electric air compressors

[seafish]

For a a variety of reasons, I am opting to install an electric vs. engine driven compressor on my truck to power the exhaust brake and other air accessories which I will be installing. I am looking for user experiences, either positive or negative, with either the extremeoutback magnum or the Viair 550C series compressors. Also open to other suggestions, but these are the ones I am leaning towards due to their 100% duty cycles at 100 psi. Thanks for the input.

 

[KLockliear]

Best thing out there... Air-Zenith AZ-OB1. 100% duty cycle @ 200psi. It's about the same price online as a 550c, which is only 100% duty cycle at 100psi.

 

[kbond]

Thanks Keith. Great insight.

 

[BarryG]

I dont have the magnum as it was not around when I bought my extremeaire unit. My unit has served me well for the last few years. Not one bit of trouble.

 

[wcjp]

I dont have the magnum as it was not around when I bought my extremeaire unit. My unit has served me well for the last few years. Not one bit of trouble.

I was recently looking at the ExtremeAir. Have you added an external tank? Do you run airtools? Install would be on my Jeep.

 

[seafish]

Thanks guys. The air-zenith ob does indeed look a HD compressor--it is rated even higher then the extremeair and is less expensive. I did notice that they did have a recall due to defective bearings once, but that sort of thing can happen to any manufacturer-- and they did do the recall and fix the prob. I also like the rebuild kit availability. Looks like now I will have to decide between the air-zenith or the extremeair magnum. Anybody have info on a 2. 5 gallon SS tank?? So far I have found a 5 gallon, but would like to have a smaller one for mounting flexibility??

 

[BarryG]

wc:

I do have a tank. It is only a 2. 5 gallon tank. I am going to add another one. I have the room underneath for another one. I have not run air tools but I think you would be hard pressed to run tools without a bigger tank. Of course it would depend on what you were trying to run/do. I have a compressor at the house so I use that anytime I need air tools when working on the truck. I should do a test and see what it will do. I can say that with the 2. 5 gal tank it takes the compressor approx one second to add 1psi to the tank.

 

[wcjp]

Here's a 2. 5gal tank by Warn.





Warn PowerPlant Auxiliary Air Tank [73938] at Underbid.com

 

[bighammer]

I got my Air Zenith from the Guage Online store. They have a chrome 3 gallon... .

3 Gallon, 2 Port Air Tank Chrome - 10106

I fit their 5 gallon long tank under the bed.

 

[RAlberg]

bighammer, where did you mount your tank and compressor????Any tips??

 

[KLockliear]

I have this 5 gal polished stainless tank. Website says $115, but when I ordered, they told me it was listed wrong and is really $85. I mounted it under the bed, in front of the pass. side rear tire (long bed) and it fits great.

HornBlasters 5 gallon polished stainless tank

 

[bighammer]

I mounted the tank in front of the right rear tire between the bedside and the frame. The air compressor is mounted upside down on the underside of the bed. (front right corner near the tank) The train horns are mounted above the driveshaft and exhaust to the underside of the bed also. None of it's pretty, but nobody sees it.

 

[seafish]

KLockliear, that looks like a really nice tank and a great price; Thanks for the link.

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

I have this 5 gal polished stainless tank. Website says $115, but when I ordered, they told me it was listed wrong and is really $85. I mounted it under the bed, in front of the pass. side rear tire (long bed) and it fits great.



HornBlasters 5 gallon polished stainless tank

I hate to be the one that says this but I have that same tank also and it is not true stainless steel. Try sticking a magnet to it. I think they mean "stainless steel" as in it doesnt stain but it does rust.

 

[seafish]

Hey Turbos4life... thanks for the heads up--I was about to order one of these tanks tomorrow. Are your saying that a magnet sticks to the tank, and also that yours is rusting?? Of course, that would mean they are not made from stainless steel, but some other steel. Could you please tell us how long you have had yours and where it is rusting. I am looking for a real stainless steel tank so that I don't have to be overly concerned with the tank rusting from within, or on the outside. I am also wondering if you called and ask them about it after you noticed the rust and magnetism. I do appreciate any more info you could chip in!!!

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

It is a great tank and at a good price I can say that but it is misleading for them to say it stainless steel. It is starting to rust right at the fittings on mine. Its not heavy rust something steel wool will remove. Again its a great tank and it even has TIG welded seams and looks great to boot. Just dont expect it not to rust. Just giving a heads up.

 

[KLockliear]

Actually, there are lots of different grades of stainless. Some resist rusting better than others, some are somewhat magnetic... yet all are still "stainless steel. " Here's a comparison and info on stainless alloys:

Stainless steel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"ferritic stainless steels such as 409 or 3Cr12/5Cr12 and martensitic stainless steels such as 420, are strongly attracted to a magnet even in the annealed state. The duplex and super-duplex stainless steels will also be strongly attracted because they contain about 50% ferrite in their microstructure. "

 

[seafish]

KLockliear, Thanks for the additional info. How long have you had your tank and what amount of rust, if any, are you seeing on it?

 

[TURBOs4LIFE]

I have had it about a month, again so far the rust isnt bad. KLockliear, thanks for the stainless steel info! If it is stainless its really poor quality stainless. They have a 5 gallon aluminum tank alittle more than the stainless tank. I would have bought if I had known first of the possiblity of rust.

 

[KLockliear]

CFish, I had mine in for a few months before removing it. I planned to sell the truck, so I pulled all the hardware off that would go on the next one. Still haven't sold it yet, but it's still my plan.

Mine shows NO rust anywhere, but I live in NV, with 8% average humidity and almost no rain.

T4L, it's not poor stainless, it's just a cheaper stainless alloy. They could have used T-304 which resists rust better, but the tank would be 3x the cost.