Onan Confirms 4000i Inverter Generator

[Chance]

After a few years, Onan confirms 4,000-Watt inverter generator is on its way. They mention it is the quietest in its size segment, and that it will replace the existing 4,000-Watt line. That’s what Onan did with 2800i so not surprising the old fix-speed model will be discontinued.

New products will be introduced during a tour starting mid June. If I see specs on this new unit I’ll share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtOORc4BpDQ

https://rvbusiness.com/capitol-talk-...nplugged-tour/

[Chance]

No specs yet but in case anyone is interested, here’s a picture of new Onan 4000i inverter generator.

It’s hard to tell dimensions from a picture, but looks like it takes up about same space as existing QG 4000. Perhaps a little taller as was case with 2800i. In any case, seems like move in right direction.
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[Pete'sMH]

If the improvement matches the 2800/2880i it’s worth the wait. The new one is literally no louder than the air conditioner, uses less fuel and starts instantly every time. I would not hesitate to use my 2800i even in a park that banned generators unless there was another campsite within about 30 feet on the exhaust side. And even than I’d use it long enough to make coffee or microwave a breakfast sandwich.

[ducksface]

I installed our inverter mainly so as to not torment others with our generator.

I'll let everyone everyone beta-test these then I'll buy this as a second gen, gen, if I need one, but only for the fuel injection IF the fuel injection deems itself valuable.(I think it will).
Fuel consumption is already at 90mpg(.7gpm loaded) for the current proven versions and stainless steel wool in the tailpipe has quieted mine as well(been doing it for years to vehicles. A miniature 'glaspak' resonator type thing, it busts up the pulse waves and drops decibels)

The FAN will determine quiet on these new ones.
Any muffler or insulation can be easily added to the current gas model.

Punchline;
A fine replacement when forced, but no value as an upgrade if your existing unit is working.
Fuel savings and the sounds you don't hear will take two rv lifetimes to roi as just a Swap out for swap's sake.

Just sayin'.
(If you haven't accomplished what's in the pictures, are you really concerned with sound? $30 cost.

We say bad things about Thor so why would you expect adequate gen sound cancellation?

And
Sitting a simple cardboard box so the exhaust points into it lessens sound travel distance by 50+%

[Chance]

Clearly new Onan is meant as a model replacement, not as a typical upgrade. I’m sure someone will swap one out eventually due to lower noise, but that will be an exception.

In video Onan guy states this new Onan 4000i will be the quietest generator in its size. That’s interesting claim because there is already a 4,000-Watt inverter generator for motorhomes manufactured by RVMP, and they claim that at 50% load (2,000 Watts), their generator’s sound level is 48 dB(A), versus Onan’s present 4,000-Watt unit at 60 dB(A). “If” true that is a huge difference, and if Onan can beat 48 dB with new generator, it will truly be some achievement. I have my doubts about both claims, but will keep an open mind.

Fuel efficiency at near no-load is where RVMP is much better than present Onan 4000. For boondockers who power one air conditioner overnight, fuel savings at +/- 25% generator load could add up, though would not justify replacement cost.

The greatest advantage I see to greater generator efficiency is that fuel in motorhome tank should last much longer (up to twice as long if we believe RVMP data). See fuel and sound data at bottom of second page.

https://apelectric.com/content/PDF/R...spec_sheet.pdf

[ducksface]

Yes, .7 gallons adds up quickly to 17 gallons in 24 hours.
$17 x $4pg=$68 for a long hot boondock day vs the $50(guess). 10 days of this is enough to pay for a tank of RV fuel.

There will be advantage in all of it for NEW RV buyers, none for us.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

Duck,

What is that metallic padding in there? Is that insulation and/or sound proofing?

Just askin..

[ducksface]

Both.
There's an open cell version that's thicker and better heat insulation.
I have it all under the dash and wheel wells also.
It really really Dead end sounds.
One sheet on each door of our Polaris ranger and it went from sounding like someone tossing a soup can into a suspended steel drum to sounding like a quality car door closing.

I think it's $49 for 31sqft on Amazon.
The name is on it in the pics.

So easy to cut, so sticky, so moldable. Double layer if you want.
Perfect.
There's a sameysimilar product without the printing all over it.

There's a pic or two of under my dash and my air cleaner housing covered in it. Last 5 or so pages of my build thread.

I also have about 100sqft of refractory/crucible\kiln 1inch thick, 2400° proof, material I'll be adding to the underside of the rv and behind cabinet walls.
No real need. More of a
Why not
Type project.

To be fair, my generator was being replaced so I had excellent access in there.
Aside:
Warranty replaced my gen last week with a brand new one.
I brought home the old 500hr one and fixed it, no bull, in one slap of my hand... Two seconds. I'm reassembling it now.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Interesting... Why did Onan wait until some MH makers started installing Yamaha inverter gens? Onan had a captured audience; what happened?

Truth be told, I haven't seen any reviews or comparisons of Yamaha's offering to Onan. It just seems odd to see a MH reviewer open that generator door... and see a BLUE generator! There's even a white competitor... but I don't recall the brand.

[ducksface]

Easy enough, but what maintenance other than aircleaners and the oil plug at the bottom?

[Robert H.]

Originally Posted by Chance

Onan’s present 4,000-Watt unit at 60 dB(A).

https://apelectric.com/content/PDF/R...spec_sheet.pdf

I don't believe my Onan is only 60dB(A) I would guess more like 80. It is so annoying I bring my Honda along if we will need a generator. It is my least favorite feature on our Vegas. I can usually get by on inverter and solar/battery unless we need to run the air while boondocking.

Maybe insulation would help reduce the noise inside the coach, but it wouldn't reduce the noise pollution for everyone else.

[Geterdun]

Originally Posted by Robert H.

I don't believe my Onan is only 60dB(A) I would guess more like 80. It is so annoying I bring my Honda along if we will need a generator. It is my least favorite feature on our Vegas. I can usually get by on inverter and solar/battery unless we need to run the air while boondocking.

Maybe insulation would help reduce the noise inside the coach, but it wouldn't reduce the noise pollution for everyone else.

Read it again - it says 68 db at HALF LOAD.

[Robert H.]

Originally Posted by Geterdun

Read it again - it says 68 db at HALF LOAD.

It does say half load, but no load shouldn't be louder than half load.

In reality the load on a non-inverter generator doesn't make that much difference since it always runs at the same speed.

I run the generator once per month mostly with no load and then add load for a couple minutes. No matter what, it is way too loud.

I do own a sound level meter, and one of these days after we get home I will measure the actual level.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Geterdun

Read it again - it says 68 db at HALF LOAD.

Correct, I used wrong spec in my post.

Existing Onan QG 4000 is 68 dB(A) at 10 feet and at half load.

The 60 dB(A) is at 50 feet distance which is National Park Service requirement. Obviously distance is our friend.

.

[Norrirn]

Originally Posted by Robert H.

I don't believe my Onan is only 60dB(A) I would guess more like 80. It is so annoying I bring my Honda along if we will need a generator. It is my least favorite feature on our Vegas. I can usually get by on inverter and solar/battery unless we need to run the air while boondocking.

Maybe insulation would help reduce the noise inside the coach, but it wouldn't reduce the noise pollution for everyone else.

A couple of years ago I was convinced that our ACE's QG4000 was just too loud and placed my hand near the exhaust port under the generator and discovered that the exhaust pipe was loose. Resecuring the exhaust pipe quietened it significantly but I've not checked the DBs.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by Norrirn

A couple of years ago I was convinced that our ACE's QG4000 was just too loud and placed my hand near the exhaust port under the generator and discovered that the exhaust pipe was loose. Resecuring the exhaust pipe quietened it significantly but I've not checked the DBs.

Most Android cell phones come with an app named "smart tools". A sound meter is one of the tools. My QC4000 registers 61db @ 10 ft when the RV is parked on grass; on pavement it registers 66 db @ 10 ft. It has a 12 ft long 1" diameter exhaust pipe. Is the sound meter accurate, I have no clue.

[ducksface]

Accurate or not it will make for a measurement within the parameters of testing an RV generator by a novice.

I'll post my "silenced" qg4000 android decibel numbers soon.

[Pete'sMH]

And remember that sound pressure (dab) is a logarithmic scale not a linear one. So 50 dab is HUGELY quieter than 68.

[Chance]

For reference, Onan’s QG 2800i smaller inverter generator which Onan introduced first about 2 years ago is rated at 65 dB(A) at 10 feet and half load. Sound rating isn’t much lower but most people subjectively report the 2800i being considerably quieter than regular QG 4000.

I hope the new QG 4000i is better than that because there is a lot of room for improvement below 65~68 dB(A) level. A portable Honda for example of similar size is much lower than that.

.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

And remember that sound pressure (dab) is a logarithmic scale not a linear one. So 50 dab is HUGELY quieter than 68.

Yes, which is why I question RVMP’s 48 dB(A). That’s really quiet by comparison, though some Honda get close in low 50s (measured differently).

In any case, some rooftop RV air conditioners can be louder than that, so may drown out generator noise to some degree.