Electric compressor for on-board air ?

[VladTepes]

I was wondering about some of the technicalities of hard wiring a compressor in, with an air tank - and am sure people here have all the know how.

I was thinking of running an air tank along with it - perhaps this would then be able to run some air tools ?

The idea is:

Have a switched compressor (Thompson or similar) wired up.

Plumb in an air tank (I understand an old fire extinguisher for example, could be used somehow or perhaps a small one off a truck).

The idea being that I'd switch on the compressor x minutes before I thought I'd need the air (to build up pressure in the tank). It would then be available when required.

Presumably I'd need some way of regulating the pressure in the tank, and so that when it was full it would turn the compressor off temporarily rather than just keep dumping the excess via a waste gate.

What other issues are there and has anyone got any advice as to how I might go about this cheaply.

Also any thoughts about the best place to mount the compressor / tank in my single cab Ute ?

As far as a compressor goes I have an old one from a RR EAS system that I could rebuild for less than the cost of a new pump. It has 3 wires going into it (and here I thought DC only needed 2). Perhaps someone knows about these & how I could test if it actually functions before I shell out the $ for a rebuild kit.

[langy]

This is how I mounted a EAS unit in my disco. I used the ABS pump mounting rubbers as feet, and the abs reservoir as a small air tank.




A visit to pirtek for air fittings ( A 1/4 bsp, plug 2 push fit fittings and a small piece of air hose and a 1/4 bsp adaptor ) and then the $25 k-mart air hose and fittings set, and I have on board air.
Performance wise, it's not a fast as the $150 compressor from Super cr#p or Ripco, but it does ok for $20, is permanently mounted, and won't melt like the others.

A small piece of cloth over the inlet port serves as a filter.
I don't think it's good enough for air tools, but for tyres, soccer balls, and a small air brush - works for me.

The third wire coming out of the motor is ( I think) the heat sensor . EAS manual says something about overheating protection, and I think thats it.

If you want to do 'Dukes of Hazzard' air tool work, I'd suggest the interesting engine driven version in the other thread. I don't think any of the cheapo small compressors are up to the challenge, and the decent electric compressors are worth a bit.

Langy

[DEFENDERZOOK]

vlad....run the compressor through a relay.....

to regulate the pressure you should be able to use an oil pressure switch of something like a ford falcon which can switch the relay on and off...

[p38arover]

Originally posted by DEFENDERZOOK
There are lO types of people in this this world....
Those that understand binary.......
And those that don't........

Umm, that should be one (1) and zero (0) not l (el) and O (oh)

Ron

[DEFENDERZOOK]

Originally posted by p38arover+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(p38arover)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-DEFENDERZOOK
There are lO types of people in this this world....
Those that understand binary.......
And those that don't........

Umm, that should be one (1) and zero (0) not l (el) and O (oh)

Ron[/b][/quote]



fixed.....you must be the only one that understands binary....... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]