Thread: Wiring and plumbing an air compressor ?

If it's any help, here is the wiring diagram to my new compressor that I'll be installing soon. It is for the twin pump compressor from ARB.

Thanks - 2 switches? Can you turn each half of the twin compressor on/off seperately?

Three switches....
Isolation switch for turning the compressor on and off.
And the other two switches for each solenoid on the optional manifold.
As far as I know you cannot run each motor separately utilising the standard wiring supplied ( it does look relatively easy to modify to run each motor separately though).
Something I'm interested in is, is there any advantages or disadvantages to using auto resetting circuit breakers instead of fuses?
Mike.

they draw some serious amps,

offers on the table for you to come over and I'll crimp up what you need with some NFA cabling, you'll just need to get the grommets and fuses/circuit breakers you want to run (maybe a relay in place of if your going to monitor it and only use it occasionally or depending on the load out of your primary fuse panel I may be able to tap that)

if you buy a recessed nitto or JIC we can also fit that to the seat box so you can have the control switch and air outlet on the seat box (hell buy two have one on each side) and just need a connector hose.

lots of fun options to be played with.

The compressor shown in 90@'s picture is what I have. The quality of the wiring loom and switches is quite good but for a simple compressor setup the small high current loom connected to Compressor plug 1 is really all you need plus a single wire from the purple wire in Compressor plug 2 to a switched +ve to operate the relays in the compressor unit. Note that the 40 Amp fuses in the power loom are of the giant size spade type, the small 'normal' type spade fuses would melt with continuous compressor use.
It's also worth noting that this compressor is rated at 100% duty cycle.

Vlad, you don't turn off half the compressor, it'd be a bit like disabling one bank of cylinders in a V8, it'd go like a dog and put excessive strain on the other motor and cause it to burn out.

The current draw of the compressor will determine the required fusing and is usually written on the side of the compressor. As a rule of thumb multiply its current draw by 1 1/2 to get fuse size. ie. if its a 25 amp draw go for a 40 amp fuse , but make sure you use those big buggers like the main Defender fuses near the heater unit under the bonnet. Use a dash switch with an internal light to feed a fused (you can use a little fuse here) +ve to a relay to turn the compressor on. If you have a compressor like the ARB one discussed you won't need an additional external relay, but if you're using a 'normal' portable type compressor you will need an external relay located close to it.


Deano

Can't afford a flash new ARB compressor like that one, I'll stick with the bushranger one I have.... Can always upgrade later if needs be.

I have an ARB twin motor in my Unimog as an auxiliary air pump and to pump tyres and run air tools etc without running the engine driven compressor.

I measured the current draw at 60A when pumping my air system up to 8.5 Bar.

Arb single unit mounted on a checker plate bracket over a tigers air tank
The arb was a show special and came with loom and extension hose ,inflator , inflator with guage, and a really nifty air line surface mount connection .
I pulled the first one apart to see how it worked and dropped all the ball bearings, surprisingly the second one was not expensive I think about $12
The tigers tank came with pressure switch and hoses
I mounted the whole lot in the dead space behind the fridge slide.
One connection point just beside the bottom door hinge in the back. Run through side storage on black widow draw system
Wiring loom to the centre console for switch(it comes with a full loom for lockers if you buy the lockers you get a locker,switch and solenoid all the wiring already there)
50 amp line from battery box to compressor
Hose reaches all four tires from the back, tank is great for blowing filters etc
Can post pics if you like
Marty