Thread: air con to air compressor

I think Izuzu rover has done something similar using a volvo compressor and side sills as air tanks. It was a pretty impressive setup.

Originally Posted by Mick-Kelly

I think Izuzu rover has done something similar using a volvo compressor and side sills as air tanks. It was a pretty impressive setup.

What a Volvo part on a Landrover???????????????

Who would have thought

Originally Posted by roverrescue

300tdi 130 defender...

when i bought it the air con had no belt on it. The system has gas in it... the bloke I bought it off used it on the farm, said he got it that way and never needed air so left it.

I have a mate who is a fridgie so making it work is easy... but im guessing by the looks of the fan and ducting system and serious air gaps around everything in the cab I think it will fairly suck at keeping cool air in and dust out... Ive no dramas with windows down and breathing dust which brings me to...

Should I fix it and have a marginal air con...
or convert it to a belt driven air compressor? Can the denso compressor be converted by adding an inlet oiler and outlet dryer??? With a big enough tank under the tray could even take the rattle gun in the tool box

thoughts and opinions

Thanks
Steve

It would work as an air compressor, however as you have mentioned the oil issue.

The easy way to do this is put an oil seperator on the discharge line, with a valved return to the suction, the valve can be a manual or solenoid type.

Despite this I would still recommend that you add 30 ml of oil per 10 hrs use, as even the best seperator will not catch all of the carry over.

Plus - do not use polyol ester or polly alpha glycol oils as these are extremely hygroscopic and will eventually emulsify with the prescence of moisture.

Use either a good quality mineral oil (68 CsT) or a 4th generation synthetic from the Poly Alpha Olaphin strain - these are virtually non hygroscopic

After saying all this - where are you in AU - sealing up/making good a/c systems is cheap and easy - so if it gets hot where you are - then keep the A/C.

Im in Cairns, so one would assume that sir con would be a necessity....
but in the disco i would have used air con maybe 10 times a year (i know thats bad for em) and that would only be to demist a fogged windscreen if we went up the tablelands... And, i only really used A/C becuase the heater matrix leaked and got disconnected about 3 years ago.

The fender has a heater for demisting the windscreen, no aircon means I get to lead when a group heads up the cape!!!! gotta be reason enough, besides if I have no aircon but a mean air supply everyone will be my friend when we get off the beach?????

Still indecisive about it all but may try the air compressor route just to give it a shot. I wont pull all the stuff out till Im happy Ive made the right descision?


Now talking oils where do I get the non hydroscobic oil from???? and who would be the best supplier of an oil seperator????

thanks

steve

I have onboard air on my IIA (not on the 110 yet). But I used a York-type compressor - and NFI what it came from, but they are usually fitted to rangies, fairlanes, etc - don't know about volvos though???

There are 2 general types of AC compressor:
York - has 2 pistons inside and a separate sump - flows heaps of air but is huge.
Sanden 508 or 528(?) - barrel type - and heaps of copies (e.g. denso). Have 7/5 small pistons inside respectively. These need either an oiler or oil recirculation (better idea than an oiler).

On my IIA, I have 2 air tanks that double as rock sliders. I also have a 2nd regulated 15psi supply for my maxi-drive locker.

Let me know if you want more information on the other bits you need or how to plumb it all up.

Ben,
yeah any info would be good. Id be most happy if I could use the existing denso compressor, with an oiling system etc etc. I could fit a reasonable tank under the tray, Ive heard you can get reasonable air tanks from truck wreckers... inbuilt overpressure reliefs etc etc

The idea is to make use of a compressor which is doing nothing at present... dont want to spend big dollars as I have an ARB comp if its all too hard.

Any info on the plumbing would be good though!

regards
Steve

Originally Posted by roverrescue

Ben,
yeah any info would be good. Id be most happy if I could use the existing denso compressor, with an oiling system etc etc. I could fit a reasonable tank under the tray, Ive heard you can get reasonable air tanks from truck wreckers... inbuilt overpressure reliefs etc etc

The idea is to make use of a compressor which is doing nothing at present... dont want to spend big dollars as I have an ARB comp if its all too hard.

Any info on the plumbing would be good though!

regards
Steve

An aircon compressor flows about 10x the air of an ARB compressor - once you have set it up you will never use the ARB again. My AC compressor inflates a 33"x11" tyre from 8psi to 45psi in about 30 seconds.

There is no problem using your existing compressor. You don't necessarily need an air tank. If you want to do it cheaply, all you need are a few fittings and a pressure relief valve.

My system (in order of flow direction) consists of:
Victa lawnmower filter (can plumb into engine air intake instead)
AC Compressor
Metal one-way valve (taken from the vacuum line of a datsun bluebird I think - but any old japanese car will do) - cost $0
Air-oil separator (for your type of compressor you need to run a small capillary line from the drain of this back to the compressor intake (after the filter) - cost $30ish from QLD Tradetools
Pressure switch (Same as used on an industrial compressor) - cost $30ish from QLD Tradetools
T-piece - cost $5ish from QLD Tradetools
2x home made tubular air-tanks with a pressure relief valve fitted to one (cost $10ish from QLD Tradetools), and an air chuck fitted to each.

There are a few other bits and pieces (a pressure gauge, fittings and hoses), but all up I think it cost me $100 or so. You can buy a cheap workshop compressor from supercheap or similar that will have MOST of the bits you need.

If you want the absolute cheapest possible system - which is really just as quick in most cases - then all you need after the air-oil separator is a t-piece with a safety valve on one end and an air-chuck on the other. That way you only turn the compressor on when you need it, and when you aren't drawing air it escapes via the valve.


EDIT, THIS thread lists some sources for york compressors - including Volvos - NFI where mine came from though as it was given to me. I have a Sanden 508 I need to squeeze into the 110 though. http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/viewtopic.php't=108119

Thanks muchly
may give the last option a run... quick and easy.

thanks heaps.
Steve