Portable Air Compressor

[hogdriver]

Originally Posted by Droski

Why not use the air tanks for the air brakes? On our Excursion it was already plumbed for air with a quick connect in one of the bays. Bought a hose long enough to reach the towed, have not had any problems with this system so far.

The coach air system takes forever to air up the front tires to 130 psi. What people are doing is buying air boosters and hooking them up to portable compressors that shutoff around 100 psi. Then they have up to 200 psi....probably more like 150 on tap to air up quickly.

[srh]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

There is a plastic regulator knob, gauges, rubber diaphragm, etc. I don't think I'd want it in a hot environment like an engine bay. You might consider putting it in a basement compartment and running a hose into the bay beneath the driver's seat to plug it in there.

Thanks, Mark! Very good point. What do you do, use a quick connect to tap into coach's air? I will look and see which may would be the easiest to mounted in. To drill a hole from one bay to the next in the CCs is a challenge.

[Flanz]

Originally Posted by hogdriver

Maybe Cruzer already mentioned this but I don't think I'd leave that booster permanently connected to the coach air system on the connectors Entegra provided as it is just a blown hose away from losing all your air. Connected to a compressor would be okay.

By the time you pay for one of those boosters you can just about buy a Powertank and easily fill your tires....silently. I'll also bet you go several years before needing to refill a Powertank if occasionally topping off RV tires.

POWERTANK - CO2 Air Systems

Good point Dave and I agree. It's a "nice have", but I'm looking into other options that are more reasonably priced. The real reason why I was looking into Mark's setup was because of how clean it is as well as it didn't take up a lot of room.

-paul

[bruceisla]

I carry a compact Fini ... packs flat.

http://www.menards.com/main/p-144444...tm?cm_vc=PDPZ1

available at some Lowes and HD.

[Cruzer]

Originally Posted by srh

Thanks, Mark! Very good point. What do you do, use a quick connect to tap into coach's air? I will look and see which may would be the easiest to mounted in. To drill a hole from one bay to the next in the CCs is a challenge.

I use standard Milton M series quick connectors, which fit all three jacks on the coach plus all of my hoses and air tools. I mounted the booster up out of the way in the basement and plugged it into a nearby coupler. You can unplug it if you want, although the safety systems within the air brakes won't let you lose all of your air, or you can leave it connected and put an in-line shutoff valve to the coupler and just turn it on when you want it. The nice thing is that I set the regulator at 150 PSI and as long as I have at least 75 PSI in the coach air system I will be able to maintain 150 PSI at the booster's output. Plus all air comes though the air dryer so it is clean and moisture free.

[srh]

Originally Posted by Cruzer

I use standard Milton M series quick connectors, which fit all three jacks on the coach plus all of my hoses and air tools. I mounted the booster up out of the way in the basement and plugged it into a nearby coupler. You can unplug it if you want, although the safety systems within the air brakes won't let you lose all of your air, or you can leave it connected and put an in-line shutoff valve to the coupler and just turn it on when you want it. The nice thing is that I set the regulator at 150 PSI and as long as I have at least 75 PSI in the coach air system I will be able to maintain 150 PSI at the booster's output. Plus all air comes though the air dryer so it is clean and moisture free.

Mike: Thanks for the great explanation! The way you have it set up is really nice and convenient.
I think I have found a seemingly easy place in the last bay on the passenger side. It is only a few feet from where my quick connect in the engine bay is. It will be an easy mount. All I have to do is keep my eye when something comes up on eBay.

[Dieselgem]

Originally Posted by srh

Thank you very much! It must need power, right?

No there is no power required. The cord in the photo is for my little refrigerator.
The first photo shows the unit hooked into the coaches air. The short section of hose has a swivel. When I am not using it, I only disconnect the quick disconnect going into the coach inlet



The second photo is a shot looking in the compartment door. It just screws right to the wall.






I was going to leave it connected all the time. A friend recommended against it. My coach air drops below the 65 safety to 0 in a few days on the front air. Spartan has been trying to fix it for several months. I am actually headed to Entegra to have the Spartan techs there look at it again in about a week. Since this safety failure of their parts, I chose not to take any additional chances by leaving another line taped into the system. And now that I know that the safety's do not always work as intended, I will leave it this way. The booster works great and I have not needed a compressor along with it for any reason. I also use it to fill the toad and my motorcycles. It is great if you need to dust something as well. Hope this helps.

[srh]

Dieselgem: Very nicely done! Thanks for the photos. Between your posts and Cruzer's, you sure have helped a lot of readers, this one included. I can't tell what model is your booster, do you know off the top of your head?
You have made a good decision not to leave it connected. I'll do the same, when I get mine installed. I hope Spartan can help find your air leak.
I'm thinking about putting a "T" right before my quick connect and possibly a shut off valve near there as well.
Thanks, again, for your posts!

[Dieselgem]

Originally Posted by srh

Dieselgem: Very nicely done! Thanks for the photos. Between your posts and Cruzer's, you sure have helped a lot of readers, this one included. I can't tell what model is your booster, do you know off the top of your head?
You have made a good decision not to leave it connected. I'll do the same, when I get mine installed. I hope Spartan can help find your air leak.
I'm thinking about putting a "T" right before my quick connect and possibly a shut off valve near there as well.
Thanks, again, for your posts!

It was an SMC VBA2100

[srh]

Originally Posted by Dieselgem

It was an SMC VBA2100

Thank you very much!