Noise Fee for generators at events?

[eventer12]

I had never heard of a noise fee for a generator before, but I was looking up some info and saw it for an event. How did this come about? Is it to discourage people from using generators? Any thoughts or experiences?

[olympicdreams04]

Okay so envision your average duck. Bill, feathers, webbed feet and all that. Okay now envision that duck in the theroes of death, quacking and splashing and seizing in its last minutes on earth. This would be a spot on reinactment of me if I were asked to pay a NOISE fee for a generator that I already spent thousands of dollars on to power a trailer which I spent even more thousands of dollars on. No way, Jose.

[eventer12]

haha great mental image... I was thinking along those same general lines, but I am sure that there must be some show managers out there who have some pros to present.... I do not want to start a debate or anything, I am just interested as I have never seen this before, and I would like to know both sides of the story.:yes:

[PhoenixFarm]

Let me paint a different picture.

Picture and event with a 30 acre field for parking of living quarter trailers. Picture several dozen trailers already parked there. Picture someone showing up a full 24 hours later than 85% of the competitors, using their professional driver to squeeze their trailer in between two already parked trailers. (In the 30 acre field, there are about 15, maybe 20 trailers parked already, so in theory, each rig could be parked a full acre apart and still have room for 10 more trailers, but someone would have had to park one full row back from the barns and have to walk -gasp- and extra hundred feet to their stall. Their chosen parking space now means that their are with 6-8 feet of the other two trailers parked in the front row--one of the trailers actually has it's awning scratched by the new trailer.)

Now imagine that same trailer immediately turns it's generator on, and never turns it effing off. 24 hours a day the thing is running. If you are in a neighboring trailer, you can't speak lower than a shout over the din of it, and you can't sit outside to eat because you are breathing diesel fumes. You ask politely for it to be turned off by at least 10:00 at night and have a door slammed in your face. Finally after 48 hours of suffering, you, along with a few neighbors, go to competition management, and when the secretary goes to discuss it with the offending trailer owner, the person become irate, uses foul language and says there is no rule that requires them to turn their genrator off, and then slams the door in the secretary's face.

This happened to me this year (I was in the neighboring trailer, and finally complained after breathing fumes for two days straight triggered an asthma attack). So yeah, not only can I see imposing a fine for excessive generator noise, I would have kissed the person who enforced it.

Using a generator is fine--I have one and use it too. But seriously, have a little bit of common sense and common courtesy, and turn it the he!! off at bedtime, and leave it off until a reasonable hour. Those of us who don't need to feed until 7:00 would appreciate not being awoken by the generator next door a 5:00.

[RAyers]

Oh, good god! It's a horse show! Why do folks need the big screen TV with the outdoor entertainment center? The latest rolling mansions are insane. (Aside, Reed's rule of trailers: The fancier the rig, the lower the level the rider who owns it.)

I managed to live for 2 weeks in the AZ desert on a single car battery (back before the days of these rolling mansions); still had TV and my shower.

Sure A/C is nice and being able to shower and shave when you want is a wonderful thing. But at what point does anybody need to run a generator 24/7? No generator needs to be running after 10pm. If it does then somebody needs to install or replace some batteries.

I am all for noise fees.

I had the same sort of incident as Phoenix Farm this summer where the person next to me ran their generator constantly. They literally had a HOUSEHOLD AC unit in their trailer!!! I knocked and asked them to turn it off at midnight to which I was met with a snide comment. Later, when it was still running and I, and several other trailers around me, were not getting sleep, I shut the damn thing off myself. Oh boy the fireworks hit the fan. They subsequently left the next day after many complaints against them were filed.

It is common courtesy to turn the damn things off when he batteries are charged.

Reed

[lduhamel]

Just to preface, I don't have one of those expensive living quarter trailers, I convert my 6 foot tackroom/dressing room in to a living space everytime I decide to use it!!! I was given a generator by my husband as Christmas present two years so that I could use said trailer when ever I wanted to and at events where the waiting list for a hook up is longer than the one to actually get into the show!! We paid the extra bucks to have an inverter so it is as quiet as they make one. I have to run my generator all the time because I don't have battery back up or propane back up for AC in the Summer or heat in the Winter and to run my frig. I do try to park far away from everyone else if possible when running the generator, usually with empty horse trailers or others running generators as well, I don't mind the walk or I use the little ATV same husband gave me for my 40th!!. My AC unit makes almost more noise than my generator does!!! I am also from Area III (where said event has a generator fee) During many months of the year simply opening the gooseneck windows will not allow a nights sleep without fans/AC thus need for a generator or a hook up. I do try to get a hook up where available, but show mentioned above always has a waiting list longer than the number of hook ups available. The show that charges the noise fee, has an abundance of hook ups so usually people choose not to get one then run a generator. I know the organizer personally, I've never asked him about this, but I do know that he is a great supporter of this sport in our area!!!! Just my thoughts from someone who has the evil generator and uses it!!:):D

[lizathenag]

I was once camping in the Sierras and a guy with his RV (don't get me wrong--I have a travel trailer but with no generator and two marine batteries) parked next to us and proceeded to run his generator so he could watch the Indy 500 outside all day with the volume on high.

sigh

[Blugal]

now envision that duck in the theroes of death, quacking and splashing and seizing in its last minutes on earth.

I thought this was spot-on description of the noise of generators. At least, that's what it seems like to me after they've been on for more than 10 mins. :D

[Jeannette, formerly ponygyrl]

I have no idea if this is true at the event in question, but I could picture that money collected from the generator fee *could* be used to buy a little present for, or take out to dinner, the occupants of the house adjoining the camper area, to make or keep a little peace in the family or neighborhood.

I would hope that *seeing* there is a fee for generator use, or use after a certain hour, might help remind the generator-ed about all the rest of us sleeping up in our goosenecks with the windows open...

[Eventer55]

My husband and I built a house last year and powered the camper (we lived on site) with a generator that you could hardly hear. It is a key start, very small and has as much power as a big generator.

I can't live without air conditioning so it ran 24/7.

BTW the duck caused me to drench my computer with tea:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

[enjoytheride]

I have actually seen generators cut or emptied at horse shows.

[Equa]

This reminds me of the issue I am having in my search for an affordable gooseneck/truck or truck only (not a very typical USA scenario, I know). All these manly men keep trying to sell me a hulking great living area! I only want a sleeping and dressing room/wardrobe space (and maybe a toilet and shower - but this is a VERY big maybe) and maybe a sink. I don't need air conditioning! I probably only need heating once a year!

I Soooooo do not need a friggin kitchen! I cook gourmet (think Desperate Housewives) meals at home - I do NOT want this stress at events. I do NOT want a full sized fridge (what's wrong with an esky - after all - we have top put the icing ice somewhere, and it might as well keep the milk nice). I am very happy to run a power cable through the window to run a kettle or microwave, rather than having the damned thing hooked up to a smelly genny, or to just use an outside BBQ.

[deltawave]

I also thought the dying duck analogy was going to be a rather good and colorful description of the noise of generators. :lol:

There are quiet ones out there. And then there are ones that are freaking unbelievably noisy. Usually the latter are placed 10 feet out from the trailer they're serving so the occupants of the mansion-on-wheels don't have to listen to the din. The rest of us do, including the unlucky SOB whose humble 2 horse BP is parked right next to M-O-W and is trying to tack up. :sigh:

Peaceful coexistence is possible. Get the quietest and smallest one you can to do the job, enclose it if you can, and turn it bloody OFF when you don't need it running.

[gooddirt]

Okay so envision your average duck. Bill, feathers, webbed feet and all that. Okay now envision that duck in the theroes of death, quacking and splashing and seizing in its last minutes on earth. This would be a spot on reinactment of me if I were asked to pay a NOISE fee for a generator that I already spent thousands of dollars on to power a trailer which I spent even more thousands of dollars on. No way, Jose.


Some organizers have spent thousands of dollars installing hookups...

[elctrnc]

"This happened to me this year (I was in the neighboring trailer, and finally complained after breathing fumes for two days straight triggered an asthma attack). So yeah, not only can I see imposing a fine for excessive generator noise, I would have kissed the person who enforced it."

The original post said "noise fee," not "noise fine." Noise *fine* would mean that you aren't supposed to use a generator at all. Big difference.

As for a "fee," if you have already spent that amount of money on an LQ trailer with a generator, the "fee" isn't going to be a deterent. Sounds like a way to make more money for the organizers. If the organizers really cared about the comfort of others, the better thing to do is have a separate parking area for LQs that will be using a generator...or have set times when not to use the generator.

[CookiePony]

To clarify for the OP-- the show wants to encourage people to use a hookup, which costs $30, rather than use a generator and make noise, which costs $15. I.e. for only $15 more, they can have a hookup and everyone is happy.

[elctrnc]

To clarify for the OP-- the show wants to encourage people to use a hookup, which costs $30, rather than use a generator and make noise, which costs $15. I.e. for only $15 more, they can have a hookup and everyone is happy.

That makes sense, then. Given the choice, I think most LQ owners would go with the hookup, even if a bit more.

[TheOtherHorse]

To clarify for the OP-- the show wants to encourage people to use a hookup, which costs $30, rather than use a generator and make noise, which costs $15. I.e. for only $15 more, they can have a hookup and everyone is happy.

That does put a different spin on it. Its not like asking people to go without their a/c, just go about it in a different way. Most of those huge noisy generators will use $15 of gas over the weekend anyway, so it ends up about the same.

This spring I was at a HT trying to sleep in my dressing room, windows open, sweating my butt off on an insanely hot night. All I could hear were the loud generators. And it was pissing me off-- because I was jealous! :lol: I would've killed for a/c. So we went out and bought a generator, but we didn't want to be obnoxious and noisy, so we got a Honda inverter type and it is so quiet that we even use it when camping and we can have quiet conversations around the campfire 20' away while it is running. We also park far enough away from others to have some privacy anyway...

So I wonder if the noise fee still applies to those who have inverter type generators that don't make much noise?

[purplnurpl]

Oh, good god! It's a horse show! Why do folks need the big screen TV with the outdoor entertainment center? The latest rolling mansions are insane. (Aside, Reed's rule of trailers: The fancier the rig, the lower the level the rider who owns it.)

I managed to live for 2 weeks in the AZ desert on a single car battery (back before the days of these rolling mansions); still had TV and my shower.

Sure A/C is nice and being able to shower and shave when you want is a wonderful thing. But at what point does anybody need to run a generator 24/7? No generator needs to be running after 10pm. If it does then somebody needs to install or replace some batteries.

I am all for noise fees.

I had the same sort of incident as Phoenix Farm this summer where the person next to me ran their generator constantly. They literally had a HOUSEHOLD AC unit in their trailer!!! I knocked and asked them to turn it off at midnight to which I was met with a snide comment. Later, when it was still running and I, and several other trailers around me, were not getting sleep, I shut the damn thing off myself. Oh boy the fireworks hit the fan. They subsequently left the next day after many complaints against them were filed.

It is common courtesy to turn the damn things off when he batteries are charged.

Reed

Reed lives in CO, not TX. We go to HTs where at 1am it is still 90*F with 90% humidity.
Generator please.

But I agree, the noisy ones are a PITA to tent next to. But on the other hand, your at a show so deal with it.

I feel the generator fee is outrageous. We already pay a hook up fee or a camping fee, that should take care of it.

[purplnurpl]

To clarify for the OP-- the show wants to encourage people to use a hookup, which costs $30, rather than use a generator and make noise, which costs $15. I.e. for only $15 more, they can have a hookup and everyone is happy.


There are never enough hook ups in Area V. 1/2 of the trailers need generators.

[Long Shadow Farm]

As for turning them off at night, there may be more of a reason to running them than just to have AC. If my parents stay with me in the trailer (which they don't as much any more now that they turned 70 and it's harder for them to get into the bed in the nose), they both have to have C-Pap machines to sleep at night. Thus we had to run a generator to have the electric to run the C-Pap machines if we didn't manage to be the lucky chosen few to get a hook-up. I would much rather have a hookup because it is a lot cheaper than running my generator for the show, but sometimes you got to do what you got to do. Now if I am at a show by myself, I try to run it as little as possible. Usually either in the morning for my shower or in the evenings for the same reason. My trailer is total electric so I have to run it to get the water hot and to keep my fridge cool (fridge stays pretty cool for awhile without power.) Plus I do try to stay off by myself if I need to so I don't bother others as much.

But I would pay whatever fees because it's still a lot cheaper than $100.00 a night for a hotel room.

Bobbi

[flypony74]

To clarify for the OP-- the show wants to encourage people to use a hookup, which costs $30, rather than use a generator and make noise, which costs $15. I.e. for only $15 more, they can have a hookup and everyone is happy.

I think this is fair. If I ever planned to run a generator at a horse show, campground, whatever, I'd buy the quietest one I could find, or park as far away as possible from everyone else. But then again, I try to possess common courtesy, which is not a quality that is as prevalent as it once was. Granted, I will probably never own a generator, but just sayin...

Heck, I'd support a noise fee for these folks who find it necessary to blast their radio 24/7 in the barn area at an event! Here I am trying to mentally prepare for one of my phases, trying to get in "the zone," going over my course or test in my head before I get on, and someone is blasting teeny bopper music two stalls down. I realize that you have a right to your music, but I think everyone else also has a right to NOT have to deal with your music, so utilize the convenience of an iPod that everyone seems to have nowadays and stick some earphones in your ears! JMHO on one of my pet peeves...

[RAyers]

...
Heck, I'd support a noise fee for these folks who find it necessary to blast their radio 24/7 in the barn area at an event! Here I am trying to mentally prepare for one of my phases, trying to get in "the zone," going over my course or test in my head before I get on, and someone is blasting teeny bopper music two stalls down. I realize that you have a right to your music, but I think everyone else also has a right to NOT have to deal with your music, so utilize the convenience of an iPod that everyone seems to have nowadays and stick some earphones in your ears! JMHO on one of my pet peeves...



And here is the crux of the issue in my mind. How is running a generator any different than blasting a radio at all hours? Long Shadow Farm provides one instance but that is an exception, not the rule.

Reed

[Ghazzu]

Sounds like a way to make more money for the organizers.

'cause we all know the organizers are in it for the vast piles of cash they make...

[pegasusmom]

Flutie and I are booking our trips to Tahiti even as I type!

We have a LQ trailer and would much rather pay to plug in than run the very quiet generator we bought, and I have been camping at polocrosse tournaments where people ran their generators all night. Common courtesy is as rare as hen's teeth these days.

[flutie1]

Flutie and I are booking our trips to Tahiti even as I type!
.


Actually, I decided to bypass Tahiti this year and head straight to Thailand to pick up the elephant I bought on line! Anything to make Gobi happy!

[3dazey]

I KNEW IT! Curse you wealthy organizers and your trips to Tahiti and your elephants from Thailand. No wonder our competitor costs are spiralling out of control... (NOT).

:eek::mad::cool:

PS Thank you for all you do. Why you do it, I sometimes do not know. But thanks.

[eventer12]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies it has really helped me to see this from many angles.... BUT I don't believe this is a fine, and I don't believe that $15 will really deter anyone from using a generator, so what's really the point? I would totally support a fine, but I don't really get the point of a fee?

[pegasusmom]

Actually, I decided to bypass Tahiti this year and head straight to Thailand to pick up the elephant I bought on line! Anything to make Gobi happy!

Well damn. Guess I will have to take the greyhounds with me instead. They would be VERY good at basking in the sun.

I'll send you one of those little umbrellas from one of the many adult beverages I intend to consume after I complete the 2009 eventing season.

[pegasusmom]

PS Thank you for all you do. Why you do it, I sometimes do not know. But thanks.[/quote]

We don't really know either! I am suffering from maternal brain suck so I guess I can blame it on the kid. Flutie lived with Black and Tan Coonhounds for a long time, and they do tend to have a similiar effect on the neurons as teenage boys. . . in which case I am doubly cursed, having had both at various times in my lives.

Thanks for the thanks, and now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

[retreadeventer]

I believe anything you say, PegasusMom!
Avoid the generator noise...find a good bar...at a hotel! Stay up late drinking. Go to bed happy...wake up hungover...bestway to ride XC. Just ask Gnep.

[Painted Wings]

I was at an event that people ran a very noisy generator right next to the stabling area all day long. It was extremely noisy, no one could concentrate. Several people asked them to turn it off to no avail. Someone finally must have put water or sugar in their fuel or something because the darn thing quit working. I was almost ashamed I didn't have the nerve to do it. Being an engineer who regularly works on engines, it could have been done quite easily. I have often switched the spark plug wires around on deer hunter's vehicles that are illegally hunting on our farm property.

This being said there are generators that are extremely quiet and not annoying at all. The people that paid more for a quiet generator should not be punished for those that do.

What I would like to see is something that said no generators louder than 80 dB(A) measured at one meter (can you tell I'm a nerd?) .

Of course, then the darn organizers would have to purchase a noise level meter which would cost several hundred dollars. And then they have to assign a person in charge of generator noise to go around and monitor it.

The real question is how do these people stand their own generators and why is there such a lack of common courtesy that we have to put rules in to prevent what is just someone being increadibly rude.

Actually, it all my years of eventing I've only had that one instance where I found a generator annoying but then I don't usually sleep on the grounds.

Maybe if there was a general rule about generators which would give the organizer the ability to tell someone to shut it off if it is too annoying or too close to the stabling area.

Imposing a noise charge for a generator doesn't help the people in the immediate area that are affected by it.

[flutie1]

"Maybe if there was a general rule about generators which would give the organizer the ability to tell someone to shut it off if it is too annoying or too close to the stabling
area...."

... or else a gun!

[092556]

Maybe they could say all generator cannot be closer than lets say 3 miles:lol: , just kidding, maybe 300'. A quiet zone around the barn, maybe they could include radios, screaming kids and barking dogs in the rule. I'm sure the horses would appreciate it.

[flea]

OK in case I ever get to have a live in trailer and generator...at this point in time what are the quietest generators that would not offend neighbors and what is the price range.

[katarine]

there are 2K-3K ones that will run a small/medium LQ including an A/C and you wouldn't know it was running....but go buy a less than 1K one yeah, it'll run the LQ...and be Loud As Hell.

They all advertise their decible ratings. 55-65 is where you want to be. That's normal conversational tones...

I parked across a huge lot from a jackass at RTTH using a cheap one. Very nearly dumped sugar in it. I don't know how he tolerated it. for 20$ more he could have plugged in like we did:no:

[TheOtherHorse]

Any of the Honda inverter generators are very quiet. We have a small converted dressing room and small a/c so we have the Honda 2000, which is less than 60dB and very fuel efficient.

Here's all the sizes available (they can be found cheaper than the MSRP though):
http://www.hondapowerequipment.com/products/models.aspx?page=models&section=P2GG&category=sq

[tobruk]

Honda, Yamaha, & Kipor all make free standing portable generators/invertors that are quiet and usually $2000 or less. The 3000 models will run most everything an LQ will throw at them. Sometimes, if the A/C is going full blast, you might need to turn it off momentarily when using the microwave. Anyone who buys a generator from us, either installed in the unit or freestanding, has always been concerned about the noise. The Onan Microquiet and Guardian are very quiet but mounted on the unit where they are buffered and protected.
Folks with the larger generators don't pay near as much as those who spring for the quiet technology and peace of mind. Weird, more power costs less, by half or more, but it's too damn loud for close quarters. I've never figured out how those folks stand their own noise? Building an acoustical box is real simple.

[gottagrey]

I'm specultating here but -

•It may just be that it has nothing to do w/ organizers making heaps more money;
•it may not be that is has nothing to do w/ keeping things quiet for neighboring trailersl

It may JUST be that depending on where the event is held has some type of noise ordinance imposed by local/county regulations and absolutely nothing to do w/ the event itself

[flea]

Ok...so it looks like I will never get my live in trailer. However, my parents hae encouraged me to take their 1992 Conversion van which is really quite nice. The couch in the back makes a bed and I am taking out the middle chairs. Now...as much as people say who needs an airconditioner after 10:00. People in Tx do in the summer. My husband says he has a small fan you ad water to and it cools so maybe that is an option. I simply cannot afford several thousand dollars for a generator. I see some Honda ones less but cannot figure out how small I can go and still get use from it. If I just ran the fan thing in the summer or a little bitty heater in the winter how much power would I need. I hate to pay 30.00 a night just to plug in a fan. Any good ideas?

[LAZ]

Ok...so it looks like I will never get my live in trailer. However, my parents hae encouraged me to take their 1992 Conversion van which is really quite nice. The couch in the back makes a bed and I am taking out the middle chairs. Now...as much as people say who needs an airconditioner after 10:00. People in Tx do in the summer. My husband says he has a small fan you ad water to and it cools so maybe that is an option. I simply cannot afford several thousand dollars for a generator. I see some Honda ones less but cannot figure out how small I can go and still get use from it. If I just ran the fan thing in the summer or a little bitty heater in the winter how much power would I need. I hate to pay 30.00 a night just to plug in a fan. Any good ideas?

The little Honda will power both/either of those things.

[HorsesinHaiti]

Ok...so it looks like I will never get my live in trailer. However, my parents hae encouraged me to take their 1992 Conversion van which is really quite nice. The couch in the back makes a bed and I am taking out the middle chairs. Now...as much as people say who needs an airconditioner after 10:00. People in Tx do in the summer. My husband says he has a small fan you ad water to and it cools so maybe that is an option. I simply cannot afford several thousand dollars for a generator. I see some Honda ones less but cannot figure out how small I can go and still get use from it. If I just ran the fan thing in the summer or a little bitty heater in the winter how much power would I need. I hate to pay 30.00 a night just to plug in a fan. Any good ideas?

For just one small fan to blow on you at night, there are ways to run it off a 12-volt car battery (separate from the car). That is DC power instead of AC, but there are converters around. Ask at a camping store.

[flea]

LAZ...how small a Honda one do you think will do? 1000? 1500?
HorsesinHaiti...thanks, I will check on that.

[ThirdCharm]

IF there was a noise ordinance, the organizers would have to BAN generators, not charge a fee.

If organizers simply charged for generators over a certain decibel level, they would not have to invest in a noise level meter. I think most companies that produce generators with 'acceptable' noise levels publish their specs on the internet, it would be quite easy to compile a list. If an acceptable noise level cannot be documented then charge a fee.....

For the "use a hookup" proponents, at many events there ARE no hookups, and if one has invested in a generator for the events where there are none, it seems quite impractical to pay for a hookup too. At current gas prices it costs about $15 to run my generator for two days, and you don't have to worry about finding hookup locations in the dark, trying to squeeze between two trailers whose drivers don't know how to back into their hookup space, hunting down someone at 10 pm if the hookup doesn't work, etc etc.

I paid about $1900 for my Honda 3000 inverter generator, which is under 60 dB, and I put it under the gooseneck of my trailer (right under my bed!) to run the heat strip when it is cold and AC if it is blistering hot, neither will run off the battery. I love it.

flea.... if you go to your local RV dealer, they should have a book listing electrical needs for various RV appliances, and which generators will suffice.

Jennifer

[pegasusmom]

It may be "silly" to pay for a hook up when you have a generator, but no matter how quiet a generator is, when it is the only thing running on a quiet night it disturbs others and is, in my opinion, towards the top of the height or rudeness. We were at an event two weekends ago, and one person ran a generator (facility had plenty of hook ups). The noise kept me awake most of the night. I was pretty pissed, but too polite to say anything. The next time I won't be so polite.

[LAZ]

Flea,

I'm with ThirdCharm on this--talk to the RV people, but we ran fans off the smallest Honda generators--I think it is the 1000? You can pick one up easily, and they sell a linkage kit that allows you to link two together--those two will run an a/c unit (I haven't used them, but a friend has). An old friend of mine ran the little Honda to power the lights and fans in his clear span tent at the race track (car racing). It would also power small tools and charge battery packs, just not all at once. Really handy little things!

I have a 5000W that I bought for the farm that will run all of my stuff in the advent of a power failure, though not all at once. I set my trailer up to run primarily off of batteries (fan, lights, battery TV), so unless I'm in it for more than a week I don't need a generator. The only things I need AC power for is heat, my fridge, microwave, and coffee pot (which is a convenience as I can also use a coffee press and propane instead). I can use propane to take the chill off in my trailer, but I'm too nervous to use it for more than that.