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Apr 12, 2012 11:37:08 GMT
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Hello ;D Time for a slightly OT question about air compressors. I'm trying to help out a local Mountain Bike centre get a start gate working. The gate uses a fairly large air ram and they have the electronics (runs off 12v battery) but they need a suitable air compressor. The gate is at the top of a field, so there is no mains electricity and the unit needs to be movable to it can be packed away at night. Is it better to have a petrol powered compressor or a normal electric one plus a separate generator. Budget is important and so is sound. I think a small mini shed will be built to try and make it as quiet as possible. I think the pressure requirements are pretty low at about 60 psi and volume wise I don't think air usage would be hugely high. This is the best thing I have come up with so far: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIR-COMPRESSOR-50-LTR-NEW-PETROL-ENGINE-5-5-HP-REDUCED-NEW-STOCK-ARRIVING-/170822454581?pt=UK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors&hash=item27c5cfcd35#ht_2112wt_1110Any other suggestions or recommendations? Cheers for the help Chris |
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Apr 12, 2012 13:37:17 GMT
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If it doesn't use a lot of air, what about just buying a large tank (or use a big old calor gas bottle that's been flushed with water) and fill it right up to 150psi in a morning. Regulate this down to the 60psi you need and I'd have thought you'd get plenty of use out of it.
What sort of volume is the ram?
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Last Edit: Apr 12, 2012 13:38:43 GMT by cobblers
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Apr 12, 2012 15:55:54 GMT
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Apr 12, 2012 16:49:31 GMT
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Ok, might have mislead you a bit. It does use a fairly large amount of air, but I don't think the CFM requirements would be that high because between each gate drop you have at least 30 seconds. Its not like spray painting where you need a good constant high air pressure. The ram air chamber is probably a foot long by 4 inch diameter so its a fairly large air ram.
The main thing I'm worried about the thing I posted is it seams exceptionally cheap compared to all the other petrol compressors such as Clarks ones at machine mart.
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Apr 12, 2012 16:54:42 GMT
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Apr 12, 2012 17:08:56 GMT
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OK.
Petrol better idea than an electric plus generator.
What about building your own ?
Get a cheap used 3 phase set up (tank, compressor and motor) plus a lawnmower engine. Weigh in 3 phase motor and replace it with the lawnmower engine. Change electric pressure switch for a simple pressure blow off valve.
Paul H
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Apr 12, 2012 19:14:09 GMT
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That's the main that that concerns me about the £250 ebay job is that the petrol motor is going to be a piece of curse word and wear out within 2 weeks.
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Apr 12, 2012 22:26:19 GMT
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I'm sure there must be alternatives to the air powered ram. What about a huge spring and simple solenoid latch to release or a 12v ram ?
Paul H
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If you change a pressure switch for a BOV, the comp will keep pumping won't it? The BOV is purely mechanical. Fairly sure one of mine did that when I linked three up and the pressures weren't in harmony enough.
Also not sure if it was suggested to make a tank from scratch, but just in case, it's not something to be undertaken lightly. Comp tanks are bombs. If there was ever an insurance/liability question an uncertified untested DIY tank with flat ends prob wouldn't go down well. But dirt cheap dead comps crop up fairly often. Or gas cyls could be adapted as well, some people use them as aux air tanks.
Petrol seems a good way. Self-contained and loads of pump power. That linked one must be a cheap copy though, Honda and Briggs & Stratton motors are more than that on their own.
Whichever way, contacting ram makers has to be worthwhile to get reqs and maybe suggestions for comps that other people have used with them.
Presumably this thing's been done before, so there must be experience to tap; praps bike forums or venues maybe?
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'66 Amazon <-> '94 LS400 <-> '86 Suzuki 1135 EFE
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Apr 13, 2012 10:12:44 GMT
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Yeah defiantly not going to make my own tank! Purely petrol seams the way forward for compactness and ease of use but all the branded units seam very expensive. Looking around the interweb all the other 50 litre 5.5 hp compressors seam to be £900 plus!!
Looking on ebay honda-copy 5.5hp engines seam to be around £100 so converting an electric compressor seams like a good option although perhaps not the best idea for a public place.
An electric genny (2KW - £250) plus a 50 litre 8 cfm compressor for £300 seams like a safe bet and gives the advantage of having a generator on site which could be useful sometimes.
I've asked a couple of people who run gates about compressor requires so I'll post up when I hear back.
Cheers, Chris
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