too small?

windtrader · January 12, 2018, 04:50:59 PM

wondering if this compressor will air up the bus reasonably quickly and fill tires?

Melbo · January 12, 2018, 04:55:59 PM

Yes it will AND it will be noisy too. I use a compressor to air ours up and it is typically about 1/2 hour to do with a compressor like that. I have been through about 5 different compressors until I found one that is relatively quiet.

HTH

Melbo

PP · January 12, 2018, 05:21:58 PM

I went through 2 of those pancake compressors before I got me an industrial grade twin tank. It's still noisy as all get out, I don't know of an AC that isn't, but this one has lasted now for more than 4 years, sometimes I turn it on to get even with noisy neighbors

luvrbus · January 12, 2018, 05:31:51 PM

California Air Tools sells a nice little quite compressor,the draw back it is 200 bucks

richard5933 · January 12, 2018, 06:07:38 PM

Not sure how much pressure you keep in your tires, but that compressor would most likely have trouble filling them more than a pound or two at a time. The upper limit is 100 psi, which means that it would not kick on until it drops to something around 70-80 psi. I tried to use one like that to fill tires to 95 psi and it was painful at best. Maybe if you could somehow over ride the pressure switch, but then you'd be running this at nearly 100% duty cycle and I wouldn't expect it to last too long. Plus over riding pressure switches is generally a bad idea...

chessie4905 · January 12, 2018, 06:13:58 PM

Ummm...pancakes. How about this one? 125 psi. 8 gallon tank oiled compressor. Remove handle and wheels.
I have a slightly larger Sears oiless one in rear center of bay with other components on both sides. Pretty quiet, but you can still hear it run when on. Controlled by switch by driver.

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-gal-2-hp-125-psi-oil-lube-air-compressor-68740.html

windtrader · January 12, 2018, 07:01:16 PM

Thanks guys. Just curious and trying to take the easy way out. Something like this is very easy to install in the rear engine area where the AC compressor used to reside. Will pursue another option.

Iceni John · January 12, 2018, 08:09:38 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on January 12, 2018, 06:13:58 PM
Ummm...pancakes. How about this one? 125 psi. 8 gallon tank oiled compressor. Remove handle and wheels.
I have a slightly larger Sears oiless one in rear center of bay with other components on both sides. Pretty quiet, but you can still hear it run when on. Controlled by switch by driver.

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-gal-2-hp-125-psi-oil-lube-air-compressor-68740.html

I have the twin-tank 4-gallon version of this one, same motor and compressor, just different tanks. Yes, it's noisy, but at least it's an oil-type so it should last longer than those oil-free ones that are intended for painting. Mine's plumbed through a small filter / water separator that takes out a surprising amount of moisture on damp days, then to the bus's accessories tank, from where I have three air outlets around the bus for inflating tires and running tools. I very slightly tweaked the regulator up by a few PSI so it now matches my bus's compressor, i.e. it runs between 90 and 120 PSI. It can fill tires, but it's not quick - it takes several cycles to get a tire to 100 PSI, but it will do it. I've mounted it on additional rubber donuts, but there's still quite a lot of noise inside the bus when it's running - I've put it above the front axle between the stacked frame rails there (the only spare space left under the floor!) so it's still accessible for changing its oil etc. And I got it from Harbor Fright for only $79 on sale, can't beat that. So far, so good.

I've seen those generic Chinese compressors sold under many different names and at different price levels, so as far as I'm concerned I'll just pay the least possible regardless of the name on it: HF, Home Despot, Lowes, wherever, who cares. They're all the same. If it craps out on me I'll get something better, but for now it seems like it will last a good while for me.

John

TomC · January 12, 2018, 09:44:17 PM

Listen to the videos of the various air compressors. Believe me when I say, California air compressors are quiet. I have a 2hp and recently saw a video of a $9 million yacht's engine room, and they had a the exact 2hp air compressor I have. Listen to the videos. http://www.californiaairtools.com/

Dave5Cs · January 12, 2018, 10:13:23 PM

This is the one we got 5 years ago and still going strong. Pretty quite also.

http://www.sears.com/campbell-hausfeld-dc040000-4-gallon-oil-lube-twinstack/p-SPM15102319628?sid=IDx20110310x00001i&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5ZGB2qPU2AIVkK_sCh15LwJlEAQYAyABEgKsL_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CIT1nuGj1NgCFQLaZAodWjsFoA

Geom · January 13, 2018, 12:15:23 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on January 12, 2018, 05:31:51 PM
California Air Tools sells a nice little quite compressor,the draw back it is 200 bucks

I would second this. I have one of their small compressors and really like it.
It's small and convenient to store. Has an aluminum tank. It's super quiet and does a good job filling my tanks.
I run it every other day for about 15 minutes and that works great to keep everything aired up.

It has a PSI kickout of 120 PSI, but it is more like 110. You can raise it, but I didn't want to push it right to its limits. I did raise the floor PSI (for filling up tires so I don't have to wait till it drops to its original 90 PSI).
I can (and do) fill my tires with it. Just requires a little patience to get that last couple of pounds in there. I run my tires @100PSI.

Oonrahnjay · January 13, 2018, 07:19:38 AM

Question -- is it necessary to install a compressor *and* tank? I have lots of tanks taking up space already! Why not take the output from the onboard aux. compressor right into the accessory tank and then use it (air chuck for tires, cross-over emergency valve to the wet tank for moving the bus when the engine won't start, etc.)? The built-in tanks on these units seems space wasted to me.

PP · January 13, 2018, 02:36:48 PM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on January 13, 2018, 07:19:38 AM
Question -- is it necessary to install a compressor *and* tank? I have lots of tanks taking up space already! Why not take the output from the onboard aux. compressor right into the accessory tank and then use it (air chuck for tires, cross-over emergency valve to the wet tank for moving the bus when the engine won't start, etc.)? The built-in tanks on these units seems space wasted to me.

I like the idea so long as you have a valve to prevent the chassis air from bleeding back through the compressor if something goes south in it. That's probably what I would have done with mine if I had thought of it at the time haha

Will

Jim Eh. · January 13, 2018, 02:51:12 PM

There are lots of fridge compressor convesion videos on utube if you have an old iron tank fridge that you would like to re-purpose.

Iceni John · January 13, 2018, 06:24:37 PM

Quote from: PP on January 13, 2018, 02:36:48 PM
I like the idea so long as you have a valve to prevent the chassis air from bleeding back through the compressor if something goes south in it. That's probably what I would have done with mine if I had thought of it at the time haha
Will

I have my electric compressor connected to the accessories tank - if the accessories air bleeds down first it will not let brake air out. I lose all my accessories air within a day or two (I have a slow leak somewhere there that I need to track down), but my brake air takes a week to get down to 30 or 40 PSI.

John