DC Pumps - 12V Electric Pump
Filter and sort
When you need to move diesel in the field, on a service vehicle, or anywhere away from mains power, a 12V diesel pump is the professional's answer. Piusi 12V DC pumps wire straight to a vehicle or equipment battery and deliver reliable, high-flow fuel transfer wherever the job takes you.
Flow rates across the range run from 32 to 85 litres per minute, with kit options that include nozzle, hose and meter out of the box. Every unit is genuine Piusi, Italian built, supported by Australian warranty and held in stock for same or next business day dispatch.
Need help choosing? Call 1300 987 789 and we will match you to the right pump.
Why choose a 12V electric diesel pump?
A 12V DC pump runs off a standard vehicle or equipment battery. No power outlet, no generator, no compressed air. That makes it the default choice for:
- Mobile service vehicles and lube trucks
- On-farm refuelling straight from a drum, IBC or self-bunded tank
- Construction and civil sites with no fixed power
- Remote, off-grid and emergency operations
Unlike a hand pump, a 12V electric pump moves a full tank of diesel in minutes rather than hundreds of strokes. Unlike a 240V pump, it goes wherever the vehicle goes.
Which 12V pump do I need?
| Model | Flow rate | Duty cycle | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP 3000 Battery Kit | 50 lpm | 30 min on / 30 off | Light duty, budget entry point |
| Pitstop | 45 lpm | 30 min on / 30 off | Compact ute and trailer setups |
| EX50 | 50 lpm | 30 min on / 30 off | Drum and tank transfer, kit available |
| Panther 56 | 56 lpm | 30 min on / 30 off | Service vehicles, mid-volume transfer |
| EX75 | 75 lpm | 30 min on / 30 off | High volume, faster refuelling |
| ST Box 80 | 80 lpm | 30 min on / 30 off | Lockable cabinet, theft prevention |
| BiPump | 85 lpm | 30 min on / 30 off | Highest flow, extended hose runs |
| EXGO ATEX | 32 lpm | Continuous | Hazardous areas, ATEX certified |
For a deeper comparison, read our 12V diesel pump buying guide or the pump sizing guide.
How long will it actually take to refuel?
Flow rate on a spec sheet only matters when you turn it into minutes standing at the nozzle. Here is what each flow rate delivers on common tank sizes:
| Flow rate | 200 L drum | 400 L ute tank | 1,000 L IBC | 2,200 L self-bunded tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32 lpm (EXGO) | 6 min | 13 min | 31 min | 69 min |
| 45 lpm (Pitstop) | 4 min | 9 min | 22 min | 49 min |
| 50 lpm (EX50, BP 3000) | 4 min | 8 min | 20 min | 44 min |
| 56 lpm (Panther 56) | 4 min | 7 min | 18 min | 39 min |
| 75 lpm (EX75) | 3 min | 5 min | 13 min | 29 min |
| 80 lpm (ST Box) | 3 min | 5 min | 13 min | 28 min |
| 85 lpm (BiPump) | 2 min | 5 min | 12 min | 26 min |
Two things to read off this table. First, allow roughly 10 to 20 per cent on top of these figures in the real world, because hose length, bore size, filters, nozzles and suction lift all cost you flow. Second, watch where the times cross 30 minutes. Any job in that territory exceeds the standard 30 minute duty cycle, which means either stepping up to a higher flow rate or choosing the continuous duty EXGO.
As a rule of thumb: pick a pump that finishes your largest regular job in under 20 minutes. That leaves headroom for restriction losses and keeps the motor well inside its duty cycle.
Three complete setups that work
Most people buy a pump and then discover they need four other things. These three builds cover the majority of Australian applications.
1. Farm and occasional use
Refuelling a tractor or ute from a drum or IBC a few times a week.
2. Service vehicle and daily refuelling
Mounted to a ute tray or service body, used every day, fuel needs to be recorded.
- Panther 56 or the all-in-one EX50 Kit
- A60 automatic nozzle, 70 lpm
- K33 flow meter
- Spring rewind hose reel, 19mm x 15m
- Clear Captor water filter
3. Site, mine and high volume
Multiple machines a day, fuel accountability required, theft is a real risk.
- ST Box 80 lockable cabinet, or the BiPump at 85 lpm
- A120 automatic nozzle with swivel
- K44 flow meter
- Heavy duty hose reel, 25mm x 15m
- OCIO tank gauge and an overfill alarm
- Step up to a fuel management system when you need per-operator records
Buying these as a bundle is almost always cheaper than piece by piece. Our guide on kits versus separate components shows where the savings land.
12V, 24V or 240V: which voltage do you need?
- 12V DC. Wires to standard vehicle and equipment batteries. Best for utes, service trucks and smaller mobile setups.
- 24V DC. For trucks, heavy plant and machinery running a 24V electrical system. Browse 24V DC pumps.
- 240V AC. For fixed installations on mains power: workshops, depots and bulk storage. Browse 240V AC pumps.
Running a 12V pump on a 24V supply will burn out the motor. If you are unsure, our guides on 12V vs 24V and AC vs DC pumps walk through it.
Wiring a 12V fuel pump: cable, fuse and voltage drop
The single most common cause of a 12V pump underperforming is not the pump. It is undersized cable. At 12 volts you have very little headroom, so a long run of thin cable drops the voltage at the motor, the pump runs slow, draws more current and runs hot.
Start with the rated current draw on your model's datasheet, then size the cable for the full run from battery to pump and back. This table keeps voltage drop within 3 per cent:
| Pump draw | Run up to 3 m | Run up to 5 m | Run up to 8 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 A | 6 mm² | 10 mm² | 16 mm² |
| 30 A | 10 mm² | 16 mm² | 25 mm² |
| 40 A | 16 mm² | 25 mm² | 35 mm² |
Other essentials:
- Fuse it at the battery. An inline fuse or circuit breaker within 300mm of the battery positive terminal protects the cable, not just the pump.
- Earth properly. Run the negative back to the battery rather than relying on a chassis earth through a painted tray.
- Keep the pump close to the tank. Vane pumps self-prime within a limited suction lift, so mount as close and as low as practical and keep the suction line short and free of sharp bends.
- Use a suction filter. Cheapest insurance you will ever buy for a vane pump.
Full detail in our 12V fuel pump installation guide. For permanent installs on a registered vehicle, have a licensed auto electrician do the final connection.
What can you pump with it?
| Fluid | What you need |
|---|---|
| Diesel and biodiesel blends | Any pump on this page. Check the blend rating on the product page for B20 and above. |
| Petrol | An ATEX certified pump only, never a standard diesel unit. Talk to us before you buy. |
| AdBlue and DEF | A dedicated AdBlue pump with compatible seals and stainless components. Browse AdBlue pumps. |
| Engine oil and lubricants | A viscous fluid pump, not a fuel vane pump. Browse oil and lubricant pumps. |
Never cross-contaminate. Running diesel through an AdBlue pump, or AdBlue through a diesel pump, ruins the pump and the downstream equipment. See AdBlue crystallisation and air exposure.
Where 12V pumps earn their keep
Mobile service vehicles. Mount a Piusi 12V pump to your ute tray or service body, connect it to an onboard diesel tank, and refuel machinery, generators and vehicles in the field without returning to the depot. The Panther 56 and EX50 are the usual picks.
Agricultural refuelling. Refuel tractors, harvesters and implements straight from an IBC or self-bunded tank, powered off your farm vehicle battery. Pair with a flow meter to track usage across the fleet. See our picks for farm refuelling in Australia.
Construction and civil. Keep excavators, compactors and site plant fuelled with no fixed infrastructure. Compact enough for a toolbox or site trailer. Our guide to pumps for construction and mine sites covers duty ratings and cabinet options.
Mining and resources. The Piusi EXGO is ATEX certified for potentially explosive atmospheres, where standard pumps cannot be used. For fuel theft and reconciliation, see how to stop fuel theft on site.
Emergency and backup. Keep a portable 12V kit in the workshop or response vehicle for unplanned transfers, generator top-ups and breakdowns away from base.
What else will you need?
A pump on its own is only part of the setup:
- Nozzles, automatic or manual, for safe, spill-free dispensing
- Flow meters to record every litre dispensed
- Hose reels for a tidy, professional install
- Filters to keep debris and water out of the pump and the machine
- Tank gauges so you know what is left before you drive out
- Fuel management systems where you need user-level accountability
What kills a 12V diesel pump
Almost every failed pump we see comes back to one of five things:
- Running it dry. Vanes rely on fuel for lubrication. A few minutes dry does more damage than a year of normal use.
- No suction filter. Grit from the bottom of a drum or tank scores the vanes and the pump body.
- Undersized cable. Voltage drop means higher current, more heat and a shorter motor life.
- Ignoring the duty cycle. Back to back refuelling on a 30 minute rated pump cooks the motor.
- Weather and water. An unprotected pump on an open tray collects water in the fuel and corrosion in the motor. A cabinet or cover pays for itself.
Get these right and a Piusi vane pump will outlast the vehicle it is mounted to.
Why buy from PIUSI Shop
- Authorised Piusi distributor. Genuine product with Australian warranty support, not grey import.
- Backed by PETRO Industrial. Fuel equipment specialists supplying Australian industry.
- In stock, ready to ship. Most products dispatched same or next business day.
- Spares and service. Filters, elements, nozzles and meters for the pumps we sell, not just the initial sale.
- Expert support. Call 1300 987 789 and speak to someone who has actually installed these pumps.
Talk to our team or send a trade enquiry.
12V diesel pump FAQs
What fluids can a 12V DC pump transfer?
Most Piusi 12V DC pumps are built for diesel, and several are rated for biodiesel blends. They are not suitable for petrol unless the model is specifically ATEX rated for it. Check the specification on each product page or call us.
How do I wire a 12V diesel pump?
Piusi 12V pumps connect straight to a 12V battery via the supplied cable, usually a two-wire connection. Size your cable run and fuse to the pump's current draw, as voltage drop over a long run is the most common cause of poor performance. See the cable sizing table above and our installation guide.
What flow rate do I need?
For occasional top-ups from drums and small tanks, 32 to 50 lpm is enough. For plant refuelling or multiple machines a day, look at 70 to 85 lpm, and match the hose bore to suit. See high flow vs standard pumps.
What is a duty cycle and why does it matter?
Duty cycle is how long a pump can run before it needs to cool. Most Piusi 12V pumps are rated 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off. The EXGO is the exception at continuous duty. If you refuel back to back, factor this in or you will shorten the motor's life.
Will a 12V pump flatten my vehicle battery?
For normal transfer sessions on a healthy battery, no. If you are running long sessions with the engine off, or the pump lives on a trailer or standalone tank, use a dedicated deep cycle or auxiliary battery rather than the starting battery.
Can I use a 12V pump on a 24V system?
No. Running a 12V pump on 24V will damage the motor. Use the 24V DC range for trucks and heavy equipment on 24V systems.
How far can the pump sit from the tank?
Keep it as close and as low as you practically can. Vane pumps self-prime only within a limited suction lift, and every extra metre of suction line, every bend and every fitting costs you flow and priming ability. Long runs belong on the delivery side, not the suction side.
Do these pumps come with a nozzle and hose?
Kits such as the EX50 Kit include pump, automatic nozzle, telescopic suction tube, delivery hose and a K33 meter. Standalone pumps do not, and accessories can be added from our nozzles and hose reels ranges.
Are Piusi pumps self-priming?
Yes, the rotary vane pumps in this range are self-priming within their rated suction lift. Avoid running them dry, as that is the fastest way to wear the vanes. See self-priming electric diesel pumps explained.
Is there a warranty on Piusi pumps?
Yes. All Piusi products sold through PIUSI Shop carry manufacturer's warranty with Australian support. Contact our team for terms specific to your model.
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