Compressor Opinion

[rwo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close rwo]

..." you get waht you paid for" ...

Not always, some time you get a whole lot less!

[baggs71 Inactive member. Find all posts View Profile Close baggs71]

Hahahah
Giddyup

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

Ok, I've narrowed my choices down to the ARB portable kit without the air tank and the Piranha Red with hose (no box).

Both have similar flow rates, the ARB comes complete and ready to use. The Piranah will require a switch and relay and something to mount it to to get it going.

I've read good reviews on both. Piranha seem to be reputed as a more industrial type compressor.

Any last minutes suggestions before I make my purchase?

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

Mate I have the ARB portable with air tank and it is great. A little on the heavy side but works great. Every thing for pumping up tires in one box cant beat it.

SOL.

[Craigo72 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Craigo72]

Yep, stoked with my ARB, mounted it on the drivers side in front of the master cylinder so I've still got plenty of room on the passengers side to fit a second fuel filter.

[Chewbacca Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chewbacca]

I have the Projecta Typhoon, I think it was about $160 when I bought it 3 years ago. Still going strong, gets a bit warm by the time the 4th tyre is inflated. However overall I can't complain for the price.

Cheers Matt

[gxl_d4d Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxl_d4d]

Ended up getting the ARB. Had a better duty cycle, 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off. The big red was 8 minutes on 20 or so off (more suited for a setup with a pressure tank).

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I finished fitting the ARB CKMTA12 to the spare battery location this morning and did some testing. It will pump up a 275/65 17 from 18 pissies to 40 pissies in 1 minute 14 seconds. Average for two tyres.

Now that is simply for reference, whether it is 1 minute or 2 or 3 is completely immaterial. Bit of a dick pull really. When you are travelling with others the time taken to air up is usually based on the slowest plus alpha. Where alpha is usually a quenching beverage with a gentle chat thrown in.

The first decent compressor I bought was a Thomas Bluetongue series I and it took about 4 or 5 minutes to pump an 11R15 through the same range of pressures.

The twin head ARB compressor is quite loud, surprisingly so, certainly much louder than the Bluetongue IV it replaced which now lives as a portable unit in the other 4wd. The ARB compressor IS twice as fast though.

The main thing is that whatever you buy needs to be reliable and work when you need it to.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Yes I do, I hide it from prying eyes.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Installed. Jasen I was keeping this a secret so don't tell anyone ok?



This is the fridge and the battery box is the carpeted steel box in front of the fridge



Here is the box from the front. Inside there are:

Ritar 120 Ah AGM battery
Redarc BCDC1225 with solar and main battery in feeds
Britax changeover relay
Fuse box to 3 outlets at the rear of the box

And this is mostly what the compressor looks like



Mostly because the rusty plate has been whipped, cold galvanised and top coated. The compressor has an outlet fitted and the electrics are wired up including a small bracket for the on off switch.

Jasen why do I always get off topic answering your questions?

[Nifty07 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nifty07]

I picked up an ARB CKMA12 (under $300) and hose kit yesterday. I figgered if it has been working for my Brother who transferred it out of his 80 series into a 100 series followed by two Prado's then it will do me. Will install this weekend. Does anyone know where I can pick up the Prado 150 dash illumination and ignition for the switch???

Nifty

[JPH Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JPH]

Does anyone know where I can pick up the Prado 150 dash illumination and ignition for the switch???

Nifty

I used a pink wire off the mirror controller beside the start button, it's a fairly thin wire and the scotch lock did fail in the end so it's now soldered.

Try this thread

http://www.pradopoint.com/showthread...-and-locations

Cheers
JPH

[Ages Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ages]

nice install there Mj, I take it you are not worried about water ingress. you can unwind the two sintered filters and install a hose to get them up higher if you wanted. Or shux you could run it straight into the air filter box.
just a thought

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Ages the compressor is fine as you say it is only the air inlets. I had set this up in the 120 in the bullbar space and extended the breathers up into the engine bay. I still have all the hose, T piece and air filter but I am happy where it is now. Would have to move the compressor closer to the headlight and even then I don't think there would be enough room for the fittings and hose.

I fitted the ARB switch to a bracket above the compressor and while it is ok it can be easily knocked so I am thinking about putting a missile switch on there instead. I also wired the switch to accessories and if I do put a missile switch in I will wire it to constant 12V. No real problem as the compressor cuts out pretty quickly if there isn't a hose connected but I would rather have it less easily switched on. I toyed with the idea of two switches but I think the ugly old missile switch will do fine. I can get a waterproof toggle switch and then add the cover.

Here is a shot of the final install. Mounting plates whipped and painted cold gal and then black. Switch is mounted on a piece of aluminium angle screwed to the inner guard. Had to revise my "I'm not drilling the inner guards" approach but the weight of the switch is nothing.



The compressor is easy to get to, I don't get burnt hands like I did on the 120 when the Bluetongue IV was stuck down the back under the brake system and this thing is fast. I have to get a cover for the outlet so will need to dredge up the details Hutch posted for his 120.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

nice install there Mj, I take it you are not worried about water ingress. you can unwind the two sintered filters and install a hose to get them up higher if you wanted. Or shux you could run it straight into the air filter box.
just a thought

I have my ARB mounted in the same spot in the 120, just in front of the air box, Having been to the Cape with this as well as too many other river crossing to count it has nnot been an issue at all. We had numerous crossings up the cape with water over the bonnet.

Cheers Andrew