electrically bonding tanks during fuel transfer

[pdangerp]

I have a gas can that I keep in the Jeep. It has one of those crappy CARB approved gas spilling spouts. I decided that it is just easier to leave the "jerry can" in the back of the Jeep and siphon gas into the tank using some vinyl hose from Home Depot.

From my industrial safety training, I know that it is a good idea to electrically bond the two tanks while transferring fuel so that there is no potential voltage difference to cause a spark. I plan on buying a couple of aligator clamps and some wire to go between the jerry can and the fuel filler hose.

How big should this wire be? I imagine the wire will be no longer than 5 feet. Am I being ridiculous, or is this a valid concern? I know that they recommend putting all gas containers on the ground before filling them because of static electricity fears.

 

[kbs2244]

You are just draining static to prevent a spark.
Anything heavier than phone wire will work.

 

[bullfrog123]

On my toyhauler camp trailer with onboard fuel station the grounding wire is only 16-18 gauge with a little alligator clamp.

 

[nate379]

Do you run a ground wire from the pay pump to your car or jerry can too??

Only time I have done what your are talking about is when helping to fuel aircraft... but we are talking something that costs almost $30 million each.

 

[mrb]

Do you run a ground wire from the pay pump to your car or jerry can too??

the hose is conductive or has a wire in it, the nozzle contacts the vehicle, and the entire (UL Listed) assembly provides a path for static dissipation

 

[VWandDodge]

Do you run a ground wire from the pay pump to your car or jerry can too??

Only time I have done what your are talking about is when helping to fuel aircraft... but we are talking something that costs almost $30 million each.

You should know that aircraft generate a lot of static electricity, hence the requirement for grounding them during refueling. Static electricity is always a danger (not a fear) when refueling a vehicle. That's why, every once in a while, local news will remind people during dry seasons that it's a good idea to touch the vehicle first while removing the fuel pump handle from its cradle. That way, the body acts as a conductor to help dissipate any built up static electricity.

 

[WVBrady]

I noticed that some of the carts at the local WalMart have a little static strap hanging down to contact the ground. I mentioned this to one of the cashiers and she said that little kids had complained that the carts "hurt them". I noticed it in cold, dry weather. Now if they would do something about the flat wheels!

 

[nehog]

Plastic gas can? You aren't going to bond to that!

As to wire size, anything, will work, the current is so small that even the finest wire you can find will work just fine.

Consider this, spray the outside of the can with diluted fabric softener, which has an anti-static ingredient. Or get a can of anti-static spray. Or 'cling-free'. All work and will reduce static substantially. Also, I'd recommend putting the can on the ground, not in the truck.

 

[nate379]

the hose is conductive or has a wire in it, the nozzle contacts the vehicle, and the entire (UL Listed) assembly provides a path for static dissipation

Maybe so never paid attention. I have a 300 gal tank at the house and about 50 ft of hose.

 

[Andamo]

I thought I was the only one that grounding happened to while pushing a cart around Wal-Mart.

When I worked in the oil/chemical industry, we kept 55 gallon drums of solvent outside the building on the dock in the horizontal position. We had grounding straps from the drum to a long bar behind the drums and this bar was grounded to the dock itself. These drums then had a grounding strap with alligator clamps on the front and we'd ground the container we were filling back to the drum.

 

[pdangerp]

This is not a plastic gas can. This is a metal Jerry Can for filling vehicles. I would prefer to leave it on the vehicle so that it is above the gas tank so I can siphon. I can't very well siphon from the ground can I. The reason I don't just use the filler nozzle is that they are awkward and leak because CARB rules make them a hassle.

 

[dittle fart around]

This is just a static ground. Static is real low current. I worked on 500 KV transmission lines and only had a 14 gauge static ground.