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Post Info TOPIC: Refuelling portable fuel containers
Robreen


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Refuelling portable fuel containers
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G'day all.

At fuel stations, when filling portable fuel containers, it is clearly stated that they must be placed on the ground when filling. I assume this is because of the potential danger of static electricity causing an explosion. My questions are:

 

1. Are vehicle fuel tanks earthed?  Sometimes I get zapped by static electrify when  I get out of my vehicle.

2. Many caravans have a fuel container somewhere  on or in them. Do you take them off and place them on the ground when filling them?

3. Would having a length of chain from the container to the ground be sufficient?

 

Regards Robertconfuse



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blissonwheels


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Gooday,

 Do not know about the Vehicle being earthed, do not think so, as the tyres would insulate it, as for containers, I carry 1 /4 Litre for Petrol for Generator and 1/10 Litres for Diesel and always take both out and place them on the ground to fill.

 However I have a Plastic/PVC tank mounted on the front of the Caravan for Webasto Diesel Heater and fill that in situation not able to remove it.

Maybe someone phone and ask Doctor Karl.



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Wombat 280


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Normally when you get out of the car or go to the van when you first touch it you will discharge the charge to ground Often thought of the static charge when filling up my inboard fuel tanks of the tinnie but was told it wasn't a problem once I touched the boat and metal fuel cap . Lot of info on the BP, Shell sites and you can ask the question direct from the horses mouth

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rockylizard


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Gday...

I have always removed jerry cans from their containers - or the back of the vehicle - and placed them on the ground before filling them. 

This is the opinion of Caltex -

http://www.caltex.com.au/LatestNews/Pages/NewsItem.aspx?ID=13151

I think it safe to assume the other fuel suppliers would be in agreement.

Cheers - John



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KFT


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I have noticed at some servo's an earth lead on a small reel to permit earthing.

I am also aware that tyres these days are synthetic not rubber and they use carbon to make them black, so no they do not insulate you from the ground like rubber tyres would.

Frank

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Avagreatday.

Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
Peter_n_Margaret


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Just 6 days ago.....
www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/police-cars-catches-fire-at-pump/news-story/f22bc49316096d871d0d393eff06ded0

Cheers,
Peter

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Baz421


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One of the safest ways if you are concerned is to touch you car and hold the metal fuel nozzle in the other hand,,, equalises any potential for static to cross.

Same with cans/plastic tanks on ground hold both and safe.

Fuel nozzles have earth wire bonded into the hoses and earth so if you equalise everything with your body (ie through hands) no problems.

AVGAS used to be the most dangerous in the RAAF when I worked on tanker maintenance, but unleaded is only 91.

 



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Robreen


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G'day.
Thanks for the thoughts about refuelling portable containers. I have always thought that the best thing to do is follow what fuel companies recommend, but I have seen people filling containers while still on the trailer or in the boat. Not good practise!

Plastic containers have no metal for the nozzle to contact. Perhaps are metal containers "safer"?

Robert








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PeterD


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Static ignition has always been a problem with flammable liquids. Cars have a static electricity leakage path to earth via the carbon in their tyres, it may be a fairly resistive path to some but the resistance is low enough to discharge static. Most of the refuelling fires have been caused by static discharges. There used to be quite a few caused by people who set the pump nozzle back when you had a trigger to hold the nozzle running, they returned to the drivers sea to do something, they would then return to the nozzle and when they grabbed it they would produce a static discharge and a fire. The movement from the tank filling to the drivers seat and back again was enough to produce enough static charge to start a fire.

That is why the device to hold the pump running unattended was removed some years back.

We may build up a static charge either whilst in the vehicle or whilst alighting from the vehicle. However when we open the fuel flap and then the cap we discharge ourselves via the vehicle body. The problem with portable containers is they may not be statically earthed through the body of the vehicle. There may be a static charge in them that sparks to the fuel filler.

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PeterD


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blissonwheels wrote:
 However I have a Plastic/PVC tank mounted on the front of the Caravan for Webasto Diesel Heater and fill that in situation not able to remove it.

Diesel does not have the same danger as petrol. In some countries it is not considered a flammable  liquid as it has a flash point over 110 deg F (38 deg C.) See this link. Australia uses different definitions see this link, but the flash points in these tables shows that diesel is fairly safe except in very extreme temperature conditions..



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PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 
Hylife


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Robreen wrote:

:

 

1. ....... Sometimes I get zapped by static electrify when  I get out of my vehicle.

 

 

That is because your body acts as a path to ground and the static charge built up by the car discharges through your body. That charge has been prevented from discharging normally because the car wheels are made of rubber (good insulation) .
If you touch your car before you put the trigger nozzle into your tank you wont get a spark.
Placing the portable fuel container directly on the ground does the same thing, it earths and there is no static discharge spark.

Personally, I hate getting zapped and if your car is prone to static charge you can fit a discharge strap at the rear. $12 at Supercheap. Has wire running inside it.

291886.jpg



-- Edited by Hylife on Friday 22nd of April 2016 10:31:23 PM

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