How to blimp a 6500W Honda generator?

[Ian Tetzner]

Peter,
Blimping a generator means making it quiet enough to be able to record on-set sound while it is running. That could mean moving it very far from the set, putting it into a more soundproof container, or a combination of both.

[Willy Faes]

Thanks Peter. I'm not really a tech guy so I check this with my gaffer. I know we have PFS ballasts so this will help.

Willy Faes

[Harry Clark]

If you dig a trench to place it in as Nick says, PLEASE be careful. The CO from the exhaust, being heavier than air, will collect in the trench, making a "death zone" for the hapless electrician who climbs down to refuel the Honda. Running a metal ductwork up and out from the exhaust pipe MAY or MAY NOT help. Don't let someone go down by themselves.
Honestly, by the time you rent a bobcat, buy plywood and build a shelter, or some other such technique, you probably are close to even money on a real blimped genny. The small difference is probably worth the hassle factor. And as Peter pointed out, the voltage drop from running long extension cables can produce show-stopping results (melted plugs, lights that will not fire, lights that flicker)
Check for independent owner operators near you. I know guys who put small blimped models (under 700 amps) inside Sprinter vehicles. Very compact, and usually a pretty good bargain.
Cheers,
Harry

[Michael Panfeld]

Willy:

The EU65is is a pretty darn quiet genny to start.

I have a collapsible blimp kit for that very genny. Go to a DIY hardware store, like Home Depot and get a few pieces of 1 to 1.5" PVC pipe and some 3-way corner tees. With these, you can build a skeleton frame that goes over the genny. Drape sound blankets over the frame. Make sure to build a frame large enough to leave space between the frame and the genny. Also point the exhause side away from the scene and, leave an opening in the sound blankets for the exhaust.

They also sell 3rd party exhaust kits for the Honda on Ebay. With these, you can build a permamnant soundproofing enclosure.

Peter: Honda makes at least 4 different versions of the EU65 for the various EU countries. I have all of the wiring diagrams and there are different combinations of receptacles and overload protection.

[David W. Jones]

You will want to leave a 3' air space around the generator for cooling. Also when trenching line the bottom or you may have a hard time getting your 300lb generator out at the end of the shoot when everybody is tired.

[Willy Faes]

Thanks guys, your replies are very helpful. I'll let you know how it worked out.

Willy Faes

[Karim D. Ghantous]

I have zero experience with these things, however, would it be possible to submerge it in a nearby lake or river? You would of course have to attach manifold extensions.

[Michael Panfeld]

Peter: Shock Blocks can only be rented, not purchased. Does Bender sell its cinema GFCIs? Do you a product model or name? Thanks

[Michael Panfeld]

your neutral leg being undersized for the return leg of that proposed circuit ....even if it doesn't pop the breaker from being over-amped.

Chad: have you modified a eu6500 to accomodate those two concerns (i.e., larger nuetral leg wire, and bypassing the overload circuit)? I believe that is all that ScreenLight and Grip does when they sell their mod'd 7500 watt version. I've studied the wiring diagrams for all 4 EU models and the US model and read what Guy has posted and putting it all together, that's exactly what I have concluded they are doing: bypassing the overload (or perhaps replacing it with a beefier and higher amp protector) circuit, and replacing the neutral wire with a larger guage, but actually doing can be different than describing the issue.

I guess I am looking for conformation and/or any articles on doing it myself, such as what parts to use and what to cut/not cut etc. Thanks

[Jason Comparetto]

To quiet down sound, I've put a generator inside my grip truck with the door open (for intake/exhaust). Usually the gear I have in the truck is enough to dampen the sound, plus of course the walls of the truck quiet it down tremendously. If you want to dampen it further, you can put sound blankets on the walls of the truck.

The main disadvantage to this approach is that your set needs to be near a road or somewhere you can drive the truck to. If you're deep in the forest, then perhaps several walls of sound blankets would help? As pointed out earlier in this thread, you really have to watch the intake/exhaust out of these. any solution that would require encapsulating the genny is risky if you don't know what you're doing.