Air Con - Tyre compressor

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:30 am

Hi all,

I am wondering whether to try and use the Air con compressor on my cruiser as a compressor for inflating tyres ? Air con is poor- a leak in the system I think and I wont be repairing it. The compressor engages when you turn AC on. Perhaps it would be better to go and buy an off the shelf 12 v compressor ? I don't have lockers etc just want to inflate the tyres.

Cheers,

Pete

Jungle · Post by **Jungle** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 12:39 pm

Good idea.
Have that setup in two of my cruisers. If you want to pump up your tyres fast, then thats the way to go.
Only issue is the oiling of the pump. Lots of different ways of doing it. Not sure which oil is the best. Some not so good for your tubes.
I've given up and just put another pump on when they start to seize.
Good luck.

G

oldblue · Post by **oldblue** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:22 pm

Made a set up on a mates L/C . Works very effenttly. On the inlet side used a inline bottle type oiler, on the outlet side used an oil or moisture trap as used in air line systems. this then went into a manifold with a maximine blow off valve and a presure switch to turn on the compresser on and off ,plus an areo fitting

Macca · Post by **Macca** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:57 pm

Just something for you guys to look at re the air compresor from the a/c
go to http://www.hiluxsurf.co.uk/ and look on the right for a link called On Board Air write up.pdf in the latest uploaded files area. it may help you

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:56 am

Helpful site thanks. So the oiler is required as the compressor would have been lubricated by the air con gas previously ? If output not filtered then you are dumping oil into tubes ? ( This may be obvious but just making sure I have a handle on this ) trying to make a up my mind whether to put some effort in or scrape up the cash for a good quality 12V compressor about $400 I guess.

Any ideas on size of tank required ? I guess the bigger the tank / greater pressure quicker the inflation of tyres ? Repair manual says high press side of compressor delivers up to 206 - 213 psi Sounds high ?

Cheers,

Pete

oldblue · Post by **oldblue** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:32 am

You definatly need to have some sort controll of max pressure ie: blow off valve. The amount of oil needed to lubracate the pump is minimal, so can't see this being a problem.
Kevin.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:24 am

How did i get " winch master" under my signature ??? I didn't enter it - I wonder if its some sort of bug ?

Pete

DieselBoy · Post by **DieselBoy** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 10:40 am

its your status here in the forums, your no longer new so you have moved up to Winch Master status from newbie status i believe :lol:

Next is Driver/Navigator status....................

oldblue · Post by **oldblue** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:08 pm

The locker is a POWER TRAX . I v' used both power trax and lockrite in my old FJ40. The lockrite was better but very hash, the powertrax was nicer overall but had touque stear, the more power you put to it the worse it was.

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 12:34 pm

if you guys actually use the correct a/c pump for the job with a built in oil reservior you wont have these seizure probs,ive been using the same a/c pump for the last 4 years.

and as for air tanks if used with lockers youle only need a couple of litres for an air tank.even using the a/c setup without an air tank is still faster than the servos can pump!especially when you can control engine revs!

:lol:

Jungle · Post by **Jungle** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 3:04 pm

Well done eatenfuller.

Could you be any more useful by telling us what sort of AC pump you talk of, or are you just happy to skite about it.

I assume you are refering to a york pump with pistons and a sump.

Shane · Post by **Shane** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:41 pm

Pete wrote:Helpful site thanks. So the oiler is required as the compressor would have been lubricated by the air con gas previously ? If output not filtered then you are dumping oil into tubes ? ( This may be obvious but just making sure I have a handle on this ) trying to make a up my mind whether to put some effort in or scrape up the cash for a good quality 12V compressor about $400 I guess.

Any ideas on size of tank required ? I guess the bigger the tank / greater pressure quicker the inflation of tyres ? Repair manual says high press side of compressor delivers up to 206 - 213 psi Sounds high ?

Cheers,

Pete

One of the Repco stores in Chch has the 12v Bushmaster??Bushman?? something(the Oz built one)on special for $349 normal $449 only two there on sunday,they rate very well in the test's I'm told,comes with a tyre gauge pump up thing,air line and nice little carry bag.I was tempted but best to get a 4WD first :oops:

Shane

Shane · Post by **Shane** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 7:44 pm

Pete wrote:How did i get " winch master" under my signature ??? I didn't enter it - I wonder if its some sort of bug ?

Pete

Think your self lucky :roll:

<---------

Shane

De-Ranged · Post by **De-Ranged** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 10:42 pm

Another reason to use the AC pump over the electirc is duty cycle... how long you can run it without a rest, its that little figer the electic pumps try to gloss over in the stats

Just a couple of other things to consider, if using the pump filter the intake... the internals on most of the jap pumps are alloy and some have plastic bits! These won't last long sucking grit
The othher thing is they run hot .... if your using a tank you'll get condensation so you'll need to drain them regually or do like oldblue and put in a moisture trap

Cheers Reece

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 6:52 am

So is tank really needed ? My understanding is that its just a " store" of pressure so that you don't need the compressor running to inflate tyres or run tools etc ... I am only looking to inflate tyres - no lockers and unlikely to be any

Pete

eatenfuller · Post by **eatenfuller** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:26 pm

pete.no you wont need a tank the compressor will pump heaps alone

so get too it :lol:

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 1:46 pm

Sounds like a plan.....

So doing things on the cheap I could just remove existing connections off compressor extend the lowpressure side up high into the engine bay and sort some sort of filter to keep out gritty bits or maybe thru firewall to insider truck..... Then get some air hose and fittings and gauge. Do I need some sort of pressure limiter for safety or just watch gauge and stop when pressure is up to right level ? Wire up new switch to operate clutch on compressor. Looking at other posts I wonder if I need the oiler ? If its only used to air up tyres it should be pretty light work load ?

Is this getting abit rough or not ? I guess it might pay to get the compressor checked ( its output pressure) by an air con workshop before i find out its stuffed ?

Sorry is these questions sound a bit naf but just trying to get a plan sorted before I start cos i know things tend to get a little out of hand otherwise !

Cheers,

Pete

De-Ranged · Post by **De-Ranged** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 3:33 pm

The tank isn't needed, but if you have one it speeds up things alot

An easy cheat on the filter is to plump the intake into the air intake for the motor below the filter... just make certain you don't have any leaks or the motor will suck unfiltered air :!:

Don't worry about the preasure switch if all your doing is airing up tires straight from the pump

I would still oil... its cheap, oil that is, the oiler well thats an other story
Just get a little oil bottle and throw it in the glove box and every time you use it, pull the inlet hose and give it a wee squirt .... just like air tools

Oh and that reminds me if you do plumb it up to a tank you can run airtools off a AC pump

Cheers Reece

oldblue · Post by **oldblue** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:15 pm

MOST of all FIT a blow off valve, set at 100lbs, you should be able to buy this at an air shop. Take's care of human error

mumad · Post by **mumad** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 5:45 pm

A friend of mine has this system and he just has a filter which is cheap as on the inlet of the unit, and a pressure regulating release valve on the other and has that set to 120 psi. The air con unit will be running at up wards of 200psi, maybe 350psi so you will have plenty of pressure, no need to rewire a switch as you can still use the aircon button, just have to turn your fan on to use it. He also runs a rattle gun off the unit very easily as well, with no air tank, so a tank would be just extra weight to carry.
Just my 2 cents worth though.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 6:24 am

Thanks all,

I will go without the tank - I can always add one later. the blow off valve sounds like a good idea the pump is supposed to have an output of just over 200 psi. I'll start pricing up the bits.

Cheers,
Pete

kiwipete · Post by **kiwipete** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:04 pm

For what its worth, i saw in the latest Repco mailer compressor air tanks going cheap. Cant remember the price tho, something like $50.00

H2OLOVA · Post by **H2OLOVA** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:02 pm

where would you get the pressure switch? I'm setting up this type of system but need a 24v switch. Any ideas??

SupraLux · Post by **SupraLux** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:21 pm

For a tank, use one from a truck... It seems lots of trucks have a small receiver tank around 150-200mm dia and around 400mm long, which is a great size to tuck up under the chassis. The one I got had a gauge and tap and everything on it too, and it was free... would have been perfect if I hadn't run over it with my Simexes :lol:

Steve

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 6:47 pm

H2OLOVA wrote:where would you get the pressure switch? I'm setting up this type of system but need a 24v switch. Any ideas??

a switch is a switch voltage shouldn't make a difference amps is actually more of an issue than the voltage

JTop · Post by **JTop** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:05 pm

Use a 240v compressor switch. Will do the job well and is adj.
I have several instalations working this way. The current is too high for the contacts so they may burn in a few years but there are 3 sets to rotate between.
J Top

H2OLOVA · Post by **H2OLOVA** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:39 am

Thanks for those tips. i have been told about $68 for a 240v swicth. Does this sound about right?

tristanp · Post by **tristanp** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 6:54 am

i picked up a 230v compressor from supercheap autos with a blown motor for 20$, it has a blow off valve and a pressure cutoff electrical switch , (to hook up through your ac wire going to the compressor and a decent sized tank and a non return valve on the pressure side so the comperssor dosnt start under load - ive got a honda pump i picked up at a wreckers that clearly has on the back "NO OIL" so i dont run an oiler

niblik · Post by **niblik** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 7:01 am

i want to use the air-con unit out of the 60# 3b and was wonderin do i need 'inline oilers' etc? does the air-con unit require oiling?

cheers..

matwelli · Post by **matwelli** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 12:43 pm

Would plumbing the outlet of the AC pump thru the original AC radiator be of benefit.

It would cool the hot air and allow the moisture and oil to drop out, would alos act like a smal air tank