North Star M165930R Owner's Manual page 22

Static electricity can initiate from ungrounded fuel tanks or containers, from flowing fuel, and
Under certain conditions, static electricity can ignite fuel vapors that are present during the fueling
process, which may result in serious burns to nearby persons. To avoid static electricity while fueling,
certain steps must be followed before and during the fueling process in order to minimize and safely
dissipate static charge build-up:
Touch a grounded metal object before starting . Always dissipate static charge from your body
before beginning the fueling process by touching a grounded metal object at a safe distance away from
fuel sources.
Use a portable container to fill tank . Never fill the generator's fuel tank directly from the pump –
the generator's tank is not grounded and the high velocity flow from a fuel pump can cause static
electric build-up. Use an approved portable container to transfer fuel to the generator's tank.
Fill container on the ground. Never fill the portable fuel container while it is sitting inside a
vehicle, trailer, trunk, or pick-up truck bed. ALWAYS place container on the ground to be filled.
Keep nozzle in contact with container . Keep nozzle in contact with the portable container at all
times while filling. Manually control the flow of fuel; do NOT use the nozzle's lock-open device.
Use a portable container made of metal or conductive plastic. It will dissipate charge to ground
more readily.
About static electricity and fueling
Many common objects can accumulate and retain a static electric charge. Objects made of non-
conductive materials (e.g. plastics) easily accumulate and retain static electric charge, as can objects
made of conductive material (e.g. metal, water) if they are not electrically grounded. The static electric
charge on an object, such as a human body or plastic fuel tank/container, can reach as high as several
thousand volts!
A static electric spark can be generated if the static electric charge stored on an object "jumps" to
another, less charged object. Such a spark can ignite invisible fuel vapors that are present during fueling
situations.
Typical sources of static electric hazards during fueling
The following objects can accumulate a static electric charge and cause an ignition spark in typical
fueling situations:
Ungrounded tanks/containers. Any ungrounded fuel tank or container can accumulate a static
electric charge as a result of contact with other objects or friction during transportation. This static
electricity can discharge as a spark to the grounded fuel dispenser nozzle, as the nozzle is first brought
close to the tank/container at the beginning of the fueling process.
Flowing fuel. Most people are not aware that fuel accumulates static electric charge while flowing
through a hose or pipe. This charge then transfers to and accumulates in the fuel tank or container that is
being filled. The total amount of charge accumulation depends on the amount of fuel pumped into the
container, the speed with which it is pumped, and whether or not the tank/container is grounded. If
sufficient static electric charge accumulates in the fuel tank or container during the fueling process, the
tank/container may discharge a spark to the grounded fuel dispenser nozzle.
Persons. A person dispensing the fuel can carry a static electric charge on their body, typically
resulting from contact with their car seat or electronics. The static electricity can discharge as a spark
between that person's hand and either the grounded dispenser nozzle or the fuel tank opening.
Operation (cont'd)
Static electricity and filling the fuel tank:
from persons carrying a static electric charge
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