The pumps are 12 volts, so that won't hurt it. They are designed to
have fuel running through them at all times to cool the motor, so
running it dry for more than a couple of seconds will not be good for
it. Also, any fuel remaining inside the pump may come spraying out, so
be careful with that.
--
Mike F.
Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont.
NOTE: new address!!
Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly.
(But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.)
First, be careful of sparks. Second, the pumps should be tested while
submerged, at least the inlet should be immersed in a liguid. Gasoline
is fine if you're careful, kerosene would be better. Just remeber that
fuel vapors are heavier than air and if you're working on or near the
floor the fuel/air concentration is hard to judge. Safety is a function
of operator awareness and their ability to predict unfavorable outcomes.