Electric pump

I like the idea of the air pressure especially as you have a compressor for the retracts anyway.

only concern is what pressure (if any) are those jerrycans rated for and what is their mode of failure? will it just spring a leak or will it tear and fail suddenly with a large amount of highly flammable liquid floating around?

This was not my original idea - My son used it for filling wing tanks with petrol on his FoxKit plane. (Full size). With the jerrycan on the ground, he generated a 7ft head with no ill effect.

The pump was a mains driven air pump intended for a Koi fish pond.

Just Googled the idea - Search for Polarn Pump.

I have been using the Kavan pump in my fuel can for about a year now without any issues (I know i shouldn't have said that :dry: )

Even if the seals do start leaking they are only a few pounds for a complete set, i was advised to run the pump in reverse at the end of the flying sessions so there is no fuel left in the pump, seems to have worked so far

Re. using air pressure to fill a tank...

I know this is being asked in terms of pumping kerosene, but would remind people of the dangers of methanol in your eyes...it can cause blindness. I do not know whether kerosene or petrol have similar hazards. The risk of a pressurised tank surely cannot be worth considering when we have conventional pumps available, even if they do need a little maintenance from time to time?

MikeSeale wrote: Re. using air pressure to fill a tank...

I know this is being asked in terms of pumping kerosene, but would remind people of the dangers of methanol in your eyes...it can cause blindness. I do not know whether kerosene or petrol have similar hazards. The risk of a pressurised tank surely cannot be worth considering when we have conventional pumps available, even if they do need a little maintenance from time to time?

Hi Mike - I agree with the dangers of methanol but I would think the output pressure of a standard motorised pump would be far greater than that of a pressurised tank. The pressure generated by a fuel pump would be uncontrolled and unknown so the possibility of a fuel line popping off an inline filter or filling adaptor would be greater. The flow rate from the Jerrycan would be increased by using a larger bore tube which would allow a low air pressure to be used.

I've said my piece and do not intend trying to justify the advice offered

Thanks guy's for your input I won't be using air pressure as the retracts are electric

Hi GUYS, Just like to point out that any pressurzed vessel used in a public place (with fuel) requires a test cert and must be tested to 21/2 times working pressure first time then 11/2 times every year, you will need some body like me with the paperwork to test these or a outside person which could cost, if its steel every year, copper every 2 years think about it :ohmy:

Hi Frank
So it looks like scratch the pressurised Jerry-can idea then!!

BTW - What constitutes a 'pressurised vessel'. Would that include the 'pressurised fuel tank on most if not all glow powered models? :whistle: :silly:

Hi Ron your on board fuel tank is open through the exhaust fitting so any over pressure would escape through that, also the areas and volume are very small a jerry can a bit larger, a coca cola can can stand well over 100psi (8bar) to the young ones but the shape becomes differant :silly: