Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hi All

Looking at getting a CKMA12 compressor from ARB to finally hook up my air locker.

Thought while im doing it I might as well investigate air tanks.

Anyone running a tank similar to :http://cgi.ebay.com.au/3ltr-Air-Tank-Ki ... 33568bb871

If you are, could you provide mounting pics? Trying to find the easiest/best place to put it.

I ahve a kzn130 surf if that help

Can you fit a bigger tank? 3 litres isn't much air. I run a 7 litre tank and it's not enough to run anything serious. It also takes a little while to fill to 150psi with the older ARB style compressor, hence I am thinking about getting the new ARB compressor aswell.

I've got a black widow twin floor where the passenger seats are and have the tank mounted to the bottom level on the twin floor. I'll post up some picks for you tomorrow.

youll also need to take into account the new arb compressors cap at 80psi. so you'd need about twice to three times the volume of a tyre to even consider it for airing up.

alien wrote:youll also need to take into account the new arb compressors cap at 80psi. so you'd need about twice to three times the volume of a tyre to even consider it for airing up.

I've had a look at the specs on the old RDCKA, and that is said to switch off at 105 psi +- 5 psi yet mine will fill an air tank to 150 psi.

How does that work?

If the new ARB compressor cuts out at 80psi, what other options are their for a compact compressor that will mount under a car seat?

alien wrote:youll also need to take into account the new arb compressors cap at 80psi. so you'd need about twice to three times the volume of a tyre to even consider it for airing up.

The pressure switch that it comes with is 70-100PSI. Are you looking at the right model?

I think there is a smaller version that isnt suitable for tyres..

T_Diesel wrote:If the new ARB compressor cuts out at 80psi

... then it is a piece of crap.

Does it really cut out at 80psi? Sheesh.

chimpboy wrote:

T_Diesel wrote:If the new ARB compressor cuts out at 80psi

... then it is a piece of crap.

Does it really cut out at 80psi? Sheesh.

Whilst we are ARB bashing, it shits me that their air couplings are some rarely used minority standard that's big in the states rather than a generic Nitto connector aswell.

chimpboy wrote:

T_Diesel wrote:If the new ARB compressor cuts out at 80psi

... then it is a piece of crap.

Does it really cut out at 80psi? Sheesh.

Just rang ARB to clarify this as it didn't sound right.

The CKMA12 comes with a 100 psi pressure switch which is included for the intended use for air locker activation.

You can use a higher rated pressure switch (for use with an air tank) with the compressor no problem at all but they wouldn't reccommend anything much higher than 150psi.

The CKMA12 has a built in blow off valve at 180 psi.

T_Diesel wrote:

chimpboy wrote:

T_Diesel wrote:If the new ARB compressor cuts out at 80psi

... then it is a piece of crap.

Does it really cut out at 80psi? Sheesh.

Just rang ARB to clarify this as it didn't sound right.

The CKMA12 comes with a 100 psi pressure switch which is included for the intended use for air locker activation.

You can use a higher rated pressure switch (for use with an air tank) with the compressor no problem at all but they wouldn't reccommend anything much higher than 150psi.

The CKMA12 has a built in blow off valve at 180 psi.

That makes a lot more sense. Personally I would prefer to have 150 psi in the tank and use a regulated feed to lockers (or to a second tank for lockers).

why bother with a tank ???

it doesn't help much when blowing up tires. its a lot of hassle to save a few seconds.
you don't need it for the locker. locker dosn't use a lot, just turn the pump on and leave it on. the standard pressure cut switch will turn it on/off when required.

tweak'e wrote:why bother with a tank ???

it doesn't help much when blowing up tires. its a lot of hassle to save a few seconds.

Because with a 50% (or even lower) duty cycle you can't use the compressor continuously. With a tank set to a reasonably high psi, you will be able to do many things with the compressed air continuously while the compressor cycles on and off.

If you're using (say) a rattle gun then I think you will save a lot more than a few seconds by having a good tank set-up, and ensure longer compressor life too.

chimpboy wrote:

tweak'e wrote:why bother with a tank ???

it doesn't help much when blowing up tires. its a lot of hassle to save a few seconds.

Because with a 50% (or even lower) duty cycle you can't use the compressor continuously. With a tank set to a reasonably high psi, you will be able to do many things with the compressed air continuously while the compressor cycles on and off.

If you're using (say) a rattle gun then I think you will save a lot more than a few seconds by having a good tank set-up, and ensure longer compressor life too.

Don't forget being able to toot your air horns for longer!!!!

An air tank does help a lot when you're trying to bead a tyre with a decent puff of air.

eh - tested mine and it cuts out at 80psi... doesnt bother me - still pumps the tyres to 20psi fast as and airlocker works just fine.

chimpboy wrote: If you're using (say) a rattle gun then I think you will save a lot more than a few seconds by having a good tank set-up,

The tank on the cruiser is the first air tank I have ever had and whilst they might require a little effort and expense to set up, having compressed air on board has a number of benefits.

Air tools
Quicker tyre inflation
Air gun (my personal favorite)
Air suspension

And that's just to name a few.

endo wrote: If you are, could you provide mounting pics? Trying to find the easiest/best place to put it.

Excuse the dust. I haven't washed it since Australia Day weekend.

chimpboy wrote:

tweak'e wrote:why bother with a tank ???

it doesn't help much when blowing up tires. its a lot of hassle to save a few seconds.

Because with a 50% (or even lower) duty cycle you can't use the compressor continuously. With a tank set to a reasonably high psi, you will be able to do many things with the compressed air continuously while the compressor cycles on and off.

If you're using (say) a rattle gun then I think you will save a lot more than a few seconds by having a good tank set-up, and ensure longer compressor life too.

i don' think a rattle gun will run for any reasonable length of time just off a tank. even a home compressor with 20l+ tanks don't run for long before compressor kicks in.

An air tank does help a lot when you're trying to bead a tyre with a decent puff of air.

now that is certainly where a tank is usefull.

ideally if your going to use a tank you need to pump it up with very highly compressed air. i did see a dual piston (compounding) 12v compressor that did good flow @ 175psi

nice pics of the install.
what do you use to keep the dust out of the air connectors?

I have heard of men pressurising thier bullbar and/or side rails instead of installing air tanks. Sounds ok?? Any one done this?

tweak'e wrote:what do you use to keep the dust out of the air connectors?

You can get rubber dust covers in different sizes from most hydralic shops, similiar to this

http://www.hydraulic-equipment-manufact ... pling.html

I got one to fit the JP fitting on mine, it sits under the seat, only difference is mine is blue and the rubber cord attaches to the top instead of the side.

tweak'e wrote: nice pics of the install.
what do you use to keep the dust out of the air connectors?

The rubber stoppers that you get on the end of grandad's walking stick,

Bunnings sell plenty of different sizes and they are also great for when you loose the black top bit of your GME aerial

Wozza244 wrote:I have heard of men pressurising thier bullbar and/or side rails instead of installing air tanks.

Aye, I have heard tell of such doings by men in days of yore.

chimpboy wrote: Aye, I have heard tell of such doings by men in days of yore.

Avast! Do it wrong an ya'll be dancin the hempen jig, landlubber!

T_Diesel wrote:

tweak'e wrote: nice pics of the install.
what do you use to keep the dust out of the air connectors?

The rubber stoppers that you get on the end of grandad's walking stick,

LOVE the install! Looks great AND functional. Where did you get the gauge/switch combo? And its placement is practical and handy!!

Truck air tanks (as has been said in MANY threads on air tanks) make great on board air system tanks. Go to a truck wreckers and check out the MYRIAD of sizes and shapes. As chimp said a decent sized tank measn LESS compressor cycling, therefore lengthening the life of the MOST EXPENSIVE of your on board air system.

So will fitting an air tank reduce my air up time? It takes my CKMA12 something like 10 mins (at a guess) to air up all 4 tyres (35s) from 18 psi to 36psi, would be good to make it quicker if possible.

Patroler wrote:

tweak'e wrote:what do you use to keep the dust out of the air connectors?

You can get rubber dust covers in different sizes from most hydralic shops, similiar to this

http://www.hydraulic-equipment-manufact ... pling.html

I got one to fit the JP fitting on mine, it sits under the seat, only difference is mine is blue and the rubber cord attaches to the top instead of the side.

The rubber stoppers that you get on the end of grandad's walking stick,

cheers
had toyed with the idea of doing a tank setup and putting a fitting on the towbar to pump trailer tires up.
even tho i'm only a soft offroader the compressor is getting used more than i thought.

has anyone actually bothered to time the difference between tank and non-tank with electric air compressors?
i'm told theres stuff all in it. you have the advantage of of the pre compressed tank, but once thats down to tire pressure the pump is trying to pump both up at the same time.

with an endless air where you can supply air faster than a tire can take, a tank is a very good idea.

tweak'e wrote: has anyone actually bothered to time the difference between tank and non-tank with electric air compressors?

i'm told theres stuff all in it. you have the advantage of of the pre compressed tank, but once thats down to tire pressure the pump is trying to pump both up at the same time.

with an endless air where you can supply air faster than a tire can take, a tank is a very good idea.

In a previous life, I had a GQ patrol running 305/70/16s and a portable Bushranger Max air II to inflate the tyres with. I never timed it, however I would estimate that this would tate roughly 4-5 minutes a tyre to inflate from 20 to 38 pounds.

In the landcruiser, I am running two compressors with two air outlets. If I fill the 7 litre air tank to 150 psi and connect a hose to the outlet, to fill a tyre. If I then connect a hose to the second compressor and connect the other end to a tyre, then walk back to the first tyre it's at 38 pound, which would be less than one minute to fill the first tyre.

Once the tank is at the pressure of the tyre, yes you a right your tyres will fill at the flow rate of the compressor. At the end of the day, if I can inflate my tyres back to road pressure in 8 minutes what does it matter if I am in a convoy of 4wds anyway?

It really depends on what you want to use your compressed air setup for. If I had my time again, I would get a bigger tank.

The air tank made my dick grow by a couple of inches, and it's a cool toy to have and my apendage grows every time I use it. I'm yet to run any air tools off it, other than an air gun which is great to get dust off after a days wheeling. I will update when I do get around to testing some air tools.

The other half just thinks it's yet another unecessary toy.

Am I happy with it............. Hell yes.

T_Diesel wrote:The other half just thinks it's yet another unecessary toy.

Tell me about it, they never seem understand the importance of 4wd accessories, regardless if they're necessary or not!

tweak'e wrote:has anyone actually bothered to time the difference between tank and non-tank with electric air compressors?
i'm told theres stuff all in it. you have the advantage of of the pre compressed tank, but once thats down to tire pressure the pump is trying to pump both up at the same time.

Filling tyres, it is probably somewhat borderline (because you are pulling so much air out as fast as you can) but even there you gain a little. Where it definitely makes a difference is any use of compressed air that is regulated at a lower pressure than the tank pressure, or where you are using air intermittently but for a reasonable period. So with any air tools or with lockers there is really no question that having a tank is optimal. The bottom line is that you are definitely going to run your compressor less and it is going to get hot less, the air you are using will be cooler rather than hotter, you can use the tank to extract moisture from the system more easily. You can also hook a gauge to the tank which allows you to monitor the system in a way that you really can't do properly without a tank.

OEM setups for air suspension etc run tanks because it creates a more elegant system. The compressor has a simple job - maintain X psi in the tank. Then everything you do with the compressed air is based on a known tank pressure and venting to atmosphere.

chimpboy wrote:The bottom line is that you are definitely going to run your compressor less and it is going to get hot less, the air you are using will be cooler rather than hotter, ........

i don't think thats the case. your still pumping the same amount of air with or without the tank. if anything the tank will require more use of the pump due to pumping tank up to higher pressure (than the tires) and have more heat due to the higher pressures.

the only thing is the pump will run constantly (ie long on time, long off time) not so stop/start as you change tires or use locker. its a lot easier on the motor not having to start so often.

bigbluemav wrote: LOVE the install! Looks great AND functional. Where did you get the gauge/switch combo? And its placement is practical and handy!!

Mine is a Viair kit. You can order all of the parts from Bushranger.

http://www.bushranger.com.au