Help me pimp my compressor

[boyntonstu]

A fan blowing air over your chest will not cool your liver

Why not? I'm no expert but if you lower your core temperature, which a fan blowing on your chest probably could do, then I don't see why the temperature in your live could also not decrease.

Here's an experiment.

Insert a rectal thermometer.

Turn on a fan to blow over your naked body.

After 30 minutes check the thermometer. 98.6?

You guys are forgetting that the body is generating about 500 BTU's per hour.

The compressor is generating heat internally as well. Lots of heat.

Blow a fan on your car engine when it is running and it won't notice it in any measurable way,

[the unit]

The temperature would be the same because your body maintains that temperature or you would not be able to function properly. This is a poor example to compare the cooling of a compressor to the cooling of a human body as humans regulate their temperature, whereas a compressor does not.

A fan blowing on the compressor will dissipate heat more rapidly than not having one, especially in a closed box such as the one the poster intends to use.

[rp181]

Agreed. Fans are pointless. Not only do you not have fins, but they put on a nice smooth gloss finish for you. In addition to that, these are potted, epoxy does not conduct heat well at all.

Why do you think electronics that need cooling have copper fronts/backs/cases?

If you really want to cool it, the best best is to cool the air entering the compressor.

And an analogy. Blow a fan over your hand, it gets cool. Now put a glove on, even if a thin latex one.

[boyntonstu]

If you really want to cool it, the best best is to cool the air entering the compressor.

Exactly what the cool refrigerant does to the input supply to a compressor.

Feel the input tube feeding your auto a/c compressor.

Now feel the output. Ouch!

[MrCrowley]

you really want to cool it, the best best is to cool the air entering the compressor.

Exactly what the cool refrigerant does to the input supply to a compressor.

Feel the input tube feeding your auto a/c compressor.

Now feel the output. Ouch!

Wouldn't using a fan blow away the hot air surrounding the compressor and replace it with cool, fresh air for the input which means the input is sucking in cool air and not hot air?

[boyntonstu]

Wouldn't using a fan blow away the hot air surrounding the compressor and replace it with cool, fresh air for the input which means the input is sucking in cool air and not hot air?

Not significantly.

The input tube 2" away from the boy of the compressor is sucking in ambient temperature air.

Hold your hand 2" away from any compressor.

Want it slightly cooler? Run the input to outside the box.

(not worth the trouble)

All else fails, use a supernatural cooling fairy.

Edited by jrrdw.

[rp181]

The inlet connection is copper, therefore it heats up almost evenly from the internal heat. The temperature difference between the air and the warm copper tube is negligible. You need to actually cool it. I don't know, use another compressor and wrap the input of this compressor with it
You can still keep with the trash/cheap theme

[boyntonstu]

The inlet connection is copper, therefore it heats up almost evenly from the internal heat. The temperature difference between the air and the warm copper tube is negligible. You need to actually cool it. I don't know, use another compressor and wrap the input of this compressor with it
You can still keep with the trash/cheap theme

It is copper and it cools from the input air.

(You could add PVC)

Like breathing through a copper tube.

Is it 98.6 or room temp?

[spudamine]

Agreed. Fans are pointless. Not only do you not have fins, but they put on a nice smooth gloss finish for you. In addition to that, these are potted, epoxy does not conduct heat well at all.

Where do you get epoxy from??? they're full of oil, one of the functions of this is to transmit the heat fron the motor to the shell.

Cooling the input air? negligable effect the volume is far too small.

I don't know why we're still having this argument, I've already pointed you towards the page in the nanual (16) that details the three methods these compressors are ccooled:
1. small compressors, free convection cooling in air is sufficient, this is how the compressors are designed to work.
2. slightly larger models, for better air cooling a fan is installed next to the compressor. Stu, if it will convince you I'll dig up the picture of this in one of the other manuals I've seen.
3. for the lagest models a set of tubes in incuded to circulate and cool the oil

So, do you believe the manufacturers don't know what they're talking about or have you just not bothered to read the evidence I've pointed you towards?

Poland spud has already stated his fan helps, when i've built mine I'll even measure some temperatures and post the results.

[Crna Legija]

adding a fan does help, my fridgey used to get hot after 3 fills (about 6min)
i put one 120mm pc fan now i run it for 25min before it worms up and its not in a box.

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

The are other hobbyists online who seem to think a fan is a good idea

[boyntonstu]

The are other hobbyists online who seem to think a fan is a good idea

Do you have experience with a overheating compressor? Fan?

Let's take a poll.

Fan or no fan?

My compressor can run continuously with no fan.

Edited by jrrdw.

[Crna Legija]

my can run continuously with no fan aswll but it get hot so we put fans there to cool it down

its just a precaution because we cbf finding/buying new compressors
expetaly if your fill a big tank

i turned it off to stop if from overheating added a fan and it helped so i left it there

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Here's an experiment.

Insert a rectal thermometer.

Turn on a fan to blow over your naked body.

After 30 minutes check the thermometer. 98.6?

You guys are forgetting that the body is generating about 500 BTU's per hour.

I don't think this analogy holds, human good is hardly as good a conductor of heat as the sheet metal making up the compressor body, and in any case there is an incredibly complex mechanism at work to keep the body temperature constant regardless of external factors.

If the compressor body is getting hot, it is because heat is being transferred from the internals. It follows that cooling down the body is accelerating the heat loss from the internals, keeping everything cooler and that can only be a good thing, if only in terms of wear and tear. The casing might not have fins, but it is still a sizeable area of metal that can radiate heat effectively, especially given the oil inside.

If you're using the compressor to fill your launcher directly, I would say that beyond the (literally ) cool factor it isn't worth the bother, but for filling larger chambers it would be worth fitting a fan, if nothing else to promote the longevity of the compressor.

[boyntonstu]

my can run continuously with no fan aswll but it get hot so we put fans there to cool it down

its just a precaution because we cbf finding/buying new compressors
expetaly if your fill a big tank

i turned it off to stop if from overheating added a fan and it helped so i left it there

Many machines, motors, transformers, compressors, etc. run too hot to touch.

That is what they were designed to do.

Your tiny fan is a 'feel good' device with no redeeming qualities.

If you think that I am just blowing hot air, you are entitled to your opinion.

Compressors that are designed to be fan cooled, must be fan cooled.

Those not designed for fan cooling do not require a fan.

Did you ever see a fan installed in a refrigerator or a/c unit directed at the body of the compressor?