adding a 2nd fuel tank to gen

[Jack Griff]

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

 

[JoeSP]

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

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.