PV Technical Specifications:
| Purpose: | Sampling of petroleum products and liquids | Sampling of petroleum products and liquids |
| Type: | Portable (on cable) | Portable (on cable) |
| Capacity: | 0.5 L | 1.0 L |
| Cable length: | 3.5 m | 3.5 m |
| Material: | Stainless steel | Stainless steel |
| Dimensions: | 80 × 80 × 400 mm | 80 × 80 × 280 mm |
| Weight: | 1.34 kg | 1.15 kg |
| Package: | Sampler + 3.5 m cable + manual + packaging | Sampler + 3.5 m cable + manual + packaging |
| Certification: | UkrMetrTestStandard | UkrMetrTestStandard |
| Warranty: | 12 months | 12 months |
PV-0.5 / PV-1.0 bottom thief sampler (also known as bacon bomb sampler or petroleum point sampler) is a precision-engineered manual sampling device for taking representative liquid samples from petroleum storage tanks at any depth. Manufactured by Gerkon for laboratory analysis, custody-transfer dispute resolution, water-bottom inspection and routine quality control at fuel terminals, refineries, oil depots and bunker fuel facilities.
How it works
The cylindrical sampler is lowered into the tank on a hand-line. The internal plunger remains spring-closed during descent, so no mid-column liquid enters the body. When the sampler reaches the desired sampling depth (or the tank bottom for water-bottom checks), a downward push depresses the plunger against the trip mechanism — the body fills with the liquid layer at that exact level. Withdrawing the line re-seats the plunger; the sample is sealed and rises to the top without contamination from upper layers.
Compliance with international sampling standards
- ASTM D4057 — Standard Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products (the dominant US/global reference)
- ISO 3170 — Petroleum Liquids — Manual Sampling (ISO equivalent)
- API MPMS Chapter 8.1 — Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
- IP 51 (Energy Institute) — Manual sampling of petroleum products
- EN 14275 — fuel quality control sampling at filling stations
Models and specifications
- PV-0.5 — 0.5 L (500 mL ≈ 16 oz) — for routine quality samples and bunker fuel certification
- PV-1.0 — 1.0 L (1000 mL ≈ 32 oz) — for custody-transfer reference samples and large-volume QC
- Body material: AISI 304 stainless steel (standard) or chrome-plated brass (heritage variant)
- Plunger: stainless steel, PTFE-faced seat for leak-tight closure
- Trip mechanism: spring-loaded with adjustable opening force (1–3 kgf)
- Top connector: stainless steel hand-line eye with secondary lifting hook
- Hand-line: stainless steel cable, 5 m standard (extendable to 30 m for tall tanks)
- Operating temperature: −20 °C to +80 °C
- Compatibility: all petroleum products including petrol, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, lubricants, crude oil, bunker fuel
Applications
- Bunker fuel sampling at marine fuel terminals — sealed reference sample for ISO 8217 compliance disputes
- Custody-transfer reference samples at oil depots — counterparty-witnessed sealed samples retained for 30 days
- Water-bottom inspection in storage tanks — checking for water accumulation requiring drainage
- Stratification sampling in large tanks — separate samples at top, middle and bottom layers (combined for composite analysis)
- Quality control at filling stations — periodic sampling for fuel quality verification (octane, sulfur, water, particulate)
- Refinery batch testing — finished-product sampling from storage prior to dispatch
Materials of construction
The standard PV body is fabricated from AISI 304 stainless steel — fully compatible with all petroleum products, ethanol blends (E85), biodiesel (B100) and AdBlue. For applications involving aggressive chemicals, the AISI 316L variant is available on request. The chrome-plated brass heritage variant is preferred by customers in conservative regional markets where brass samplers are the historical norm.
Frequently asked questions
Is the sampler intrinsically safe for use in ATEX zones?
Yes — manual samplers are non-electrical equipment and inherently I.S.-compliant. The sampling operation does not require any electrical power source. Standard practice is for the operator to ensure the cable is grounded to the tank during sampling to dissipate static charge per EN 1127-1.
What is the difference between a bacon bomb and a zone sampler?
Both are bottom-trip samplers; «bacon bomb» is the trade name (US/UK) for the cylindrical drop-trip type, named for its visual resemblance to a small bomb. «Zone sampler» refers more broadly to any sampler that captures liquid from a specific zone (depth) in the tank. PV samplers fall in both categories.
How is the sample transferred to the lab bottle?
After raising the sampler from the tank, decant the contents through the bottom drain port into a sealed glass or HDPE laboratory sample bottle. For ASTM D4057 reference samples, fill the bottle to capacity to minimise headspace, then immediately seal with the foil-lined cap. Label with sample location, depth, time and operator initials.
For technical questions, custom hand-line lengths or volume orders for terminal operators — contact our export desk via the form on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it in stock?
What is the warranty?
Do you issue invoices for legal entities?
Do you ship internationally?
SHIPPING INFORMATION FOR UKRAINE
Our company is committed to fast shipping and delivery throughout Ukraine. We work with carriers that offer the best balance of price and quality, including:
NOVA POSHTA
1-3 days. Delivery speed depends on your location. After placing your order and payment, we ship the same day or the next.
SAT
Delivery time 3-5 days. Speed depends on the distance between sender and recipient. This is the most economical option compared to Nova Poshta.
DELIVERY
Shipping takes 4-7 days. This is the slowest method, but its advantage is the low cost.
FREIGHT POOLING
Shipping is done via shared transport through a dispatcher. Finding a vehicle takes 1-2 days; speed depends on the destination (major cities are faster, remote villages slower). This method is cheaper than the carriers listed above.
We work throughout Ukraine, and on request can arrange delivery via another courier service not on our list.
After placing your order in our online store, please provide the following information for delivery to your region:
- Recipient's full name
- City or town
- Number of the nearest warehouse (if shipping via courier services)
- Mobile phone number
Once the goods are shipped, we will provide you with the waybill number. When picking up your order, please bring your passport and the waybill number.
NOTES:
- The seller is not responsible for the operation of postal / courier services.
- Shipments are insured for full value; in case of damage the carrier is obligated to compensate you in full.
- Shipping costs are paid by the buyer (or by mutual agreement).
- If the requested product cannot be supplied, an equivalent replacement will be offered upon your approval.
If you couldn't find an answer to your question in this section, please contact us for more detailed information.
PAYMENT METHODS
After placing an order for a selected product in our store, we verify stock availability and confirm with you. Payment can then be made using one of the following methods:
- Bank transfer to the company account (VAT included).
- Cash on delivery (payment upon receipt).
Before paying via bank transfer, please contact us to confirm product availability.
Cash on delivery is processed at the carrier's warehouse. The service fee is 2% of the total + 15 UAH for payment processing. For an order of 1000 UAH you will pay 35 UAH for this service plus the shipping cost.
The second method is more reliable as you can inspect the goods on the spot, but it is also more expensive, so before paying you may want to consider which method suits you best.
If payment is received by 12:00, we ship the same day; if payment arrives later, shipping is processed the next day.
For any questions about payment, please contact us — if you haven't found an answer to your question, we will provide more detailed information.
WARRANTY & SERVICE
- Warranty on Gerkon fuel dispensers — 18 months;
- Warranty on Gerkon volumetric provers — 18 months;
- Warranty on level meters — 36 months;
- Warranty on fuel dispenser connection installation — 18 months;
The manufacturer guarantees free replacement or repair of dispenser parts and assemblies that fail due to manufacturing defects, provided that transportation, storage, and operation rules are observed.
