We have a generator wired to to the house. I’m often at work during storms.
The generator resides in a large garden shed with a top hatch and double doors.
What GRM method can I rig up so my wife and kids can more easily fill the top-mounted tank?
Im picturing a large funnel and an extended flexible hose that I can attach in an accessible location so they don’t have to mess with holding up a full 5 gallon gas can in a snowstorm.
Maybe a crank-siphon but can I siphon out of a 5 gallon jug safely with one?
Is there a cheap marine-based method?
In reply to ebonyandivory :
Connect a natural gas line to a gas carburetor on the generator engine...
Buy many smaller gas cans, and or install a larger gas tank.
Ok, if you guys don’t mind reading the question of how to get gasoline from the 5 gallon can into the tank...
wae
SuperDork
3/1/19 7:13 a.m.
How high up would the gas can need to be held in order to empty its contents into the generator? Would the use case be a "one-and-done" refill, or would you need to plan for multiple re-fills during the same away period?
My first thought would be to get one of those square fuel jugs with the fill hose and build a shelf or stand to put it on. Either hinge the stand or build it in such a way that there would be a rest for the jug so it could be tipped over to fill the tank. Oh, or use some sort of netting under it suspended by straps so that it was basically in a swing. That way they wouldn't have to hold the weight of the fuel jug, just control the amount of angle and keep the fill hose in place as they tip it over in situ.
Or one of those hand crank pumps that they put on diesel tanks in the back of pickup trucks. That would work for gasoline too, wouldn't it?
In reply to wae :
I wouldn’t be able to mount the can high enough to use gravity but the can would have to be approximately 30” high.
Its feasible that I could be at work for one refill and again at work for the next. So many variables due to load the generator sees, National Grids response time etc.
Ill look to how the marine “industry” does it. The only thing is that I was hoping a could get the things at a local hardware store rather than online or driving to a marine supplier.
I have nothing helpful to contribute, except this concern.
Refilling a hot generator in a confined space sounds like a blast. Literally.
In reply to Floating Doc :
Understood. The muffler is away from the filler and it’s well shrouded. And this thread is addressing those same concerns you have. Cold wet hands, 5 gallons of gas etc...
wae
SuperDork
3/1/19 7:23 a.m.
In reply to ebonyandivory :
According to the instructions, the $7 fluid transfer pump at The Hammer Store is okay for gasoline.
Please make sure they understand how flammable gas is and how easy it is to light. Explain how the fumes are heavier than air and will run down hill, etc. Safety first.
I believe that pumping sounds safest and most secure. Tipping the can from a stable position above the generator, less so.
With a pump and an appropriate length of hose, you could stage the gas cans where they wouldn't need to be moved at all.
For the record, with both doors and the top hatch open it’s very well ventilated but yes, they have been made aware.
My wife is abnormally paranoid about these things so she’d be more than careful.
In reply to Floating Doc :
A hand crank won’t need to rely on gravity afaik
We used to have a tractor that was hard to fill without making a mess. You had to stand on the platform, extend the can over the hood, and fill the tank. Our solution was to start only putting 3 gallons in the can and using a giant funnel. Took an extra can to fill but it was a lot easier to manage.
In reply to logdog :
The new spouts suck too. New spouts would only solve part of the problem however
wae said:
In reply to ebonyandivory :
According to the instructions, the $7 fluid transfer pump at The Hammer Store is okay for gasoline.
From my experience with them, once. Maybe twice. Gasoline seems to dry out the seals and plastic on them which IME results in a very limited lifespan of the pump.
Car battery and a real fuel pump? Put inlet hose in can on floor and outlet hose in generator tank, flip switch, auto fill.
Not cheap, but may be a good starting point:
Sure Can
STM317
SuperDork
3/1/19 7:56 a.m.
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.
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?
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.
Multiple smaller cans seems like the clear answer here. Asking your kids to house 40 lbs of flammable fluid up high seems like a bad idea no matter how it’s set up.
I assume the generator gravity feeds from the tank? Could it be made to use a tank mounted lower (where it's easier to fill) and a fuel pump? If so, you could just put fill and vent ports into the side of the shed and never have to go into the generator space to refuel (which also helps the fume concerns, especially if you want to refuel with it running).
