My Homemade Air Compressor (fridge compressor)

[jmadden91]

I have been collecting bits for this for a while now. But its basically finished. The tanks rated to 220psi, I wont be running it that high. The fridge compressor is slow to fill, but manageable (approx 10 mins to 100psi, maybe a bit longer). I have another one in the shed I may hook up if it annoys me but for the time being its fine.

I still want to add a 3 way ball valve just after the compressor so I can both bleed the tank and hook it directly to a high pressure gun to fill.







I have an electronic pressure switch I just need to work out how to wire up, but im not sure if I will bother with it. I think I will simply add a 150psi or so pop off valve, so once it reaches the desired pressure it simply starts to vent, rather than turn off.

[Crna Legija]

Very nice looks good.I was going to put my one to a 400psi tank. Do you think 2 inch steel can take 500psi ?

where did you get the electronic pressure switch? it would be nice to put it on.

[jmadden91]

Probably mate but dont hold me to it. Google it. And my neighbor just brought the switch home for me, along with the tank

But yeh a high pressure tank would be the best, however finding a high pressure cut off switch and stuff is hard to find.

[psycix]

That looks sweet! Nice build.

Two questions:
Doesn't the compressor get very hot after a while?
Is that yellow hose pressure rated?

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

I have an electronic pressure switch I just need to work out how to wire up, but im not sure if I will bother with it. I think I will simply add a 150psi or so pop off valve, so once it reaches the desired pressure it simply starts to vent, rather than turn off.

You can use the vented air to operate a piston that operates a toggle switch

[jmadden91]

You can use the vented air to operate a piston that operates a toggle switch

Now that sounds like an idea, do you have an example mate?

@psycix, yeh mate it has a working pressure of 300psi and a burst pressure of 1200psi, I have another 15m of it in the shed lol it was on special. And yeh it does get pretty hot, I have a few 240v fans from above a stove (they look identical to computer fans) that I am considering mounting on top of the compressor for cooling

[jackssmirkingrevenge]

Now that sounds like an idea, do you have an example mate?

Well I had modded this one to vent through a tube, with a bit of imagination and epoxy it shouldn't be too hard to accomplish. Though probably finding out how to wire the pressure switch is a simpler endeavor

[jmadden91]

Yeh i already basically know how, plus my 3 of my neighbors are electricians. Its more whether it is worth it or not to have it cutting in and out, due to the low flow. Plus the need to bleed the line for it to actually start at anything over about 60psi

[POLAND_SPUD]

wow it looks pretty neat....

does you pressure switch have an inbuilt vent valve ??


you don't need a 3 way valve... you just have to connect everything in a different way..

pic added

[jmadden91]

Thanks mate, yeh thats the other setup I have been toying with. It will just come down to whether a 3 way valve is cheaper than 2 ball valves or not. Thanks for the comment mate

oh and Im not sure if it has a vent valve, is there anyway I can tell?

[POLAND_SPUD]

IDK really....these things probably have a small solenoid valve... but the easiest way is to wire it and connect to pressure

there are pressure switches rated to higher pressures but they are quite rare and expensive so you might a well try to mod this to switch on/off at higher pressures

whether a 3 way valve is cheaper than 2 ball valves or not

yeah I suppose they are cheaper and easeir to get