[Elecraft] FD generator "quiet problem"

[Bob]

Since the concern is that a quiet generator will run out of gas and nobody
will know (those folks using AC  => Charger => Battery => K3 setups), how
about this instead?

The EU2000 will run for more than 24 hours on an external 6 gallon tank of
gas under full load.  If you use that setup you don't have to refuel every
4 to 6 hours, which means no spilling gas, fumbling in the dark, or worries
about running out of gas during the contest.

You can use a standard portable 6-Gallon gas tank ($50 from WalMart) with a
primer hose and fuel connector for an outboard motor (like a Johnson).  You
then replace the standard Honda gas cap (the one that as the "ON/OFF" air
vent), with a special cap that has the mating connector for your outboard
motor on it.

As gas is drawn out of the generator tank, the vacuum it produces draws gas
from the 6-gallon tank back into the generator tank.

You fill up the Generator tank and 6-gallon tank at a gas station before
the contest, then just plug the stuff together in the field, start it up,
then turn it off when the contest is done.  Expect 24-28 hours of run time
at full load, and a couple of days at partial load.

Google "Honda Generator Extended Run Gas Cap"

An example of a complete assembly (tank, fittings, hose, cap) is here:
http://www.wisesales.com/bergs-6-gal-system-for-honda-etq-generac-all-power.html#.T-nNl5GDl8E

An example of the cap-only is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HONDA-Eu2000i-GENERATOR-EXTENDED-RUN-FUEL-CAP-SYSTEM-/170855572266?pt=BI_Generators&hash=item27c7c9232a

I used a setup like the one I described for several days after we lost
power during a hurricane late last year.  Because I was only drawing a few
hundred watts (a few desk lamps and our refrigerator), it ran for 2 days
before I put more gas into the external tank, which was about six feet away
from the generator -- so I didn't even stop the generator.

73, Bob, WB4SON

(Love my Honda and K3; two things that just work right all the time)