adding a 2nd fuel tank to gen

 

is there a way and what parts might be needed to hookup a 2nd fuel tank (like a
marine
fuel tank) to an existing generator?

am I totally off by thinking I could hookup a Tee to the fuel line, where main
feed
comes from the gen fuel tank and when it runs empty, it would suction from
"reserve
tank" which sits on the ground?

didn't want to re-engineer a solution but am sure someone has already documented
this

generator is a honda 13hp with only about 5gal tank

 

Jack Griff wrote:

a marine

feed

"reserve

documented this

Small portable generators rarely have fuel pumps, they rely on gravity
feed. You could install a selector valve instead of a tee and a suitable
marine quick connect to allow you to hookup an external tank. Changeover
would be manual, not automatic and you would have to use a tank
positioned above the generator and gravity feed (or perhaps a pre-primed
siphon). You also have to watch out for the oil level and temps on the
generator for extended operation as the small portable units aren't
expected to run more than an 8 hour workday or so.

Pete C.

 



Last summer, I had a 2500W generator with a tiny fuel tank, probably 2
liters at best on the Honda engine.  I needed to run it for long periods to
charge batteries, so it was annoying to keep filling it with fuel.

My solution was a 5 gallon marine fuel tank. I attached some 1/4" brass
quick-couplers of the type often used on compressed air lines. I connected
them with a 1/4" fuel hose, and had a manual two-way fuel valve attached to
the engine.  The existing small tank had a fuel line going to the fuel pump
that was easy to tap into.  This way, I could either select the small
internal tank, or switch to the external marine tank, which was quickly
detachable.  I was fortunate that the Honda engine had a diaphragm-type fuel
pump, so starting was easy, and the external tank didn't need to be placed
in any particular position higher than the engine.

It worked perfectly the first time, and ran the engine all day easily.  My
only concern was damage to the small o-rings inside the air couplers from
the gasoline, but it never occurred. Apparently they were the right
material.