Shaun
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Posts: 38
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Post by Shaun on Feb 11, 2004 19:39:49 GMT -5
Hi all
Just seen those air tanks for sale at ACE Hardware for 150 aed including a regulator and a short section of air line.Has any body bought one? was it any good? any problems refilling from a garage forecourt air line?Is it a better alternative to a compressor?
Thanks
Shaun
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Post by Fouad Berjaoui on Feb 16, 2004 23:37:31 GMT -5
Shaun,
I haven't seen those at ACE yet, but if my knowledge is correct (and I am sure it is) the air tanks is an addon to a compressor.
i.e. most people use a compressor plugged directly to the tyre. with an air tank, you have to FIX the compressor somewhere in your car and connect it to the air tank, which uses a hoses to fill the tyre.
We have a member who has one such system installed, basically the regulator switches the compressor on and off keeping the air tank filled at all times. when the pressure in the air tank goes below 90 PSI the compressor kicks in and fills it to 120 PSI when the regulator switches the compressor off.
the difference is, having the tank is like filling from the petrol station, without the air tank it takes you a while, mainly 2 minutes per tyre if you have a good compressor.
My personal preference is NOT to have the air tank, with today's compressors 2 minutes per tyre is not that bad. in addition, having the compressor freely loose in the car is convenient if you ever switch vehicles. As an example I somtimes take my car offroad or my wife's car, so I take my compressor along with me whichever car I am taking. if I install an air tank, I would have to fix the compressor with screws, hence caanot use it on another vehicle unless I buy another compressor.
Fouad
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Shaun
New Board Participant
Posts: 38
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Post by Shaun on Feb 17, 2004 3:07:50 GMT -5
The tanks at ACE have instructions on them for filing from a standard garage airline..I think.Plus a note about how many tires they think they can fill from one full (read max pressure)tank.
The problem is where to put it in the car as it is not small.... perhaps I'll stick with a compressor for now.
Shaun
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Saluki
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Veteran Club Member
Posts: 27
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Post by Saluki on Nov 1, 2004 8:09:12 GMT -5
We use one of them in the rally car - which is initially charged by the garage airline and then topped up with our compressor. Buy one - they're good value for money!
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Post by difflock on Nov 1, 2004 9:47:50 GMT -5
I do not know about the ACE air tanks but I have to point out that this is a serious matter. Do not play with air tanks. It is a bomb and I mean it. If I had to use one, I would only go for two options:
1- A real air tank from an air brake system of a truck (anything between 30 and 150 liters at 150 PSI max
2- A scuba diving bottle. I do not remeber the calculation I had run on those but I remeber it could inflate about 20 tires before recharging...
Both system are safe and certified
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diverae
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Posts: 27
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Post by diverae on Nov 1, 2004 10:35:36 GMT -5
I use a scuba or a breathing apparatus (depending on space in the car). A 10 liter scuba cylinder gives me enough air to fill +- 5 cars, so about 20 tyres. Not too bad. Problem is you need access to a compressor, which not all people have (by compressor i mean one able to fill to 207 bar or 3000 psi). The smaller BA cylinder gives 3 - 4 cars worth. Another problem is you need a BA reducer to lower the pressure from 200 to 10 bar to be more manageable.
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