watts of potential generators will be useful for this.
If you were to be looking for the ability to power bigger pieces of equipment, such as the air compressor for your mobile detailing trailer, water pump, or maybe even a high-powered lighting system, then what you would be looking for is a generator with a higher wattage output. This heavy-duty application requires an output ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 watts.
Some generators are designed with higher power wattage and, on the other hand, quieter than others. It usually costs a lot, as it offers both worlds at their best.
2. Ensure the exhaust pipes face upwards or away from you.
Firstly, do keep in mind that the positioning of the generator being used to power the mobile detailing equipment comes at the top, in particular, the exhaust end of the generator. Always position this side of the generator facing away from your detailing area.
Some generator models also allow for the upward positioning of the exhaust pipes toward the sky.
Whichever position you decide to take, you should see that the noise produced directly from the exhaust does not pass through you and your customers so you may continue detailing vehicles without distraction.
3. Take Your Generator Even Farther
Next, consider the distance you place the generator from your detailing area when considering how to make a generator quieter for your mobile detailing business. This is definitely one of the biggest things to ensure that your detailing experience stays quieter while using the generator.
Now there’s space between where you can put your generator and your detailing area, depending on a few things. The first is if you’re detailing in a busy parking lot or in some more secluded place.
For example, if you are detailing in a busy parking lot, then, of course, your customers and those other vehicles have to be considered. Placing the generator nearer to them than your customers’ vehicles would not be customer-friendly.
The only factor here is if you are detailing in a secluded area with no one else around. Then it would be the length of your extension cords and how much walking you like to do. The farther you move away from the detailing place, the more the quietness will increase. Most will indicate the decibel rating of that particular model. Most of these decibel ratings are taken at about 7 meters out from the operating generator.
So, if you want to work in that region of decibels, keep your generator at least 20 feet from your detailing area.
As far as this is concerned, given you have the room and a lack of foot traffic, purchasing some heavy-duty, extra-long extension cords would allow you to site it as far away as you like. This will allow you to reduce the noise produced by a massive margin and attend with full attention to details on the vehicles without disturbances.
4. Place The Generator On a Soft Surface
Another very important consideration in determining how to make a generator quieter in operation for a mobile detailing business is the surface you place it on while it’s running.
And, one more perfect distance has been assumed to put the generator. Then, this is to be laid down on a damping noise surface instead of an amplifying one.
Most importantly, keep off all hard surfaces. Therefore, the generator should not be placed on any concrete, wood, or asphalt since it tends to amplify noise levels, disrupting your detailing work. If you detail in a parking lot or a driveway, the best and only options to place your generator on are just a rubber mat or thick cloth. Both of these make a good surface to set your generator on.
Both will absorb and dampen the sound the rumbling generator creates, allowing you to focus on detailing vehicles without distraction. This is illustrated when one is in a position where he doesn’t have softer ground for his generator. Anti-vibration mats come in handy. In general, anti-vibration mats are usually designed from rubber to help soften the vibration, making it easier to reduce the noise that emanates from the generator; therefore, it is ideal for mobile detailing operations.
5. Use Sound Deflectors To Quiet Your Generator
If you have placed your generator on a soft surface, well away from your detailing area, the next best thing you can do to quieten the generator further is to fit sound deflectors.
While it sounds technical, this is really a very simple thing to do. One can go a long way in finding the very best way how to make a generator quieter if specifically looking out for details when doing quiet vehicle detailing in the neighborhood or even a residential area.
You’ll just need four sheets of plywood and one non-combustible material. Material similar to gypsum board is perfect for this, for it is a material that does not burn. Each piece should be approximately 4 feet wide by 3 feet in height.
You must prop each of them against the generator at an angle. Use a piece of drywall for the side of the generator that houses the exhaust; otherwise, you may risk fire hazards.
6. Acoustic Enclosure or Baffle Box Building
Another idea very similar to the deflectors is the construction of an acoustic enclosure or baffle box for your mobile detailing generator.
This will work for the same reason deflectors work so well: the enclosure will hold the sound waves and substantially decrease the decibels of noise coming off the generator, allowing for vehicle detailing to occur without disturbing people in the area.
The most positive thing about the acoustic enclosure or baffle box is that it’s way more portable than lugging around your equipment in and out of your mobile detailing trailer or van.
Another nice thing is that either a baffle box can be bought or one can fabricate it, making it easy and more effective for a mobile detailer.
Now, if you decide to go ahead and use a homemade baffle box for your mobile detailing generator, you’re going to want to make sure that you put some holes inside there for the thing to breathe. Very importantly, the box having very little or no airflow will, in turn, destroy the generator by heat.
Therefore, your box apparatus shall be without power. Cut some holes around the sides of the box for your exhaust of the generator to be. That way, it will keep the generator cool for its normal running so that you can do your car detailing on the move.
How to Make a Generator Quieter Conclusion
By incorporating these 6 tips into your regimen, you can lower the overall noise level of your generator and, by extension, your mobile detailing operation.
After all, doesn’t the whole point of mobile detailing mean being a professional and allowing the customer this peace no matter where he is?
We hope this has been of help in some way and your mobile detailing business continues without a hitch. Happy detailing! Let me know if this guide helped you with comments or ratings.
Read more at: Bestgeneratorformobiledetailing.org
