Robbie
UltimaDork
3/1/19 8:17 a.m.
STM317 said:
Patrick said:
Car battery and a real fuel pump? Put inlet hose in can on floor and outlet hose in generator tank, flip switch, auto fill.
Could take this a step further and have an old gas tank or fuel cell with an in-tank, OEM pump sitting on the floor beside the generator. It would be low enough to fill easily with whatever cans you have, and would provide a bunch of extra fuel capacity (10-20 gallons) to reduce fill up frequency. If safety is a concern, you could even put an access door through the shed wall and use a filler neck/cap so the tank could be topped off without entering the shed. Just like filling the tank on a car.
I like where this is going. Here's the plan:
- OEM fuel tank on floor inside shed, run line from pump up to generator tank, drill a hole in the cap or somehow make this fuel line permanent
- Run filler neck from OEM tank to outside wall of shed. Use OEM gas cap and everything.
- Mount float level switch inside generator gas tank so that when the generator tank goes below a certian level the OEM fuel pump fills it back up until the float shuts off
- Finally, use the OEM fuel tank level sensor to connect to your house wireless internet through an arduino and send an email/text to you and your wife when the OEM tank his 'reserve' level of 2-3 gallons left
If you don't have power in the shed, not to worry, because you only need this to run when the generator is running.
Seems like a lot of Rube Goldberg to avoid buying 3 new 2 gallon gas cans.
Robbie
UltimaDork
3/1/19 8:36 a.m.
oldopelguy said:
Seems like a lot of Rube Goldberg to avoid buying 3 new 2 gallon gas cans.
You can take your logic and throw it right out the window. We are solving problems here!
Woody
MegaDork
3/1/19 8:39 a.m.
ebonyandivory said:
In reply to Woody :
Great idea for non-winter. I don’t want my wife climbing on a wet step ladder with a 40-45 lb gas can in a snowstorm. But like a said, good for summer-spring-fall.
No, no, no...
I set the step ladder next to my generator and put a five gallon gas can on top of it. The bottom of the gas can is now even with the top of the generator's tank and the siphon pump will work. As you see the tank getting close to full, twist the vent knob on top of the pump and fuel stops flowing. Very easy and clean.
CJ
Reader
3/1/19 8:41 a.m.
I know that you would have to order this, but a rolling tank with a hose / hand crank would eliminate lifting of cans and 30 gallons would decent run time.
When winter is done (if ever) , you can just roll the tank to one of your rigs and use the fuel in there.
Caddy tank
This would theoretically be used very infrequently but it only takes one gas spill...
Small cans are ok. Hand transfer pump is ok.
First thing I would do is teach all of them to respect the power of gasoline by pouring a bit on an old pair of pants in the garden and throwing a match at it.
Then I would make sure they know how the ten pound fire extinguisher hanging by the door in the shed works.
Then I would have them practice refueling in teams, with one standing outside the door with the extinguisher ready.
Then I would make sure I was following those rules myself.
The extinguisher hanging in the shed has been serviced lately, right?
pirate
HalfDork
3/1/19 9:28 a.m.
Northern Tool sit on elevated platform use like regular gas nozzle.
T.J.
MegaDork
3/1/19 9:32 a.m.
I use a 5 gallon jug to fuel my jetski usually while it is sitting on its lift. It's a job I do even if I am not the one that is going to ride it. A 5 gallon jug is a bit unwieldy and is something my wife just wouldn't be able to do. I've thought about one of the rolling gas tanks with a pump, but so far fighting with the 5 gal jug has worked out ok.
pirate said:
Northern Tool sit on elevated platform use like regular gas nozzle.
Typically called a gas caddy
When the caddy is low, the handle acts as a pump. Squeeze the handle lever repeatedly to pump the fuel. If the caddy is up high the squeezing the handle lever once will open the flow.
Expect to cost more than $100...maybe more than $200
Also know that when you take that 14 gal Caddy to the gas station and likely fill it with 13 gallons its gonna weigh...
6.3 lbs per gal x 13 = 81.9 pounds plus the tank itself so, all total, 100 pounds of tank to wrestle in and out or truck/car/suv???
You may find that you continue to use smaller cans to fill the caddy which remains "on-site" in the shed.
NermalSnert said:
You said gravity feed is out. If the generator has a top mount tank, it likely has a hose running to the carb. Can you remove the existing tank and mount a larger one above?
This, but how about mounting an automotive tank in place of the generator's current tank. I think my tank is 8 or 10 gallons and will run 12 hours. A 20 gallon truck/car tank would allow for 24 hours. Or, tee a second tank into the fuel line below the current tank with a shut off. You shouldn't put a second tank higher than the first to avoid overflowing the lower tank.
Time to suggest the natural-gas conversion again. You'll need to swap carburetors, you'll need to bury a trench for the line, you'll need a tee fitting and a shutoff valve, and ideally you can use a range/dryer flex gas hose for the last connection from your hard lines to the generator.
glueguy said:
Marine guys use a large rolling fuel tank with a handle similar to store pumps.
Plenty more like this
https://www.globalindustrial.com/p/safety/safety-cans/fuel-gas/polyethylene-plastic-gas-caddy-fuel-tank-14-gallon-capacity?infoParam.campaignId=T9F&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIisSchZLh4AIVhuDICh0pgwLTEAQYDSABEgLqdPD_BwE
That was going to be my suggestion too. Seems like the right application for the job as it is going to be harder to over fill.
what about a drill powered transfer pump?
java230
UltraDork
3/1/19 12:21 p.m.
Honda generator people do this, any chance to rig a cap that will siphon from another tank?
Second tank just needs a dip tube and vent.
In reply to edizzle89 :
Most drills use commutated universal motors, generating a spark every time the brushes move from segment to segment. I'm not sure I'd want gasoline fumes around one.
SVreX
MegaDork
3/1/19 12:29 p.m.
In reply to ebonyandivory :
I know this is not the question you are asking... please be patient with me.
It sounds like you are describing a PORTABLE generator tied to a house. Does it have a proper transfer switch?
I'd be less concerned with the safety issues regarding children refueling than with the electrical safety issues if the unit does not have a transfer switch.
I have a generator on my cabin that is not hooked up with a transfer switch. I would not let my wife or kids hook it up.
My $0.02. I think the primary question has been answered.
In reply to SVreX :
Yes, good question. I hired a pro electrician to hardwire to a transfer panel with six circuits we chose before he started. This a portable ~7,000 watt generator inside a large garden/toy/tool shed. When it’s running, the front doors and top are propped open. Exhaust points straight out the doors
chaparral said:
In reply to edizzle89 :
Most drills use commutated universal motors, generating a spark every time the brushes move from segment to segment. I'm not sure I'd want gasoline fumes around one.
yea but honestly how much fuel fumes will be around a sealed fuel tank and a sealed fuel container? plus with long enough hoses I'd imagine it wouldn't be hard to get far enough away from them for me to feel safe about doing it, but I haven't been known to be smart
1 more for ya: Get a 55 gal drum of gas from the fuel company, treat it with Stabil, and put a barrel pump on it. One can turn the crank while the other fills the tank.
