Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> On Fri, 02 Aug 2013 11:25:56 -0400, Nancy Young
> > wrote:
>
> >On 8/2/2013 11:13 AM, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> >> On 8/2/2013 10:16 AM, Nancy Young wrote:
> >>> Seems obvious to me, but many, many people were caught with
> >>> their car tanks low on gas after Sandy. I was glad I had two
> >>> cars full so I was good for the 10 days but a lot of people
> >>> were stuck at home.
> >>>
> >>> When all the electricity is out, the gas stations are out, too.
> >>> Fill 'er up if you know a storm is coming.
> >
> >> Some states are trying to force gas stations to install generators so
> >> they can keep operating. While it sounds good, it is expensive and puts
> >> the individual stations at a competitive disadvantage unless they can
> >> charge much more after a storm.
> >
> >That's very interesting, I hadn't heard anything about that.
> >I wonder what kind of generator they would need to operate just
> >the pumps, meaning how big would it have to be. I wouldn't
> >oppose state aid to install these generators. The station owners
> >are already under a lot of financial pressure, I don't know if it
> >should all fall on them when it's all of us who depended on them.
> >
> >Anyway, interesting idea.
>
> I doubt running a gas pump consumes more electric than your fridge...
> and they'd more than make up the cost of a generator from remaining in
> business and selling gas.

Modern gas stations use common (to all the dispensers) submersible pumps
similar to well pumps in the tanks. You'll have three or more of these
pumps to run at at least 1HP each, plus the dispensers, controls,
lighting, etc.

Figure on at least a 20KVA generator, and for a commercial grade one,
transfer switch, installation, permits, etc. that's going to be
$35k-$50k per station, more for some space challenged stations.

Cheap residential standby generators and half-assed installation won't
fly in a flammable and combustible fuel dispensing facility.