I was just curious if any of you actually shut down their Gen to add fuel while your in a power outage? I dont, but I just cant see doing it. I`m extra careful though. And I`m not one to sue the company if I light it on fire because of my dumb mistake.
Shutting off the generator to fuel up?
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As long as you're not standing in a puddle, with scissors in your other hand just for good measure.
FWIW, I've re-fueled them on the fly too. Whole setup was a distance from the house though, so only me and the gen would burn up! Obviously not the safest thing when the fuel is being added within a foot or two of the hot parts.
FWIW, I've re-fueled them on the fly too. Whole setup was a distance from the house though, so only me and the gen would burn up! Obviously not the safest thing when the fuel is being added within a foot or two of the hot parts.
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When i had a gasoline powered one i did.
All it takes it one errant spark to set the whole shebang on fire including you.
Gasoline vapors are heavier than air and the tank is likely above the engine where the spark plug is so draw your own conclusions.
All it takes it one errant spark to set the whole shebang on fire including you.
Gasoline vapors are heavier than air and the tank is likely above the engine where the spark plug is so draw your own conclusions.
I know it really isnt safe Trav. But during that Freak Sandy Hurricane/Super storm, I just wanted to keep it going as quickly as possible.
I would most worry about a spill onto the hot muffler.
How BIG of a genset were you using.
I have done the extended tank - quick connect fittings like many others have done.
Regardless of the genset tank, I can just disconnect, refuel the tank and the connect the extended tank (and or just refuel the extended tank while connected).
Have you considered something like that, depending on your fuel consumption needs..
I have done the extended tank - quick connect fittings like many others have done.
Regardless of the genset tank, I can just disconnect, refuel the tank and the connect the extended tank (and or just refuel the extended tank while connected).
Have you considered something like that, depending on your fuel consumption needs..
Gee whiz even with our EPA approved no leak gas cans this can happen, someone in the govt should do something about this dangerous situation.
I'm amazed.
I'm amazed.
Do you really need the generator 24x7? My thoughts are to give it a rest. I doubt I'd even run mine at night. The house will hold it's temperature pretty well in the winter. In the summer, I won't be running the AC off my generator, so that's not an issue.
The freezer and fridge are not going to rise in temperature if you let it go without power for 8-10 hours while you and your neighbors get some generator noise free sleeping time.
The freezer and fridge are not going to rise in temperature if you let it go without power for 8-10 hours while you and your neighbors get some generator noise free sleeping time.
Originally Posted By: javacontour
Do you really need the generator 24x7? My thoughts are to give it a rest. I doubt I'd even run mine at night. The house will hold it's temperature pretty well in the winter. In the summer, I won't be running the AC off my generator, so that's not an issue.
The freezer and fridge are not going to rise in temperature if you let it go without power for 8-10 hours while you and your neighbors get some generator noise free sleeping time.
Yes,because we have an old stone farm house built in 1834. And that baby cools down real fast when its cold outside.
Do you really need the generator 24x7? My thoughts are to give it a rest. I doubt I'd even run mine at night. The house will hold it's temperature pretty well in the winter. In the summer, I won't be running the AC off my generator, so that's not an issue.
The freezer and fridge are not going to rise in temperature if you let it go without power for 8-10 hours while you and your neighbors get some generator noise free sleeping time.
Yes,because we have an old stone farm house built in 1834. And that baby cools down real fast when its cold outside.
Originally Posted By: chefwong
How BIG of a genset were you using.
I have done the extended tank - quick connect fittings like many others have done.
Regardless of the genset tank, I can just disconnect, refuel the tank and the connect the extended tank (and or just refuel the extended tank while connected).
Have you considered something like that, depending on your fuel consumption needs..
Our Honda EM6500SX.
How BIG of a genset were you using.
I have done the extended tank - quick connect fittings like many others have done.
Regardless of the genset tank, I can just disconnect, refuel the tank and the connect the extended tank (and or just refuel the extended tank while connected).
Have you considered something like that, depending on your fuel consumption needs..
Our Honda EM6500SX.
If you are going to do this, make sure the ignition wire to plug connection is really good, an arc there in the presence of gas vapor near 14.7 to 1 is more dangerous that a hot muffler. I like hooking up a motorbike tank to the genset and keeping it a good distance away. During the last outage here, when it got done to 8 degrees, I did not take my usual compassion on my neighbors did run mine at night to keep the heat on. Said neighbors have had PLENTY of time to buy their own, in fact a number of people around me have autostart systems powered by propane.
I'm in both camps. I have a legal transfer switch and there's an outdoor light over where I set up the generator. So to see to fuel I either have to keep a flashlight in my mouth pointing in that general direction or keep the lights on. (I do keep a flashlight in my pocket "just in case".)
With a 4 gallon tank it'll run a long time, but there are times when strategically I want to top it off. I don't intend for it to run dry under load; bad for both genset and stuff plugged into it.
The flipside is yeah I don't need it all the time. If it rests for an hour that's an hour that the fridge isn't ticking away its defrost timer.
With a 4 gallon tank it'll run a long time, but there are times when strategically I want to top it off. I don't intend for it to run dry under load; bad for both genset and stuff plugged into it.
The flipside is yeah I don't need it all the time. If it rests for an hour that's an hour that the fridge isn't ticking away its defrost timer.
During power outages, I run mine 2 hours on - 4 off. House is well insulated and I have found no risk to refrigertated or frozen foods. I extend the 4 off at night to keep the noise levels down as it is a noisy piece.
As an aside, I ran my Briggs on T 6 for about 20 hours non-stop and it used just a trace of oil. That was not the case with dino 10 - 30.
i've done it a couple of times. then decided it just wasn't worth it. To think one can do it safely is to assume one has control over all of the variables. fumes. leaky exh valve allowing flame escape. a single backfire. an arcing wire. a hotspot. a burp in the baby catalytic.... all poof. me just standing there being nervous (does "aware" and "nervous" do anything to change these factors? no....). i don't have control over all of that... who am I trying to kid?
I shut them down now.
I shut them down now.
I ussually shut mine off due to the vibrations and it ussually starts right back up, first pull. Although I wont say I didnt try. They vibrate so bad and the tank is on top, so when it gets near full, gas goes flying evrywhere. No need to worry about gas on a hot muffler. Gasoline will boil, it wount ignite from heat. I proved this to my son on a camping trip, by putting a container of gas in the fire and you could watch it boil from the fire, but never ignite. Probably something he shouldnt have mentioned to his mother when we got back. I will have to incorporate one of those "What Happens in the woods, stays in the woods".
agreed! unless exposed to extremely high heat (vapourisation), otherwise: kerosene and diesel are the 2 safest handling liquid fuel under most circumstances.
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