Auxillary fuel tank for my generator

[1930]

I dont want to get up in the middle of night to re-fuel my generator. Im only running the A/C throughout the night.

I have a marine fuel tank with an outlet on the top, it has a tube that runs down into the bottom of the tank.

Is it possible to use this with my generator even though the current fuel set up on the Gen. is gravity feed and better yet is it possible to mount this tank below the tank that feeds the generator now?

So basically I want to keep my existing fuel tank where it is, ( gravity feeds my generator ) and add an auxiliary tank that I could just tee into the fuel line that feeds the carb.

This second tank would be sitting below the primary tank.

Gotta be a way to prime the auxiliary system so it feeds my generator?

Thanks

 

[Scrambler82]

My opinion is... "No"... unless you have a "Low Oil Shut Down" built in your Generator ignition.

The little motors tend to use oil more than the larger units especially when they get hot, so you should check the oil every time you run out of gas or fill the tank; they make the tank small for a reason and a precautionary measure, and the motors are air cooled and a little shut off time let's it cool down some.

You did say your generator is gravity fed on the fuel system... IMHO... mounting the Aux. Tank below the OEM Tank won't allow for Gravity feed unless it is above the carburator, and is there even room, and if the Aux Tank is mounted above the Primary Tank, the Tank Fill on the OEM Tank needs to be liquid tight.

If the Tank is set up for 6 or 8 hours of run time, there is a reason for that.

Ltr

p.s. Contact the Manufacturer of the Generator, first see what they say and then check out if your model comes with a long run tank.
If it does, then there might be hope for extending the run time.

 

[rangerfredbob]

if the generator has a float carburetor there is no way for it to suck the fuel from the tank, boats have fuel pumps to suck the fuel out of the tanks...

That said, if the generator is big enough to have a fuel pump (probably at least 7500W), then you can't do it with a tee on it's own, you have to have valves of some form or just run off of the other tank.

 

[WranglerX]

Just get a single large bottom outlet tank and mount it in place of existing tank.... Anything else is going to be micky-motion and a science professor to make "something" work..... Or get propane conversion and a couple of large propane tanks...

Dale

 

[shooterdon]

Fill it at 10:00 PM. Go to bed.

Most generators will run 6-8 hrs an a full tank.

Get up at 6:00 and refuel.

KISS.

I suppose

You could retrofit a larger fuel tank.

 

[1930]

My opinion is... "No"... unless you have a "Low Oil Shut Down" built in your Generator ignition.

The little motors tend to use oil more than the larger units especially when they get hot, so you should check the oil every time you run out of gas or fill the tank; they make the tank small for a reason and a precautionary measure, and the motors are air cooled and a little shut off time let's it cool down some.

You did say your generator is gravity fed on the fuel system... IMHO... mounting the Aux. Tank below the OEM Tank won't allow for Gravity feed unless it is above the carburator, and is there even room, and if the Aux Tank is mounted above the Primary Tank, the Tank Fill on the OEM Tank needs to be liquid tight.

If the Tank is set up for 6 or 8 hours of run time, there is a reason for that.

Ltr

p.s. Contact the Manufacturer of the Generator, first see what they say and then check out if your model comes with a long run tank.
If it does, then there might be hope for extending the run time.

Generator does have low oil shutdown, ......I've heard they consume more oil. Why is that?

I'm assuming I can set it up like if we had to siphon fuel from our cars fuel tank.....suck on tube till it starts and then walk away, let it do it's thing

if the generator has a float carburetor there is no way for it to suck the fuel from the tank, boats have fuel pumps to suck the fuel out of the tanks...

That said, if the generator is big enough to have a fuel pump (probably at least 7500W), then you can't do it with a tee on it's own, you have to have valves of some form or just run off of the other tank.

See above

Just get a single large bottom outlet tank and mount it in place of existing tank.... Anything else is going to be micky-motion and a science professor to make "something" work..... Or get propane conversion and a couple of large propane tanks...

Dale

Might come to that

Fill it at 10:00 PM. Go to bed.

Most generators will run 6-8 hrs an a full tank.

Get up at 6:00 and refuel.

KISS.

I suppose

You could retrofit a larger fuel tank.

I need to time it and see how long I get out of it

 

[thepumpguysc]

VERY GOOD POINT on the low oil shut-down... I have to ADD OIL at every 8hr. fill-up.!!!
IF I DONT, it wont restart or it WILL shut down shortly after refilling.. very shortly..
& "RUN-TIME" was very important when buying a generator for the EXACT REASON the poster is posting about..

The carb will not pull fuel.. unless it has an aux. feed pump.. NOW THATS A THOUGHT.. if u have an electric start, just wire a low pressure electric feed/supply pump,
{12v 1-3 psi} to the fuel line & u can mount it anywhere u like..
The filling at 10pm sounds more reasonable to me tho..

 

[ddbackhoe]

I dont want to get up in the middle of night to re-fuel my generator. Im only running the A/C throughout the night.

I have a marine fuel tank with an outlet on the top, it has a tube that runs down into the bottom of the tank.

Is it possible to use this with my generator even though the current fuel set up on the Gen. is gravity feed and better yet is it possible to mount this tank below the tank that feeds the generator now?

So basically I want to keep my existing fuel tank where it is, ( gravity feeds my generator ) and add an auxiliary tank that I could just tee into the fuel line that feeds the carb.

This second tank would be sitting below the primary tank.

Gotta be a way to prime the auxiliary system so it feeds my generator?

Thanks

Lots of people, including me, did it for their camp generators. Teeing into the line doesn稚 pan out as good as feeding to the cap.
honda generator eu2i aux fuel tank - Google Search

 

[ddbackhoe]

... Or get propane conversion and a couple of large propane tanks...

Dale

The ROI for this isnt very good, especially if its for a portable setup (tanks, regulator, fittings) Propane has a lower BTU output and requires a little more to run the same size gas generator. Propane requires head space to vaporize, usually requiring a larger tank.
Honda Eu2000i - 18 hours on 5 gallons of unleaded gas
- 15 hours on 4.5 gallons of propane

And, lets not forget, the tank exchange places aren’t all putting 4.4 gallons in a 20 lb tank. Most are only 80% filled (15 lbs) or less for “consumer safety purposes”.

 

[Scrambler82]

Generator does have low oil shutdown, ......I've heard they consume more oil. Why is that?

I'm assuming I can set it up like if we had to siphon fuel from our cars fuel tank.....suck on tube till it starts and then walk away, let it do it's thing

IMHO... it is the heat of the little engines that causes the excess use of oil, most are air cooled similar to a motorcycle but if there is no air movement then the heat levels go up and more oil consumption... i.e. Low Oil Shutdown kicks in.

Since your generator has the Low Oil Shut Down Switch, you might get away with a larger tank, I think your execution with the second tank needs a little revision.

I would say no to the siphoning of gas without seeing the generator, IF you use the OEM Tank and the Aux Tank above, the gas will siphon into the OEM Tank but as I said before you need a Liquid Tight Cap on the OEM Tank !
AGAIN, my worries are the low oil, and gas overflowing... fire !

Another thought just entered the old noggin..., is there a throttle on the generator, if so can you cut back on the running rpms at night ?

Find out the actual run time you are dealing with, filling later in the night is a good idea and that will work, and a larger single tank is another good idea, doesn't have to be all that large, maybe an extra gallon + will get you another hour of sleep time.

Post pictures of what you have, where you are going... could be interesting for future reference.

Ltr