BIG COMPRESSOR PERFORMANCE BOOST | No tripped breakers!

Compressor improvements using typical industrial controls. No manufacturers have invented a better way to control small compressors. It's a pain in the ass waiting to use a tool, only to have the pressure switch shut the compressor off when it finally builds pressure.

[@kaylahallaire7337]

I like how this guy works but I'm really here for his verbal Masterpiece of the English language

[@TheCrash8212]

A furggin wordsmith he is

[@Dave5843-d9m]

No angry pixies today. :-(

[@homosapiensqp3225]

Is that AmE of BrE

[@PurityVendetta]

All Save vocabulary is automatically adopted as the official technical lingo of my workshop... you know it makes perfect sense 😆🤣😆

[@jwmorrell1]

@@PurityVendetta Well it's usually the babbling of an apprentice with a hangover on Monday morning who's been over in the welding shop huffing oxygen, trying to sharpen up. (It works in my experience) 🤪

[@washeduphasbeen]

If this takes off, I'm blaming you for the loss of my compressor-mandated smoke breaks.

[@2ndamenddude]

And if it does take off, they will want to put another guy on the same compressor,, which means more adjustments to increase efficiency and productivity.... It just never ends..

[@beverlyshirley9751]

Jayce Brooks O

[@cougill_trim_and_cabinets]

no name bah! Not a chance. Pneumatic is cheap, powerful, and low maintenance.

[@michaelfletcher1694]

@@cougill_trim_and_cabinets you not compared Milwaukee electric tools with air tools then have you.... Pluss a contained unit vs dragging an airline up a ladder...

[@cougill_trim_and_cabinets]

Michael Fletcher ok, I’ll give you that. They’re great for punch and overhead usage. I just doubt they’ll ever replace pneumatic-at least not anytime soon.

[@thieltech1]

i actually built this same deal with a fleet farm air compressor . 80 gallon 17 cfm stock with 5hp 240volt 1phase . i swapped in a Hitachi 3hp vfd and 3 1/2 Hp 3phase Baldor motor with F insulation for high temp . it uses a 3 wire pressure switch for feed back . CFM jumped up to around 24cfm at 90psi 88HZ , i dont use a unloader , it set to 10 second accelaration time . with no issues . its set to ramp HZ up as pressure drops with the PID function and pressure switch . min hz is set to 45hz . works Great with my sand blast cabinet . and can sand blast none stop with 90psi for long as u like . its all in a inclosure with fans for coooling as well as a liquided cooled cylinder head i made out of Air conditioning exchanger and a block of 6061 aluminum its been slowly upgraded over the years

[@jackel440]

This sounds like a great setup you have come up with

[@OneDollarNoHoller]

My wife overheard the dialogue while I was watching this video and she said, "See, this is why I don't let you drink bourbon and make KZbin videos." LOL!

[@worxharder9470]

You should have corrected her and said "vid-jay-ohhs".

[@grasscutter88]

Is he an alchoholic? I thought that's just his personality. lol

[@r3drumg33k3]

He might drink, but he is no drunk lmao.

[@OneDollarNoHoller]

@uncle bob LOL!

[@transmitterguy478]

The hose blowing off, and the compressor running all weekend, while I am on vacation at Dysney land, always haunted me. So I wired a relay, in series to the pressure switch, that turns on the contactor. I power the relay with my ceiling lights, when I come in my shop and turn on the lights, the compressor starts, when I leave my shop, the compressor won't start. Works well. If I don't need the compressor I turn off the pressure switch.

[@XxmatixX6videosdiariosdenadav]

Or you could unplug it

[@JamesSmith-lt5zz]

Could wire a separate switch next to the light for the compressor a dedicated breaker or off the ceiling light breaker thst way you don't need to turn off the pressure switch and lights and compressor switches are right next to each other independent

[@calebhurteau4230]

Dont forget to turn ur lights off. Lol

[@snap-off5383]

Thermal breaker?

[@reidmackay9703]

Smart

[@blystovski]

If this were me, I'd be putting in a PID instruction and controlling to a tank pressure setpoint. WORD TO THE WISE - if you do that, or anything similar that would result in the possibility of the motor running for long amounts of time at slow speed (below 6 to 10 Hz), you may want to upgrade to a fan-cooled motor (i.e. separate fan that runs all the time) to avoid turning the rotor into liquid copper shmoo (tm). Love this shit, keep it up! This Patreon stuff is addictive thanks to you. It's like main-lining hands-on engineering skillz. PHYCK YA!!!

[@MichaelSteeves]

Agreed! No need to manually signal the controller, a PID controller will detect when the demand is high and increase the output. I think this is one of the applications where they do it that way because that's how it has always been done. All it takes is a little disruption and everyone will start making changes. The key (as always) is that it has to be economically justifiable. The brainboxes for this would be dirt cheap, but a proper setup would require a pressure transducer and a variable speed motor drive. I wonder if this is worth patenting? Certainly it is a combination of existing ideas for a specific application.

[@bassmann4463]

Lots of drives, even some of the small ones, have control macros built in, so there's really no need for a separate PLC. Most also have analog inputs that can use the signal from a pressure transducer. I've heard him say it many times, " Run what ya brung!"

[@LazerLord10]

Not sure if it would even need to be PID. Maybe PI, but there shouldn't be much inertia in the system, to the D term would likely be redundant. Plus, if it only needs to stay within ~5PSI of target pressure, the control algorithm could be much simpler.

[@bassmann4463]

page 4-66 in the manual are the PID parameters

[@CisIP1862]

No, it's not patentable, as every major manufacturer is already doing it with their big irons (as in: compressors that feed all tools for an entire assembly line)

[@coasmechteranic]

I never would've thought to overclock my compressor. Nice work.

[@vladh5192]

Giv'er!

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Sweet, gonna have to look into doing this to my old clunker of a compressor.

[@arduinoversusevil2025]

More to come. I got a better plan now. Just gotta build it.

[@TriDaddy]

@@arduinoversusevil2025 Have you built the better design?

[@carlnelson3893]

@@TriDaddy @Ave come on AVE, we are def waiting here... lol

[@MrBigShotFancyPants]

It's been 3years fellows & ladies. Check the man's u-tube channel and look for the upload you missed. Or "sub' & 'notification bell' Aye? Aye?

[@SMFBisme]

​@@arduinoversusevil2025😮😮 0:25

[@denniscouturier378]

AvE, this is one of my favorite vids of yours, and it has me looking at VFDs online, and eyeing my compressor with disdain. I haven't gotten my hands good and dirty for a living for a long, long time, but watching your videos makes me remember just how satisfying it was to have fixed a thing, or solved a problem, or made something better. Thanks very much for doing what you do. Thanks for sharing with us your knowledge and experience. Thanks for reminding me that any time spent in the shop, is not time wasted. Have a laugh, learn some things, fix some stuff.

[@TravelBackroads]

AvE we need more of this! I need this set up in my shop. Such a great idea. Seriously, why doesn't anyone do this outside of industry?

[@jiminycricket2230]

Um...adjust your pressure switch and cut down on the wait time. That's what construction guys do. Framers don't wait. Adjust to 100 cut in and 120 cut out on the wheelbarrow compressors. Also if you overspeed those cheap twin compressor heads they'll bust the rods in no time. Also starting under load with no relief after the cycle will grenade the rods too...

[@ianholland212]

jiminy cricket your absolutely right this seems good for just doing stuff in the shop but you can run 3 nail guns with a $100 pancake (short cord) then add an extra tank you never run out of air or the price of a bigger compressor is less than the drive

[@willybee3056]

ian holland Just a brain fart, from me, that is, but what would happen if you put a small tank with a one way valve on the input, for each nailer. And have them connected in parallel. That way the compressor would only pump air to the tank that needed it. .. Bottom line cost is everything. ..

[@JJ_ExMachina]

I work with the gas and diesel powered 100 CFM units... designed to drive 3/4" and 1" impact guns, and other air hungry tools like jack hammers... SO to be able to get the same performance out if a unit but by using a VF drive electric unit... would save the need of screaming over the air compressor all day long. I would use a rotary sliding vane, rotary helical screw, or rotary scroll air compressor. Over a Reciprocating compressors design. This was RPMs would not be a problem (for the most part).

[@TacticalBuffoonary]

I work with compressors that produce 900cfm, we use plc's and vfd's and 1200amp switchgear. That kind of electronics for a job site compressor is overkill and expensive plus how many people know PLC programming and ladder logic, not many. I did the same thing as Jiminy Cricket on my home shop compressor, I adjusted the pressure switch to come on at 100psi and turn off at 120, much cheaper.

[@davidkohler7454]

Everthing you said is exactly what I was thinking too. I ran large projects with the Right size compressor. Never had to wait for air. Seems like if you had to give a signal back to the compressor to change into overdrive then you are indeed waiting for pressure . and without a head pressure relief before the next start up will definitely cause damage to the rods and piston..

[@JeromeSmith]

Yep I'm building one of these now. Thanks for the inspiration

[@DustenAtPlay]

Check out Surplus Center if you need Parts!

[@godfreypoon5148]

Some feedback (and it's not acoustic this time): Some of us have taken the autogas tanks from cars, and used them for our air compressor tanks. We subsequently have a bunch of tanks, and a bunch of drivers with puzzled looks on their faces. It would be nice to have some valves so that one tank can get charged up real quick and we can start work, and the rest get brought online gradually as there is surplus air available. Maybe pulse some solenoids to charge them up progressively without dumping the primary air tank too much. Also, start your compressor in the opposite direction each time. That helps with the not needing an unloader valve. That flywheel pulley fan is fucking cosmetic, ignore it.

[@sawbbq]

Pressure relief valve that essentially bleeds excess pressure into the next tank and so on and so forth. As for those compressors. Don't worry about the heat they don't care. We run ours well over 100 degrees c and they dont care and thats 10 hours a day 8 months a year.

[@hooter7003]

I have the solution to your problem On trucks and buses they have overflow/ charging valves to fill tanks in sequence they are adjustable then you run a check valve back to your first small tank say a 4gallon or 20 litre once the small tank gets to 90 psi it overflows to your huge tank until both are full at 120 psi Draw from your small tank if you want quick air by blocking the flow to you big tank Set you pressure switch on your small tank to cycle between 100 and 120 you’ll never run low on air Use truck alloy air tanks scattered around the walls of your shop with big lines joining them then you have heaps of air for your ugga dugga guns 💪 or spray guns

[@loftsatsympaticodotc]

BADDD IDEEEE !!! Used tanks of ANY type used for compressed air- that are NOT certified and within time deadlines are TICKING TIME BOMBS ! IN most jurisdictions you MUST re-certify any compressed gas receiver regularly, and Car GAS TANKS are ALL made of too thin materials and are NOT round, a design necessary for any hi-pressure!

[@godfreypoon5148]

+Lofts Sympatico Don't worry, friend. I ran some random beads of weld all over it to reinforce it. I am not sure what alloy the tank or the rods were, but the packet said "extra strong", so it will be juuuust fine. Serious: I mean LPG tanks... propane... etc. Not gasoline. They are indeed round and thicker than most air compressor tanks. They have a working pressure of a few hundred PSI. They may not have a TUV number on them, but they are good enough for the women I would like to go out with.

[@godfreypoon5148]

Pressure overflow valves!! Why did I not think of this?!? Perfect solution, no electrics required.

[@kcscustom9759]

Man this is genius I would love to have something like this for my smaller compressor! That way when I’m away from the shop tearing down a vehicle to pull an engine, transmission, whatever the case is, I don’t have to wait 30-40-50 seconds for my compressor in-between every other stubborn rusty bolt. I can’t believe no one has figured this out before, but props to you for doing so! Brilliant my friend absolutely brilliant.

[@jedidaddy76]

Great idea. I’m an a/c and heating contractor and if you have a shop without 3 phase it’s extremely difficult to find an air compressor that with properly run some of the sheet metal tools and the adhesive spray rig for our liners. This would allow for more readily available power to run much more efficient compressors that could do what we usually rely on really big 3 phase compressors to run.

[@ethanpoole3443]

Ave, don't feel bad...in one of my less bright moments I discovered just how flammable SILICONE lubricant spray is. Did not realize that they were using propane for propellant and, of course, propane is heavier than air. So I lubricated my shredder one day, not realizing that the bucket had accumulated all of that propane for me. Fired it up to spread the lubrication. Poof. Bang. Where are my eyebrows? Arm hair? An instantaneously receding hairline? And by God does burnt hair stink to high heaven! You just can't wash that smell out it seems.

[@brucefaz55]

LOL I did the exact same with the exact same results and it blew the front of the shredder basket off. luckily for me I had just emptied the basket or I would still be picking up confetti.

[@17industries42]

Ethan Poole lol. If I ever have a cruddy shredder I’ll have to try that outside in a safe area but with the switch set to on and plug it in from a while ago.

[@pentachronic]

I did that filling a lighter in my armchair many many years ago. Fill ligher, get a bit of over spray, check lighter works.... Boom, lost eyebrows. I have never seen someone move so fast. My buddy was sitting in the chair next to me and was like a freaking rocket out of a missile silo as he thought I'd blown myself up. I was howling with laughter. Nothing else I could do !! But the smell of ammonia from burning hair! Damn!

[@DaleD63]

Discharge temp on an oil lubricated compressor can reach 350°F oilless 450-500° so be wary of hydrolic hose!!

[@GasNBullets]

The ugga dugga, dugga duggas, tappy tap tap, etc.

[@spikeydapikey1483]

Sounds like the start of an album to me: AvE n Dewclaw Rock out!

[@readysteadywhoa]

There's not many words in machinist language but they sure are versatile!

[@OperatorIHC]

"How much did ya torque it down?" "About three ugga-duggas."

[@Fireship1]

OperatorIHC hahaha. Eric O!

[@Giblet535]

All it needs is a snappy tune.

[@enginesnstuf]

For framing we just turn tank pressure to 160psi and regulate the pressure down to 90. Compressor kicks on at 120 but the gun only needs 90. With a 4 gallon tank we can run 2 guns non-stop. Seems to work fine the way it is.

[@MRSketch09]

"I mean a mouth is a mouth at 3am am I right?" Lmfao.. your humor cracks me up.

[@chadharrison8653]

priceless how he added that and never missed a beat!

[@MRSketch09]

@@chadharrison8653 It is, isn't?! He just says all kinds of sh*t... I always get a least a little bit smarter watching one of his videos, or a chuckle. It's one of the two.

[@integr8er66]

This is great other than you just made a $100 compressor into a $2000 compressor.

[@MeatPoPsiclez]

Small VFD's are really cheap now, especially if you don't mind off brand (direct from China). The three phase motor *could* be cheap if you source it from salvage. A few minutes of looking and I've found a 2hp single phase 115/230v for $215USD 3hp single phase 208-230v for $380USD 4hp single phase 208-230v for $408USD 5hp 3 phase for $500usd. I'm betting this could be built for less than $600 (not including an existing head, frame, and tank) with some luck.

[@ferndog1461]

Can I trust this? Do I need to wear paintball tactical armor around this Frankenstein? Love this Canadian Macgyver mechanic. Peace!

[@Dave5843-d9m]

My local farmer has a only a single phase power line. His milk bulk tank cooler costs him a fortune to run. I suggested he goes to three phase motor with a three phase converter and motor speed controller. His electricity bills dropped by 1/3. With some fancy anticipatory stuff he could probably drop that even further.

[@jacobmiller7175]

In my area I can find used washing machines with 2 hp 3phase induction motors for about 60$ cause the confusor stopped working or what have ya. I’d bet the motor in good shape

[@Hellsong89]

@@ferndog1461 Well if Chinesium VFD trows a hissyfit and does not stop schooching away there is danger of over pressure and something going to low earth orbit, but put in over pressure valve or two that blow if that happens and you just have huge dust storm where compressor is. Simply put, always have back up everything specially when it comes to built in safety equipment.

[@jttech44]

Yes! Vector Drive ALL THE THINGS

[@harrytobin3992]

That looks like an old motor on that compressor. A variable speed inverter will burn out the bearings eventually.

[@jttech44]

Uncle bumblefuck taught me that bearings are industrial lego, so burning them out is nbd provided you have a good healing bench.

[@repomannen]

nice work, i use the same concept for hydraulic systems, you take a fixed displacement pump and hook it up with a variable speed control and you have a variable pump..used in a tilt table for concrete wall manufacturing, after the concrete has set the table tilts up and the wall is lifted of the table with overhead crane. used an inclinometer to ramp the flow back as the tilt table rises up, mind you these are telescopic cilinders, so the last rods are small, needs little flow, otherwise it would launch the wall off the table.... anyways nice vids AvE greets from the netherlands.

[@ShawnDickens]

CFM limit is compressor size by compressor speed. Faster speed equals more compressor wear so your best bet is to go bigger and under drive and use normal max as over drive to reduce wear and increase capacity. My home setup comes on at 140 and off at 175 because it's factory set and I regulate it down to 125 for my use so pressure is always the same.

[@stanlarose2317]

Why not just adjust the start stop on the old school compressor so that it kicks on at 110 psi instead of 80? You would still acheive a constantly running compressor, and as you said the motor is geared to run under load. If your tool is pulling more cfm than the compressor is putting out, you need a bigger compressor, not just a bigger motor?

[@northernalberta399]

I have always adjusted the on/off times on mine that way too

[@paulg444]

still doesnt solve the low volume of the compressor at ambient pressure at startup. You have a fixed volume per second compressor due to a fixed gear ratio and a fixed RPM motor. You want high compressor volume at low pressure at startup and low volume high pressure at high pressure. The motor runs efficient at one RPM. In order to do that you need to run the compressor at variable RPM with an electric motor. This application calls for a transmission of some kind where if you have a fixed RPM motor start out at high compressor RPM (when at ambient pressure) with high gear ratio and then you gear down as you gain pressure in the tank. The 19th century double pulley variable ratio "variator" was for this type of scenario. Old school is all that you need. Nothing new.

[@DBD801]

I’m seeing this 2 years later and this is actually a genius idea and it should be capitalized on for mass production

[@blazeandcyrus]

I know I just saw this bubble up and yes he needs to prototype and patent the thing. I will buy one now... unless the cost gets jacked up by the hands of 'big compressor' lol

[@jeffreythompson9549]

It's not new tech - this is how inverter refrigeration compressors work. Instead of a dead band start and stop operating system, the motor slows as it approaches max, and speeds up as the pressure drops.

[@davebennett5069]

it is, just used for larger compressors because the extra huge cost of the compressor in large applications lets you absorb the added cost of this tech. home depot compressors will NEVER utilize this unless it becomes almost free :D

[@jeffreythompson9549]

@@davebennett5069 It is used for domestic air conditioners and refrigerators. Also drill presses, lathes etc, the cost has come way down for VFDs.

[@bobbarker3662]

HEAT!!! most compressors work with the on off design so they can cheap out on compressor cooling. That "down time" is essential to stop excessive heat soaking of the piston/compressor body. You've got a novel idea, just need a compressor that can take it.

[@derrickdrew17]

Bob Barker at lease I'm not the only one who think of that. I can't see that little pump lasting long running like that.

[@peterg.8245]

It’s cast iron and can take abuse far beyond these modern aluminum or worse plastic crap

[@thomas316]

You can always fit a little fan to cool the head if temperature becomes an issue.

[@Shanidar1]

Thomas The pulley/flywheel is a fan, Ave is just spinning it the wrong way....i think.

[@leehaelters6182]

Cameron, do you mean that sucking the cooling air is necessarily less effective than blowing it on the pump? L

[@wwsxa39]

"Those that can't, HR" Never a truer word said.

[@SteveisTall]

It is the Human Remains Department after all.

[@TheBrokenLife]

Most useless department in any organization is HR. IT isn't far behind them.

[@Marci124]

I came up with "Human Refuse".

[@rankin23007]

Some sort of magic going on here. I like it

[@xang72]

Im my company HR dep there is a "Mobility Manager" --- WTF is a mobility manager, no-one know what she is doing.

[@Stummel01]

Yes damn good... broke the pressure switch on my 4.5kw kompressor 2weeks ago... that thing is quite a pain in the a$& because of the big 300l tank. It takes a long time to get it down to 7bar (were it will kick in again) but under 8bar the ugga dugga gun has no torque.

[@mxdev6387]

The pressure switches they have are really only rated for 3HP, and even then have a significantly reduced duty cycle associated with that. If you want a real setup that uses the pressure switch as signal for contactor which is designed for high switching loads, check this out. I did this for my 5HP compressor and it works great. www.reddit.com/r/Skookum/comments/6t4qi4/project_finished_industrial_air_compressor_for/

[@RichardHilverts]

It's not like I can't believe you, but a head's up: Have you though about the airline to your Ugge Dugga? The bigger the less restriction. But since you're here you must have already got a decent size. :p

[@payday510]

Stummel01 we're on the interwebs, not in church. You can say ass.

[@SeanBZA]

Got a 7.5kW motor on the one, and while it is really overkill as it runs around 10 hours a month at best, it works well using old fashioned star delta switching and a great big set of contactors to keep the switch alive. Still, as the switch is 20 years old, time to change it out, which is a pain, as it has copper unloader piping, so I will have to do an adaptor to use the modern push on fittings and tube, though the copper will still be there to keep the tube from melting. Has worn through a few outlet pipes and non return valves, Type 30 Ingersoll Rand compressor tends to give it a lot of air. Tank still passes pressure tests though, got the cert recently, even though it is over 30.

[@001desertrat3]

Yes , an Ass is an animal akin to a Donkey - ( so they can't Bleep it ) . LOL !

[@BIllMcCambridge]

Ok AVE. I am not a college boy but have been in the field for 20 years. HVAC factory service tech. I try to approach issues logically and work smarter. With the prevalence of energy regs and everybody trying to save the planet and what not. The occurrence of vsd s has really come on in the last 10 years. The issues I have seen have been bearing failures on 3 phase motors when retrofitted with vsd. What we (my factory R&D) have figured out is bearings failing due to build up of voltage on the armature and bleeding current through the bearings causing pitting on the races. This happens when running VSD on a non VSD rated motor. Easily overcome by retrofitting a grounding ring on motor that has brushes to allow current to travel to ground with out traveling through bearings. Just my 2 cents. Keep up the good work. Really enjoy your videos. More field trips!!

[@mrstyles9999]

This is just great. I need this for our pneumatic heat press. No more waiting for it to get up to pressure and no more stupid pressure drops

[@truracer20]

It would work. But you'll find that better quality compressors for contractors just utilize a higher cut in pressure to reduce the issue. Dewalt has a single phase compressor(D55146) that runs 4 Bostich coil roofing nailers very well. It has a max psi cutout at 200 psi and it cut in pressure is around 160 psi. This is opposed to the old style compressors with a max of 125 psi and a cut in at 80 psi(witch is lower than you would regulate such a tool) Each gun makes 5-10 rapid shots then a very slight pause, less than 10 seconds, to set the next shingle. Each nailer keeps this up for roughly 53.5 to 4 minutes then takes a minute to grab the next pack of shingles and the same process is repeated. This nail gun uses 3.9 cfm at 80 psi with a rate of 100 nails per minute. The big factor is regulating the pressure to the gun, set it to the lowest pressure that will fully seat the nail with the gun set to the middle drive depth setting. Rarely do we ever have to wait for air.

[@PiranOfficial]

AvE december edition "VFD everything" continues

[@wktodd]

Piran freebies?

[@TauCu]

And so it fucking should! If flying mechanical bees use it it can't be T-bag.

[@PiranOfficial]

Yep, gonna VFD my mum and dog (ain't got no dog)

[@eLectroMechanicalShenanigans]

lol I was just thinking the same thing..... "VFD all the things"

[@joshmiller7870]

VFD is cutting edge. Its mainstream in commercial air conditioning! Lower power consumption and higher efficiency.

[@doughall1794]

Us small garage shops can easily overload a breaker by running the compressor at the same time as a grinder for example, would be nice to detect line voltage and avoid starting during voltage drop, also a soft start to eliminate the peak is brilliant. If the air bleeds off slowly (like you forgot and left your compressor on) have the controller put it in hibernate mode, just enough air to detect use. If the motor can not catch up (hose broke) put into hibernate mode or shut it down until reset. When running big air loads I run 2 compressors at the same time, it would be cool to have some synchronization between them with this controller. Even if the controller let my baby super quiet compressor cycle (relay) when there are light loads and kick in the second when rapid pressure drop occurs from larger loads.

[@gregoryjamesthomas]

Really logical solution to a very annoying single phase problem. What would the plc and motor setup cost approximately?

[@roadiejames]

Mechanical engineer here, stamp official and all that goobalydoop, I could def uses this in exactly they manner you specified. I've worked on utilizing plc and ladder logic to control motor function and there are def game changing possibilities there. Wish I could come work with you for a month. We could create some incredible non-industry standard breakthrough using simple things like autonomous microcontrollers to send packets in order to greatly increase the durability and functionality of classic design.

[@poot111111]

I have a feeling every motor is going to be 3 phase soon at the AvE compound. I give it a week, 2 max!

[@JerryWick]

poot111111 gotta love the sorcery of Mr Tesla

[@lucasnelson08]

I love this idea. I can believe i didn't think of it before. Way more air without tripping the breaker. tapping out morse code to the PLC is a little far out there though. you probably already know, but that hydraulic hose is going to get way too hot. you could also have the PLC run an auto-drain.

[@Ray-ej3jb]

Won't you run into problems with the actual compressor overheating? In the normal on/off mode the compressor had time to cool down in-between cycles. Will forced air cooling be enough or your next project going to be a water jacket?

[@keith_hudson]

This is freaking genius and simple enough that I'm very surprised this isn't a standard practice already.

[@WojciechP915]

Do all Canadians have three hands and a hockey stick?

[@tyttuut]

Bill T Nobody really knows.

[@elindred]

no, some of us play lacrosse

[@graham2631]

Na,some of us prefer beer witch is why our women heads have a flat spot.

[@blair79bear38]

not this prairie boy. burnt the hockey stick a long time ago when the earth was still green.

[@2006ryde2006]

No silly, some of us have more than one hockey stick

[@Joeameturexpert]

Great idea. Not sure how many of us portable grease monkeys and or nail gunner erectors can properly operate/program plc's. Needs to be plug in, turn on, and go.

[@LazerLord10]

I feel like I'm missing something, but why not just have the control ramp up to high speed when the pressure is lower? What's the need for sending signals to go into overdrive when it could recognize that the pressure is dropping too low?

[@themotofixery]

LazerLord10 I agree. The lower the pressure the faster it goes! Well said

[@katawatenshu]

when you're using an air tool like a nailer or stapler if the pressure gets too low the nails don't go all the way in, and/or the gun can jam. being able to tell the machine that you're about to put a bunch in lets you stay over your minimum pressure without the riskiness of the pressure having to drop first

[@sugarbooty]

If you're gonna be using the tool, you want it at a certain preasure. It's overdriven to get it to the set pressure

[@nipunagunarathne4882]

LazerLord10 or just PID control it

[@videopukebeer]

LazerLord10 yes! PID would be perfect if you could keep it consistently going.

[@brettb.7425]

Being from the American Deep Deep South, it is very different for me to listen to this guy. This isn't to say anything bad but country folks where I'm from just aren't used to Canadians talking. He definitely knows his stuff. Good idea man! God bless you buddy!

[@aeromedic5824]

This would be wicked for anybody spraying. Keeping a more constant pressure with a smaller tank is a holy grail for those of us who run either standard guns or HVLP setups off a compressor. Normally this all equalizes out by using a tank that's half the size of your spray booth, but the ability to match compressor speed to demand would give the option of using a smaller tank, and possibly making it moveable for the guys who don't have a dedicated booth, or to use some serious overkill to paint a fence.

[@johnMcRock]

Greatings from Denmark.. I use Omron MX2 VFD's in my work, and they contain a small PLC that can be programmed to do exactly what you explain I the video.. also they have both digital and alalog inputs. Not the cheapest Drive, but 250$-ish will get you a 2 Kw one phase Drive.

[@dennyskerb4992]

I tried to increase my compressor, fire department thinks I Fucked up.

[@Damaku250]

Sounds skookum but you know the boys on the roof don't mind the break!

[@craigschofield64]

I am a home garage hack and I DYI everything possible from a air nailer & impact wrenches to a plasma cutter for welding and having a setup like you are describing would be a GD God Send! You could set the gezzless thing at whatever operating pressure and for geeet aaabout it! love the concept and it would make my compressor last 10 times longer

[@u9Nails]

I got me one of those fancy compressors which tickle your ear hole vs. shouting in it. But I am picking up what you're saying. It's brilliant!

[@blablablaqwd]

Ave, I think the compressor is running the wrong way around. This way the cooling fan is sucking and not blowing on the cylinder. And as much as I know, the lubrication mechanism inside is also designed to be running in a specific way. Not hating at all, just saying!

[@whodat90]

Agreed, I saw that too. On my compressor I bought a thermostatically controlled box fan, cut the thermostat out of the fan and installed it on the tube between the low and high pressure cylinders. As soon as the compressor runs for a bit, that tube gets hot, the fan kicks on.

[@pseudocoder78]

It doesn't matter which way a cooling fan is running as long as it's pushing OR drawing fresh air over the component to be cooled. That said, I have no idea if it was actually running backwards or not.

[@thefixitgal]

OMFG a Mouth is a mouth at 3am. Almost pissed myself. XD

[@dodgeypriest]

Max R What?

[@spudpud-T67]

Getting offended and getting pissy are different states of condition.

[@thepvporg]

Like "a hole in the wall" after the clubs kick out...

[@vincentnightwolf]

Honestly I think you idea for setting it into an "overdrive" mode is the long way around and not particularly intuitive. Since you are already going to be using a pressure transducer and a PLC to control it, the better way would be to tie the VFD speed reference to a PID loop. That way as the pressure decreases the PLC would increase motor speed to keep your pressure up. You could also set it up so it wouldn't need to use the jog function to get the compressor moving. It would just ramp the speed to get it moving. This would work as a soft start to keep the breaker form tripping. It's the in-rush current of the motor that trips breakers, not the fact that the compressor piston is at top/bottom dead center. Ramping the speed on start will take care of that in-rush.

[@gman7640]

Technically, overdrive means the driven member (compressor) is rotating faster than the driver, this could only be achieved by changing the gear ratio -- i..e.. gearbox or hydraulic or vario belt drive.

[@vincentnightwolf]

Gman76 I said overdrive because I thought that's what he said in the video. He actually said over-torque. Either way the idea is the same. He was talking about some sort of sequence to speed up the motor. PID loop would work better.

[@wrjonesee]

I love this application...and very anxious for more refinement. Check the rotation direction on the compressor for cooling efficiency.

[@rmendes2mendes915]

Sounds like it will work one thing though that compressor pump possibly won’t lubricate as good spinning at higher RPMs

[@microwave221]

What if instead of air signaling, it used rate of change in tank pressure to modulate the motor instead of the usual hysteresis? That way you don't have to worry about accidentally sending it into orbit when you inadvertently send a signal with the wrong tool. Maybe set it up such that it should resist pressure drops faster then so many psi per minute, and when it detects that, it runs constantly to maintain pressure. Hysteresis could still be used for light draw or slow dropping pressure so you don't need to hear it running all the time. For extra credit: Run two asymmetric separate stages off the same belt and valve them so that at lower pressure they run parallel for high volume, but after a certain amperage is reached by the motor, solinoid valves run them in series where the larger acts as a low pressure first stage to the second lower displacement cylinder.

[@engnerdan]

The rate of change in system pressure method of control is already being used by Kaeser. My rotary screw compressor has that as an option in its controller. It doesn't have a variable speed drive (yet) so all it does is regulate turning the motor on and off.

[@dearinghoward]

My experience with air compressors are volume volume volume. You’re on to something with your idea, but I think heat is going to come into effect strongly.

[@tehcrashzord]

'It was enginerded when Christ was a cowboy'

[@FFLFFS]

Complicated things break down exactly proportional to how complicated they are. Maximum rpm for Compressors are not safely exceeded. So there's that, my 2cents. I've rebuilt all three of my compressors, all bought used. I googled make and model for the rpm and found all three at one time in their previous lives had their shives on motors changed so the compressor was running slower. I changed all that and have excellent performance. Other than that would be a great idea. Thanks for the videos. I see you were in my old stomping ground, Similkameen valley. 👍

[@alexroark4897]

YES!!! My plasma cutter never seems to have enough air unless I'm using a huge huge huge compressor or only making teeny tiny cuts!! Your a genius buddy!!

[@mustie1]

l wonder how a mini bike torque converter would work, fast with no load and geared down on the top pressure ?

[@daviddroescher]

Mustie1 I like tjis one

[@PuchMaxi]

Yes, I was thinking about using some kind of CVT/vario too!

[@martinxXsuto]

why not use a CVT for overkill?

[@pauljs75]

Another method is to just use a variable stroke on the compressor. If you've ever seen an air-motor that is regulated or reversible with a tilt-block system, then you'll already know how such a compressor pump works. No clutch or anything to wear out on that, and you're governing its drive motor to a fixed speed. I believe some hydraulic proportioning systems do it that way too. Found a video showing the principle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoHYinlmmrN-bK8 It's talking about a patent using it for air conditioning, but that tilt-block thing itself actually goes back to the 1930's at least. At least in the case of ship's steering hydraulics, and large things like that.

[@martinxXsuto]

like that slovakian hydraulic pump he took apart? With the changing pitch plate that changed the displacement? That's actually pretty smart, you don't have gears just a variable displacement

[@marksmith1610]

Adding a 4-20ma pressure transducer sourced from the 24v on the VFD, you could essentially maintain a new psi set point just using the features on the drive. Add some torque boost in the program and your in like sin. Skip the PLC and use the VFD inputs on TB1. Your vids are awesome after verk w a beer.

[@patrickomeara1898]

General Contractor here. usually when the framers or roofers have multiple tools running, they use gas air compressors. (Rol-Air 4090HK17 5.5 HP Honda, 9.3 CFM@90PSI, 9 Gallon Twin Tank ) Three phase isn’t exactly mobile friendly. But the home shop fire can always use a good stoking! 🍻

[@flamewave000]

As a professional software engineer who's had fun dabbling in small systems controllers, I wouldn't suggest doing the "three pulse signal". It would not always be a reliable way to detect it, and you would still need some kind of upper/lower bound switching for turning the motor on and off. Instead what you're looking for is mainly volume at a desired pressure range, and usage varies over time. Instead I would say you should use a ramping of torque based on the rate of pressure change. You would still want a specific lower pressure for it to activate, but if the motor at nominal speed is not increasing the pressure at a minimum rate (or if pressure is still decreasing), you could have it ramp up the motor speed to increase the CFM. You would have a max speed limit, as well as a temperature sensor on the vital components that can override that max speed limit and lower it if things are getting too toasty. BUT to handle sudden high demand, if the pressure drops a certain amount within a given timeframe, you could have the pump preemptively start (maybe if it drops 50% of the desired pressure range, ie. range is 80-120PSI and it drops 20+PSI in under 15 seconds). Under such a sudden heavy demand, it could even start the pump at a higher speed to start providing a higher CFM.

[@mattmgmhs]

You could control this with an Arduino, a few AC relays, and a bunch of “if” statements. Depending on the rate of pressure drop, and the pressure itself would determine compressor rate. You could also have different modes or set different minimum restart pressures (80, 90, 100, etc)

[@sdriza]

did you do this? i was thinking the same thing

[@mattmgmhs]

@@sdriza no I never built one of these. I work as an engineer these days solving all sorts of problems like this, so the theory and execution is pretty straight forward to me for something like this.

[@craigr3941]

Please, please, please, for the love of the beaver in which we thrust. Help ol' Doo-claw get going on his own channel!!! I would donate my own freedom bucks for it too. Well once this other channel i donate to really takes off

[@robr3015]

"In hammer we trust" I think you have your next shirt idea right there AvE

[@icanseeyou2004]

I wanna get a window sticker that says that put it on the back window of my truck haha along with the bumper sticker that says " dont laph , your daughter could be in this truck"

[@oneeye6127]

Rob R and the sub title: The Ultimate Adjuster!

[@mokelv]

with a roll of duck/duct tape

[@firstmkb]

Custom hammers with the motto!

[@aaronpratt89]

I love this idea. But I have a question. Does that compressor have splash lubrication? With the direction it’s rotating effect the oil dipper? Only reason I am asking, it looks like it is running backwards with the direction of the van on the compressor. I know it’s easy to reverse 3 phase to correct the issue in my head.

[@ronv6637]

Work in commercial truck shop and this would be great for heavy usage tools(tire guns/multiple tool) and especially for airing tires up when pressure drop isn't low enough to trigger compressor

[@34ddefcon5]

You have got to tear down an old century Repulsion start induction run motor, the quality is amazing.

[@mikelastname6469]

Is heat buildup in the compressor going to be a problem running that thing at 200% all day? Could you build a water jacket to run between the head and block to keep the system cool?

[@DIYaudio69]

Mike Lastname Lucas oil additives could assist with that?

[@jjbailey01]

Variable frequency drive. It is only running 200% when told to. But yes, heat is definitely something to remedy. Always. Heat means excess entropy. While entropy will always be real, it can and should be regulated. And the water jacket thingy is a real thingy already. Look for a compressor out of a big truck with air brakes.

[@arti252]

The compressor drive wheel is running backwards looking at the rotation and “fan” spokes.

[@skankhunt-43]

It (the pulley fan) would work what ever way it rotates, no? One way it sucks the hot air off the pump, the other way it would push cold air over the pump. That said, I don't know if the pump itself would work if it was turned the wrong way ...

[@jeftiii]

Also don't forget that these compressors tend to use splash lubrication. Not so much a problem at overspeed, but when running underspeed, lubrication is going to be a problem.

[@markrent3269]

Be honest,you're going to fit one of these on everything now.

[@xback40verland38]

Just picked up a free senco pc2016 seems like the same specs. Got it purring like a modelA It’s missing the pilot valve cleaned it up had a broken pressure switch and retapped it’s bunghole😅. Would love advise I am new to tinkering with compressors and being a Combat Veteran with PTSD things keep my mind occupied but can be frustrating. Can i do without the pilot valve ? Build a simple back flow check valve manifold ?.. new sub loving the boys in the shop style vids and information dump

[@Satchmoeddie]

This is why I use a helical screw compressor. I do love using the Vector Drive. The helical screw comp has one anyway, but damned clever to throw a VFD MC on a vane or piston comp. All you are doing is lying to the motor, and it still has no clue whether it is seeing 60Hz or 6500 Hz. I "LOVE IT!!! I also run a dual compressor for painting or finishing guitars. They run alternately into the same reservoir tank to avoid oil blow by, and moisture in the air. Every time it needs air the colder compressor that has had more off time kicks on, so A-B-A-B-A-B ad infinum. This would be fuckin great for monitoring my air needs for the pain booth. Some finishes take a lot of air, as pigment sizes & viscosity ALL change with color, and other properties of the "industrial coating" I are applying. We also run vacuum clamps, and vacuum forming boxes in ovens, for forming usually PVC plastic. Sometimes ABS. It's all cosmetical crap plastic.

[@BarneySaysHi]

"This was enginerded when Christ was a cowboy" -AvE, 2017

[@bepearson1]

0-10v pressure transducer would work awesome. I'm sure the vfd has an analog input.

[@OneOfDisease]

Don't they make high flow low capacity compressors that can give you an unlimited dugga dugga dugga?

[@TheFeller1554]

I do think the idea has merit . If you run a compressor faster than it is designed to run there are several issues you have to overcome the head is designed to run at a given temp at its rated rpm. If you overspend it you are going to make more heat in the head than the cooling fins are capable of dissipating. Not saying that's the end of the world but you will need to come up with something to mitigate this. Also your charge is going to be hotter which an aftercooler would help with. Just think that in this case the old saying holds true " there's no replacement for displacement ". Bigger compressor would be my suggestion for the long haul but this is not a bad stop gap fix. Keep this kind of stuff coming it inspires creativity and critical thinking and I love it.

[@jamesharrell4360]

Mine looks like a Frankenstein. Removed the air filter and added a large oil filter. 2x125psi mini shutoff switches(2 for redundancy) after removing the blockly original one that stuck in the on position. The motor is now controlled with a relay that also provides power to the NO air solenoid. And the air solenoid closes after 6 seconds via the SS timer. The top of the oil breather/fill port has been cut and piped to the outside, for in-shed oilfree air quality. Looks like now I need a VFD. ;0) always love your videos.

[@DavidKenny64]

What about a bypass valve so that the motor starts without any head pressure? Then, once the motor is up to speed, the valve changes over and can start charging the tank.

[@W1ldt1m]

The load comes from the compressor not the motor. Bringing the motor up to speed would just trip the breaker as soon as you pop the clutch and hit it wit the load from the bottomed out cylinder

[@NBSV1]

W1ldt1m I think he’s talking about an unloader or bypass valve in the compressor. Similar to what semi trucks use. That way you would be able to get everything spinning before putting the load on it.

[@Tedowski]

I've used compression relief valves on Harley engines. S&S makes electric solenoid types that could be wired up easy enough.

[@DanPowersGoSubaruGoGoGo]

AvE, your spinning that compressor backwards. It should be turning CCW so the blades are blowing the air across the crank case. Always enjoy the videos. Keep em coming man!

[@DGGarage]

Dan Powers I come to tell him the same thing lol

[@OKstang77]

Wouldn't the direction it is going pull air across the whole body of the compressor?

[@corpsie666]

That blade looks like, as mounted, it should be spun clockwise. The shallow pitch of the blade is the discharge side

[@beezul]

Well, THAT won't work. AvE needs a compressor, not a vacuum pump!

[@gnarkill57]

Sweet idea, make compressors like $500 more expensive and job site voltage finicky. Why not a two stage portable compressor? They already exist, turn on at 130psi and off at 175psi regulate to 115psi, problem solved without a VFD that will shit whenever the power is pulled from it, that never happens on a job site. Also gas powered 2 stage with continuous run valve also exist for framers. I would love to VFD my compressor at home to make it quieter under low load but on a jobsite, who cares? For those constant pressure guys, a splash lubricated pump has a minimum speed to keep lubricated. The more I think out it 2 stage + regulator and forget the fancy electronics, unless you got the VFD for free.

[@tom1224z]

You got it right. Bigger is better! including upgrading the cheesy 200 ft of1/4" hoses that the contractors use.

[@skivvy3565]

You know you’re a decent teacher when you can use words like ‘chugga-chugga’ and the ‘brapp-brapp’s and us know exactly what you’re trying to explain

[@alsemi-back-up579]

I have a Dual motor ( 2 Pistons ) 240 volt Compressor from Canadian tire the I want to run off my 24 Volt Solar System. Do you think changing the motor to a 3 phase would be better for it. Or adding a Soft Start to the Compressor ike some do on Air Conditioners. great Video by the way!

[@stuartw1667]

It makes sense, but you're over-thinking it... just use PID control to maintain pressure.

[@JN.0_o]

Agreed, proportional would probably be good enough for most applications, but some derivative action would kick things into high gear when the pressure starts dropping quickly (i.e from the ugga-dugga gun).

[@elperros1]

Exactly!!!!

[@RageXBlade]

This is how the compressor at my shop works. 9 or 10 hass, samsung, etc take a lot of air pressure to run, so it turns on fairly regularly (every 5 or 10 minutes, depending)

[@mattpatt]

I was coming to comment PID as well. PI is probably sufficient. Saves the combinational logic and will work great!

[@mattpatt]

Max R come on mate, try a little keyword search in google before asking someone explain something to you. Because I bothered to reply I have also included this: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/PID_controller

[@natelobo93]

When christ was a cowboy lmfao love his vids

[@08Academy]

Why not just have it maintain constant pressure via the variable speed. They already do this on well water systems. If you're trying to maintain 120 psi you could just use different pressures to equate to different frequencies. Example: if the pressure is below 90 psi it runs balls out. After that you could step the speed down as needed to maintain operating pressure. Adding the air signaling would be unnecessary if it's always maintaining the same pressure, unless you're wanting a higher setpoint.

[@arduinoversusevil2025]

Using the air as signalling opens up options. Drop the pressure for "torquing" bolt with a ugga-dugga. Pop the pressure up to bust deeze nutz. Set the pressure to fill tyres. Short bursts of more CFM, setting the compressor in standby, etc...

[@MrJamesBanana]

I would have to agree with Justin. I think using air as signaling opens up the possibility for trouble. Just imagine, you are doing some light duty work and suddenly the thing kicks into overdrive since you happened to do a signal by mistake. I think a regular button (Or a remote control) would be more useful for that type of operation.

[@embeddedusystems]

Alexa integration?

[@08Academy]

I understand the idea... it just seems unnecessarily complex. Constant pressure would be friggin sweet. If your system will handle increased pressure why not always maintain it and use a regulator if you want less

[@liledw13]

I am a full time framer and lead a small crew, a compressor that didnt wuss out every single time you had guys shear nailing plywood would be outstanding!!

[@richardgray115]

Maybe a silly comment as I am aware my thinking is often a bit different. If space etc allows, you can add tanks without motors on them thus having a bigger volume of air in storage. That way the compressor runs for longer constant runs and doesn't need to switch on as often. My understanding is that the average motor is only designed for 6 starts per hour. Better to have longer constant runs than many stop starts. Just a thought but great project.

[@seannot-telling9806]

AvE any thoughts on the damage to the motor bearings dod to the high frequency from the VFD? I know you can get newer motors that are rated for VFD use and you can also get grounding brushes that you place on the motor to bleed off any voltage that builds up in the rotor so that you don't get the voltage arching across the bearings,

[@shaivong]

VFD motors aren't necessarily built to run faster - they just have laminations in the cores to reduce coriolis currents and heat buildup.

[@thatguyted6739]

Dew claw needs his own sign off... Keep your zap in the wrap?

[@nathanegbert977]

Keep your pix in the mix.

[@poundkake13]

Keep your testicle out of the receptacle.

[@MTThought]

"And remember, they should at least find you handy."

[@AlFooteIII]

I'll bet those framers are so glad you're braingineering away their little breaks! :D

[@RickSaffery]

Totally useful. This is the kind of A-game project that takes our channel up a notch.

[@ottawadrone5914]

What a great channel. Combine brains, honesty, inventiveness, efficiency, and humor. Doesn't get much better than that! That is a very cool idea using the variable drive to vary output. I would think one would need to be carefull in that the cooling vanes etc. on the compressor were designed for an RMP. Compressor pumping faster might cause overheating issues? I'm not sure. I'm trying to think of other ways to incorporate this idea.

[@waderedsox]

uhhhhhhhh.............. YES I DEFINITELY TURN MY COMPRESSOR OFF AND DONT LEAVE IT ALL ON THE WHOLE TIME side note, i bet you could use a cvt drive from a a gokart to do that mechanically

[@gavster89]

waderedsox I was just thinking that

[@nascarmaniac]

Only thing, you loose the "smart control" aspect of it. No programming logic opportunities. I think the cvt would successfully adjust the output torque and speed as pressure increased. Still would just be working off a limit switch though.

[@waderedsox]

granted, but it would be a HELL of alot cheaper, and you could just adjust the pressure switch (you can adjust them i had to replace one once) so that it turned on at a higher pressure

[@nascarmaniac]

waderedsox yea I have my differential real small on mine so it turns on as soon as the pressure drops a little bit. At least putting some CFM while I use it keeps it above 90 a little longer. It would be a fun project to try the CVT. not a project for me as tunning a cvt can be a pain in the ass haha

[@waderedsox]

yeah, i cant stand anything without a clutch pedal but i wouldnt feel to guilty about trying it on an air compressor. it just strikes me as being quite a bit easier than buying a $200+ vfd AND a 3 phase motor and then all the pressure switches and then figuring out how to program it XD its a touch over my head, and beyond my needs

[@DJAZAlwayz]

Roofers approve this concept !! Build it and we will come

[@D3faulted1]

Fastest way to break your rusty nuts is when your significant other asks "does this make me look fat?" Just say yes.

[@28cruzin]

Great idea. Got something to add, you overlooked 1 improvement. Volume. That nice hose you replaced the tubing with might have a smaller i.d. than the tubing. To increase the volume along with the pressure put a large i.d. tube between the compreesor and tank. Also the shorter the tube is the more volume of air you move. Remember, you have to supply all those nailbangers on the roof. They also need a steady pressure or the nails won't go in far enough. You can adjust that favorite valve of yours to control when the motor restarts. Overall I think this idea is brilliant, but what's the CO$T?

[@hardcorwelding]

Yes I very much have a use for this. Awesome to see a solution to my situation. Need to learn more!?

[@gatekeeper65]

That would actually be the cats ass for automotive painting. I dream of the day when you can enter the spray booth and never have to worry about getting blotchy spots from pressure dropout, or having to wait for the compressor to catch up.

[@roguecnc788]

Ahhhh......do you even rotary screw compressor?

[@MitzvosGolem1]

I used a unloader on compressor vents air for several seconds allows it to restart easy no compression load.

[@Dave5843-d9m]

The air tank should have a check valve to allow this. It's easier on the motor even a 3 phase will be happier with a gentle start.

[@MitzvosGolem1]

David Elliott It's different it unloads pistons upon start for a few seconds until motor reach's speed then allows it to compress. Done alot on large compressor s Diesel powered types.