How Noisy Are MEP002A and MEP003A Military Diesel Generators? The Same As Honda’s Best Worksite Unit!

GMG gets this question a lot!  Many opinions can be had about the noise level of MEP-002A and MEP-003A diesel generator units.

To protect your hearing around any engine or machinery, wear hearing protection! It’s cheap and your friends and family will thank you when you’re not screaming at them or the TV is blasting!

Drum-roll….

The MEP-003A sound and noise level at 25 feet is only 77 dbA.  This is without any sound attenuation or acoustic suppression kit (ASK).

The MEP-002A sound and noise level at 25 feet is only 79 dbA.  This is without any sound attenuation or acoustic suppression kit (ASK).

For general reference, a passenger car at 65 mph at 25 ft is around 77 dbA; a freeway at 50 ft from pavement edge at 10 a.m. is around 76 dbA.  Living room music can be around 76 dbA). Garbage disposal, dishwasher, average factory, freight train (at 15 meters) can reach 80dbA.  Car wash at 20 ft (89 dbA); propeller plane flyover at 1000 ft (88 dbA); diesel truck 40 mph at 50 ft (84 dbA); diesel train at 45 mph at 100 ft (83 dbA).  Food blender (88 dbA); milling machine (85 dbA); garbage disposal (80 dbA).

Generac doesn’t even publish db ratings for any of their portable units (e.g. their GP series).  In their Q&A forum, they state: “We do not list the decibel (noise) rating of our portable generators. This is because there is no industry standard for testing decibel ratings on portable generators. Therefore, any results can be misleading or inaccurate.”  This is COMPLETE BS!  They scream louder than MEP002A and MEP003A units!

Honda’s largest “Work” generator, their EB10000 (10kw), which they claim as having the “Best fuel efficiency and lowest noise rating in its class,” has a db rating of 76 dbA. Unfortunately, they do not specify the distance from the unit (which is absolutely critical!). So, it’s safe to say that the MEP-002A and MEP-003A units are extremely similar to the largest/best Honda generator available.  My personal opinion is that a well-tuned MEP002A or MEP003A isn’t that load at all, esp. at 25 feet.  It is no louder than a high-end Honda generator.  GMG tunes every unit we sell to minimize noise and maximize performance.

For comparison’s sake here are a bunch of examples of noise levels for various items:

Note: these are examples only and may not apply to your specific work site. Noise-induced hearing loss results from a combination of high sound levels and extended periods of exposure to sounds above 85 dBA.  If the level has Lex behind it it means it was measured or is equivalent to an eight hour shift.  If the level only has dBA than it was a spot level check.

Agriculture:

• Augers 98-102 dBA Lex
• Orchard Sprayer 85-101 dBA Lex
• Tractors (no cab) 92-94 dBA Lex
• Tractors (with cab) 77-80 dBA Lex

Automotive:

• Autobody Technician 83-96 dBA Lex
• Brake/exhaust Mechanic 82-95 dBA Lex
• Customer Service, Manager ,and Parts Person 77-83 dBA Lex
• Detailer 97 dBA Lex
• Mechanic 77-102 dBA Lex
• Painter 88-99 dBA Lex
• Partsman   80 dBA Lex
• Service Manager-Tire Shops 84-88 dBA Lex
• Tire Installer 81-96 dBA Lex

Construction:

• Carpenter 86-97 dBA Lex
• Carpenter, Framer   91 dBA Lex
• Concrete Worker   83-105 dBA Lex
• Drywall installer   89-91 dBA Lex
• Electrician   89 dBA Lex
• Elevator installer 96 dBA Lex
• Hoist operator 100 dBA Lex
• Ironworker   93 dBA Lex
• Jackhammer Op  91 dBA Lex
• Labourer  84-94 dBA Lex
• Mobile Equipment Op.  91 dBA Lex
• Plumber 90 dBA Lex
• Steel Stud installer 93-98 dBA Lex
• Tile Setter 92 dBA Lex
• Welder  92 dBA Lex

Entertainment:

• Casino Dealer 78 dBA Lex
• Fitness Instructor 90-92 dBA Lex
• Nightclub 91-115 dBA Lex

Fishing:

• Compressor 90-105 dBA Lex
• Deck 88-100 dBA Lex
• Engine Room 90-114 dBA Lex
• Galley 75-80 dBA Lex
• Sleeping quarters 50-80 dBA
• Vessel repairs 70-100 dBA Lex
• Wheelhouse 80-90 dBA Lex
• Winch 90-100 dBA Lex

Hospitals:

• Food Services Worker 78-84 dBA Lex
• Laundry Worker 83-89 dBA Lex
• Maintenance 86-88 dBA Lex
• Physical Plant Engineer 81-93 dBA Lex
• Pot Washing/Dishwashing 80-88 dBA Lex
• Sterilization 77-80 dBA Lex

 Logging:

• Boom Boat 87 dBA Lex
• Dozer operator 97 dBA Lex
• Faller  102 dBA Lex
• Landingman 108 dBA Lex
• Loader Operator 88 dBA Lex
• Log Sorter 90 dBALex
• Logging Truck Driver 88-96 dBA Lex
• Rigging Slinger/Choker 75-80 dBA Lex
• Skidder Operator 98-100 dBA Lex
• Yarder Operator 91-93 dBA Lex

 Mobile Equipment Operators:

• Airtrack drill operator 106 dBA Lex
• Cat Grader 82 dBA Lex
• Concrete Batch Plant Operator 81 dBA Lex
• Dozers (enclosed and open) 89-103 dBA Lex
• Excavator 86-90 dBA Lex
• Front End Loader 85-91dBA Lex
• Labourer (road construction) 85-86 dBA Lex
• Mobile Crane Operator 97-102 dBA Lex
• Offraod Truck 82-90 dBA Lex
• Open Packer 95 dBA Lex
• Rock Crusher Operator 98 dBA Lex
• Scraper Operator 96 dBA Lex
• Skidstear Operator 96 dBA Lex

Municipalities:

• Backhoe Operator 88 dBA Lex
• Electrician 89 dBA Lex
• Engineer 96 dBA Lex
• Grader Operator 88-90 dBA Lex
• Labourer 85 dBA Lex
• Lifeguard 78-90 dBA Lex
• Mechanic 83-90 dBA Lex
• Sewer Flushing 100 dBA Lex
• Sewer Installation 89-100 dBA Lex
• Sewer Worker 88-100 dBA Lex
• Street Cleaning 89 dBA Lex
• Truck Driver 86-98 dBA Lex
• Welder 88-94 dBA Lex

Public Schools:

• Automotive 83 dBA Lex
• Band 88 dBA Lex
• Bus Driver (gas) 83 dBA Lex
• Food Service 83 dBA Lex
• Grounds keeping 93 dBA Lex
• Metalworking 84 dBA Lex
• Music teachers 86 dBA Lex
• PE teachers 86-89 dBA Lex
• Tech Ed teachers 87 dBA Lex

Pulp Mills:

• Bleach Plant 86-91 dBA Lex
• Millwright 86-92 dBA Lex
• Paper Machine Tender 94-98 dBA Lex
• Screen Tender 86-92 dBA Lex

Roofing:

• Membrane 82-89 dBA Lex
• Roofer  82-98 dBA Lex
• Roofer (shake) 95 dBALex
• Shingle 81-93 dBA Lex
• Tar/Gravel 84-98 dBA Lex

Retail Food:

• Bakery Workers 78-85 dBA Lex
• Kitchen Workers 75-87 dBA Lex
• Meat Cutters 77-90 dBA Lex

Sawmills:

• Cut-off Saw Operator 82-96 dBA Lex
• Debarker 91-94 dBA Lex
• Dropsorter 95-101 dBA Lex
• Edger Operator 87-102 dBA Lex
• Green Chain 79-89 dBA Lex
• Sawfiler 83-93 dBA Lex

Waste Management:

• Banging on garbage bins (5 feet away) 100 dBA
• Banging on bins:
• Garbage Truck, cab (window open) 91 dBA
• Garbage Truck, cab (window closed) 88 dBA
• Behind Garbage Truck (while compacting) 89 dBA
• Behind Garbage Truck (30 feet away) 98 dBA
• Sewer Truck cab 94 dBA

OFF THE JOB:

Environmental:

• Heavy traffic 70-80 dBA
• Thunder clap 120 dBA

Home & Garden:

• Air conditioner 60-72 dBA
• Alarm clock ring 80 dBA
• Average home inside 50 dBA
• Hedge cutter 95 dBA
• Leaf Blower up to 115 dBA
• Chain Saw up to 125 dBA
• Dishwasher 54-85 dBA
• Food blender 88 dBA
• Lawn mower 80-95 dBA
• Vacuum cleaner 60-82 dBA

Miscellaneous:

• Aircraft, jets (cruising) 71-83 dBA
• Ambulance siren 120 dBA
• Apollo liftoff 188 dBA
• Fishing (power boat) 60-115 dBA
• Jazzercize class 90-92 dBA
• Motorcycle 80-115 dBA
• Movies 80-85 dBA
• Movies 80-118 dBA
• Private aircraft 80-110 dBA
• Referee whistles 103-107 dBA
• Snowmobile 86-100 dBA
• Sporting events 95-100 dBA
• Truck Show 90-110 dBA
• Video Arcade 80-110 dBA

Music:

• At the bar 90 dBA
• Car stereos up to 154 dBA
• Clubs and discos 91-115 dBA
• Home stereo up to 115 dBA
• Personal stereos 60-120 dBA
• Rock concerts 90-125 dBA
• Symphony concerts 80-100 dBA

Firearms Note: a single exposure to gunfire can cause permanent hearing loss.

• .22 rifle 132-139 dBA
• Hand guns 150-167 dBA
• Rifles 156-167 dBA
• Shotguns 147-149 dBA

Toy box:

• Balloon pop 157 dBA
• Bicycle horn 143 dBA
• Cap gun 99-156 dBA
• Hammer & peg board 94-97 dBA
• Rattles 75-91 dBA
• Toy rifle 143-153 dBA
• Wind-up drummer 88-91 dBA

Workshop:

• Circular saw 113 dBA
• Electric drill 94 dBA
• Power saw 95-115 dBA
• Router 85-110 dBA
• Snow blower 85-91 dBA

Even more comparisons: