Converting Unleaded Gas Transfer Tank To Diesel

[Fallon]

One other question...

Planning on powering the 12v pump from the tractor battery.

Thinking about permanently extending the 12v and ground from the battery under the hood to a safe convenient point near the operator station using a standard SAE 2 wire connector or a battery extension cable from like Noco or Batteryminder.

Then use a 10 or 12 foot extension cable with the same 2 wire plug design to run to the 12 volt pump.

I've also got the original fuse assembly to put in line in the 12v positive path.

Has anybody done this with a set of plugs and an extension that works conveniently?

Power Poles Anderson Powerpole and SB Connectors | Powerwerx. The greatest thing since sliced bread. I found them through HAM radio. Genderless modular plugs. Way better than the standard crappy SAE automotive plugs.

Anderson sb connectors are the same thing for high amperage only not modular. I use those for jumper cables, winxh cables, battery disconnects, generator disconnects.have a mix of SB50s for RV battery cables SB350s for most everything else pulling big battery amperage.

 

[Hay Dude]

The Anderson plugs are nice, BUT I will warn you the contacts corrode if exposed to even minor dampness. I have a hard wired jump starter kit with Andersen plug out on my Ram bumper for jumping farm tractors and the terminals corroded quickly, even with a weather cap on them. I have to clean them, keep them sprayed and the cap on tight to maintain reliability.

 

[Trainpilot]

Another connector to consider is the two-pole battery charger quick connect. Then you have a connection for a trickle charger. Should be available at a tractor supply or automotive store. They are polarity protected and some come with cover plugs--just be sure to install the one on the battery side so that the hot wire is shielded.

Re: the tank, I'd be tempted to leave the gasoline decal on too, as diesel is so much less likely to cause a problem than gas. A greater concern is not to store diesel in a galvanized container. I'm not sure of the exact chemistry involved, as to whether it can result in zinc going into solution and then depositing on combustion surfaces, or just corrosion in the tank.

 

[RancherGuy]

I have 3 diesel storage tanks. 1000 gallon, 520 gallon, 500 gallon. FYI, the largest and smallest used to be propane tanks. The middle one is gravity feed because it sits 5 feet in the air on a stand.

As you may have discovered or assumed, an insignificant amount of gasoline in diesel, or vice versa, will have no impact on your target engine. You have done more that I would have. Don't lose sleep over it.

As for the wiring, it depends on the pump you are using. Look at their amperage requirement. I have tried little 12v HF generic transfer pumps that weighed 1 to 2 pounds, another 12v pump designed for diesel that is a little larger - I still use it. I also have a 12v "Fill-Rite" pump. The first two worked well with "Battery Minder" style cords and plugs, with 30 foot wires and spring clamps at the battery end. The last is sitting in my barn unused and might need 12 gauge or better, so it is best to be hard wired or use bigger connectors. 60A would definitely be overkill.

BTW, the generic HF pumps fail after a year or less because the plastic impeller is not fuel rated - it falls apart.

 

[JWR]

One other question...

Planning on powering the 12v pump from the tractor battery.

Thinking about permanently extending the 12v and ground from the battery under the hood to a safe convenient point near the operator station using a standard SAE 2 wire connector or a battery extension cable from like Noco or Batteryminder.

Then use a 10 or 12 foot extension cable with the same 2 wire plug design to run to the 12 volt pump.

I've also got the original fuse assembly to put in line in the 12v positive path.

Has anybody done this with a set of plugs and an extension that works conveniently?

I would not go to all that trouble. I find that medium sized battery charger will drive the 12v fuel pump just fine and hooks up with trivial ease.

 

[JWR]

As Rancher just said " an insignificant amount of gasoline in diesel, or vice versa, will have no impact on your target engine. You have done more that I would have. Don't lose sleep over it." I agree 100%.

Not any more but about 30 years ago VW diesels came with a user's manual recommendation to mix 10% gasoline with the diesel in weather below 10 degrees. That was rescinded after a couple of years because General Motors research showed amplified fire hazards from that practice. I think you did well by changing out the filter but other than that the two fuels are miscable and the tiny amount of gas ending up in your #2 diesel fuel is completely negligible.

 

[Fallon]

I would not go to all that trouble. I find that medium sized battery charger will drive the 12v fuel pump just fine and hooks up with trivial ease.

For an old dumb transformer battery charger I'm sure it would work fine. However most newer chargers are smart chargers & to smart for their own good on stuff like this. They check for some voltage & stuff before they start a charge cycle. If they don't find that like being connected to a pump & not a battery they just show an error. They are better battery chargers most of the time though.

What most people are referring to as a battery charger plug is more commonly called a SAE connector (noted a ways down in) DC connector - Wikipedia.

A SAE plug is physically the same for both sides, but 1 side is wired up backwards. With PowerPoles & Anderson plugs both sides are the same physically & electrically. No need to wory about which is the source & which is the destination or wiring one backwards. If find them as corrosion resistant as SAE plugs (okish). If you want corrosion resistant you need to step up to sealed Weatherpak, Metripak or Deutch connectors like in most vehicle wiring harnesses. Gendered plugs that cost a bit more & aren't as convenient. Personally I use Deutch where needed for weather resistance on light bars or what not then PowerPoles everywhere else.

 

[JWR]

The most expensive battery charger I ever owned was utterly worthless. Basically if you really needed to charge a battery it refused. I finally found a REALLY good one with no electronics telling me I can't use it. I love it and gave the other one away to a son-in-law as I recall.

 

[BackRoad]

Power Poles Anderson Powerpole and SB Connectors | Powerwerx. The greatest thing since sliced bread. I found them through HAM radio. Genderless modular plugs. Way better than the standard crappy SAE automotive plugs.

Anderson sb connectors are the same thing for high amperage only not modular. I use those for jumper cables, winxh cables, battery disconnects, generator disconnects.have a mix of SB50s for RV battery cables SB350s for most everything else pulling big battery amperage.

Mr. Fallon, that Powerwerx site is dangerous...It's Legos for geeks!

The Power Poles are magic.

I have some SB50's in transit.

Guess I are a geek...

 

[FTG-05]

The most expensive battery charger I ever owned was utterly worthless. Basically if you really needed to charge a battery it refused. I finally found a REALLY good one with no electronics telling me I can't use it. I love it and gave the other one away to a son-in-law as I recall.

You sound like Andrew Camarata. One of his biggest pet peeves is electronic battery chargers that don't work to charge batteries.