A final decision on my Big Red compressor location

Submitted: Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 08:09
ThreadID: 60998 Views:3544 Replies:8 FollowUps:11
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Image Could Not Be FoundImage Could Not Be FoundI posted a few weeks ago for help to find a good spot for my compressor in my GU. As i had a dual Battery, Heat exchange and bypass oil filter, i had no room in the engine bay, the only spot available was really too low a was on the radiator support panels. Even in a super low water crossing it would still get soaked. The Big Red is supposed to be sealed but i still would not risk it. Many suggestions were put to me for an inside vehicle mount which would me preferable to me but due to my very standard vehicle, those places were not available. I suggested to all that it may be possible to mount it inside the spare wheel carrier, at least it would be fairly high on the vehicle and the outlet very accessible on the outside of the vehicle.
Well, I decided to go for mounting it in the spare and have expanded my project to include the spare to be used as a tank with about 100 litre capacity. Thats about 10 times the normal tank that most guys install but it will be only 65PSI instead of about 100PSI The maximum pressure in the sidewall indicates 65psi so i set about to include the spare to that pressure. If the spare is damaged and not inflatable, i have included a small ball valve to stop air going to the spare tyre.
I made a blow of valve to start to work at 70 PSI and it shuts of completely at 65 PSI. Toggle switch and 30amp relay inside the vehicle, I will include an electrical contact, pressure switch at a later date so the compressor cuts out completely and this will give me a secondary safety aspect. So attached are a few pics to show what i have done, it has to be painted and installed this weekend hopefully.. MichaelImage Could Not Be Found
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Reply By: Member - Doug T NT - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 08:31

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 08:31
Michael
I can see you've put a lot of thought and planning into your project, just one word needed here.....BRILLIANT .
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AnswerID: 321811

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 08:57

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 08:57
Thanks Doug, It did take some thinking about as there is not too much room to play with inside the spare wheel mount. I forgot to mention that the outlet chuck is mounted in the middle of the wheel as you can see in the lower pic, it swings up to clear my antenna and when finished using it, it simply springs back down. The other point i failed to mention was that the schrader valve on the tyre has flow limitations so i removed the valve to improve this problem and if the spare is needed, its a simple task to insert the schrader valve back into the spare, even when full of air as you know. Michael
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FollowupID: 588714

Follow Up By: Skippype - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 10:43

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 10:43
Two words needed. BLOODY BRILIANT.
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FollowupID: 588727

Reply By: Member - Rodney B- Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:12

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:12
Michael

What a great idea,
How did you "make" the limiter for the compressor or can you buy a pressure limiter to suit as I am interested in limiting the pressure on my pump ??
AnswerID: 321814

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:40

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:40
Rod, in the top pic the blow off valve is at the front, I made it from two different fittings the 2 hexagons are a 1/2" tube fitting that screws together and the part with the little holes in it, is a water chuck used in industry, i silvered soldered them together and i added a 12 mm steel ball and fiddled around with a good quality spring to get the correct blow off pressure.. Once the compressor or tyre gets to max 65Psi. the compressor just vents to atmosphere, a good safety feature and you can leave unattended, the worst is 65psi.
If you need some help, let me know. Michael
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FollowupID: 588718

Reply By: Willem - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:13

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:13
Morning Michael

Yes, it looks good and shouid be very functional. It's fun working all of these technical requirments out. Hope it survives the Southern Highlands climate.

Think I will stick to my compressor in its box tho...lol


Cheers
AnswerID: 321815

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:43

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 09:43
Gday Willem, it should work ok,, and yes the temps in Moss Vegas was down to minus 2 on Tuesday.. COLD!!! Michael
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FollowupID: 588719

Reply By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 10:01

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 10:01
Micahel,
That's a beautiful piece of workmanship mate, very nice!!

Have you incorporated a check valve on the compressor's outlet port? If not, is there some other means of preventing the constant back-pressure from the tyre and lines being forced back onto the compressor's piston?

Again, well done.

Roachie
AnswerID: 321818

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 17:46

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 17:46
Gday Roachie, I had thought about that but on reading the features a second time on the Big Red, it actually has an internal check valve, i think this overcome the starting under high pressures. There is absolutely no leak down through the compressor. Michael
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FollowupID: 588787

Reply By: BT- Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 11:03

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 11:03
Gidday Michael,
the set up looks real good. Any concerns about dust and dirt accumulation around the compressor? Will you need to clean out the filter more regularly?
Cheers
BT
AnswerID: 321823

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 18:01

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 18:01
Gday BT,
Yes it is a bit of a concern, it is a dusty area as the dust swirls around the back of the vehicle. Cleaning the filter means removing the spare but that cant be helped. It was a consideration from the beginning but there are always a few negatives... Michael
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FollowupID: 588788

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 18:20

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 18:20
You could always remove the standard filter and replace it with a brass barb and a short length of hose with a remote-located filter inside the rear door (if you're willing to drill a 1/2" hole and insert a grommet etc) or in near the jack's resting place (via the rubber grommet on the underside of that inner guard panel).

Roachie
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FollowupID: 588791

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 19:24

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 19:24
Thanks Roachie.. Thats a great idea!! Michael
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FollowupID: 588804

Reply By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 17:55

Saturday, Aug 23, 2008 at 17:55
Thanks everyone, I think it would good to see more of peoples ideas on the forum, they may not be for everyone but bouncing someones ideas around can sometimes lead to even better ones. Michael
AnswerID: 321867

Reply By: Member - Fourplayfull - Sunday, Aug 24, 2008 at 23:36

Sunday, Aug 24, 2008 at 23:36
A goog idea to beat the lack of space problem Mike .I run two of

these mounted underbonnet feeding a rear tank and have worked around a few mods .

Use a clip on high flow chuck to decrease heat build up to the flex.delivery line .

Dust will be a problem - Roachies idea is spot on

Fit a hydraulic coupling rubber dust cover to your outlet when not in use

You will need 85 psi min to work air diff locks if ever required

Cheers John
AnswerID: 322061

Reply By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 10:03

Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 10:03
Michael,

Very neat and definitely “outside square box” setup. One question though. Where did you get 65 PSI switch? I have permanent air in my car, but I struggle to find suitable switch. All enquiries ended with “garage compressor-style” switch. Yes it is adjustable, but way too bulky. So I finished with ARB 100 PSI switch what they use in airlock setup. I would prefer 120 PSI though. Any hints highly appreciated.

Cheers
Serg
AnswerID: 322102

Follow Up By: Member - Matt (Perth-WA) - Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 10:32

Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 10:32
Try this Serg...Im not sure on the quality but found a larger array of otions than the ARB ones....

Ebay Switch

Matt.
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FollowupID: 589045

Follow Up By: Michael ( Moss Vale NSW) - Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 11:58

Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 11:58
Gday Serg, it is a mechanical bal and spring valve i made out of a couple of brass fittings that just vents to atmosphere but i will incorporate an electrical switch as Matt had shown on Ebay above.
RS Components have similar units like the Ebay , about $35, electrical type of high quality and are adjustable but will on ly handle 10 amps so it would have to go in the control switch circuit and not inline in the high current compressor circuit.. Michael
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FollowupID: 589058

Follow Up By: Member - Serg (VIC) - Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 12:50

Monday, Aug 25, 2008 at 12:50
Thanks, Matt and Michael. I will check RC Components. 10A not a problem – I have relay anyway.

Cheers
Serg
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FollowupID: 589072

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