Sender for portable gas tanks?

[guy48065]

Weird inquiry but does anyone make a sender for use on portable gas tanks so a dash-mounted gas gauge could be used?

 

[H20Rat]

Bigger problem would be finding a portable tank that you could easily and safely add a sender to. The sender itself is relatively universal. Accuracy is going to be an issue, portable tanks don't have baffles and the fuel is going to be sloshing all over the place. Your gauge will read somewhere in between 100% full and empty, all depending on the waves.

Not sure if the added cost/complication is really worth it, easy enough just to look at the tank.

 

[Scott Danforth]

yes. both moeller and rochester gauge have fill-caps with float senders in them. however im with smoking crater, not sure the added complexity is worth in in a 3, 6 or 12 gallon tank.

 

[guy48065]

You're probably correct...but...in looking it up I found you can buy a 10-gal aluminum fuel cell with sender for under $100. With the porous foam baffle inside.

It's amazing how reasonable the prices get when you look outside the marine market.

 

[Scott Danforth]

You're probably correct...but...in looking it up I found you can buy a 10-gal aluminum fuel cell with sender for under $100. With the porous foam baffle inside.

It's amazing how reasonable the prices get when you look outside the marine market.

however if the fuel cell is not USCG approved, you have a bomb......

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I have a 5 gallon tank with a fuel gauge on it. It isn't accurate unless at a dead stop and level. I lift one end of the tank and can tell how much fuel I have.

 

[guy48065]

however if the fuel cell is not USCG approved, you have a bomb......

Funny--a motorhead would argue if it's not NHRA (or DOT) approved it's a bomb.

Just how high does the USCG set the bar for my plastic tank with it's plastic fittings & crappy EPA cap?
Though I doubt a fuel cell is dangerous because it's approved by the "wrong" body--I'll admit the "bomb" in this case is legal liability. Insurers LOVE it when you give them an excuse to not pay your claim.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Just how high does the USCG set the bar for my plastic tank with it's plastic fittings & crappy EPA cap?

Insurers LOVE it when you give them an excuse to not pay your claim.

the plastic tank was tested, passed and approved by the USCG. your proposed fuel cell was not. it may be better, it may be worse, however to the AHJ, it is not approved

and since the tank doesn't have a USCG approval, if there is an incident, not only does your insurance agency have the right to not pay, if there is any injury or collateral damage you are personally liable. and since you posted it in a public forum, guaranteed it will be discovered

plenty of USGC approved poly tanks out there for the same or less money than a fuel cell.

by the way, in a car, fuel vapors dissipate on the ground and the issue is gone as the car is usually in motion. in a boat, fuel vapors settle in the bilge and collect (which is why boats with a bilge have blowers)....and any spark or hot surface over 220F and you have a 40' fireball

 

[H20Rat]

and since the tank doesn't have a USCG approval, if there is an incident, not only does your insurance agency have the right to not pay, if there is any injury or collateral damage you are personally liable. and since you posted it in a public forum, guaranteed it will be discovered

by the way, in a car, fuel vapors dissipate on the ground and the issue is gone as the car is usually in motion. in a boat, fuel vapors settle in the bilge and collect (which is why boats with a bilge have blowers)....and any spark or hot surface over 220F and you have a 40' fireball

As far as I know, USCG regulations apply to the original boat builder, NOT the owner. Doesn't mean it isn't stupid, but it isn't technically illegal. And insurance covers stupid all the time. I used to work in insurance, 3/4's of the claims were because of stupid.

Also, OP didn't say, but this is most likely an outboard. Haven't owned an outboard powered boat yet that had a bilge blower. Generally no source of ignition in an outboard boat bilge, so USCG allows far more leeway on fuel. (ie, fuel primer bulbs, glass/plastic fuel filters, etc...)