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  1. #1
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    Default Air compressor's

    I currently have a pilot 10.5cfm air compressor belt driven the motor or the pump has a squeeky bearing i have noticed of late the compressor will start up rather slowly if i open the air duster for 30 seconds while its building pressure it gets the motor pumping noticably quicker

    Would u guys try fix it or

    Would i be better off get another machine?

    I was thinking of getting 2x 50 litre direct drive compressor lincoln brand and linking the tanks for a greater volume 14cfm 100 litre tank is it this simple?

    So far i use the pilot air compressor for dusting and half the time i use a 400ft pound rattle gun other future jobs will be spray painting

  2. #2
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by gazza2009au View Post
    I was thinking of getting 2x 50 litre direct drive compressor lincoln brand and linking the tanks for a greater volume 14cfm 100 litre tank is it this simple?
    Linking two compressors has been discussed before. What happens is pressure switches are never identical and cannot be adjusted to be identical so the same compressor will always trigger on recharge before the other. If the same compressor is ALWAYS doing the recharging instead of filling 50L it has to now fill 100L so it will need to run longer at a much higher temperature so long terms it will wear out quicker than it should.

    To generate the 14cfm you will need to get the second compressor to kick so the combined tank pressure needs to be dropped below the trigger level of the second compressor. This can be fudged by venting a bit more air or using up air faster than a single compressor can recharge it. If you always use high flow rates then this would be OK.

    When you don't need the 14CFM a simple way to reduce the issue of the same compressor doing the recharge is to let both compressors charge up the 100L and then switch one off and let the same compressor do the recharging. Next time you use it, again - let both compressors charge up the 100L and then turn the other one off.

    There are compressors out there with large tanks and two (or more) small compressors on them but they have a linked pressure switches or a single pressure switch that triggers both compressors to recharge simultaneously.

    Overall I'd say you are better off getting a bigger/industrial strength compressor.

  3. #3
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    Bob that is a great post and something i never even looked at or thought about the two switches, i am hopefully moving house soon so i need to clear out anything that is heavy or bulky and i actually don't think i could lift the Pilot onto the trailer or into a truck by my self sadly i have a bad back so all my big bulky and heavy tooling must go and i have a lot of tools i have gathered over the past 8-9 years

    i thought about buying 2 of either of these compressors below because i should be able to put them on a trolley to wheel out and lift them up onto the trailer on the trolley where as the Pilot is a long horizontal air compressor and is heavy

    i am quiet happy with the performance of the Pilot at 10.5 CFM and around 60 litre tank so if i could make 14 CFM and 100 litre tank for the same space the Pilot takes up and have that portability of both compressors i think it might be a good idea

    https://sydneytools.com.au/ferrua-fi...air-compressor

    https://sydneytools.com.au/fendi-fen...air-compressor

    however i am worried about going backwards in performance because i am going from belt drive to direct drive, the noise will increase and i am worried about going from a direct tank outlet to a outlet that goes out via the switch housing which may be 1/4" pipe instead of 3/8" pipe

    do u actually think i could run 2 check valves one on each output so no air goes back into the empty tank would this possibly allow each compressor to run by its self?

  4. #4
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by gazza2009au View Post
    Bob that is a great post and something i never even looked at or thought about the two switches, i am hopefully moving house soon so i need to clear out anything that is heavy or bulky and i actually don't think i could lift the Pilot onto the trailer or into a truck by my self sadly i have a bad back so all my big bulky and heavy tooling must go and i have a lot of tools i have gathered over the past 8-9 years
    I wouldn't use that as an reason. If they are good tools/machines I'd look to getting help in moving the heavy tools. Besides compressors can be put on wheels and are easy to move using ramps and winches.

    however i am worried about going backwards in performance because i am going from belt drive to direct drive, the noise will increase and i am worried about going from a direct tank outlet to a outlet that goes out via the switch housing which may be 1/4" pipe instead of 3/8" pipe
    Yeah I think you would be going backwards going from the Pilot Air to those other compressors.

    do u actually think i could run 2 check valves one on each output so no air goes back into the empty tank would this possibly allow each compressor to run by its self?
    Are the tank outputs still connected? If so then I think it will still lead to one compressor doing all the recharging.

  5. #5
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    I would place a one way valve on each outlet from the compressors so both machines can only exit air than i will run a Y connector connecting both compressor than one hose from the Y connector to whatever tool i am running

    i am rebuilding a 5.5 meter to be 6.1 meter boat and i asked for help by a cousin to lift a heavy 3 ply sheets of plywood into the transom my cousin never showed up i got frustrated and had to use my car engine hoist to lift the plywood into the boat so i have realized i am on my own everything i own here on must be moved by my self

    i just sold my 50T hydraulic press because of this reason i have no help to move it weighing 200kg its not something i can do my self

    sadly i help a lot of people but rarely get it in return

  6. #6
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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    Quote Originally Posted by gazza2009au View Post
    I would place a one way valve on each outlet from the compressors so both machines can only exit air than i will run a Y connector connecting both compressor than one hose from the Y connector to whatever tool i am running
    The common output and one way valve (OWV) will work, provided air is always drawn faster than any on constantly running compressors can resupply it.

    Otherwise for intermittent lower air flow compressor use it won't solve the problem.
    Lets say the compressors both start out as full.

    As you use it, the air will bleed out of both tanks until one compressor (lets call it "A") retriggers and refills. Now when you go to draw air again, the over pressure in the output line from A will prevent the OWV on compressor B from opening up. Air will only be drawn down from A until it triggers A again. Unless you deliberately bleed air from just B it will not trigger and A will only be the one that ever triggers.

    This is called the hysteresis problem - a common problem in engineering.
    A solution is to rig the pressure switches so that one pressure switch triggers both compressors but both pressure switches trigger them off. This is messy because it requires linking both compressors electrically - ie nuisance. If fact any multi tank system is awkward.

    Another approach to needing to regularly moving a heavy compressor is to split the tank from the compressor/motor and couple the two using quick fit air connects. A mate of mine has done this with the 120L (on Wheels) separated from the 3HP compressor/motor on a dolly.

    i just sold my 50T hydraulic press because of this reason i have no help to move it weighing 200kg its not something i can do my self
    Couldn't put it on wheels?

    sadly i help a lot of people but rarely get it in return
    That's often the way.

  7. #7
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    I don't think there is an easy way out with any option i chose, a 100 litre tank would be awesome i just have no way of moving it, the two 50 litre tanks i would just be able to lift them onto the trailer, if i had a 80-100 litre vertical compressor on wheels i could possibly wheel it to the trailer than slide it up a wood ramp that would work but with my horizontal tank its just very bulky

    splitting the tank and pump + motor would be easy enough but would require a bit of engineering

    there is actually a Kingchrome 100L 3 phase compressor i found with a ran dry pump i could possibly put a smaller pump and motor on it for cheap its actually not long my current tank my current tank is long and kind of skinny which makes it awkward for picking up the kingchrome is a short stocky tank i may need to look into how heavy they are its relatively cheap because its 3 phase and the pump is burnt out

  8. #8
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    I actually found a 200 litre vertical compressor on Gumtree for $50 iwas going to pick it up today but i thought 200 litres i probably wont be able to lift it or move it around tank is 100x50cm

    i done some googling and found this link https://fix-my-compressor.com/connec...r-compressors/ seems using two check valves should work i may do this and grab two of those 50 litre vertical compressors

  9. #9
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    I went and picked it up its a 3 phase electric motor with a huge single piston pump tank is 200 litres i need to remove the pump and the motor tonight so i can drag the empty tank off the trailer

    the motor may be good for someone else's project if its 415v could be used as a phase converter, i don't think there is any use for the pump it may or may not be seized

    unsure weather i want to transfer my Pilot pump and motor to this big tank, My Pilot pump is 10.5cfm i punched into a air compressor calculator last night my numbers using the 200 litre tank, 80psi on, 125psi off and it said my little Pilot pump will run for 1 minute and 30 seconds to refill the tank an empty tank to fill will take much longer

    i also have the option to purchase a new big pump and petrol motor off ebay to run this compressor if i wish to go that option
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  10. #10
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    I understand that this thread started with you wanting to combine smaller compressors because your current unit was difficult to handle to move to a new location.
    Then about halfway through the thread you had to use your engine crane to move sheets of ply onto the boat you are working on.
    Could you not use the engine crane to load and offload the compressor and any other heavier gear that you have onto/off of the trailer for the move. This has been mentioned a number of times on the forums when people have purchased lathes, mills etc and need to transport them. We moved all of the equipment from a 500sqm metalworking factory to a new factory with a 4 ton truck (for stock), a Kia van, tandem trailer and Machinery House engine crane (for equipment including lathes, mill, coldcut saws, pedestal and radial arm drills, 10HP polishing lathes, dust extractors). Took three people 2 days to clear the old factory, transport everything 5km, and set up in the new factory.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  11. #11
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    Malb i am actually considering installing a crane/hoist on the trailer so i can lift on/off the trailer but my only bokting point is the a frame rail which is 100x50mm im not sure what kind of twisting force it could hold but i'll assume 150kg should be fine

    The new compressor i picked up tonight is a vertical compressor so i may just be able to move it around on a trolley

    But for lifting it onto the trailer i can only use the car engine hoist at the pick up or drop off location as i cant fit the engine hoist on the trailer with the compressor

  12. #12
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    Took a different route a safer alternative, i am going to give the 200L rusty propane tank away for free and count my loses on what it cost me financially hopefully someone can turn it into a nice fire pit or something

    today i picked up 2x 45kg propane cylinders these are 88 litres and good for 480psi of pressure i only need 125psi and both tanks combined is 176 litres of compressed air for my tools, i plan on running one tank at a time with shut off valves and only use what i need when i need it

    i am going to hook my Pilot 10.5cfm compressor up to the tanks but i am by passing my original compressor tank because around 1 year ago it had a lot of water in it and i have looked into the rusty cylinders from here on it is not worthy of using

    these gas cylinders have only ever had propane in them and they are galvanised so chances are they have zero rust, they also have built in safety valves set to 480psi so no mater what happens they are safe to use and will not and cannot explode unless dropped or something hits them while under pressure but under normal operating conditions they are safe to use

    much better than using a old compressor with unknown history that could be a ticking time bomb ie: painted and refurbished on the outside and rusty like a old beetle on the inside
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  13. #13
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    I picked up 2 of those LPG POL connectors today i am piecing together my rig but i am having problems calculating my air flow or volume in and out just to make sure i am not over loading anything, i am running 1 POL connector per cylinder which has a 6mm hole thru the center what would be my max air volume at 90psi? i will be running some yellow industrial grade 16mm hosing at around 15 meters long internal size is 10mm

    anyone see a problem with the diagram? it's how i am going to set it up

    i picked up a 4hp 3kw electric motor but i am still shopping for the pump i will likely buy the 17cfm 4hp pump of ebay its a ABAC Chinese copy
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  14. #14
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    Hi Gazza
    I think the unloader should be between the compressor and the check valve.

    Phil

  15. #15
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    Any reason behind that SW? the pumps max psi is 160psi i was thinking along the lines it may dump the air at 125psi before its built up in the tanks

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