Can Air Conditioner be used as Air Compressor?

[fdwyer]

I don't know a thing about Air Conitioners, except for the fact that mine doesn't work. What I was wondering is can that compressor be converted to compress Air?

If so, what kinda poundage would you expect to get out of it? Enough to blow up a tire?

It's probably a no go idea, but why not run it by the experts on the Forum. Anyone have information?

Merry Christmas.

Regards,

Frank Dwyer

[dweezle]

I don't belive so and it's my opion it would be folly try. but h*ll, you might have just found the cure to low tire PSI syndrome.

[YaZahX]

yep, its been done. heres the link to how do to it: http://home.online.no/~falmaas/airsupply.htm

the main page is http://home.online.no/~falmaas/

[fdwyer]

Thanks YaZahX.

Dare to dream eh.

I wasn't sure it would work at all and if it did I thought there might be pressure problems. 130 pounds is great though,wonder what kind of rate it can supply?

Sounds pretty easy though eh. Installing a tank is the bulk of the work. I can't believe there is actually a site that shows it being done to a Wag. I'm, goin for it. I have two compressors to mess around with anyway. I don't think I'd go through the trouble of relocating the alternator though.

Thanks again.

Frank



[This message has been edited by fdwyer (edited December 24, 2000).]

[Gregorio]

Yep. and here's another: http://www.ifsja.org/tech/misc/cheapair.shtml

[Charly]

Although geared towards SWBs, check out the prodducts and especially the links at www.onboardair.com (http://www.onboardair.com)

Charly

[graham]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by fdwyer:
I don't know a thing about Air Conitioners, except for the fact that mine doesn't work. What I was wondering is can that compressor be converted to compress Air?

If so, what kinda poundage would you expect to get out of it? Enough to blow up a tire?

It's probably a no go idea, but why not run it by the experts on the Forum. Anyone have information?

Merry Christmas.

Regards,

Frank Dwyer<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Frank,
I have done this, but not with original compressor, I bolted on another ac compressor. Had to fab some brakets though. Someone on the board has done this with the original AC compressor, but cant remember who, has pics/diagram on his web site. Mine will pump up four 31"'s from 15 psi to 32 psi in 4 minutes. I have a releif valve set at 90 psi, but it is possible to get aroud 200 - 250 psi out of them.


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BEAR HUNTER http://www.geocities.com/ozbearhunter/
'82 Cherokee Sportsman II,360, auto. As it rolled of the Show Room floor.
Except for;LPG conversion, On board air, plus water bag holder

[fdwyer]

Thanks Gregorio, Charly & Graham.

Those are some more great resources. I didn't think to check the tech pages, because I thought the idea was a little of the wall.

I suprised more people haven't done it if its that easy. I especially like the idea of the Train Wistle. I don't know where I could get one, but man would that be handy.

Frank
1980 Ltd Ed Wag



[This message has been edited by fdwyer (edited December 24, 2000).]

[YaZahX]

I have wondered this myself... in the Lincoln’s they have air bags that are pumped using electric compressors, does anyone know if it could pump 120 psi (and be put in a tank)?

[Charly]

I have heard that the compressors are pretty small in the Lincolns (most electric are). But it'd be worth a try if you could get one cheap.

[scotty]

on board air is one of the most useful mods you can make. im not even usuing a york,im still using the factory gm short style.the bearing makes a helluva lot of noise,and i keep waiting for it to go out,but its still kickin.ive got an a/c solenoid on a toggle switch to turn up the idle to about 1500 for air use.it that rpm,it takes less than 1 minute to fill both my bumpers to 130 psi(prolly somewhere between 10 and 15 gal capacity for both).

i can pop tires back on the beads,fill 38 inch tires from 0 to 20 lbs(20 lb is street pressure),and run an impact gun,cutoff wheel,or any other air tool in the middle of nowhere as effectively as any home style cmpressor.actually,it prolly works alittle better,cause it fills much quicker than the electric motor on my home compressor.

any compressor will work. the york is referable,cause of its twin pistons,and its own oil supply.you can expect 400 psi from a york(if you could find hoses and such to safely accomodate this pressure),not as much from the gm style.

in a nutshell,wire a toggle switch thru a pressure switch to the a/c clutch.youll also need a storage tank,pop-off valve,pressure gauge,and at least one female quick connect outlet to plug in an air hose.you can add as many other things as you want,along with regulators,if needed-an ARB,train wistle,whatever. i belive the link above also shows an air activated QT.

good luck,let us know if you need any other specifics...

------------------
scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

T18/dana-spicer 18 with drum E brake and PTO swap very soon
searching for offset QT rear and PTO winch

[fdwyer]

Thanks Scott,

Its great to have all your guys help. I've already cleaned up my spare compressor and am getting ready to go. I have about a dozen projects on the go, but this one is definately going on the list. I'm gonna make sure the clutch is working before ordering the parts.

Frank

[Charly]

OBA (on board air) is one of the best mods I've ever done.

I recommend putting a fuse, then relay in the system between the dash switch and the pressure switch.

I'm using a regular AC type (Square D brand) pressure switch with a 30 psi diffferential so, 110 on , 140 off.

I also have an old fire dept air tank as my tank (about 3 gallons). (I can get you the adapter thread size if you ever go this route , FD air tanks have a funky thread).

I am also running a lighted pressure gauge to the dash.

I can also run tools, and air up my 33" TSLs in 26 seconds each (from 10-25 psi).

Good Luck,

Charly

[This message has been edited by Charly (edited December 26, 2000).]

[bignblue]

I know this is off on a tangent, but how does the central tire inflation/deflation doohickey on Hummers work? I mean, hoses would quickly get tangled, ya know? THAT would be a cool mod!

[Charly]

As far as the hummer inflation system , iyt already has the funky geared hubs, and it has special wheels for the air.

For OBA, a good source for parts lke the valves, fittings, pressure switches, and tanks is Surplus Center (based out of NE). No website, but their number is 1-800-488-3407. call and order a free catalog.

Excellent service, decent prices (like $12 for a pressure switch), and a good selection.

Charly

[YaZahX]

Hummers user independent suspension (main reason for their ground clearance...) heres a pic of the compressor...
http://www.lynchhummer.com/Components/Compressor.gif
Heres a diagram of how the system works.. http://www.lynchhummer.com/Components/CTI.8.gif

[bignblue]

Okay, never mind &lt;sniff&gt;

[YaZahX]

but no one said it cant be done, the only thing is, is that you have to fab a upper/lower control arms(etc)... heres what it looks like http://www.hummer.com/h1/images/compfeat_picbig_runflat.gif
http://www.hummer.com/h1/images/compfeat_picbig_suspension.gif

[Langdon]

This is one thing i'd like to do, my question is safety. Look out if you are in a wreck and a pressurized tank ruptures. I realize that this is mostly done on trail rigs, but they do see the street. And even a trail rollover could make things go bang. For those who have onboard air, is this a concern, or am I just being a wet blanket? I realize the solution is to pressurize only when needed, but that's no fun...

[Charly]

I know this might sound like a strange argument, but 150 psi is a relatively small amount of pressure as compared to most vehicles riding around today with presurized containers.

I ride in vehicles at work with &gt;4500 psi right in the back of my seat, these 'explosions' just aren't happening.

Oh, and the compreesors used on Hummers are 12 volt thomas brand compresors, good for an electric, but still not very good as an on board air source in the true wheelin' capacity (can't really use tools well).

Now, those run flats are nice. http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
Charly

[scotty]

langdon,ths is a legitimate convern.make sure that you build it safely as possible.my bumpers are my air tanks,and theyre made from (i think)1/4 inch steel.i accidentally hit a tree that was about 10-12 inches or so in diameter,and knocked it over!i hit that sucker hard with about 100 lbs of air in the system and no explosion.my front bumper was like "tree?what tree?you call that a tree?that was nothin!"

for the most part,all that will happen if contact is made with a rock,or something during a rollover is a puncture,and air escaping. just put the tank as far from passengers as possible,preferably not inside the vehicle,and route any hoses safely away from passengers,in case i hose were to get torn and start flailing about.(pretty impressive use of the word "flailing",eh? http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif )

as charly pointed out,150 is nothin like 4500,and it can be done safely.

------------------
scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

T18/dana-spicer 18 with drum E brake and PTO swap very soon
searching for offset QT rear and PTO winch

[ClarkGriswald]

Dude! You said Flailing!

Again.. I knew you had this on your rig. and was wondering .. you still have the stock 88 ac comp right??? do you have a oil injector goin and seperator on the other end/?

[ClarkGriswald]

YAZ! ... Thank you.. Ive been telling people for years about the Hummer tire air system but they never belive me... I used to work as a maintenance guy at an apartment complex where there lived one of the Sales reps for the hummer factory. in south bend... or wherever it is right near there...

Every couple weeks or so he had a different color or top option .. and he drove me around and showed me the tire thing and such.. awesome vehicles... one time I drove up on him as he was there with this Crappiest hand drill in the world.. drilling holes in one to install tonn cover on the rear of a open back one.. I hopped out and gave him a brand new dewalt and a drill index with some nice hardened drills and such.. and hung out and helped him install it.. a few more guys from the shop showed up and helped out and hung out .. for a hour or so heeehe.. .. those are some cool trucks..Ive seen one just "Creep" around the silverlake sand dunes up here.. unchallenged as far as what it could do.. (he could not however stop midway up "test" hill and gun it and fly up to the top, let alone in reverse which is the way to tease people with lesser vehicles)

PS, thats all about Wheelspeed (HP) and Floatation (big fat tires with most all the air let out)

[This message has been edited by ClarkGriswald (edited December 26, 2000).]

[scotty]

i am using the stock 85 compressor. i have a york to replace it with,but that requires changin the bracket,and ive been lazy.the bearing makes alot of noise,and i keep waiting for it to give up.no oil injection.i used to spray some wd 40 into it every once in a while,but havent for along time.its been on there at least 8 months or so...

if i really gave a rats a** about it,prolly the thing to do would be to figure some way to lube it.oh well,if/when it locks up ill put the other one on http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

T18/dana-spicer 18 with drum E brake and PTO swap very soon
searching for offset QT rear and PTO winch

[ClarkGriswald]

Cool so you just treat it like an air tool, and it has lived that long. pretty good

[fdwyer]

Scott,

I'd really like to see those bumbers! Do you have some good pictures of the bumbers you made? Sounds like a great idea (using them as tanks).

Who cares if they rupture, its just air. And what is 150 pounds pressure anyway. Our house plumbing has 80psi and no one worries about plumbing pipes exploding and killing people.

Endless uses for having onboard air eh?

Go Go Gadget Wagon! or To the Bat-Mobile

Frank

[fdwyer]

Hello all:

Does anyone know where I can get information on the Stock A/C compressor in my 1980 Jeep Wag. It's an EVERCO Industries Inc pump.

Is this the Compressor most are using?
Can you still get parts for these beasts?

It seems like a good pump for the job since it is supposed to be a two cylinder, but it doesn't have a place to lube it.

Was the Freon keeping it Lubed?

I can do like Scotty and hit it with a little WD from time to time I guess.

Frank

[Gregorio]

As far as safety is concerned I can speak to air pressures under 200psi.
When I had a large framing crew I had an Emglo compresser which I keep set at 200 psi coupled to a slave tank from whick I stepped down to 140psi for my nail guns. We have knocked off couplings, burst hoses, and shattered guns and other that startling and aggravation there is nothing to worry about.

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Gregorio
Austin, TX
'87 GW "Big Grin"

[scotty]

there are some pics here: http://pacifico.off-road.com/~wagoneer/wild/scott_probert/

i should prolly add the link to my sig,shouldnt i?

------------------
scott
85 grand wagoneer
258 with motorcraft 2bbl/904/twin stick dana 300/dana 44/welded amc 20
38x15.5 gumbo mudders
snorkel/dual batteries/onboard air/"custom" convertable
3 inch body lift/mostly stock suspension/"modified" fender openings
custom front/rear bumpers and brushgaurd

T18/dana-spicer 18 with drum E brake and PTO swap very soon
searching for offset QT rear and PTO winch