Noise Military Surplus Generators MEP-016 and MEP-017

[secstate]

Hi, I found this site researching purchasing a surplus military generator. I am pretty comfortable purchasing suprlus and being my own support, but one concern I have is the noise these things make. How noisy are they? I am looking to purchase either an MEP-016 (3kw) or 017 (5kw) as backup for my house when the power goes out. Most of my neighbors have cheap Home Depot specials that are pretty noisy so if these are like that no problem (I don't want be the Frankinstien of the nieghborhood by being noiser). However if they are much noisier then I will have to look at other options. I am purchasing these straight from uncle sam so I cannot test it before purchasing (though I can inspect). Also is there a significant difference in noise between either of these models. Thanks for any input!

[Wayne 440]

a quick search of this site turned up this

http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showth...=military+loud

I quote in part..."The air-cooled gasoline sets are pretty thirsty, and very loud. The bigger diesels are more fuel efficient, but still pretty loud, unless you find one of the newer ones that has sound attenuated enclosures."

Thanks! I saw that post but I was really looking for a comparision to something I had heard (i.e., lawn mower, cheapie consumer generator, etc). I would consider most cheapie generators to be "very loud". But if these are worse than that then they are off my list. They certainly are thirsty. The MEP-016 suppoedly burns nearly a gallon per hour according the the technical manual. Which give about every spec you would want other than noise ouputm, unfortunately.

[secstate]

Thanks! I saw that post but I was really looking for a comparision to something I had heard (i.e., lawn mower, cheapie consumer generator, etc). I would consider most cheapie generators to be "very loud". But if these military generator are worse than that then they are off my list. They certainly are thirsty. The MEP-016 suppoedly burns nearly a gallon per hour according the the technical manual. Which gives about every spec you would want other than noise ouput, unfortunately.

[Jim McIntyre]

I've not run them side-by side to compare, But I'd estimate the MEP-016 is about the same as a cheapie 8-10 HP Home Depot special. The MEP-017 is certainly louder.

The MEP-016s are really nice little sets -a 6HP 4 cylinder engine is a pretty neat little thing...

[Wayne 440]

The only one I have ever been around is the "5kw" MEP-017. They are certainly very good at converting gasoline into sound waves. One co-worker said it was so loud it made his teeth hurt. I wouldn't want to be close to one for long without hearing protection.

[secstate]

Thanks for the info the MEP-017 is out for sure then. I actually prefer the MEP-016 due to size and weight considerations. I just don't want to be the pariah of the neighborhood for running it. The last hurricane we had here in Virginia most of my neighbors were running the Home Depot cheaper units, sound like a plague of locusts all night long (so they didn't seem to care). I only need something to keep the refrigerator cool run a few lights and charge up my UPSes and I would probably run it only during the day given its fuel consumption and noise. I agree the 4 cylinder 6hp engine intrigues me. Looking at more modern options it seem you really have to pay out about $1600+ to get something has powerful, but much quieter/more fuel efficient. That buys and awful lot of gas if I can get the MEP-016 for round and about $300.

[John Newman, Jr.]

One of the best options to reduce noise is to look for one of the 'older' models with a 4-Pole generator attached. These run at 1800 rpm vs. 3600 for a 2-Pole unit to give you the 60hz that your AC appliances need. A 4-Pole unit will be physically larger and heavier, but if you are running at 1/2 the speed of your neighbors' engines you will certainly be quieter.

[Wayne 440]

Both the MEP-16 and its smaller 1 & 2 cylinder "relatives" are 3600 rpm. Same goes for the MEP-17 and its larger 4 cylinder 10kw counterpart. It would be interesting to try one of the 42 or 84 cu. in. engines with a four pole generator end.

[Doogdoog]

Aloha,
I have a MEP 016B and it is a 1 cyl diesel. It has the sound enclosure and it still seems loud to me but not quite as loud as the other gas generators. I ran it on a pallet so maybe some of the noise leaked out from the bottom of the gen. since it is higher up and not flat on the ground. TIA

Mahalo,
doogdoog

[Jim McIntyre]

the 016B is quite different from all the other variants of 016, which are gas and do not have sound attenuating enclosures.

[secstate]

Ah so that is what the 16b is. The technical manual for the 16a and 16c made a cryptic refence to 16b essentially saying you needed to use another manual. Maybe I should look for one of those instead. The DRMO near me has some much newer Diesel air cooled surplus generators. By the looks of them I would say 80 or 90s vintage. Much lighter but still rated for 3kw. Unfortunately I cannot find any information on them in the open sources. I am nervous about buying surplus if I cannot even get the TM. There is enough challenges with surplus equipment that you don't need more.

[Jim McIntyre]

I've not worked on an 016B. From what I've gathered, is is basically a re-engined 016A/C. I don't know who made the engine, I've heard Onan or possibly Yanmar - just not sure. I suspect it uses the same 3kW alternator as the earlier variants, in which case it is a 3600 rpm machine. The TM is TM 5-6115-615-2. I think it carries a different MEP number when it is in the sound attenuating enclusure MEP-710, or something like that...

[Doogdoog]

Aloha,
I have the Mep 701A and it has the sound enclosure with a Onan 1 cyl diesel engine powering a 3kw alternator at 3600 rpm. The data plate on the generator itself says MEP 016B. I haven't come across a manual for it so if anyone hears about one, please let me know. The only thing I hate about that gen is that it uses a 24v batt. and I can't find one anywhere so I have to put 2 12v batt in series and it can't fit in the enclosure. TIA

Mahalo,
doogdoog

[Wayne 440]

Check around your local airport for a 24v battery.

[secstate]

This site as most TM manuals for free, it is where I got the ones for the MEP-016A and C. https://www.logsa.army.mil/ . The good news is they have the manual for the MEP-016b, the bad news is it hasn't been pubically released. If you work for the millitary (in the forces, civilian DoD employee or contractor), are retired, or know somebody who is you or they can register and get you the manual.

[Raymond]

As for my 2 cents worth, I would look for an Onan 6 kw (5 military) or a 12 (10) military if you want plenty of power. I don't recall the MEP designation, but these are sturdy 1800 rpm air cooled diesels ; a little noisy, less than 1/4 gal hr. on the 6, 1/2 gph on the 12. These units were built from about 1965-1995. There are plenty of them. I have two of each for sale. I don't believe you will find a generator worth having for under $2,000.00

[Billy J Shafer]

I used to be a fuel sargent for a signal unit.We had both units.The fastest way for me to find a remote site.Was to get near the location turn off my truck engine.You could hear the things over a mile away if the conditions were good.Very loud units.Crank one up at your house and become an outcast real quick.

Thanks to all for the advice. Since the consensus seems to be somewhat nosier to way nosier than the cheapie sets I am familiar with I will pass on these.

[secstate]

The post above was me, I forgot to login. Raymond I agree with your 2k figure that is what I had come up with when I ran across these while I was picking up some other stuff I had purchased as government surplus. But they appear to be no bargain at any price for my purposes.