AC sound level survey

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by 369goose

We had our son do this for us quite some time ago and it helps a lot. Next we might add a sound bar too once we figure out if that will make it any clearer over the AC or if it will just be way too much sound with both.

I have had my soundbar for a few years now and it makes a HUGE difference in being able to hear the TV with the A/C running. I think the primary reason is that the soundbar is aimed at your ears, unlike the TV speakers or the speakers in the ceiling. The Voice mode on the soundbar also optimizes the frequency for speech. Sure the A/C makes a lot of noise, but I keep the remote next to me(most soundbars will learn your TV remote) and just adjust the volume when the A/C kicks on or off. Never was a good reason to covet ducted air and have to buy a new trailer.
Larry

[uncle_bob]

Hi

With ducted A/C, the noise level (by ear) with the fan running is far less bothersome than with the compressor going full bore. Neither one is enough to take out the TV though.

Bob

[Rocinante]

The roar of the non-ducted heat pump on our roof has been reliably rated by those of us in the trailer as equivalent to the sound of a Cat 5 hurricane blowing through the campground.

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by Vantair

Using trusted “Decibel X” iPhone app

Our Roomba, 5-10' away from where I'm sitting shows 45-50 db on the Decibel X for Android I'm sure our A/C in the AS is much higher.

[jmsokol]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi


Sound level meters can be a bit weird. The microphones in cell phones are not set up to measure sound levels. They are set up to work best when you talk straight into them. If you grab a "real* sound meter and start comparing things, you will see differences. Measure at this vs that distance (with either one) and you will get different readings.

Bob

I'm an audio engineer in my day job, and teach dB levels. So you'll want to set your dB meter to A weighted instead of C weighted, so it ignores the low bass energy your really can't hear. And use the slow-scale setting rather than fast, which will average the readings over a few seconds. Also be aware that while Apple iPhones can be fairly accurate up to 100 dB SPL using the factory settings, Android phones are all different and can read as much as 10 dB difference from phone to phone. I have a variety of calibration mics ranging in price from $50 to $1,800 as well as a $300 one with a lightning connector that will plug right into your iPhone or iPad that talks to a SMAART program which costs $200 all by itself. And yes, how close you are to the sound source is really important to the measurements. My point is that getting real dB SPL comparison numbers is tricky, even for audio professionals like myself. I'll see if I can write a basic article about how this works for my RVelectricity articles on RVtravel.com.

[Coloradobus]

Although inside noise is very important to us, another factor is outside A/C noise. In our RV resort in Indio CA, some RVs have units on roof that sound like aircraft over head. We are needing/wanting to replace all four A/C units, but want the least amount of performance noise both inside and outside. There is nothing more annoying than to hear your neighbors unit roaringtwo sites away and you can’t hear your outside TV at a volume your neighbors can’t hear . Any recommendations on brand is appreciated

[GetawA-S]

jmsokol:
Thanks for the tips on setting up the meter. When you write your article, it would be great to provide some examples from actual trailers. (Your account info indicates you are "still looking". Maybe you could bring along your sound gear?) The wife and I will live with what we have for a while, but would like to know about the possibilities.
Coloradobus: Here's a data point for you. Our last trailer was a Creekside 22FQ with a Coleman Mach 8 (Cub?). That was a bigger trailer with different interior materials, ducted AC, MUCH quieter inside, and embarrassingly loud on the outside. We could run it on a Honda EU 2000 or a 20 A outlet from the garage. Important when you live in hurricane country!
The Bambi is much quieter on the outside, but nearly intolerable inside, prompting my original post. The AC power draw is too much for the generator, and even tripped the garage circuit. (I looked at a soft-start, but will not pursue it until we decide if this will be our "forever" trailer.)
- Don

[Ridgerunner3]

I finally got around to check the sound level in our 2002 Safari 25. It has a recent model Penguin 15000 btu non-ducted heat pump. The Safari has upholstered walls and ceiling which may deaden the sound level some. The sound level is 65db with the heat pump running in heat mode and the blower on high. This is measured while sitting on the jack knife sofa at the front of a rear bedroom trailer.

[Glenritas]

Got the App Set the iPhone on the nightstand next to my head at the front of the living room/twin bed room in our garage with the AS door open . May have picked up some outside compressor/fan noise and got these readings 58 on low cool, 67 on high cool, 57 on low fan, 65 on high fan.

This is in our 1969 Trade Wind with a Colman Mach 8 16,000 Btu mounted midship it blows front to rear . It's much quieter inside and louder outside then the Dometic.

The First a/c unit installed was a Dometic 15,000 btu . It was just to loud inside and so quit outside the next site couldn't hear it. It blows to the rear, sides , down like all get out but because its return air is at the front of the unit it forced the air going to the front grill around both sides of the return only to collide head on and barely spill out of the front grill making it useless in the living room when mounted mid ship.

The Night Pic is the Colman Mach 8 , the vents are Maxxair powered remote controlled 9 speed and the antenna is Jack digital amplified rotatable.

The Awning is original Carefree with new Sunbrella material. The lights are solar powered except the blue rope lights on the ground.

Ya I know ... Too much info

[TouringDan]

Thanks. That is good information to have. When it heats up this summer and I install my 5,000 btu/hr window unit I am going to try that iPhone app and see what I get for sound levels.
BTW I like your Maxxair vent fans. I am planning on installing 3 of them in my “vintage” 95 34’.

Dan

[GetawA-S]

Update on June 5, 2020: We traded our Bambi in for a 23FB Flying Cloud, which we brought home yesterday. It was a long distance purchase, a leap of faith based on comments here.
The sound from the 13.5 kBTU A/C measured 67 dB, an 8 to 10 dB reduction from the unducted unit. To the ear, that's about half the "noise level". Hooray! We can sleep at night! It's also much quieter from the outside than the Creekside 20FB's Coleman that predated our Bambi.
Regarding the sound bar for the TV, we found that approach to be very helpful with our home TV. Our center speaker is a "blue tooth" speaker with an audio input. Simpler to use, in my mind. Less expensive, unobtrusive, and very effective.
Safe travels!

[TouringDan]

I took the original Armstrong A/C unit off our Tradewind about 8 years ago because it was * ugly sitting on top, it was loud and it vibrated badly. I install a 5k unit in the side window when we need A/C. Mostly it rides in the bottom of a cabinet. It only takes about 10 minutes to install, and it works well for us. Now it certainly doesn’t cool like a 13k unit, but we aren’t sitting in the trailer in the heat of the day. It does fine in the evening and at night and it is very quiet. In the area where the unit is the noise level is about 60 dB. In the front area where the kitchen and tv are and where we sleep the noise level is about 50 dB. I am quite satisfied with the cooling considering the quiet noise level.

I am installing a mini split heat pump in our 95 34’. Mini splits are very quiet and very efficient and they heat down to 0 degrees. The noise level should be extremely quiet in the vicinity of 40 dB hopefully.

Dan

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by GetawA-S

Update on June 5, 2020: We traded our Bambi in for a 23FB Flying Cloud, which we brought home yesterday. It was a long distance purchase, a leap of faith based on comments here.
The sound from the 13.5 kBTU A/C measured 67 dB, an 8 to 10 dB reduction from the unducted unit.
. . .

Just to make it clear, for readers who may not know this, your new air conditioner discharges through a duct to cool the trailer, correct?

FWIW some folks call the old un-ducted units "jet engines" . . . not without reason IMO.



Thanks for the update . . . enjoy the new trailer!

[GetawA-S]

Peter,
Yes, as is the case for all the recent Caravels, Flying Clouds, on up... If it’s a “Quiet Stream”, the AC is ducted.
We’ve got a few nights under our belt in GA campgrounds, and continue to be impressed. We will get the EazyStart installed soon, at our home base.
As I recently posted on a Bambi vs. Caravel thread, the AC alone is enough to push us to the higher trim.
- Don

[OTRA15]

Thanks Don.

[gamboa]

Originally Posted by GetawA-S

NIOSH offers a free sound level (decibels) app for the iPhone. I installed it and got a reading of 75 dB for my unducted Penguin II in a 22FB Sport. From personal experience and reading many other posts, this amount of noise makes it hard to sleep or listen to the radio/TV.
I asking others to use the app and post the results for their trailer/AC unit so we A-S owners or buyers can get an idea of how much difference there is across the spectrum. (ie, should my wife and I consider upgrading the AC or even the trailer?)
Thanks!

I have a 16' Bambi with a loud air conditioning. I will be setting up Airstream as my virutal classroom this fall. Do you have any suggestion on how to deaden the sound? I plan on wearing a headphone and microphone, but this unit cannot even have a thermostat installed so it runs constantly. Any thoughts to help cover the sound, maybe a box or some type of covering.

[Silvr_Bullet]

Originally Posted by gamboa

I have a 16' Bambi with a loud air conditioning. I will be setting up Airstream as my virutal classroom this fall. Do you have any suggestion on how to deaden the sound? I plan on wearing a headphone and microphone, but this unit cannot even have a thermostat installed so it runs constantly. Any thoughts to help cover the sound, maybe a box or some type of covering.

Maybe suspend some material between the a/c unit and dining area using 3M hooks and direct cold air from ducts to dining area and close ducts toward sleeping area, assuming you will be working at dinette.
Looking at my 16’ you can just pull the privacy divider across, that should help.

[gamboa]

Great idea. The unit is 150 miles away at my dad's house and I forgot about the curtain/divider that pulls out from the wall. I cannot remember the actual path it takes, but if cover the ac in the ceiling, then that will work. When you mention 3M, do you think this will stick to the ceiling? I could get quilted fabric and the clip on hoos that will connect to the 3M hooks. Again, I cannot remember what material the ceiling is - vinyl or metal. Yes, I will set up on the dining table to work. You see my dad will have to bring the camper to me and I am working blind. I appreciate your thoughts. I am having to be creative making office space to teach elementary students. No place inside my home as my husband is ill and a caregiver will be in the house.

[Vantair]

Hello,
Assuming the classes you give will be with a computer/laptop with USB connections?.

You can handle this alternatively or in addition to physical sound barriers.

There are over the head headsets (cupping over ears/additional sound deadening) and built in noise canceling microphone. All through Both USB or headphone jack and there are wireless versions as well allowing you to “wonder” around / outside freely 100. Ft. (What an interesting class to watch that could be!)

This combination would greatly reduce the ambient sounds from your AC plus enhance your verbal spoken audio to the class.

Hellodirect.com
headsets.com