Home Air Compressor Modification

SEE MY NEW VIDEO - I REMODIFIED IT. SEE • AirCompressorModificat...
Sorry for the shaky video.
My 1993 Craftsman 30 gal 5 HP 240v air compressor - I just added an a/c condenser from a 70's corvette as an after cooler between the head and the tank, along with two moisture filters. Now its quieter, and little if any water in the tank. I'm pleased. UPDATE 10/6/18 - I replaced the L connection on the head with a T so that any water condensing back down the long UP tube doesn't go back into the head. There is a petcock on the T to drain any buildup. Thanks to RIKU for his comment pointing out the problem!!!

[@NateCarline]

If you have the cooler vertical, water will collect inside and will never be able to drain. Run it horizontal then have the inlet on top and the drain out the bottom. This will ensure your cooler does not fill with water and your air filter will remove all of the water condensate. Hope this helps.

[@deankay4434]

Nathan, This was thoughts as well. I truly understand his desire to keep it compact yet his is portable and mine is sitting on the heavy wood platform built for my 60 gallon vertical. Using cheap and easy to find parts, but my A/C condenser is GM truck. 1 part number fit over 1,800 models. Yet, tape measure in hand, it passes be my small part bins because the SS food table I bought salvage has bent 10” lip on back. 14 foot long, rolled front lip to catch fluids, 4 drawers, non-magnetic and this $60 investment take 3 men to move. With the compressor in the corner, it will move out to work behind it, but not looking forward, but not wanting tank bottom to rust and old school paint filters, won’t cut it. 1/2” on top, 3/8” bottom and compression fittings have changed. I don’t like them but it is all everyone sells. No more ferrule or “Olive” as the European’s call them. I am thinking of 12Vdc fan on one end to increase efficiency as one guy bought an inverter at HF with enough amps to run it. I can measure, I have 4 amp meters for dc, can’t find one, but I am in the 20-25 amp continuous range excluding start surge. No filters here but at dedicated outlet for paint, like hose, paint only. Wired to compressor, fan comes on with one side to 240Vac hot. I think it will pool when off, or even running. Thinking out loud. ASE Master Tech since 1978 - Retired

[@karljay7473]

Looks like a great mod. One thing I would do is put a drain at the lowest point of the condenser. I'm not sure how to do that on that type, but when they run pipes on the wall, they usually run a common with a down leg so that the water in the pipes doesn't build up. I'm looking to do the same thing myself on my 80's Black Max, similar to yours.

[@JohnnieBravo1]

Great setup! I think I have the same as yours, almost. 6hp 33 Gal Sears oiless compressor, going through a condenser I got from a junk yard out of a late model Escalade. Only I have a trap going in to the condenser, another one on the output of the condenser, and yet a 3rd one at the tank outlet. In the several years this has been running, I have yet to get a drop of water out of the trap on the tank! And this is North Alabama, humidity capitol of the universe.

[@ronyerke9250]

A little hose extending the drain or raising the cup or getting a taller cup might help.

[@classics289]

Wouldn't the condenser just fill up with water all the way. I was under the impression that the outlet of the condensor should be the lowest point so all the water that condenses can actually leave the condensor. Also the condensor should be mounted so that the tubes in it are horizontal for the same reason.

[@justlife2129]

I used old used AC split unit that hangs outside the building. It does make a HUGE difference. No more water in my air tank You could use sweat fittings and solder everything. It would cost less and less chance to have air leaks.

[@Catttrain]

Great idea! Good for you!

[@ze_german2921]

Very clean Build!

[@daver681]

If you solder a little piece of copper tubing on the side of that can at the bottom and put a piece of rubber hose on it and run it somewhere that you don't care where the water goes.

[@sleeper7]

Thanks for posting!!!

[@ihaulag]

How are you draining the water out of the aftercooler? If the moisture is in the trap, it's definitely in the cooler. Maybe you could flip it over 180 and you can plumb in a drip leg and drain valve. Good luck.

[@Catttrain]

ihaulag I did that, see my follow up video

[@enzprintco.8625]

Hey bud! Nice set up for a smaller compressor! My question is, are the 2 harbor freight filters identical or different? Or is it all one unit? Thanks for a good detailed video! The second video of the modification made a lot more sense! :)

[@Catttrain]

The 2 filters are identical

[@muskiefishing9219]

I see a what might be a problem with your setup the line coming out of the compressor you have going straight up. I would be concerned that, that copper air line will fill up with water and when the compressor shuts off will run back do into the compressor. Possibly cussing issues.

[@jakeg2033]

at about 7 minutes into the video, listening to the compressor run, it kinda sounds like your pump might have a rod knock.... it is hard to say for sure, but it sounds similar to a sears one of mine that definitely had a rod knock.

[@Catttrain]

You might be right. I know the sound, it does it all the time, but it just keeps on going, and its almost 30 years old so not going to worry about it. But thanks for noticing :-)

[@PJHLR]

The tube diameter of your condenser appears to be smaller than the tube diameter of your compressor. This introduces a flow restriction and will reduce the overall performance of your system. You should use the same ID Tubing or condensor (Perhaps transmission oil cooler?) as your compressor. That way you do not reduce the max flow rate of your system.

[@Catttrain]

I'm well aware of the minor deficiancies. The tube diameter of the condensor was an issue I couldn't avoid since I bought it online without knowing what they were. The main thing is, for the relatively light use it gets for a homeowner, I'm happy. Its quieter and no issues. Please make sure you view my updated video in which I rotate the condenser 90 degrees to horizontal as per some others suggestions. kzbin.info/www/bejne/np-4gHtnl8h1qJo

[@TheRealSlowhand]

Nice job...

[@herminigildodelacruzjr1752]

Well done

[@georgespangler1517]

Sir your asking for trouble letting the water drain back down to the engine and enter the cylinder , you could install a check valve to prevent it

[@Catttrain]

I have in fact added a drain valve so any moisture coming back down will not go back into the cylinder.

[@georgespangler1517]

@@Catttrain good idea a T fitting with a 6 inch nipple and valve at bottom, in case you forgot the nipple would have enough capacity to hold the amount of water...

[@broncoviejo78]

👍🏻. Could you please send the link for the condenser you purchased on Amazon Thank you.

[@Catttrain]

Sorry, the link is no longer available. Frankly, any condenser will work, but you'll likely have to cut off any existing fittings and add your own to fit your situation. Once I got it, I took it to NAPA and told them what I wanted to do, and they found the necessary adapter fittings to complete my connection to the compressor. You'll probably have to play around with it a little, but, again, any condenser will work.

[@063317Art]

Problem; you have no way of draining the radiator! It will fill of with condensate as the discharge is at the top of the radiator when it should be at the bottom with a collection tube.

[@Catttrain]

The majority of condensate that might settle should blow thru to the filters the next time it cycles. Not worried about it.

[@plasmar1]

my only issue is.... pipe bender!!! sheesh at how much you must of paid for all those connectors :O

[@Catttrain]

plasmar1 I tried bending the pipe first but it looked awful

[@Portergetmybag]

Dang thats loud!

[@Catttrain]

Its quieter than it was originally

[@josereyes3472]

Your running air thrthrough the inner tunes of after cooler but without a fan going through the fins of the after cooler it's really not doing anything, what's really working for it are those inline filters. With all that modification, you should have put a premositure filter in between the cooler and the injected air, than a desiccant after filter out of after cooler into tank...then a automatic drain at the bottom of the tank...

[@georgespangler1517]

Holy shit!!! You have to be kidding,,lol

[@717Fang]

Hello, what is the dimension of this A/C condenser? Thank you. P.S. do you have amazon link or part # of this condenser?

[@Catttrain]

The dimensions are approx 16" x 28" which is fairly large. I can't find the part#, but its for a 1973 corvette if I recall correctly. I had to cut off the existing fittings, and local NAPA store measured the two different in and out pipes and provided me with new copper compression fittings. You could use almost any condenser, brand or size really doesn't matter that much. They are designed to cool and any will do that.

[@cali_cal]

@@Catttrain know one with at a 1/2 size condenser?

[@Catttrain]

@@cali_cal I would think that any condensor or radiator of any size would work. Perhaps even an automobile HEAT EXCHANGER, they are small.

[@crossbow3539]

Never buy a compressor with an aluminum pump.

[@walkertongdee]

those things dont work it cools the air sure but the water is still in the air and thats no good. What you want is to condense the air like in a still and then drain it out a drip leg, that way you get rid of it. Just cooling it does nothing its still in the air its just not in larger drops its a vapor its not gone. To understand this see the very expensive air dryer systems, they cool condense and get rid of the water and then warm the air back up for use. However these drying systems will probably cost more than your small compressor..

[@Catttrain]

This is a little used home system and for the little I use it, this works just fine. I have TWO filters after the condenser to catch most water before it goes in the tank. In my 2nd video I turned it over so the inlet and outlet are now on the bottom with a drain valve on the outlet before the filters so I can drain any moisture caught at the lowest point. And my next project is to reposition the condenser sideways so that the outlet and drain valve is really at the bottom. I appreciate your comments.

[@archoplites]

@@Catttrain Seeing your initial setup and reading the comments, I would agree with most about the positioning of the condenser and having everything, through gravity over air pressure/flow, drain to the water trap or drain valve. It sounds like you have or will be repositioning the condenser based on your latest comment here. I was also curious if you found any water in your condenser after dismantling it? Overall good job with the setup and we all learn as we go.

[@Catttrain]

@@archoplites Yes, there was a very small amount of moisture but by far the majority is/was blown thru to the filter. I've have since remounted it sideways with the pipe from the head going down and to the condenser. Looks better too.