Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2003 11:57:45 -0600
Reply-To: Open Wheel Racing <openwhel@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Open Wheel Racing <openwhel@BELLSOUTH.NET>
Subject: Re: One board compressor.......Long:.... on wind
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hello List,
I noticed one member suggested one of these cheap12 volt portable
compressors. Bare in mind there not cheap, they are like a Timex watch. The
most expensive watch made (because you must replace it every six months).
These will fill a tire or even an air mattress or two before they burn up.
Not to mention how noise and slow they are. The compressor's in them are
junk. If you want a better (IMHO) 12 volt type system, try this. It wont run
air tools, but it will fill tires much faster and live much longer.
I made an onboard air system for our shop truck some time back using
some junk yard parts. Most upscale cars, Cadillac, Lincoln, Oldsmobile's,
etc. have some type of air ride system as an option. These systems use
either air shocks or air bags to level or help carry some of the lead in
their ass. The big difference is the quality of their compressor. The fact
that they are almost sound-less tell you everything you need to know about
there quality.
I found one from a wreaked Cadillac, mounted it to an old air tank,
added a water drain to the tank, bolted the tank in the bed of our shop
truck. I put fifty feet of 1/4 inch plastic "springy" type hose, making sure
to check all the joints with soapy water for leaks. I used a cut off switch
from a regular air compressor, set to cut off at 140 pounds as a regulator.
I wired through that switch, to key on power, using a 30 amp Bosch relay.
This way it only runs when the truck is running. As it cuts off at 140 lb's
it is always ready with air, without having to be monitored. I built this
with a little scrounging for about fifty bucks. It has never failed in
several years of use. Best thing is we can pick up any car with four flats,
that we can get to within fifty feet of.
If I were wanting to put something like this in a bus. I would mount the
compressor in an out of the way place. The compressors are about the same
size as the cheepos. Use a large piece of pipe ( about 3 inch diameter - 3
feet long ) caped off, as a tank. Attach an air line to the "tank" from the
compressor, and tap in a quick connect fitting in a convenient place on the
pipe/compressor for the supply hose.
Anyway you get the idea, so I will close this very long winded rant. If
you want to build one give me a yell, and I will try to answer any
questions.
Howard
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