On board air, the other way.

[Stomis]

Well I picked up a 8 gallon little air compressor from harbor freight today for a whopping $80. The thing fills up, real fast, and I'm impressed with it. So impressed I plan on mounting it up in the truck for onboard air. The plan is to do a second alternator, which I wanted to do anyway, a second optima, and a beefy power inverter. I figure this will add some more versatility to my truck than just adding say a york on board air system.

My plan is to find 2 or 3 small tanks that will fit under my center tool box and tie them together and then mount the pump/battery/inverter in one of my tool boxes.

Any advice or dos or donts on the subject for those familiar with setting up compressors?

 

[Stomis]

O yeah can someone school me on running a regular 115/125psi say 8 gallon tank vs a 160psi 7gallon?

 

[Avery4jc]

I mounted a small compressor with a 7 gallon tank and ran it off an inverter and to cut to the chase it sucked. Took up too much space and was slow compared to a York/CO2.
I like having an inverter on the truck to run tools and lights but I think you'd be better off with a york/co2 tank/etc.

 

[Stomis]

I mounted a small compressor with a 7 gallon tank and ran it off an inverter and to cut to the chase it sucked. Took up too much space and was slow compared to a York/CO2.
I like having an inverter on the truck to run tools and lights but I think you'd be better off with a york/co2 tank/etc.

Why was is slow? Did the inverter get too strained and run the pump at a lower RPM? I mean the compressor isnt fast as it is right now anyway and I'm ok with that because slow, constantly filling air tools is better than no air tools....

 

[Avery4jc]

I'm all for trying something new and different but there is a reason everyone runs a CO2 or York setup... it just works. You can run all the tools you want with no lag time and it's a simple no frills setup with CO2 and not too bad with a York.
If ya' want to try it go for it (I did) but don't be surprised if you're yanking it out down the road.

 

[82355]

On board air is much better.

Martin

 

[79BRUISER]

What is the amp draw at start-up on the 110v compressor? I'm guessing somewhere around 10-12 amps. That means you need a 1500-2000 watt inverter. Include the battery, alternator, wiring, and fabbing it all up and I bet your looking at $500 or more.

Or

Go to the local pic a part and find a mid 80's Volvo with a York compressor on it. Fab up a simple mounting bracket. Buy a couple of air fittings. Wire the clutch up. The whole thing shouldn't cost more than $100.

Just my .02
Bruiser

 

[Stomis]

What is the amp draw at start-up on the 110v compressor? I'm guessing somewhere around 10-12 amps. That means you need a 1500-2000 watt inverter. Include the battery, alternator, wiring, and fabbing it all up and I bet your looking at $500 or more.

Or

Go to the local pic a part and find a mid 80's Volvo with a York compressor on it. Fab up a simple mounting bracket. Buy a couple of air fittings. Wire the clutch up. The whole thing shouldn't cost more than $100.

Just my .02
Bruiser

Hmmmm. Only issue I have with OBA is the truck has to be running....

 

[Avery4jc]

Haha and you think you'd be able to run a big compressor off an inverter without the truck running? I doubt it...

 

[smalltruckbigcid]

If the compressor pulls 10 amps(AC) running then it will need about 100 amps (DC) to run plus the inverter will have some draw as well. A good inverter and wiring will run about $300 or a little more. Then add the rest of the added electrical stuff and it will get spendy quick

On the other hand having the inverter around for some 110 juice isn't all bad either...

 

[randy88k5]

An option to consider ... PUMA 12v air compressor

http://cgi.ebay.com/12v-1-5-gal-air....c0.m14&_trkparms=65:1|66:2|39:1|293:1|294:50

I bought one a few years ago from eBay. I am using just the compressor mounted under the hood without a reservoir. I will need to add some at some point for air tools, but it works fine for the ARB lockers.

I tried my impact on it, it looses flow pretty quick (~2 seconds w/o reservoirs), but the pressure seems to be decent.

 

[KirsL]

I have full OBA on my dodge. I used an Air-Zenith compressor and a 5 gallon air tank from Air-ride suspension. I mainly use it for my air-horns and filling tires when needed, but its capable of running air tools for short burst. Would need more storage for longer use without the comp running. I can run it with the truck off but the comp pulls 80 amps . Plus it works better and faster with the truck running. The setup works so good, least for my use, that I'm going to put the same basic setup on my Chevy also. When i get the chance and money to .

I have some pictures of the setup mounted in my photobucket account listed in my sig.

The best part, its all nice and hidden from view and doesn't take up any of my storage space.