Jerry Cans

[JonoH]

Hi all

I need to buy some jerry cans for carrying water but am a bit lost as to why the clear plastic ones designed for water are the same price as the red fuel (and yellow diesal) containers.

Why i do not understand this is that the fuel cans come with funnels and breathers etc while the clear plastic ones are only a container.

Is there a law against using fuel cans for water, as i never intend on carrying spare fuel i will never mix up what is in the containers and since they will never be used for fuel but rather water there won't be a contamination issue.

A side note - i'm not intending on using this as drinking water but simply water for washing dishes and ourselves, we generally take container water for drinking (the stuff you buy from the shops).

Also it would be pretty funny if someone stole the fuel containers and put it in their cars thinking it was petrol 

Any opinions would be good.

If i do use the fuel containers i will most likely paint them and label them differently.

[UTE 701]

To save on confusion we use the dark green water jerry cans .

They have the thread socket inside the cap . Where you can store the tap or the bung .

I've heard that the clear ones will help in the slime process ( can someone confirm this ? ) .

[Mace]

No restriction on wat you do, but:  (from http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090606150900AAKF1eh

Water ones are food grade plastic:

What Is Food Grade Plastic? The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires that plastics used in food packaging be of greater purity than plastics used for non-food packaging. This is commonly referred to as food grade plastic. Plastics used to package pharmaceuticals are held to an even higher standard than food grade.

Food grade plastic does not contain dyes or recycled plastic deemed harmful to humans. However, this does not mean that food grade plastic cannot contain recycled plastic. The FDA has detailed regulations concerning recycled plastics in food packaging.

Another aspect of food grade plastic is matching the appropriate type of plastic to the food in question. Foods that are highly acidic or that contain alcohol or fats can leach plastic additives from the packaging or container into the food. As a result, you should only use plastic containers that are FDA approved for the particular type of food the plastic will come into contact with.

[skog]

The clear or blue containers also have the tap option in the bottom of the container.
Supa cheap had them for about $17 for a 20l container. So they were about $10 cheaper each

But I am not sure of the difference in plastic 

[Tjupurula]

I have 3 red and 3 black plastic jerry cans that I carry for diesel, with spouts, and I have two blue plastic jerry cans that I use for water.  I have never had any problems with them, and there is no "law" regarding the jerry can contents as far as I know.   Having only a 65 litre tank, I carry the extra jerries for obvious reasons.  I always tell people to try to avoid the steel jerry cans, as they can be a nightmare to pour from.
Regards
Tjupurula

[krisandkev]

I use 20 litre black jerry cans and red 10 litre containers for diesel.  The red ones I carry on my roof rack, easier to put up there and get off.  The black are on our camper.  I find the jerry cans that have two spouts are a lot better to pour from.  The purer fits in one and the other I open slightly to allow air to enter.
I use clear plastic containers for water so I can easily see the level.
Kevin

[Eagle Outback]

I had two blue plastic water container's, Rubbed a hole through one of them on a recent simpson desert trip!, lost twenty litres of precious water, sometimes I think steel can's would be better

[speewa158]

With the color of Jerry's it can be comfusing , good question well asked .
So really its more of a question of where your off to  , as to which Jerry you carry .
For longer trips away l can carry 160L to drink if necessary , or wash up ? me really as long as you can tell the difference as to what is what its cool . Storing water to drink should be done in dark containers & when not in use empty them or chuck in a big fist full of dencher tablets to keep it clean . Cold Beer is better though 

[JonoH]

The big green hardware store has the red/yellow jerry's for $21 while the cheapest i could find the specific water containers was $20. These were clear containers but i'm not so keen on clear containers as they let the sunlight into the water which helps algae to grow.

Thanks for all the help, i'll probably grab some of the red/yellow ones, just make sure i label them (although i will know anyway!)

The reason i like the fuel containers with the funnel as it will make it easier to pour a jerry into the camper tank if needed.

[austastar]

The reason i like the fuel containers with the funnel as it will make it easier to pour a jerry into the camper tank if needed.

8<---------------------------------------------

No moving parts

Runs with 12 V air compressor, foot or hand pump

Powdercoated body resists corrosion. Red or Yellow

Empties a Jerry Can in minutes

Tested with Petrol using 72 LPM 12v "Max Volume" air compressor
Specifications:

No internal moving parts

Operates with air pressure as low as 2-5 psi
Air inlet :    Schrader Valve
Safety :    Pressure relief valve
Outlet :    10 mm pipe with 2m fuel grade hose

For low pressure/volume 12 volt air pumps
Not to be used with 240 volt high capacity air pumps
Includes:

Tanami Pro Pump Body
Pressure Relief Valve
Hose Clamp
2m Fuel Grade "Clear" Hose
Operating & Safety Instructions

Available in Red or Yellow

8<-----------------------------------

Copied from The Tanami Pump website

No association - just an item on my wish list.

cheers

[Black-Pig]

I have a Tanami Pump. Works great. Even better when you hold the safety down... Just dont add too much air at the end. Mine was for Diesel. 20ltrs into the tractor, just like that... There is standard colour codes for jerry cans and i think it is as follows:
Red - Unleaded
Yellow - Diesel
Black - Oil
Dark Green - 25:1 2 Stroke
Grey: 50:1 2 Stroke
These are Standardised Colours as Approved by AFAC (Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council)

And I found it on this web site (I have no connection with this mob)
http://www.proquip.com.au/ProductPages/JerryCans/JerryCansWaterContainers.html

[johnyd]

There is standard colour codes for jerry cans and i think it is as follows:
Red - Unleaded
Yellow - Diesel
Black - Oil
Dark Green - 25:1 2 Stroke
Grey: 50:1 2 Stroke
These are Standardised Colours as Approved by AFAC (Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council)

That's the same as I've heard.

[Disco4Guy]

The clear or blue containers also have the tap option in the bottom of the container.
Supa cheap had them for about $17 for a 20l container. So they were about $10 cheaper each

But I am not sure of the difference in plastic 

I checked these out at SuperCheap yesterday.  They came with a warning on the label not to use in direct sunlight.

[Rural]

I picked up 2 at REPCO yesterday as they are having a sale.  They look more white than really clear or blue but you can still see into them.  They have 2 black screw cap lids, both reasonably large, one at each side at the top and the word WATER is moulded into the plastic on the front.  They also come with a flexible pourer. 

They were 35% off and cost me less than $13 each so I bought 2 for less than $26.   I seen exactly the same in a camping shop last night for $29.95 each.

Just thought I would mention.

[geordie4x4]

I checked these out at SuperCheap yesterday.  They came with a warning on the label not to use in direct sunlight.

Ha that is great meaning that the plastic will degrade in sun.

If you are going to be drinking the water then the best quality plastic or stainless steel ones will not taint your water.  Cheap ones WILL give you a plastic taint and that means you are drinking nice little plastic particles.

HDPE (high density polyethylene) LDPE (low density polyethylene)
#2 (HDPE), 4 (LDPE) and 5 (polypropylene) plastics are generally regarded as safe.

Really cheap coloured containers can be PVC which is not for food or water.

Polycarbonate #7 may contain a nasty BPA chemical but you are not likely to find large containers in this as it is too expensive.

http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/0902.asp

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/which-plastics-are-safe.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuse_of_water_bottles