"George E. Cawthon" wrote in message news:TcQDf.579366$ snipped-for-privacy@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net... : Pop wrote: : > Hi, : >
: > What do you folk do for gasoline storage for your generators? : >
: > I am in far northern NY with harsh winters and occasional : > multi-day power outages with frequent outages of several hours in : > the winter. Worst one so far was during the Ice Storm of '98 - 5 : > days without power. : >
: > Here's my solution, but I don't like it: : > I simply keep about 30-35 gallons of gas on hand beginning : > about late November through February. They're all in proper : > containers, stored outdoors, in a small open "locker" I made for : > the purpose, painted red, highly visible from the road/driveway : > for emergency vehicles, and clearly labelled as gasoline storage, : > no smoking, all that good stuff. But that's a LOT of gas sitting : > around in separate containers, some of the plastic, which I know : > I should get rid of. That locker is about ten feet from the : > garage and near a storage shed behind them, with a wooden gate : > into the area. Theft is not a problem - very rural, motion : > lites, siren, and someone is home near 24/7, etc.. : >
: > I wanted a farm tank wiht a pump, but was refused; have to be a : > business. : > Have two cars, which hold plenty of fuel, but ... no way to get : > the gas out of them. Siphoning is impossible these days. : >
: > My next generator's going to be a diesel! I know how to pump : > fuel oil from my furnaces! But what about right now? : >
: > TIA, : >
: > Pop : >
: >
: : Do it like most small time farmers/ranchers. Fill : a 55 gallon drum, that you can roll or raise to a : convenient height (drum horizontal). You can even : build a cage with an inner sliding part that : you raise a foot at a time with a hydraulic car jack. : : The drum would have a locking tap on the downside : opening with the other opening up. Whenever you : want gas you unscrew the top opening to allow air : to enter, then fill whatever you want from the : tap. Add a hose and get the barrel high enough : and you can fill the vehicles. Probably want to : use up all the extra gas and empty the empty the : barrel once a year. : : All those proper containers are a hazard. Much : better and safer to store a large amount : altogether in an air tight container.
Hmm, I like that actually, if it's allowable here; think I'll check that out further.
Couple questions: Why do you say the several containers are a hazard? I don't want several containers, but curious why they're more hazardous than a drum? How do you control moisture inside the tank? Wouldn't it have to be kep mostly full year 'round to keep moisture from becoming a problem? Still thinking about moisture: How would one know the drum they are getting wasn't going to rust inside? Outside you paint & care for, but regular 55 gal drums are relatively thin metal, are they not? If it were you, where would you source the drum from? I have a few in the cellar that i keep drinking water in, that stay fine inside, but ... dunno what would happen if they contained gasoline.
I don't see any problem with gas getting stale; as long as it's kept in closed containers it'll last 6 months easy, and right now in the spring I just start using up the winter gas in the lawn tractor, weed eater, etc etc etc.. So that part doesn't worry me too much; it's fairly easy to keep a turn-over going. Especially if I could easily dump it into the car too.
Hmm, I'll bet a propane tank would work too, wouldn't it? Maybe even two of them. Certainly no problem with tank expansion/collapse in the changeing temps and all that - and they could even be lightly pressurized with moisture-free (well, filtered anyway) compressed air, to act as a pump of sorts. I keep envisioning a drum collapsing after a heat wave followed by a few cold nights . Well, that pressurizing might not be practical, but the rest bears some thinking about.
Thanks - helps to discuss things with others. Sort of like brainstorming; brings out new thoughts.
Pop