Shelter for portable generator

[Pilot]

I need some ideas designing and building a weather shelter for my generator. Only to be used when the generator is running, parked just outside my garage door. Usually only need the power when the weather is nasty, blowing and raining. The generator is stored in the garage, but we put it outside to run it to keep fumes out of the house and reduce the noise-it's loud!

Criteria:

1. It should be easy to collapse & put away, not taking up much storage space.

2. Should deaden the noise rather than amplifying it.

3. Should be able to attach it easily to the generator frame so it won't blow away.

4. Should be able to tolerate getting wet.

5. Must provide some ventilation.

6. I need to be able to easily get to the controls and cable socket.

The generator is about 30" high, 28" long and about 20" wide.

I tend to over build things, so I am looking for simple and elegant solutions.

What do you guys do to protect your generators out in the weather?

 

[Western]

You could put in an exhaust line in the garage.

Or build/buy a cart that rolls and build a "semi-replica" of your home to encase it. a replica of a "Caboose" would be neat, but someone may want it more than you when your not looking.

 

[namesray]

i have also recently thought of building a portable "generator house" to keep it out of the elements. i have a champion generator 5000/6000 watts and on wheels, but still heavy and a little awkward. my idea (i haven't done it yet) was to use a standard 48" X 48" pallett with a plywood floor instead of the spaced boards. the pallett would be the base and off that i would build a box frame with a piece of steel roofing as the top/lid. i would make the steel roofing over hang all sides as to better protect the generator from rain/snow. it also would be on a hinge so i could just lift it up for refueling. the sides would be left open for ventilation and access to the electrical componets and such. since it is heavy to load into my truck or kubota rtv, now it is on a pallett that i can use my forks on my loader to pick it up and transport to where i need it. i would also design a anchoring system on the palletts base to prevent the generator from sliding out.

 

[bearcreek paul]

2 man tent works well light weight water proof and 10 min to put up.

 

[JD 4520]

I now have a house generator but prior to that I solved your question with a plywood top, sized to be wide and long enough tilted to where rain or snow would run off and I simply secured it with four 2x4 posts. Very light and simple but did the job.

You don't want to take the chance of leaving it inside of course neither do you want to cause any constrain on the exhaust and provide plenty of ventilation for heat as well.

 

[jayste]

What about the crates that 4-wheelers and lawn mowers come in. Do they still come in a steel frame crate with light gauge metal skin on them? If so you might could modify one of those that was similar size.

 

[Pete Judd]

Make sure that you can keep it locked up while outside. A couple of years ago during a power outage in south Seattle, the gen sets, were being stolen "Big Time". One person lost 2 in 2 days. People figure that when the gen goes quiet, it has just run out of gas, and take their time getting out side to refill and in that time, the thief is gone.

 

[thatguy]

In other forums I have seen ppl that use the dog houses that look like igloos to protect gennies..

Brian

 

[2458n]

My generator sets on a pallet. The pallet is covered with a dog house that was free. 50 ft. extension cord lives in there too. Roof was built to lift off for replacing straw when the dog used it. Pretty nice and priced right.

 

[JimP]

How about a plywood A frame hinged at the top and open at the ends. Cheap, easy to build, access and ventilation from the open ends, collapses into 2 flat easy to move sheets, some weather protection and paintable. Won't do much for deadening noise.

 

[JamesHW]

I plan to put mine under the front porch to keep it out of the elements. Security is from a heavy chain secured on one end around the brick pillar holding up the porch, the other end looped through the handle of the generator, similiar to how I have the lawn mower secured (lost a couple of those over the years).

 

[edlegault]

I like the doghouse idea. Pour a small, deep concrete slab with rebar in it and tie-downs sticking out for a chain and lock. Have the dog house hinged for access. Put up a sign "beware of dog".

I built a box off to the side of a house years ago for the Y2K debacle. My employer paid for the gen and fuel. . The top, sides and front were all hinged and it folded open. Ran the gen with the top propped open and the sides open. Stored gen there permanently chained to large block of concrete poured as a base. (Important >) Ran the gen at least once a month with a load (air compressor) attached. Never had a problem. Sold gen with house when we moved.

 

[MadJack]

Go to tractor supply and get a 10' X 10' shelter logic (tent). Anchor it well, then just roll the doors up when you need to run the genny.

Here's a tip, find or make a long earth anchor and insert it all the way in the ground. then use a cable lock like we use for tree-stands and lock the genny to it so it doesn't walk off!

For the noise.... buy a Honda! I love all three of mine.

 

[Reg]

dog kennel

I need some ideas designing and building a weather shelter for my generator. Only to be used when the generator is running, parked just outside my garage door. Usually only need the power when the weather is nasty, blowing and raining. The generator is stored in the garage, but we put it outside to run it to keep fumes out of the house and reduce the noise-it's loud!

Criteria:

1. It should be easy to collapse & put away, not taking up much storage space.

2. Should deaden the noise rather than amplifying it.

3. Should be able to attach it easily to the generator frame so it won't blow away.

4. Should be able to tolerate getting wet.

5. Must provide some ventilation.

6. I need to be able to easily get to the controls and cable socket.

The generator is about 30" high, 28" long and about 20" wide.

I tend to over build things, so I am looking for simple and elegant solutions.

What do you guys do to protect your generators out in the weather?

 

[HunterWare]

There's an interesting video (YouTube: Rubbermaid generator enclosure) of a man who modified one of those Rubbermaid utility shed/enclosures to hold his generator. It looks slick and the sound deadening is supposed to be nice. I like the idea of running the fans for the enclosure off the extra generator sockets too.

 

[pinetree10]

Resurrecting an old thread. Anyone have experience with this product?

GenTent canopy cover to run portable generator or inverter generator safely in rain and severe wet weather

Just wondering about the quality and design before I pull the trigger on one.

 

[gemutlich]

Dang, man, it looks slick but for the price of one of those a guy could buy 2 10x10 easy-up canopies. Set one up over your generator, use them screw-in-the-ground dog run anchors down through the foot at each leg to secure the easy-up to the ground, then lower the top down to it's lowest setting.

Provides huge coverage and plenty of air space all around.

(This is what I do with mine)

 

[pinetree10]

Thanks for the reply. Your idea is a good one but I decided to go with the GenTent because of where my generator will be located during a power outage. It will sit on a concrete sidewalk not far from the house where the larger canopy will be too big and I can't put anchors in the ground. The GenTent canopy works perfectly for my situation because it attaches right to the generator and uses the same footprint as the generator it's attached to. It may not suit everyone but I figured I'd post photos in case anyone is interested.

 

[bigtiller]

Thanks for the reply. Your idea is a good one but I decided to go with the GenTent because of where my generator will be located during a power outage. It will sit on a concrete sidewalk not far from the house where the larger canopy will be too big and I can't put anchors in the ground. The GenTent canopy works perfectly for my situation because it attaches right to the generator and uses the same footprint as the generator it's attached to. It may not suit everyone but I figured I'd post photos in case anyone is interested.

View attachment 557853

View attachment 557852

Does it stay setup like in the pics when the genny is not being used?

 

[pinetree10]

Does it stay setup like in the pics when the genny is not being used?

I could leave it set up like that for storage because it wouldn't take up any more space than it does right now with the Honda generator cover on it, but I took it all off and put it in the storage bag they sent me. Once I initially assembled the whole thing for the first time I was able to leave the ratchet strap and the corner pieces set up like a kit, slip it off and put it in the storage bag, and when I need it again all I have to do is slip it back around the generator and tighten the ratchet strap a few clicks. After that all that's left is to put the four fiberglass rods in place and lower the tent over everything. It's a five minute operation at the most. I think that's one of the best things about this product - it takes up the same footprint as the generator it sits on.

Another reason to take it off during storage is it covers the fold-down handles on the generator so if I want to move the generator I have to remove the cover. Not an issue during use but I do start the generator once in a while and I move it outside when doing so.