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neileo
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Nov 8, 2015, 3:23 PM
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Wiring an air compressor
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So I want to put an air compressor in the bed of my truck because I want to instal train horns and use air tools with it, but I have a real compressor that runs off 120a.c. and I was wondering if it's possible to still hook that up the be powered by the truck, I know they make air compressor kits that run of 12v dc butb I don't want to spend a couple hundred bucks when I have a bigger better compressor that I can use, any advice would be appriciated
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Discretesignals
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Nov 8, 2015, 3:34 PM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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How many watts does the motor use to start up and to run? You would need an inverter that is capable of producing the watts the electrical motor needs.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 8, 2015, 6:21 PM)
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 8, 2015, 11:00 PM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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If you don't want to spend a couple hundred bucks this game is over already. No inverter is going to be close to that cheap nor upgrades needed to 12V system to power one,
T
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neileo
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Nov 9, 2015, 8:08 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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It's 2hp and 1.5kw power
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neileo
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Nov 9, 2015, 8:14 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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Would a power converter such as this one work?
link deleted .................. not allowed
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Nov 9, 2015, 8:24 AM)
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Hammer Time
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Nov 9, 2015, 8:25 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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It's highly unlikely that a 500 watt converter is going to operate that.
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neileo
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Nov 9, 2015, 8:40 AM
Post #7 of 23
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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The link got deleted but it was a 1500 watt conveter
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 9, 2015, 8:41 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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IDK how far you want to go but to power 2HP anything takes some real generator for power or is going to get expensive.
Air horns - shoot, you could do that with computer duster and just replace cans. It's what you expect to do with air tools that will matter.
Your existing compressors are going to be the problem IMO.
Think of what you'll really be doing with air for tools. How much and how fast required not just wanted will matter totally on the costs and how much of a pest to do.
Compressor and its storage tank could get you air tool power but you could add a tank for volume and wait for it to build up again for lower bucks.
Continuous use I really don't think is in budget. I can fill portable air cans and have with 100 current to highest pressure and run air tools till exhausted and return to fill them again.
One can with little difficulty will remove four wheels (lug nuts with an air wrench) with about an 8-10 gal can and I do that now. That makes sense if you are also close to your existing compressors where they are for quick work with air tools not very often.
Here's a 1/3 HP - 100PSI pancake compressor you could get an inverter for and add the tank to up the gallon capacity........
Quick View  3 gal. 1/3 HP 100 PSI Oilless Pancake Air Compressor
That's just $59 bucks now w/o inverter. Guess you will want an inverter that will spike to realistic 2500 Watts, 2000 or so continuous and then the problems come if you want continuous use or wait for pressure back up again.
Remember if using the alternator of a vehicle to charge perhaps a couple very high amp batteries the batteries alone will cost a few hundred and price out what it takes for an alternator that would take it continuously or back to lower constant use and high volume air tanks.
What exactly do you want or need to do? Leave the air horns out of it unless you have specs on pressure and volume requirements for those,
T
(This post was edited by Tom Greenleaf on Nov 9, 2015, 8:44 AM)
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Discretesignals
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Nov 9, 2015, 10:40 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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There is no way a 1500 watt inverter is going to run a 2 hp compressor motor. You'd need at least a 4000 or 5000 watt inverter that can handle the surge. Then you have to take in account the power input. I really don't think one battery is going to be enough.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 9, 2015, 10:45 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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I own a few. They state "surge power" but ALL fail if that is more than a micro second. Operating voltage is frequently overstated as well.
You are looking for compressed air and think this is the wrong way to achieve that with essentially no bucks to do something right,
T
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neileo
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Nov 9, 2015, 12:46 PM
Post #11 of 23
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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I want to be able to use an impact and obviously use it to fill tires, but the impact is more important, I don't need it for continuous use I could wait for the tanks to fill back up, I'm willing to spend about 200 bucks maybe a little more i wasn't sure if I could with is without spending to much but you guys are putting in perspective, my idea was to get a compressor that I can hook up to my battery and only use it when my truck is turned on obviously, and have a hose attached to the horns and then another hose in my box. Ready to use for impact, I have a spare compressor but if that is unreasonable to use I can get one like that. Smaller one you mentioned I hope I'm not sounding stupid on here I don't use forums a lot but whenever I do you guys are a huge help
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Hammer Time
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Nov 9, 2015, 1:24 PM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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With the volume of air that an impact gun will use up, nothing in your idea is going to work.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 9, 2015, 5:11 PM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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Trying to help neilo just hard to know what you want and what you need. I do this and road calls or did all the time with a carry can of air filled (IDK - think 8-gallon or so) full with shop tool quick connect. This will take lug nuts that are a b*tch off well but one chance then put a tire with nuts back up to tight with a cross bar like you are supposed to anyway and torque them.
If you were to use it all the time or often that would be a pain. It can be filled with a stupid $20 cig lighter power port connector just takes ages and if something that involved it ain't getting done away from my shop or do battle by hand.
OK and I should know what correlates to what for electrical HP motors what you need in amps/power to start the motor up. A 2 HP electric motor is a lot for INVERTERS THEY ARE CALLED as the 110 current motor even with a capacitor take quite a lot to start up then doesn't use so much constantly while running. That 1/3 HP thing is less than some 12v pumps all by itself just would be slower and require less to work it.
You could do a lot with just air cans and forget the hassles. I have to for cars/trailers or whatevers that might be out in the woods away from even a vehicle so carry the air - say a flat on a trailer left all Summer with a nail in it leaking. Plug kit too is possible to fix and fill on a vehicle with wheel on and fill tire back up for example. Snowed in cars/vehicles with flats you can't get near is somewhat common to me for air or porta power jump starts.
What is the killer for you is if you use up enough inverted power for a 2HP you are really going to need the right battery and cables or cord - look at prices now for that crap. Battery should be powerful, deep cycle and start able or two and all the connections. If you over work you vehicle's battery and charging system you'll pay for it.
The trouble is limiting your budget if you want more or faster or pay for wrecking your truck's battery and killing it's alternator plus the cost of the compressor an inverter. If really needed pay for it but not for a couple hundred bucks. One decent truck battery would cost more than that - go look at the prices right now - way up from a couple years ago.
You can do this and make your existing compressor work but the slower one would be more cost effective
AND you could just take all the junk out of the truck when you want it for a truck only is what I'm thinking too.
Answer: more money or slower and more air storage - choose what matters most for your needs,
T
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Discretesignals
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Nov 9, 2015, 6:06 PM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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I think it would be a lot cheaper to buy an air pressure system that comes with a tank, pump, lines, fittings, wiring and directions for installation. I see them on Amazon for less than $300. Some of them look like they could power an air tool for short bursts (such as the one in the pic). A lot cheaper and less heart ache then trying to figure out what type of inverter you would need and designing a system to run a shop air compressor.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 9, 2015, 6:16 PM)
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Hammer Time
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Nov 9, 2015, 7:23 PM
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That would definitely be a real short burst on an air gin. You could never get 5 lugs off.
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 9, 2015, 11:26 PM
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I don't think we are all on the same page. For continuous use any inverter is going to cost a fortune and endless issues to power it.
Go for larger air storage or add extra. I get all four wheels off a car or truck with just the air can ---- no compressor, no inverter then go fill the can again as needed.
Air cans cost too though so there's the snag. No $$ for this or unwilling. Same compressor as shown above just keep adding air tanks via in line 1/4 NPT fittings that do cost yet again. Same with the $59 in stock pancake compressor just slower but get the same volume adding storage for air.
That or switch approach. Get battery powered tools. I don't have a battery impact wrench and done with more stuff but hear they do great but stuck on the costs here with that too.
The $$ is choking this whole thing.
Another again. Forget "inverters" totally and get a gasoline generator that can run the equipment you already have but a good one powerful enough is still $6-800 bucks on up,
T
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neileo
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Nov 10, 2015, 8:13 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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Alright the idea of trying to install the 2hp compressor is gone, that pancake compressor would still need a conveter right? Because I do not need it for continuous use, I can wait for it to fill back up, or if buying a small compressor with a bigger storage tank is the way to go with this then I will look into that, if all of it is unreasonable then maybe I'll just put this project on hold for awhile
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Tom Greenleaf
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Nov 10, 2015, 8:36 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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It puts out the pressure just if for longer use add a portable tank connected to the hose you use it will add that much air just take longer to fill.
This isn't rocket science and air pressure doesn't care where it comes from or how it's made this is cost vs speed.
I've said I think in this mess or again now you will need to know where to properly place an "INVERTER" it's not called a converter but that's what it's doing. Can it go under hood, water and weather tolerant? I don't like the things and messes up what should be a direct connection to battery and while engine is running. Not allowed any more to touch an engine but would rather run a pump right off the engine.
Never mind. You'll want cable or jumpers of at least 4 gauge or less to reach truck bed. If you cheap out it wont power the inverter. Last real good for non copper I've seen were 20 feet, strong clamps and on sale for $100 bucks! It's the stupid stuff that will get you.
I may not be thinking what I would do and do, do with you. I'd want all this crap easy to take off or out of truck and have it out of the way when not needed quickly and easily - you may not care?
T
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Hammer Time
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Nov 10, 2015, 8:56 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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The big problem with this whole project is trying to run an air gun. they suck up a large volume of air and will not work if they don't have the continuous supply. Your ideas will work for most other uses.
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neileo
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Nov 10, 2015, 10:15 AM
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Re: Wiring an air compressor
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Alright if the impact would be to much trouble I get it and will scrap that idea, the other thing I would want though is to be able to fill up say a leaking tire or say I get a flat and my spare is a little low stuff like that, and if I can get enough pressure to do that I know the horns would work fine
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Hammer Time
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Nov 10, 2015, 10:49 AM
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It doesn't take much volume to fill a tire. Most jump boxes will do that. You could even get a 12v air suspension compressor from an old Cadillac.
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neileo
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Nov 10, 2015, 12:47 PM
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So I'm thinking I'll just buy a air tank and a small compressor to connect to it and mount it under my truck or make a box and put it in my bed, I'll probably wait a little bit just to get some extra cash for the compressor but if you guys see a problem with this idea lemme know, just be used for occasionally filling my tires or air horns and the compressor with have to run off 12v dc so I can hook it up easy under the hood and even in one of the outlets in the cab
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Hammer Time
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Nov 10, 2015, 1:12 PM
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That should do fine.
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