How to build a portable generator shed enclosure?
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- Many people build sheds for portable generators, because the generators are not waterproof. What are the options to build a generator enclosure versus a generator tent?
www.Luthorville...
Written & Directed by Eric Muss-Barnes
Filmed on Location in Luthorville, California
United States of America
Copyright © 2019 Eric Muss-Barnes. All rights reserved.
that was exactly what I was thinking. Ive seen all of those videos where they fabricate exhaust pipes and all that. I kept thinking why not just put a box fan and the exhaust aimed right at the fan. glad to see that it worked out for you. going to be doing something similar here also.
I think a lot of it is just a lemming mentality. One person does it, and everyone decides to do the same thing, instead of considering alternative approaches. Good luck with your project!
@@LuthorvilleCA I agree with RickWorks247.
And just to confirm, which way is the box fan blowing air to? Pulling air from the outside vents pointed to the generator or pulling air from the generator/shed to outside the vents? sorry i'm new to this. great video.
@@chrisi6776 Judging by the position of the fan, it appears to be pulling air in from the opposite side. It's positioned like you would see it in a window with the controls facing toward the user. Hope that helps.
Good design and video. One thing I have to comment on is the fan. You stated that the box fan moves a lot more air than an exhaust fan. This may be true in the open but you are missing a crucial thing. Once you restrict the flow by putting the fan in a shed, you will find that the exhaust fan will be able to develop a higher pressure differential than the box fan. This will result in much more airflow. Also, a cheap box fan is cheap for a reason. It is not built to last very long. The last thing you need is for your generator to overheat because your $20 box fan quit in the middle of the night.
Box fan has worked with zero problems for nearly 2 years. But thanks for sharing your opinions.
Perfect. Too many people are obsessed with venting the exhaust and all this other frilly stuff. If you are venting the volume of the air inside the generator every few seconds. If there is negative pressure in that shed. Your set.
Thank you. I thought the same thing. Many of the sheds people create are overkill. Even a weak 20" box fan moves at least 1200 CFM. Most box fans move a _lot_ more than that. That shed is only about 10 cubic feet at the most. So, a 20" box fan is plenty safe.
What about the generators with Co sensors, wouldn’t that be a problem?
Love the vent, brick & box fan ideas, just what Im looking for. Thank you !
You're welcome. Glad to hear it was helpful to you.
Thanks for the video, it certainly gave me some ideas. I especially like the idea of using the paving stones and bricks.
You're welcome. Glad you found it useful.
Maybe the next video would be you actually showing us how you cut the walls and installing the vents
I'm gonna need a bigger shed.
I watched your video and decided to buy the shed. I checked the dimensions of my generator before hand. Long story short here don't forget to add how much the power plug will stick out. My generator will have a little more than 2 inches on the sides when put in the shed, yup you guessed it no room for air flow. Not all bad, it can still use the shed to store the generator in closer to the. house when I need it. Lol
Thanks for the video, we live in the desert also.
Oh, man. Well, you did the right thing. Better to get a bigger shed, as opposed to forcing it into a smaller shed, and risk melting the shed or starting a fire.
I was wondering if you've had any issues with your generator running it in the desert heat. I have a Yamaha EF6300isde generator and no where in the owners manual or shop repair manual does it tell you the maximum temperature you can run it at. We can get up to 117 degrees out here in the desert and it would be good to know if my generator can run in that kind of heat. Just curious if anyone has an idea or knowledge about it.
Need a generator shed (West central Indiana). Have looked at a lot of ideas. Yous and your explanation is the I've seen. Thanks.
Thank you. Many of the video I saw were overkill. This simple design works just fine.
Hey Eric, just wanted to say I just finished watching all your videos. Idk if you were trying to make inspirational videos, but I love the inspiration I got from this page. Man loses his job, spends all his money on desert land & a dream. To see where you started to where you are now is so inspirational and really kicked my butt into gear.
You seem like an awesome man and I hope Luthorville continues to succeed!
Thank you, Daniel. I really appreciate that.
Yes, I wanted to both inspire and educate people.
I am truly grateful that you watched the videos and shared my journey. Although I am grateful to everyone who watches and comments, it can get annoying when people try to give me advice on a video that is 4 years old and I think, "Did you see the date on this video!? Learn how CZcams works!" So, I'm very happy you are a viewer who is smart enough to pay attention to the timeline!
I hope my adventure has inspired your ambitions too! Thank you again.
Thank you for the heads up. I went ahead and added vents to the Go Board light weight box I built for the back of my truck. Thank you for the venting ideas, awesome video,
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
You did an excellent job with your shed it looks perfect to protect your generator for many years to come. The only question I have is, is the west going back to the days of unconcealed pistol carrying and looking ready for a gun fight?
I'm on my own private property, so it's perfectly legal to carry a firearm on my hip. City folk have no idea there are mountain lions and packs of feral dogs roaming deserts. They think it's just tumbleweeds and pretty sunsets.
A like from me for the revolver 👍👍👍
Thank you for your last statement. Thank you.
You are welcome. Glad to be of assistance.
Beautiful place in the desert you have. Also, your video was very helpful too, thanks from Ontario, Canada.
Hi
Excellent video.
One question I have is how soundproof is your setup?
You are right those portable generators must runs outdoor to be rain proof indoor :).
Tin roofing and 2×4s work for me don't need a melt down.
Due to my circumstances, that was not a practical solution, but I agree it's a better one.
Ok, this was a great video! I loved all the logic and do it yourself approach. Love the gun sling and all! But what I absolutely loved the most, was the life advice you gave at the end: "if your ambitions don't scare you, they are not big enough." That my friend, is exactly the advice I needed today. I am eternally in your debt. And I subscribed.
You are very welcome. And thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice comment.
Nicely done. Effective without the over kill
Thank you. I think simplicity is best.
@@LuthorvilleCA You're welcome. I priced out a suncast just like yours and it's going to be worth it.
Thanks a lot. Two great idea in this video: Using the stones and the square fans.
Thank you. Yes, the fan and the bricks have worked very well. And even if the fan were to break down, well, they are only $15. Not expensive to replace.
Thank You for the simplicity! 👍🎅👍
I love what you have done with this installation. I know you talked about this in your comments and I still cannot understand why you did not run the exhaust out the side of the compartment. It seems obvious to me that over time the inside of that compartment will see the effects of oil and carbon.
At this point, the generator has about 1800 hours of runtime and the inside is barely discolored at all. The bricks have a slight carbon black to them, but the plastic of the walls is fine. Remember, the shed is still very well-ventilated. As a result, it doesn't get that dirty. It's not like the exhaust is just being dumped into a sealed-up enclosure.
There are two large vents to handle the exhaust plus, there is a large fan to circulate the air inside.
@@LuthorvilleCA I made my previous comment before I went through the exercise of building my shed which houses a 5kw Honda. I researched the literature and found that you should shoot for about a 10 deg. F temperature rise in your shed perhaps a tad more. In my case, to attain that, I had to install a 16" 3,000 cfm fan. Remember heat is a generator's worst enemy, almost as bad as no oil. The head and windings are most vulnerable and remember that failure is not sudden but progressive. As much as 25% of engine heat passes through the exhaust pipe and it is best to have that dump through to the outside of the compartment. In my case I have two vents each about 17" sq.
So did you put the gen set in the shed for protection from the elements or for sound reduction? Majority of people do it for sound reduction and protection from the weather is just a benefit of using a shed. With all your vents I can't imagine the sound being reduced maybe why you didn't do a noise level check with the generator running. Nice shed though I'll have to check it out!
It was 100% for the weather, so I could run it in the rain. I didn't care about noise reduction since my closest neighbors are extremely far away.
Thanks for responding,that makes sense!
Good idea on the bricks and Box fan! I was also annoyed by the small and overpriced exhaust fans.
Thank you. Yeah, and it's actually worked out fine. Over 500 hours and no problems.
Best video on the subject! The fact you have so many hours on your setup if proof of your design. Simple is better.
Only request would be some shooting at the end with your six gun!
cheers, Kirby
I do have videos of some shooting. Check out my review of the Henry Single Shot Shotgun and my Firearm Basics video.
Could i build a completely brick shed. With a side wood door for putting the shed in and out
Great idea.
Your videos are very professional This one gave me some good ideals, although I build most all projects south of Miami, FL for hurricane winds and intense sun so most wood/plastic inferior to concrete blocks down here. Blocks are my adult legos.
I will eventually build a generator enclosure near our family campground and turn key vent blocks sideways and fold some metal or nylon screen material over opening and have weight of blocks hold screen in place.
Your probably to far for Lowes concrete block delivery :) but many people who aren't can just get contractor account with SSN and make up company name by just say mow lawns for business, or landscaping or farm/nursery. Then instead of $90 delivery down here it's $20 per load and they put Pallets right where you need blocks! Plus they don't charge for pallet(except concrete bags down here) and you get 5% off all orders. Might do video on block enclosure if ever build it.
Consider putting furnace filter behind your vent screens to reduce dust in more expensive generator air filter.
Thanks for great videos.
Thanks for the comment. A furnace filter is an interesting idea, but I would worry about the flammability of it.
Good video,I wasn't sure what type of fan to go with and never thought about a cheap $20 box fan.
Thanks. Yes, it works pretty well. I've had no troubles with it.
Hi, what temperature is espected inside? Maximun?
The inside temperature averages about 20 degrees higher than the outside.
Just be sure you understand the air flow to your genset. Most mfts require 5 feet around all sides so fans are important to supply genset separately from engine.
Yeah, that's why there's a fan and vents.
That looks like a nice shed! I did not go with it, as I was worried about the plastic getting eaten by the strong sun.
It has a 10 year warranty, so I'm not sure how long it will last. But, UV damage is a very legitimate concern. We'll see what happens...
Eric, not sure how the pavers are placed. Does the exhaust go out the vent or do you have it directed into the pavers?
The exhaust is pointed toward the pavers, and there is about a foot of space between the generator and the pavers.
@@LuthorvilleCA thanks so much, now I am thinking about constructing an enclosure using block on three walls with a plate door and a gabled wood roof for sound.
Thanks. Great suggestions for the shed and using bricks inside as a heat and a shed anchor.
Thank you. I figured people who have not built one yet would appreciate the simplicity.
I like the box fan idea.
I like your version of this. Could I ask, does to fan blow toward the generator or does the fan blow out toward the vent?
The fan blew inward.
I had it blowing out at first, but I found in heavy winds, the fan could stop spinning.
This is in my opinion the best made generator shed, but I have one question, do you think this will work with a bigger portable generator? Mine is Champion 9375, is that to big for this set up in your opinion?
I don't know if that specific generator would fit in this specific box. Remember the larger the engine on the generator, the more heat it will produce, so you really want to make sure you have enough space and ventilation, so you don't melt the plastic or start a fire.
@@LuthorvilleCA very good points, thank you very much for responding
The one thing that you didn't mention is security. Now I know, you say,' Yea, but it's the desert' and I say, ' If you build it, someone will try to steal it'. So, yes that the chains would deter the temptation to try to steal it. I mean, that total set up is worth some money. And you're right, sound control is not a factor in this situation.
In the desert, the best theft-deterrents are mean dogs and footprints. Fresh footprints tell thieves the place is occupied and no methhead wants to mess with angry dogs.
Early in your Vid, I can see a problem. Your fan is standing free inside the storage container, with a large gap between the ventilation hole and the fan. This will allow air inside to keep being recirculated. You need to put the fan inside a shroud sealed to the outside perimeter of the vent hole nearest to it, so as to draw fresh air inside and direct it over and around the engine. The warmed (heated) air will then be expelled through the other vents by virtue of the slightly increased airpressure from the sucked in air. You need positive circulation. Your exhaust should be piped to the outside. Whilst doing that you could add an extra silencer to keep the exhaust noise down -- important if you use it where you have neighbours. Piping it to the outside helps keep down the heat inside the container. If you are still worried about noise, sound deadening material can be attached to the unvented sections of the inside of the container. You are on the right track, though. You just need to go a bit further. As for manufacturers of those resin or plastic storage containers, "Keter" makes a very good range of sheds of various sizes. Keter is an Israeli company and has a branch in the USA:- Keter North America, Inc. is located in Anderson, IN, United States and is part of the Linens Manufacturing Industry.
Plywood makes a good shed building material if you wish to build your own shed. It is quite easy and you can make it pretty much any size you wish. Just ensure any timber you use is treated to rot-proofing standards and use rust resistant screws and nails.
After 1800 hours of runtime in temperatures as varied as 30 to 110 degrees, and nearly 2 years of use, everything in my design is still working perfectly. So, none of the changes you have suggested are necessary. But, if you choose to build your own shed, following your own advice, I'm sure it will be great too!
I am dig the six-shooter.
Thank you, sir.
I know this is a old video but if you see this would you happen to remember what model shed this is or the size
I do provide the exact model number, although I don't recall at exactly what point in the video. I know it's made by Suncast.
What pistol do you carry?And why don't you conceal carry?
All these videos are shot on my own private property, so I don't need to conceal. It's a Ruger revolver.
Lots of important info here, thanks
Glad you enjoyed it.
What is the internal temperature of the shed? In Texas when it's 95 degrees outside I can not keep the inside of the shed under 110 and that's to hot for my firman tri-fuel generator.
It got really freakin' hot.
The manual on my generator says in can run in 104 degrees continuously, and can run in 120 degrees "for short periods" but it doesn't define how long a "short period" is. Is that an hour? 5 hours? I have no idea.
When the temperature in the desert got to be 95 or 100 or 110, I would simply leave the doors and the top open.
Thank you for this info. I'm wondering if you plug the box fan into the generator while it's running or do you plug the fan into a separate outlet? Thanks.
You are welcome. Yes, the box fan gets plugged into the ordinary 120V/20A outlet of generator.
Has this held up in the winds? I'm about 100 miles north west of you in the mountains and the winds destroyed it, despite the heavy generator within. Will have to build a wood structure. We get some pretty heavy gusts, but I think you do as well.
My gusts have never gotten above 40MPH or so. It has held up fine.
Thanks for the video.
I was thinking about asking you about that shed when I saw it in the other video.
Did the generator come with the extension cord? I read that extension cords were not meant for long term/permanent use and that over time the cords degrade and can cause a fire.
And can you do a short video showing what the wind storms are like out there?
Thanks for the comment.
No, the generator did not come with the cord.
The advice you have heard about extension cords is in reference to daisy-chaining multiple cords. In other words, you shouldn't permanently connect 3 ten foot cords together to make a 30' cord. But, if you just buy a 30' cord, that's perfectly safe.
My cord is 50' long, but it is a single cord. That's fine. Also, you really shouldn't go over 100' in length and 100' is the longest single cord I have ever seen.
Honestly, there is not much to see in a windstorm, other than the chaparral moving around a little. The motion of the chaparral doesn't look very different if it's 15MPH wind or 30MPH wind.
Just found your video and love it. Looks like you are in the desert. I take it you have run the generator on the heat with no issues since you shot this? Also, are you familiar with hardie board? Was thinking of using that instead of stones for heat protection.
I've heard of hardie board. never used it. Yes, I have run the generator in heat of about 110 degrees. The instructions say it shouldn't be run in anything above 104 but it can tolerate 120 for "short periods of time". I have no idea what the manufacturer means by a "short period of time" but it still worked in 110 degrees.
How cool are you with your sidearm thanks for making this video
The sidearm isn't to look cool. It's because there are mountain lions and packs of feral dogs in the desert... Well, okay, and it's also pretty cool.
Thanks for watching!
excellent thanks ~~~
Wouldnt you want the fan blowing the air out of the shed, not into it?
I thought the same thing. But I discovered, when the fan is blowing outward, the intense 30MPH winds of the desert, blowing into the blades, can actually cause the fan to stop. I flipped it around and had it blowing inward and never had another problem, on calm days and in intense winds. Excellent question.
You would want to get rid of the exhaust gas so the fan should blow air out ...
looks good i was thinking of doing the same set and i would use the tie downs too
Thank you. Glad you found it useful.
awsome the best vid on this yet
Thank you. I did get a "thumbs down" on this video. Was probably from somebody who built a much more complicated shed! LOL
Nice Job! Thank you for Sharing!
Thanks for watching!
What type of wood is used for shed walls?
The model I used is all plastic. There is no wood.
Great shed! I do have a question and I'm not seeing videos of people talking about it. If it rains, do you have issues with water getting inside your shed (water coming through the vents)?
That question is answered in the video.
Hi, in the comments, you mention a previous video that shows the generator running. Is there a link to this video somewhere!
It was posted right before this one.
Why are you putting the fan so far away from the opening of the case? Only part of the cool outside air goes through the opening, the majority of the (warm) air is taken back out of the housing by the fan, almost like a short circuit. If you want to cool the generator effectively, the suction side of the fan must be as close as possible to the opening in the housing. It is best if a rubber seal or something similar is placed between the fan and the wall. Due to the higher air volume, the generator remains significantly cooler.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, but your assumptions are incorrect. The fan isn't there to keep the generator cool. The fan is there to make sure the generator keeps getting fresh air and doesn't stall out by asphyxiating itself. It worked really well and never had any issues.
I'm in the process of doing this. After looking at a bunch of other videos where people had bought attic fans I figured that was my best option. Love the simplicity of the box fan. One question though; do you simply have the exhaust aimed out one of the vents? I guess it's not hot enough to cause any issues with the plastic of the shed? Thanks for the video.
The spacing of the vents, and the size of the shed, is such that the exhaust is kind of half-hitting a paving stone and half-exiting out a vent. But I always have the fan blowing on the generator, which should force most of the exhaust out the vent. I have about 1000 hours runtime on the generator now, in the same shed you see in the video, and have had no problems.
This was helpful. Thank you.
Very helpful. Well thought out. Thanks.
You're welcome. Thank you for watching.
Sry for the delayed questions but what cutting tool did you use for a clean cut like that? Did you secure the fan to the shed? Did you use any sealer or gasket around the vents? We just had a huge near miss here in Melbourne Fl and this is exactly what i need. Your video is awsome.
Q: What cutting tool did you use for a clean cut like that?
A: Nothing special. Just a plain old jigsaw.
Q: Did you secure the fan to the shed?
A: No. It's just freestanding.
Q: Did you use any sealer or gasket around the vents?
A: No. That didn't seem necessary.
Thanks for watching!
I like the shed. So what type of revolver ya carrying???
Thank you.
The revolver is a Ruger.
Realizing that this video is 3 yrs old, I still think it's worth mentioning that not all generators are created equal when it comes to keeping them from overheating. Yours looks like a 3kw unit with a small single cylinder engine. Nowadays there are tons of generators over 10kw that produce 3-4 times the heat, using twin cylinder engines, yet people still put them in the same size enclosure as yours, with same size vents, etc. With larger generators, if you don't direct the exhaust to the outside directly with a pipe, the generator will overheat no matter how big the vents are. Not to say that your idea does not work for small generators, but people need to be careful.
Agreed. Anyone stupid enough to put a generator 3x bigger in the same size of enclosure is asking for trouble.
Great video!...well done Eric...
Thanks, man. Hope all is well.
Eric, great video. What is the minimum distance the generator should be away from my concrete block home? I was thinking about placing it about 5 feet away from the house. The nearest opening is a door that is 15 feet away from the generator and my garage door is about 15 feet away also. You mentioned that the opening for your power cable leading to your generator was replaced. What did you replace it with? Thanks in advance.
Excellent questions.
In doing my research about placement, there is no set consensus. Most folks say the generator should be at least 25 feet from any windows and vents of your home. Based upon my experience, and how far away I have been able to smell fumes and vapors, I would say 25 feet is wise. That is why I bought a 50 foot cord and placed my generator about 40 feet away.
As for the power cable, I replaced the opening with a nice weatherproof electrical box. I don't know the exact model or brand. But it's one of the types with a clear plastic door on it.
Hope that helps and thanks for watching.
Love the box fan idea!
Thanks. Yes, it worked quite well. The only thing I would change in this design is that I would have put the exhaust vents higher. Since heat rises, I think it would have worked better with higher exhaust vents. Otherwise, the design worked really well.
Does your exhaust blow directly at the left rear vent? I'm doing a similar shed (craftsman) and the exhaust is only about 3or 4 inches from the vent. I'm worried that it may melt the plastic where where the lower part of the vent is attached. What do you think?
That is why I lined the inside with bricks; to make sure the exhaust heat won't melt the plastic or start a fire.
no listings for where to get the sheds and the vents and everything else. We aren't psychic. I need mine for south florida hurricanes.
This video provides the exact make and model of the shed.
This video provides the exact size of the vents.
That's enough information to find these products at any hardware store in the nation.
@@LuthorvilleCA never heard anything about the fan or where to get it or where to get the vents.
Great suggestions. I like to do this same plan
Hope it works out well for you.
Good informative video. Thank you.
Whats that suncast part number and is the fan blowing towards or away from the generator
I put the part number in the video. The fan is blowing inward. Thanks for watching!
Where did you purchase these parts? Links?
I provide the make and model of the shed. That's the only special part. Bricks, vents, box fans and screens can be found in any hardware store.
Where did you get that shed from? who makes it
The brand name is in the video. It's a Suncast. I think I got it at Home Depot.
Thanks for the video. Question. how far away from the walls of the shed did you place the generator? Thanks Luther!
You're welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.
The distance varies. The face of the generator is only about 2" from the door. The exhaust is about 6" from the wall. The vented side is about 3" from the vent.
My name isn't "Luther". Not sure where you got that. My name is in the beginning and ending credits of every single video, and the description of every single video.
Eric? Oh, sorry I didn't see that. Actually I didn't look that far for it. Sorry
@@LuthorvilleCA Probably got the name from "Luthorville"
Hey Eric. Looks like a great idea. Did you use a Sawzall to cut the vent holes? Getting ready for fire season here in California!
Used a jigsaw. Thanks for watching!
Great video, I really enjoyed your logic and insight. Very informative and helpful. Thank you! Definitely subscribing.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
Nice shed. Even nicer 6 shooter.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
How did you secure the box Fan?? I appreciate it
I didn't. It's just free-standing inside.
Really enjoyed your video!!! Best. BIG help about box fan. Do you connect box fan to generator? THANKS so much.
Yes, ma'am. The generator has two regular outlets and I just plug the fan into there at the top speed.
@@LuthorvilleCA thank you. wish you the best.
One thing that I learned as a firefighter regarding airflow. You want to have the outflow approximately twice the size of the inflow openings when you are using a forced exhaust system like this. It creates more of a suction which strengthens the airflow through the room, or in this case the shed. Before becoming a firefighter I would have thought the complete opposite would be true, but that is one of the first things we learn and it is used to quickly clear smoke from a room or building. Just something to keep in mind if you ever decide to redo the generator shed later.
That is exactly what I have. The fan is blowing inward, pulling air into the shed through a 16" opening (256 sq/in). There are 3 exhaust openings which are 16", 12" and 12" in size (544 sq/in).
WH6FQE - RC Anderson I'm not a firefighter but I assumed that the exit should be larger than the air inlet ... Especially when you have exhaust gas inside the shed ... That exhaust gas evacuation should be the priority ...
And I would put the inlet and fan exhaust on the top side of the shed because hot air rises and I'm sure that the heat from that engine and the exhaust gas will rise fast and not sure than fan can move air fast enough to catch that heat ...
@@ACommenterOnCZcams Actually, putting them on the top wouldn't work as well. It would work for the heat better, but not for the fumes. Exhaust fumes are heavier than air, so they will stay toward the bottom. Having the fan on the side will work better to evacuate the fumes.
Maybe in the middle ..?? Best of both worlds..??
Hi, which is more efficient, to pushing air in to the shelter, or pulling air from inside the shelter?
what did you use to cover the hole that the plug goes thru?
What you see in the video is no longer there. That was temporary. It was just a piece of rubber from a drawer mat. Now, I have a proper outdoor outlet box in the form of a 1-gang bubble cover.
Have any issues with paint peeling/heat build up on metal vents?
None whatsoever. I imagine that might happen eventually, but not in the first three years.
Thank you. Great information
You're welcome. Glad you liked it.
Hey buddy... I did subscribe and have a couple questions for you about this since I bout my new generator and just bought the same shed. Has this held up just the way you showed it with a vent on each end and 2 vents on back wall, with some paver stones and a box fan ? If it hasn't over heated or melted im gonna run it the same way because I really like the simplicity of it. I think the 2 things I want to know is do you have the exhaust going out the vent of back wall or hit one of the stones, and I see you have the generator on the left side of shed with the box fan on the right,do you pull air from the vent and blow it across on the generator or use it to exhaust the hot air out the vent? Thank you so much for any help you can give me!!!! THANKS!!!
In answer to your questions, yes, this design worked great and I had no problems with it. I used it for about 2 years with no issues.
The box fan blew fresh air into the enclosure.
The generator exhaust was near a vent, but it didn't point directly at the vent. I used paver stones as insulation against the wall, so the exhaust heat wouldn't melt the plastic.
If I were going to build this again, there is one thing I would do differently. I would add some small vents at the top of the wall too, because the heat did stay trapped inside. Or, better yet, maybe put one of those turbine vents on the lid.
Thanks for watching. Hope that helps.
@@LuthorvilleCA @Luthorville: Off-Grid Education & Adventures thank you so much for your help. I saw the bricks so was your exhaust near the vent actually aimed right onto the patio brick itself. And when you suggested a small turbine fan in the roof are you talking about as a exhaust to get the hot air out........ really thanks for your help
@@eddiekytia Yes, exactly. One of those spinning metal turbine vents, like you put on the roof of a house, to vent the heat out of the attic. The problem I found with my design was that putting all the vents along the bottom kept a lot of heat inside. So, I think a turbine vent on the lid would help a lot. I would probably seal it with silicone, so it doesn't leak. But that is the one thing I would do different from what you see in the video.
what is the ground rod for?
Technically, a generator should be grounded. There's a ground-wire connection on the front of the unit and you should wire that to a ground rod. You don't _have_ to ground it, the generator will still work without it.
How's the generator shed holding up?
1800 hours of runtime and still working great.
Hello Eric, I really enjoyed your video. I have a question concerning proper ventilation/cooling. What do you think of using "tunnel ventilation" where the fan is at the exhaust end but blowing AWAY from the generator, and a single vent opening (same size of the fan end) on the other? Basically, doing away with the vents in the middle from the back side. My thought is that it would create a type of wind tunnel, whereas the air coming in would be at the same pressure leaving the box, creating a type of cooling/vacuum system. Would the air temperature be cooler that way? I purchased all of the supplies, and I just thought of this. I wanted people's opinions about it before I start making cuts in the structure. Any advice?
If I did this over again, (well, I can still do it now) I would put a turbine vent in the top and then I wouldn't even need the fan. The "wind tunnel" would need to be at the top, and I just don't think that would be enough. Remember, your whole goal is to not overheat. So, the more vents the better.
@@LuthorvilleCA thank you so much for responding! I really appreciate your knowledge and feedback! Blessings!!!
Hot air expands and has more volume, so the same volume of air could not transport the same amount of heat.
@@RosaBeha Thank you so much!!
Love your video. The scenery is great too. Where do you live?
Thank you. Mojave Desert.
Hi Eric! About how many paving stones did you put inside? I’m going to do the same to mine. I have the exact shed I need to put together. Thank you and take care!
I don't have this setup anymore and I don't recall the exact number. I'm thinking it was maybe 4 beneath the generator plus 1 or 2 in back. It wasn't very many.
@@LuthorvilleCA That’s cool…thanks for the reply. How did you like it? Did everything keep staying dry?
@@wildncrazyguytv You're welcome. It worked great. Everything stayed dry. it never overheated. But, if I had to do it again, I would have put all the exhaust vents higher up. Maybe even put one of those "whirlybird vents" on the top lid. I think that would have dissipated the heat even better.
@@LuthorvilleCA Thank you for all the tips! We are about to have a freeze here in Texas tonight. Hopefully the lights stay on…take care!
@Tony Thank you for the reply!! I bought and assembled my shed a while back. I still need to finish making the mods for the vents.
Awesome video Eric. Excellent ideas and information. I am looking to do something similar and your video showed me a lot. Thank you very much for the info.
Great. I'm glad it was helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
How much was that suncast shed, if I may ask
I don't recall. Go look on a website like Home Depot or Lowes or do a search on the make/model of the shed.
Truly Sorry, to bother again. All the bodies of the box fans are made of plastic. Most probably yours too. Is this not a problem being close to such heat? Had to check with you. Also, what do you guys use for TV and computer service? Haven't looked thru all your videos.
No bother at all.
The fan has been fine. Hasn't melted or anything. And remember, I have the fan blowing the outside air INWARD. So, all the hot air around the generator is being pushed AWAY from the fan, not sucked into it.
I have a video called "What is the world's most advanced off-grid tiny house?" which was designed to answer all kinds of technical questions. My process of getting online is in there.
I haven't watched television in about 20 years. Since I own *Firefly* on BluRay, I know I haven't missed anything. ;-)
@@LuthorvilleCA Thanks once again. Will watch the video you named of yours. FOX NEWS with Hannity, Carlson, Jeanine, etc I have on most of the day on my smart TV..otherwise I'd cut the cord to directv since otherwise I'm a youtuber, and could use the savings.
Thanks for your video, very informative and perfect for me. I got the same Suncast Shed, I searched online and caught a Lowes sale and took the online printout to a Lowes in Fairfield,CA and got it for $136.00. I checked every Lowes online, then called to see if they had it. And the Fairfield, CA store had two left and I jumped on it. They were selling the sheds for $249.99, marked down to $136.00.
Now to my question, ....you said you didn't use a long pipe for the exhaust and why it's not needed. Does that really work without the long pipe as seen in the other videos with exhaust exiting the shed?
Thanks,
Bob
I now have 180 hours on the generator. No problems. No exhaust pipe. But remember, I have a lot of vents and a powerful fan to keep the air flowing, plus the bricks to protect the shed from the heat. And the bricks DO get very warm to the touch, but they never get scorching hot.
Thanks Eric, glad to hear that about the exhaust issue I asked about. Your video is so simple, clear, easy and cost effective. I have gotten everything I saw in your video,
I looked at all the videos of Suncast Shed for generators on CZcams and they all provide some good directions for running and housing a unit. But your video solved all the questions I had, thank you,.... but one last point I want to know and it is about generator sound. What's your thought on that? I have close neighbors by and that's a concern here. I'm going to add in the inside, just above the bricks heat resistance sound deading material that is available online or at the various Bigbox stores, Lowes, Homedepot, Aces, etc. That should cut the sound down to half. But, anyway, great job Eric
@@beweekly1 If you want to know about the sound of the generator, watch the video I posted right before this one. I show what the generator sounds like, at various distances, while the generator is running.
@@LuthorvilleCA Thanks Eric, I'll do that.
Ferrocement construction is a pretty simple type of construction. Fireproof, windproof, earthquake proof.
But maybe lower cost per square foot just isn't American.
Did I mention Ferrocement?..
Ferrocement is a great idea. Thanks for sharing that. I appreciate it.
This protect from getting stolen
I have no idea if that is a question or a statement but... yes.
Hi, Which is more efficient, pushing fresh air in to the shelter or pulling hot air from inside the shelter?
I tend to blow air inward.
I see a lot of people piping the exhaust outside. No issues with soot inside and fan from the exhaust? I would think there would be some accumulation over time.
Over 500 hours. No issues yet.
Interior HVAC grills might need a little exterior paint or something
Nope. After 2 years in the desert sun, they still look great.
Wonderful.../ sold
Thanks. It's really quite simple. Not sure why so many people make them so complicated.
Can I put my 8500 intro this shed.
Since all sheds and generators are different sizes, I'd suggest looking up the measurements to determine fitment.