What's the best 12V DC power source for my fueling station?

[dieselscout80]

I use the SAE Connector for everything, I think some of them are good up to 20 amps

Do you have a link to one?

 

[lilranch2001]

There are a bunch of other SAE ACCESSORIES as well as most battery tenders plug into them as well

 

[WM75Guy]

I put a battery and a solar charger on my fuel trailer. The waterproof controller for the solar panel has a port for attaching a 12V light, which I have not done yet. The solar panel is not tied down do I can take it off in bad weather or when I tow it to get filled.

 

[dieselscout80]

There are a bunch of other SAE ACCESSORIES as well as most battery tenders plug into them as well
View attachment 831485

Thanks

 

[Gator6x4]

I need to improve the power source for my farm’s diesel fueling station. I need something more reliable.

The 12V DC transfer pump is mounted on an 500 gal. tank outdoors. I currently have just a tractor and ATV requiring diesel, (though this could change), so it doesn’t get used more than once every few months unless it’s growing/tilling season. When I set it up about 10 years ago, I thought the easiest way was to get power from the fueled unit through its cig lighter/DC power port, but this has its problems. Sometimes – especially when I want to fuel them both at the same time - the draw heats up the plug and on occasion pops the inline fuse or even the fuse on the vehicle’s DC port. Then everything comes to a halt while I go fuse hunting. Recently, I suspect it may have even torched the wiring to the ATV's DC port, since I had the dealer tech up the fuse's spec to handle the pump draw. And it seems to vary depending on ambient temperature. I’ve cut down the wire leading to the pump to the minimum needed to reach the vehicle, but it remains an ongoing problem.

The fuel station is within about 20 feet from an inside-accessed AC power outlet, and I’m wondering if some beefy DC power supply would work better; I could run it out to the station only when needed. But after a quick look at these, it seems many are more suited to audio and electronics test bench situations than my ag application.

I am currently renewing all components of the fuel station – pump and motor, hose and nozzle, etc. – and need to get rid of these nagging DC power issues. Trolling for suggestions, wondering what others might be using in a similar setup. Your thoughts on the subject would be welcome. Thank you.

~Lefty7

Since you have a AC Power outlet close I would use a AC to DC converter.

Amazon.com

 

[Lefty7]

I appreciate your thoughts, Mr. Gator6x4, but frankly I see no big advantage in doing so. It's gonna be a lot more convenient for me to clamp onto a battery I bring out in the FEL than to run 20' of AC line out to the fueling station every time I need to fuel up.

 

[grsthegreat]

Depends on how often you fuel tractor, but only recharged 2x a year.

 

[Lefty7]

OK, here's a related question:

If I'm powering the pump with an independent aux battery, is the inline fuse really necessary or not?

 

[LouNY]

It certainly will not hurt anything and if the pump motor locks up it will prevent the wire from becoming an electrical fire.
A fuse is to protect the wiring going to something. Almost always a good idea.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

If you raised tank up 5-6 feet you could gravity fill. No electricity or anything. All you would need would be a few steps for delivery guy.
My excavator neighbor/friend's tank is like that and he fills his truck, Bobcat, track hoe, etc. that way. No pump or power.

 

[grsthegreat]

OK, here's a related question:

If I'm powering the pump with an independent aux battery, is the inline fuse really necessary or not?

I have one on mine.

 

[Lefty7]

If you raised tank up 5-6 feet you could gravity fill. No electricity or anything. All you would need would be a few steps for delivery guy.
My excavator neighbor/friend's tank is like that and he fills his truck, Bobcat, track hoe, etc. that way. No pump or power.

Thanks, Fuddyduddy1952... [great handle, by the way, and a great year for some things, too].

Yeah, me and Sir Isaac Newton get the gravity thing, but am I soon gonna raise a +half-full 500 gal. tank 5-6 feet? Probably not; there's other fish to fry. I'll save that project for when the big grid goes down, or when my aux battery tanks and I don't have another one, and when the asteroid belt moves and makes the sun so dim that I can't charge it with solar, or when ... Uh - in the immortal words of Pres. H.W.B: "Naht gohnna daht..."

But I get it, and you said it best: simplicity. So I do have one of those manual crank jobs sitting new in a box, just in case.

 

[Lefty7]

I have one on mine.

Yeah, most everybody does - and that seems to be the stock, default answer. But in the application I described, is it really necessary? I mean, in reality, what the heck's gonna happen in between my charged-up motorcycle battery and the motor of my GPI pump that's somehow gonna burn up 18-20 ga. multi-strand copper wire or trash the motor?

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, probably nothing. My 12 v pump came with an inline weatherproof fuse on the red clamp cable. im sure thats to meet UL Listing.

 

[Lefty7]

Ya, probably nothing. My 12 v pump came with an inline weatherproof fuse on the red clamp cable. im sure thats to meet UL Listing.

Exactly.

I have inline weatherproof fuses new in stock that ain't never been used yet. And they have their place.

But since my fuel station is outside 24/7, getting blasted by the prevailings and whatever they bring, and since I have - on rare occasions - had fuses, both the old kind and the newer kind - go bad for no blessed reason other than 'its time had come', and if simplicity is indeed the thing, than why put one in?

 

[LouNY]

The simple reason for a fuse to protect the wire in case the pump or the wiring gets shorted, pump in a locked rotor mode, switch shorting out.
If it does that wire will over heat melt the insulation and be a hazard to any fuel it gets to. You are much better off with a fuse close to the battery connection.

 

[Lefty7]

OK, thanks for that, LouNY.

And thanks once again to TBN friends for your widely varied suggestions and good opinions. Yer the best.

~Lefty7