- Generator Noise -
Honda EU-3000 vs Onan Microquiet Series

The reason for this dissertation is to point out that when comparing generator noise levels, you need to also look at what distance the measurement is made.  

The National Park Service (NPS) noise limit is 60 db at 50' from the source.  This restriction is not well published, and not easy to find on the internet.  I think it applies to off-road vehicles (snow mobiles, ATVs, etc.) as well as generators.

Visit www.mcsquared.com/dbframe.htm for a discussion and an on-line calculator for calculating noise levels at different distances.  As a rule of thumb, the noise level drops 6 db every time the distance from the source is doubled.


A generator cannot exceed the following noise levels in accordance wtih the (36CFR2.12):
60 db @ 50' (NPS limit)

67 db @ 23' (Honda specs are at 23')
74 db @ 10' (Onan specs are at 10')

Note that the following noise levels for the Honda EU-3000 are published specs with the generator free-standing in open space.  The specs for the Onan 3600LP are measured levels using a Radio Shack
Digital-Display Sound-Level Meter Model 33-2055 with the unit installed in a sound-proofed generator compartment.  The measured noise levels were consistant with the Onan published specifications.

Honda EU-3000 vs. Onan Microquiet Noise Levels
(Published specifications are in bold)

Distance
10 feet
23 feet
50 feet
Generator Load
0 %
100 %
0 %
100 %
0 %
100 %
National Park Noise Limit
74 db
74 db
67 db
67 db
60 db
60 db
Honda EU-3000
56 db
66 db
49 db
59 db
42 db
52 db
Onan MicroQuiet
62 db
70 db
55 db
63 db
48 db
56 db

Generator Noise Level at 50'
Equivalent Noise
db
Honda
EU-3000
Watts
Onan
3600LP
Watts
Vacuum cleaner 70 db    
  69 db    
  68 db    
  67 db    
  66 db    
  65 db    
  64 db    
  63 db    
  62 db    
  61 db    
NPS Limit (Normal Speech) 60 db    
  59 db    

 

58 db

  

 

 

57 db

 

 

 

56 db

 

3600

 

55 db

 


 

54 db

 

2700

 

53 db

 


 

52 db

2800

1800

 

51 db



Private Office

50 db


900

 

49 db



 

48 db


0

 

47 db


 

Living room, suburban area

46 db


 

 

45 db


 

 

44 db


 

 

43 db


 

 

42 db

0

 

 

41 db

 

 

  40 db    
  39 db    
  38 db    
  37 db    
  36 db    
  35 db    
Soft Whisper 34 db    
  33 db    
  32 db    
  31 db    
  30 db    
Related Web Sites
Honda EU-3000
Onan RV Generators
Decibels and Distance Calculator
Onan 3600 LP Installation
klenger.net RV Web Page
You know that you are an RV junkie if the sight of these pictures gets you all excited.