What to look for in a OBA setup.

Exploderpilot

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Location
Winston Salem, NC
I am looking at electric OBA setups. I just dont see how it would be cost effective for me to figure out how and were to mount a engine driven compressor and run belts.

I looked at Viair and Quickair and go to thinking about the duty cycles and what i would need. So my question is to keep a 5 gallon tank full at somewhere between 140-180psi, what type compressor should i get to fill it.

I'm only planning to use my air to fill tires, and mabey occasionally run some lug nuts back on a wheel. Definitly not looking for a setup to work off of all day on the side of a trail or anything. So educate me please.
 
IF it were me, and I was not going to use my engine to drive my compressor, I would go with Co2. 100% duty cycle, and will do what you are wanting.
 
I am more of an electric or motor driven fan. I just hate having to remeber to go and fill up my tank. CO2 is cheaper and easier to start, but then you have to refill it every so often. Go with the biggest compressor you can. 140-180 is really a little unrealistic. My compressor turns on at 90 and off at 125 with a 150 saftey release. So what you will be looking for is the best duty cycle compressor you can find. A pressure switch for on off. A tank, plumbing, and a saftey blow off valve. If you are running any tools and stuff on it you also want a filter. Might even want it for filling up tires. You will also want a mechanical intake filter to keep crap out of that compressor. Check ebay and look for airbag compressors. You can find them pretty cheap there with all the airbagged cars running around. The 90-125psi will let you run simple air tools, and air up your tires. The 5 gallon tank will make all of this work better. For plumbing you want the parts to put air behind the front bumper and also at the rear bumper. Typically simple hoses and barbs zip tied to the frame. Also the parts to hook up the compressor and filters.
 
Well 100% duty cycle compressors from Viair claim they can fill 35's from 0-32psi in 2.5mins and run small air tools with no tank. Is that overkill. The 80% duty cycle compressors say they can fill 35" tires and run small power tools but recomend running a auxillary tank.

I ruled out CO2 b/c i would never remember to refill it till i needed to use it and didnt have it and that tends to be the main time i would need it.
 
If you can get the larger, get it. If you think about the duty cycle. It fills a tire in say 3 minutes. so all four in 12 minutes. Well that means it will actually take about 15 to 16 minutes to fill 4 tires because you have to break after 8 minutes and let it cool down for 2 minutes. With 100% duty cycle you can fill them all up in 12 minutes. Plus, would you put the time and money into putting something that just barely meets your requirements now if for a little more money you can be set for the future? Look at the cost of going 100%. Is that amount of money worth not doing it again? And no matter what run a tank, even if it is only 2.5 gallons. You will be amazed at the difference this makes. If you think you will only be filling your tires you are sadly mistaken.
 
yeah i figure people will always want to "borrow" air when you are airing back up and id liek to be able to help them out.

I think I am gonna get a Viair 400h. It is a 100% duty cylce heavy duty compressor, running into a 5 gallon tank.
 
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