How to Make a Sound Barrier for Portable Generators
Generators can be noisy but necessary. Often they represent a paradox: necessary for sound equipment, but as loud as the noise makers it powers. Building a double-layered wall between you and the generator can control much of the sound. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Fitness pad
- 12 PVC 3-way joints
- 6 PVC 4-way joints
- PVC pipe
- 2 Fiber boards
- PVC glue
- PVC primer
- Saw
Instructions
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1
Determine the appropriate line-of-sight placement. Line of sight is one of the major determining factors in blocking sound transmissions. Angling a barrier to stand between the generator and those affected is the most definitive way to limit the noise being absorbed by the ear.
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2
Connect two 3-way PVC joints. Use as short a length of PVC as possible to serve as the connector between the two. The joints should be connected with the same alignment, with one port on the 3-way joint pointing upward. The distance between the two upward-pointing ports should be as narrow as possible, while still being wide enough to accommodate the thickness of the fiber board. In order to connect PVC, first spread PVC primer over both surfaces to be connected, then apply glue.
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3
Build five more of the brackets created in step 2. These brackets will eventually serve to hold the fiber board vertical.
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4
Connect two brackets with a piece of PVC. Repeat two more times. All the brackets in step 2 should now be incorporated into three different double-bracket mounts.
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5
Prime and glue one 4-way PVC joint to each end of the three lengths of double-bracket mounts. You should now have four PVC ports facing upward, capped on each end with three ports and all running along the ground in three different directions. Repeated over three different systems, you should now have three stands that will hold two layers of fiber board in place.
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6
Affix as much PVC as needed to support the three fiber board stands. Lengths of PVC will be needed vertically to hold the fiber boards in place and also horizontally to splay across the ground, forming a stable stand base for the fiber board.
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7
Slide both layers of fiber board through the slots created by the vertical stands of PVC. The fiber board should now be aligned parallel with a few inches of air between them. The three PVC stands should be holding the fiber board in place at the center and each side.
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Position between the generator and those subject to its noise. The fiber board will absorb most of the sound. The air spaced in between the two boards will also dampen and contain much of the noise.
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Place the generator on top of a fitness pad. Once the sound coming through the air has been blocked, adding floor padding can prevent sound from resonating through the floor. This is particularly useful on a concrete surface.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not use wood in the construction since wood conducts sound.
