PacB Group // Silent Generators Need No Longer Be Either Seen or Heard

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Silent Generators Need No Longer Be Either Seen or Heard

Having access to a source of auxiliary electric power in the event of an emergency can, quite literally, be a lifesaver on occasions. In addition, mining and construction companies that are frequently required to operate in areas that are remote from or are simply not connected to a municipal electricity supply, could not function at all without the aid of suitable gensets. While in some environments the noise produced by a bank of diesel engines or a locomotive may be acceptable with suitable precautions, there are many situations where excess noise is not desirable and in which the new breed of more silent generators is proving to be invaluable.

Excess noise is, in fact, now widely seen as an environmental pollutant and, increasingly, governments around the world have been drafting or extending legislation that is designed to impose limits on noise pollution and to levy fines from those who exceed those limits. Much of that legislation applies to excessive levels of noise in the workplace where prolonged exposure is known to result in noise-induced hearing loss and regulations mandate employers to supply effective protection for their workers.

By contrast, while the noise issuing from small units used to serve a caravan or boat may not be a health hazard, it can certainly be annoying. Silent generators provide a markedly less intrusive experience both for their owners and for those who happen to live or work in close proximity to them. In addition to providing concealment, an insulated canopy may often suppress noise adequately, as well as protect the unit from any damage due to the elements.

Where a standard canopy may prove insufficient, many leading manufacturers such as Honda, Yamaha, Briggs and Stratton, and Hyundai now offer tailored enclosures with superior acoustic insulation for many of their models, effectively providing their clients with what amounts to a silent generator.

The larger the unit, however, the more noise it will be likely to produce and there may come a point at which providing external insulation alone will no longer be sufficiently effective. It is at this point that the potential benefits of a unit whose design makes it inherently quieter will become more evident, prompting the user to learn a little more about now some newer models have been designed to operate a lot more quietly than has been the case with earlier units. Especially where a continuous supply of power is not required, one possible option is to choose a model with a power inverter, as these are markedly more silent than conventional generators with the same power capacity.

The level of noise experienced is governed not only by the nature of the source, but also by the distance from the source at which it is measured. For these power units, the internationally accepted distance is 7 metres and noise levels are expressed by manufacturers in LWA units rather than in decibels (dB). When making a purchase, it will, therefore, be an advantage to have at least a rough idea of the relationship between these two units commonly applied to the measurement of sound.

Equivalent levels at various distances can actually be obtained by consulting conversion tables now available online but, in simple terms, to qualify as a silent generator, they should produce no more noise than a normal conversation. This is generally accepted as being 65 dB, which is the equivalent of around 90 LWA and in addition to Honda and Hyundai, many other manufacturers now offers a range of models that operate at between 50 to 65 dB or even less.

In keeping with our philosophy of leveraging new technology to provide superior power solutions, we have become a leading supplier of silent generators and the preferred choice of many of the leading industries in South Africa and the neighbouring states.