On Board Air

[doris]

Hi All

My mind has turned to having on board air in my Disco, running from the air-con compressor to a tank and feeding outlets at front and/or rear.

I am thinking I can use it for tyres, dinghies, lockers in the future, small air tools etc.

Anybody on here done this?  Any hints tips or advice?

Damon

[petergalileo]

I have seen 2 versions, one uses an air-conditioning compressor to fill 2 underslung 40 litre tanks fitted to a commercial discovery, saw it a couple of years ago, very impressive, serious bit of kit, very complicated pipework and wiring too.

The other version was basically the compressor and tank from a Range Rover LSE air suspension kit.  All the wiring is present along with the sensors (to regulate air pressure) are fitted already.  

The first version is good as the air-con compressor can compress up to 180 to 200 PSi (I think) which is 50PSI higher than a garage compressor (unless mines on the blink !) so you could have nearly any size tank you can fit in, Compressor mountings are easy to find so are compressors.

The second one would be better for you I think, its easier to fit and wire, theres a 10 litre receiver tank which is ideal for tyres, dinghys etc plus its designed to fit on one of the chassis rails under the car so will be out of site too, only drawback is LSE air compressors are pricey and the system is difficult to get hold of as loads of discovery owners have the same idea.

[beatmasterdave]

yeah its a great idea! someone at slab common had that in his defender. i think he had rangie bits in there and he got bits on eblag and a scrap yard and cost him £40! he said it was easy, but i gues you gota know the knowhow. i'll have to look into this idea one day. goodluck and tell us how it turns out!!! :P  :P

[Range Rover Blues]

Or buy the ARB pump for your lockers and add the tyre-up kit.

[Budgie]

.......or, if you want to go for a tank as well then Matt Savage sells on board kits with tank, compressor, pressure cut-out and wiring.  

[hobbit]

Been looking at this route myself, I may well be coming into possession of the rangy compressor kit soon, so will have a good look at it when I get it, also I may scavange an air tank off a truck as the reservoir

[doris]

Well I have the compressor fitted for the air con already, and its not all that good at air con so I thought I might use it for air instead.

I have twin underslung LPG tanks though, so have to find a spot for the air tank, but would think I only need 10-20litres to even out the compressor.

If I read various american sites correctly, all I will need is a tank (optional but desirable), pressure switch, incoming airfilter and oiler, regulator (optional), connectors, and piping?

D

[wizard]

That about covers it.
this site has a good diagram http://www.onboardair.com of a onboard air system.
I have a few presure switches and safety valves in my e bay shophttp://stores.ebay.co.uk/Wizardbilt

wizard :twisted:

[doris]

Thanks Wizard

Has anybody tried those airbag jacks off road..............  strikes me they could be a really easy way to quickly raise a corner to fill in under wheels etc (or change a wheel)........  more stable than farm jacks etc, and will not sink in??

Damon

[winchman]

onboardair is the best source of info.
I have a York compressor all set up with correct air connections if any one wants it cheap?
Its got a bracket and 12 volt clutch.
Air / Exhaust jacks.
I have one its fab, did have a massive one but sold it when I gave up off roading, but you know the story bought another but only a small one.

[paul and sam]

ref air jacks  does anyone think that i can use a two ton air jack to lift a disco to change a tyre or to get it out of a hole ? many thanks

[doris]

I seem to remember that any lifting kit..........  ropes chains jacks etc had to have a x5 design safety margin?

D

[winchman]

Dont forget you are only lifting a bit of the car not all 2 tonnes of it.
I think they are fab, wish I had kept my big one. :(

[AbyssDJ]

i was reading a site about onboard air a couple of days ago.. god knows what it was now - detailed how some guy made a setup for his 4x4... was quite good

[lrmike]

I think you mentioned in your parts list, but remember the AC compressor on the Disco does not have an oil resevoir of it's own but relies on oil in the refigerant it is circulating.  Think of it like a 2 stroke engine.  If you don't have a closed system (like the standard air con) then you definitely need a way to oil the compressor or it won't last long.

I fitted a setup to mine made up from bits of a RRC - tank and all.  The tank is great for this as the CFM of the compressor is a little low by itself.  I can even run an air gun for brief periods!

Good luck!