Air tank under a Zook.

[CairnsZook]

I'm installing a compressor into the Zook this week when I get home. Will also put in an air tank for lockers, tyres etc, and was thinking about an old scuba cylinder or a fire extinguisher or something. Basically, something that will fit under the car, not in the back. Has anyone seen the cheap tanks from Bunnings? Reckon one would fit?

[Polar_Bear]

I found an old fire extinguisher dumped at work.. was pretty long and thin, good for fitting into a zook



dunno about the cheap tanks from bunnings...they dont sell anything decent any more do they?

[want33s]

I haven't seen the tanks at Bunnings so I can't comment on them. I have seen an ingenious idea for an air tank that did not take up ANY space in or under the car. It was a Military Humber truck that had a fat hose like fire hose but plastic coated on the INSIDE of the CHASSIS rail. It was blocked off at the rear and at the front had an air fitting and a tap. I reckon if you can find the right hose this would be pretty easy.

[vicelore]

one of the vic suzi club guys . cant rember your name sorry dude.

he had a blue swb with 32 ETs and a 2 liter in it.. if anyone knows.

well anyway he had air tanks all thru his tub bars around the car. always thaught that was a kool idea.

[want33s]

one of the vic suzi club guys . cant rember your name sorry dude.

he had a blue swb with 32 ETs and a 2 liter in it.. if anyone knows.

well anyway he had air tanks all thru his tub bars around the car. always thaught that was a kool idea.

Just my opinion but I don't think that is such a good idea as far as safety goes. It may save weight and space but if you have 120-140psi in a bar and break it or a weld (eg rollover) you will know about it.

[vicelore]

im not sure if they where exposed tubes might of been behind one of the bars. i didnt take huge notice, christova would know he was on the trip with us.

[Gwagensteve]

one of the vic suzi club guys . cant rember your name sorry dude.

he had a blue swb with 32 ETs and a 2 liter in it.. if anyone knows.

well anyway he had air tanks all thru his tub bars around the car. always thaught that was a kool idea.

Yeah - it's joey's SR20 car. It's his rear bar only, I wouldn't recommend it on a cage. If his lets go, it would just sound like the world biggest backfire but there is a legitimate safety issue here - technically, as a pressure vessel there are very specific fabrication requirements and certification.

I have bought a bunnings compressor for the tank, reg etc. but I have a LWB so I have plenty of room.

Steve.

[nicbeer]

i am getting a mate to make me one up the same as his cruiser has in it. square box about 5-6mm thick, basically same as the big signs in the carparks and then capped on ends and drilled for airline fittings,drain and release valve, been running on the cruiser for 2 years or more so far.

[Gwagensteve]

My merc runs an Isuzu FSR truck airbrake tank, about 800X200mm. Was cheaper to buy the tank the the 1000 brass plugs to block all the outlets it had.

Has been under the car for years.

Steve.

[Gwagensteve]

Im not Gwagensteve for nothing-

1985 300GD (or Gelaendewagen - hence G-wagen) "cross country vehicle" is the best translation.

Have a google :o)

Steve.

[nicbeer]

Gwagen - another words a tank

Zookstock, got pics of the LJ one?

[Gwagensteve]

Hey... its 2500kg of Germany's finest steel I will have you know.

It ended up being nicknamed the big red toolbox in the club, and that FSR tank and the the stock york aircon compressor has pumped up many many suzuki tyres.

Acutually, that tank might not end up being the only Isuzu part in it..... I have discovered an adapter (thanks Kiwibacon) to mate a 4BD1T Isuzu truck motor to a T700R4 gearbox. It would make a sweet swap.

sorry for the Hijack

Steve.

[CairnsZook]

OK, got my new compressor mounted. It's wired direct to the battery for now, I'll put the relay in tomorrow - if I'm not too hungover, and try to find that elusive air tank. I've been ringing around wreckers in Brisbane but no-one seems to be very helpfull. I can't even find where I can get 2nd hand fire extinguishers or scuba tanks.

[want33s]

Have you thought about using an old tailshaft with fittings braized in ? It could be mounted pretty easily just about anywhere..

[CairnsZook]

A Zook tailshaft? How much air would it hold? I'm thinking something a little larger maybe. Or maybe mount 4 or 5 and have a bank with heaps of guages and valves and I could pretend I was back on the dive boat filling tanks. Or maybe not.

[fool_injected]

one of the vic suzi club guys . cant rember your name sorry dude.

he had a blue swb with 32 ETs and a 2 liter in it.. if anyone knows.

well anyway he had air tanks all thru his tub bars around the car. always thaught that was a kool idea.

Just my opinion but I don't think that is such a good idea as far as safety goes. It may save weight and space but if you have 120-140psi in a bar and break it or a weld (eg rollover) you will know about it.

Not to mention you cage rusting from inside out from condensate

[want33s]

I didn't mean a Suzuki tailshaft..... I was thinking something a little larger. Whatever is laying around...Commodore are cheap at wreckers. If you braize in fittings you can drain periodically just like any other compressor tank. If you are worried about rust in the tank you can fit an oiler at the compressor inlet and an oil trap after the tank.

[CairnsZook]

Rust? I know all about rust, I work at sea.
Didn't think of that, I remember years ago a mate of mine parted out his torana, it had a real meaty tail shaft on it.

[Ezookiel]

one of the vic suzi club guys . cant rember your name sorry dude.

he had a blue swb with 32 ETs and a 2 liter in it.. if anyone knows.

well anyway he had air tanks all thru his tub bars around the car. always thaught that was a kool idea.

Just my opinion but I don't think that is such a good idea as far as safety goes. It may save weight and space but if you have 120-140psi in a bar and break it or a weld (eg rollover) you will know about it.

Not to mention you cage rusting from inside out from condensate

I believe that's why they fill them with galvanised paint, and swill them around to paint the inside to rust proof/resist them.

[CairnsZook]

So I tried to wire in the compressor today (with a rather large headache). Used a 40 amp relay and some pretty thick cable to a switch on the dash. When I turned it on, the compressor ran, than seemed to cough and stutter - like it wasn't getting enough power.

I'm no expert when it comes to electrical matters, but I did follow the instructions that came with the relay. Would the Zook being negatively switched have anything to do with it?

[want33s]

So I tried to wire in the compressor today (with a rather large headache). Used a 40 amp relay and some pretty thick cable to a switch on the dash. When I turned it on, the compressor ran, than seemed to cough and stutter - like it wasn't getting enough power.

I'm no expert when it comes to electrical matters, but I did follow the instructions that came with the relay. Would the Zook being negatively switched have anything to do with it?

Here is a generic diagram of a relay.
http://www.weendoggy.com/images/relay_wiring.jpg
Assuming your compressor is rated at lower than 40Amp and your relay is 40Amp;
As long as terminals 30 and 87 are 40 Amp plus wire and 85 is a GOOD earth and the compressor is earthed correctly it should all work.
Suzuki negative switching doesn't have anything to do with this, as this is all new wiring operating off the same battery but independant of the rest of the car wiring. Also check power to dash switch from battery and power from dash switch to relay. Don't forget to fit fuses or circuit breakers, cheap protection.

[CairnsZook]

Thanks want33s, looks like I might need a bigger relay.
Compressor specs - Max current, 45A. Working current, 35A.
Strangely, the compressor comes with a 50A fuse?
I was running power to the switch from under the dash, might change and go straight from the battery.

[bogged]

OK, got my new compressor mounted. It's wired direct to the battery for now, I'll put the relay in tomorrow - if I'm not too hungover, and try to find that elusive air tank. I've been ringing around wreckers in Brisbane but no-one seems to be very helpfull. I can't even find where I can get 2nd hand fire extinguishers or scuba tanks.

have you tested this compressor yet? thats one of them ebay jobs?? Im lookin at gettin one at moment. be interested to see how it goes.

[CairnsZook]

I've only run it for about a minute so far. Sounds quite solid for a little compressor though. Might go and deflate a tyre this arvo - will let you know. I got it off Ebay for about a hundred and it was delivered in less than a week. http://stores.ebay.com.au/Alakas-Elec-Shop

The hose and fittings are a little on the cheap side, but for that price I reckon it's pretty good.

[bogged]

I've only run it for about a minute so far. Sounds quite solid for a little compressor though. Might go and deflate a tyre this arvo - will let you know. I got it off Ebay for about a hundred and it was delivered in less than a week. http://stores.ebay.com.au/Alakas-Elec-Shop

The hose and fittings are a little on the cheap side, but for that price I reckon it's pretty good.

same seller Im lookin at... lemme know how ya go... maybe even let 2 down totally on one side of car, and see the timing of each one...

Thanks

[CairnsZook]

OK, I finished off the wiring and it seems to be running fine through the 40A relay. Is this OK, or am I asking for trouble? I've got a fuse between the battery and relay, and between the battery and switch.

I also let one tyre down from 28psi to 12psi - took about 1:30.
I then inflated it back to 28 in about 1:40.
The pressure gauge attached to the hose seems fairly accurate (compared to my "pen gauge" anyway). Although you cannot use it with the compressor running, it showed about 40psi as soon as it started up.

Standby for more rigorous tests...

[cj]

How much space do these compressors take up? Got some dimensions?

[want33s]

OK, I finished off the wiring and it seems to be running fine through the 40A relay. Is this OK, or am I asking for trouble? I've got a fuse between the battery and relay, and between the battery and switch.

I also let one tyre down from 28psi to 12psi - took about 1:30.
I then inflated it back to 28 in about 1:40.
The pressure gauge attached to the hose seems fairly accurate (compared to my "pen gauge" anyway). Although you cannot use it with the compressor running, it showed about 40psi as soon as it started up.

Standby for more rigorous tests...

I reckon if the book says use 40A then use at least 50A. I go about 20-25% oversize on everything electrical. Just to be safe & it only costs a dollar or two more.
Yes, you are asking for trouble if you expect a 40A relay to reliably handle more than 40A. Replace it with a larger unit & Fit a circuit breaker or another fuse between relay and compressor(close to relay) as this is the wire carrying the load.

[CairnsZook]

Here are the specs from the manual, notice they are a little different to the ad on ebay.

Motor voltage: 12 Volt
Motor type: Permanent Magnetic
Max Working Pressure: 100psi / 150psi
Max flow rate @ 0psi (13.8V): 150L / minute
Continuous use @ 22deg c & 40psi: 40 minutes
Max current: 45A
Working current: 35A
Auto reset thermal protection: Yes
Dimensions: 30cm x 15cm x 20cm
Net weight: 5kg

[want33s]

If you run 50A relay and wiring it should be OK. Let us know how the compressor goes in action. I just noticed you have two compressors in your engine bay.. Aircon, you lucky SOB