Use your imagination - Non Valkyrie

[..]

I have a wheelable portable generator.

I can buy a cover to protect it from weather when in use.

Casts about $175 

Or I could buy a large dog crate and put a tarp over it. Making sure the exhaust heat is not "trapped".

Any other suggestions?

Build one from plywood? I could make a good size pile of sawdust 

[Jess from VA]

You didn't get a garage or a shed?  Where's the bike?

Is this for ONLY in use, not storage?  A cover in use?  Sounds.... wrong.

I'm no pro, but I think more venting than just the exhaust is a good idea. They are air cooled (no fan), so some airflow for cooling is a good idea (for hours and hours of constant run).

I think a roof is the important part.  And out of sight, if not of sound.

Maybe an old beat up doghouse with mods (hinged walls folding up, and lifted up 18-20" on a platform). (But mice must be kept away from nesting and chewing)

My 10 X 12 shed is 25 feet from the house.  The generator is stored right to the side of a door, and covered.  To use, I open the door, uncover, roll it so the exhaust is out the door, and leave the door open. I believe I have murdered all my mice (for now).  

One of my past generators began to cut off every 20/30 minutes or so, probably a party favor from corn gas (in a big, wet, black ice/rain storm), so I got my shooters muffs and went out and sat/slept in a lawn chair in the shed with a movers pad on me, so I could restart it every 20 minutes.  Most of a night.  Even with muffs, it was loud.  If it has to be worked on in use, it's nice to have it in a shed (none of my other generators had wheels, my new 210lb one does).

You know, they're selling small pvc plastic sheds now, and these:




Sometimes there are outfits that make sheds and deliver them on site.  If so, maybe they have a real small one.  Also craigslist.

Two must have's with a generator.  Headband LED light, and a can of ether.

  

[WintrSol]

One of my past generators began to cut off every 20/30 minutes or so, probably a party favor from corn gas (in a big, wet, black ice/rain storm), so I got my shooters muffs and went out and sat/slept in a lawn chair in the shed with a movers pad on me, so I could restart it every 20 minutes.  Most of a night.  Even with muffs, it was loud.  If it has to be worked on in use, it's nice to have it in a shed (none of my other generators had wheels, my new 210lb one does).

You do know that there are stations that sell non-ethanol gas for just this kind of thing, right? Look up your area at pure-gas.org; the stations may be too far for everyday use, but filling cans for small engine use would still be practical. When we were camping just outside of Beaver, WV, we regularly filled up our bikes with it, and they just run better.

[oldsmokey]

As I read the question it's only for in use protection? 3/4 plywood with just enough overhang and a block or sand bag on top if very windy, or even bungee the board to the frame. Should have no effect on engine cooling or exhaust. Pointed away from house

[Jess from VA]

One of my past generators began to cut off every 20/30 minutes or so, probably a party favor from corn gas (in a big, wet, black ice/rain storm), so I got my shooters muffs and went out and sat/slept in a lawn chair in the shed with a movers pad on me, so I could restart it every 20 minutes.  Most of a night.  Even with muffs, it was loud.  If it has to be worked on in use, it's nice to have it in a shed (none of my other generators had wheels, my new 210lb one does).

You do know that there are stations that sell non-ethanol gas for just this kind of thing, right? Look up your area at pure-gas.org; the stations may be too far for everyday use, but filling cans for small engine use would still be practical. When we were camping just outside of Beaver, WV, we regularly filled up our bikes with it, and they just run better.

Yes, I know that, and do that (for a long time now). (100 mi round trip for my gas) (it is out in the country where I regularly ride, so I always fill up there too)

That generator was many years ago, and the (motor) was a piece of crap and I got rid of it.    

[..]

As I read the question it's only for in use protection? 3/4 plywood with just enough overhang and a block or sand bag on top if very windy, or even bungee the board to the frame. Should have no effect on engine cooling or exhaust. Pointed away from house

That's what I was thinking too.

[..]

You didn't get a garage or a shed?  Where's the bike?

Is this for ONLY in use, not storage?  A cover in use?  Sounds.... wrong.

  

Only in use.

I have a garage.

[Jersey]

Something else to consider. I bought a small car muffler about 15"long and had the local muffler shop tig weld it to the generator muffler adapter. The added a short 8" extension on the exhaust side too. Now the generator is as quiet as a car. 

[..]

Having it in the garage concerns me because of making it easy for unwanted visitors to gain access to the garage.

Also even though main house is built about 2 feet higher than the attached garage I wonder about carbon monoxide getting into the house.

Had CO poisoning once in my life. Motel in Cody, WY Grrrrr.

[Itinifni]

I have a folding, plastic table by my grill on the back deck. When I need to use the generator I pull it out of the garage and set it up out front, run the cable into the garage where the power inlet is for the transfer switch and close the door.

I use the table to keep most of the elements off the generator when needed. The table I have is 6 feet long but otherwise similar to the one in the link below. One of the nice things is the legs are height adjustable so I can angle the table to better shed water.

Works well with rain or snow but not sure how secure it would be in high wind. My placement is in a fairly well protected area and wind usually isn't much of an issue in my location.



https://www.walmart.com/ip/Best-Choice-Products-4ft-Indoor-Outdoor-Folding-Portable-Plastic-Picnic-Party-Dining-Camp-Table-w-Handle-Lock-White/150299151

[Jess from VA]

Unwanted visitors could be humans, but in 20 years of running loud generators in my shed (at night), no animals ever ventured close or inside the open door because of the loud noise .

Having said that, I would not want to leave my bike shed open since it has much more value (two bikes and all tools, power equipment) than the shed next to it which has generator, and shovels, rakes, lawnmowers.  

But both sheds in my backyard are surrounded by a 7' solid fence, with lights all night, and locked gates.  It cannot simply be walked into, it has to be climbed into.

If I had an attached garage, I'd want a sold core (or steel) door with deadbolt (or two) for that internal doorway.  And I can sure understand not wanting to give access to the garage to any human intruder.

I don't know if opening the garage door only 6" (or whatever distance no adult could get under), then locking the door from further movement, would allow sufficient ventilation.  (I suppose a small fan could be run on the floor behind the generator, to both cool the motor and assist in blowing exhaust under the door.)

And finally, I suppose a generator always posses some degree of fire risk from heat, gasoline, and electricity, and that has always made me feel better about having mine out in the back yard shed (and I don't have a garage anyway).

I had considered what Jersey discussed about adding a permanent exhaust extension out the wall of my shed (properly insulated from heat) with a bigger muffler outside (or inside), but this was going to be pretty involved, and I was afraid I'd end up altering the exhaust dynamic to the point of generator motor damage. (pressures)

So perhaps some kind of structure in the backyard to house the generator is a pretty good idea Paul.

[..]

I have a folding, plastic table by my grill on the back deck. When I need to use the generator I pull it out of the garage and set it up out front, run the cable into the garage where the power inlet is for the transfer switch and close the door.

I use the table to keep most of the elements off the generator when needed. The table I have is 6 feet long but otherwise similar to the one in the link below. One of the nice things is the legs are height adjustable so I can angle the table to better shed water.

Works well with rain or snow but not sure how secure it would be in high wind. My placement is in a fairly well protected area and wind usually isn't much of an issue in my location.



https://www.walmart.com/ip/Best-Choice-Products-4ft-Indoor-Outdoor-Folding-Portable-Plastic-Picnic-Party-Dining-Camp-Table-w-Handle-Lock-White/150299151

 

Sometimes it's the easy answer which makes the most sense.

[..]

Let's not forget that I had a catastrophic house fire just over 3 years ago.

Feck, the thought of that just scares the poop out of me. Especially in my slightly remote location.

[..]

First blow of leaves and I'm standing in my garage afterwards.

Taking inventory 

2 saw horses, pieces of plywood and a piece of heavy tarpaulin.

Instant shelter for in use generator.

Thanks for making my brain ponder.

[RudyF6]

First blow of leaves and I'm standing in my garage afterwards.

Taking inventory 

2 saw horses, pieces of plywood and a piece of heavy tarpaulin.

Instant shelter for in use generator.

Thanks for making my brain ponder.

Great plan!
I wouldn't want to see you running the gennie in a garage or shed - about 3 years ago, my neighbor had his running in a shed overnight, generator malfunctioned and caught fire. Obviously burnt the shed down, his wife's car (tire blowing off the car made a BIG boom that woke me up), most of the siding off 2 sides of his house, and scorched the paint on my pole barn 50ft away.