An air compressor is necessary for every car owner, since using the services of car services for any problem is very expensive. For a city car enthusiast living in a multi-story building, a compact, portable electric tire pump is sufficient. If you have your own garage, a compressor device is already a mandatory measure. The device is useful for connecting pneumatic tools, for repairing and painting cars. It is quite possible to make a compressor yourself, which will help save up to 50% of the cost of a production installation.
Operating principle and design of the compressor
The main working unit of the device is the air blower. When planning to make a compressor, it is necessary to take into account differences in operation depending on the purpose of the device.
If when inflating car tires the uniformity of air supply does not play a special role, then for the effective operation of the spray gun this is a prerequisite.
A storage tank called a receiver will help ensure uniform air injection.
Mechanical engine charging: what you need to know
Let's start with the fact that installation of any type of supercharger (mechanical or turbocharging) is possible on both injection and carburetor engines. In both cases, a number of modifications to the power unit are expected, however, installing a turbine on the engine is somewhat more difficult and expensive compared to a compressor.
It becomes clear that a mechanical supercharger is a more affordable way to increase engine power; such a solution is easier to install on the engine, and the work can even be done independently. At the same time, the general principle of operation of the supercharger is quite simple.
The device can actually be compared to an attachment (generator, power steering pump or air conditioning compressor), that is, the unit is driven by the engine. As a result of the operation of a mechanical compressor, the air is compressed and enters the cylinders under pressure.
This allows the cylinders to be better purged (ventilated) from exhaust gas residues, cylinder filling is significantly improved, the amount of air in the combustion chamber increases, which makes it possible to burn more fuel and increase engine power.
Also, the compressor has a direct dependence on engine speed. The more the engine is revved, the more air is supplied to the combustion chambers and, accordingly, the power increases. At the same time, there is no pronounced effect of turbojam (turbolag), which is found on turbocharged engines. Turbo lag manifests itself in the form of a failure at low speeds, when the exhaust energy is not yet enough to spin the turbine and create the necessary pressure to effectively supply air to the cylinders.
In other words, all work is carried out comprehensively, which further allows the forced power unit to operate successfully and stably without significantly reducing its service life. Now let's look at some of the features of this installation.
Preparatory stage in the manufacture of a compressor
At the planning stage of assembling a homemade compressor, it is necessary to decide what will act as an air blower. It is reasonable to use components from old household appliances or internal combustion engines for this purpose.
For various works in rooms of limited area, the most acceptable option is a 220 V device, assembled independently. The advantage of such electric compressors is their low noise level.
A similar do-it-yourself compressor for painting or applying airbrushing is preferred by workers in private automobile workshops that perform body work.
Principle of structure
It should be noted that now some German manufacturers have such superchargers in their engines. And they are installed, as you understand, in the air intake system. Mercedes, BMW and AUDI were the first to use such superchargers.
The principle here is simple - a powerful “fan” is installed, which creates a pressure of approximately 0.5 atmospheres (and possibly more). Powered by the vehicle's electrical system, it pumps additional oxygen into the engine to increase power. With fuel supply settings, you can achieve a significant increase - about 20 - 30%.
The electric turbine should also be adjusted to certain speeds, for example, at idle it should work slower, and at high speeds, correspondingly faster. It turns out to be almost an ideal system! But what’s the catch, where are the downsides? And you know, they exist.
What to make a receiver from
The simplest receiver for a compressor intended for small volumes of work can be easily made from a tubeless car wheel. It should be taken into account that after modernization the wheel cannot be used for its original purpose.
If you need to make a compressor for large volumes of work, then it is recommended to use a gas cylinder or any type of fire extinguisher as a container.
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Preparation
So we come to step-by-step instructions for assembling a compressor at home. If we talk about its advantages, then first of all it is worth remembering the volume of operation, because such a unit will work significantly quieter than the factory version. To do this, you will need to tightly connect all the components, but this work is worth the effort.
Pressure gauge and other parts
Making a powerful home compressor will require an emergency valve to reduce the pressure in the receiver if necessary, and a standard pressure gauge.
Experienced experts advise equipping even the simplest compressor, made from a car wheel, with an emergency valve for personal safety.
Simple DIY compressor
The instructions on how to make a compressor of the simplest design assume the use of an old wheel on a disk.
To create a primitive device, you will need an air supply fitting and an automatic valve. A nipple or spool valve, which can easily be found in a spare parts store, is suitable as a fitting.
To install these parts, you will need to drill two additional holes in the wheel rim. The parts are mounted in them and the wheel is assembled.
A pump for supplying air is attached to the fitting, and a hose for venting air to the airbrush or spray gun is attached to the second.
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Homemade devices are convenient to use for various small-scale household jobs. You can make them from units and components of household appliances or cars.
To successfully solve this problem, it is recommended to study the detailed instructions. For a more detailed understanding of the process, it is useful to watch a video on the topic.
Disadvantages of the electric option
Many of my readers think that making such a system is very simple, you need to take some kind of cooler and insert it into the air intake pipe and that’s happiness! Such “miracle coolers” are usually sold in Chinese online stores; we’ll talk about these types below.
However, guys, not everything is so simple here. In normal (idling) mode, a naturally aspirated 1.6-liter engine consumes approximately 300 - 400 liters of air per hour of operation. And at high speeds, say 4000 - 5000, we multiply this figure by 4 - 5, that is, 1200 - 1600 liters. Just imagine this volume! If you calculate the minute consumption 300/60 = 5 liters per minute, or 20 at high speeds.
Compressor made from refrigerator parts
Making a home compressor from a refrigerator with your own hands is quite a feasible task, even for not very experienced mechanics.
To work you need to prepare:
- compressor from an unnecessary refrigerator (with relay);
- emergency automatic valve;
- pressure gauge, reducer;
- receiver container (gas cylinder);
- automobile filters (for gasoline and diesel engines).
The best option for assembling the device is a motor-compressor from a Soviet refrigerator. It is recommended to equip such a compressor with a support frame made of a metal profile pipe.
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In addition, to assemble the device you must purchase:
- switch (toggle switch);
- reinforced hose;
- plumbing (tees, tubes, clamps).
Installing a mechanical compressor on an engine: subtleties and nuances
Let's start with the fact that the main task is to select a mechanical supercharger that will meet a number of requirements (weight, dimensions, performance, operating modes, lubrication features, drive design, etc.).
For these purposes, you can purchase a compressor from any car or order a ready-made tuning kit to boost the engine. There have also been cases where the supercharger was made independently, but such home-made solutions are quite rare, especially in the CIS.
The only drawback can be considered the relatively high price of proven offers on the market, while more affordable sets may be of dubious quality and quickly fail.
We should also not forget that more power is achieved by burning more fuel. It is natural that the heat generation in this case also increases greatly, and the motor will require more intensive cooling.
Operating procedure
- The refrigeration motor is equipped with three outputs. You need to mark the inlet and outlet holes for yourself. The sealed outlet is used to change engine oil. It needs to be cut off, drained of oil, filled with new oil (synthetic or semi-synthetic) and sealed.
- It is necessary to remove the outlet valve from the cylinder and remove the cap. The cylinder is cleaned of traces of corrosion and contamination from the outside and inside, and the lid is replaced. An adapter and a cross are placed in the lid.
- The upper pipe is intended for a pressure gauge and a tee. Another pipe is used to install a safety valve.
- Then you should make a frame for the device.
- The motor and receiver cylinder are attached to the base frame.
- Fuel filters should be connected to the inlet pipe.
- The wiring is done using a pressure switch, a toggle switch and a start relay. It is important to install the starting relay immediately in the correct position according to the mark.
- The tube through which air will be supplied must be connected to the receiver.
- Then you need to install a pressure gauge and a hose with a locking outlet.
Making a compressor from a refrigerator with your own hands is cost-effective and easy. The device does not make much noise during operation and is quite mobile. If regular movement is necessary, it is easy to equip the frame with wheels.
Method two (airbrush without paint sprayer)
This method is identical to the method described above, it differs only in a few details.
To make it you will need:
Position of the spray gun: a – walls, b – ceiling.
- gel pen refill;
- disposable syringe + needle;
- a piece of ballpoint pen refill;
- glass or plastic bottle, container for coloring emulsion;
- hot melt adhesive.
The entire process of assembling the airbrush occurs in several stages:
- cut off the writing part of the pen with a cone;
- cut off the sharp part of the medical needle;
- first dip the needle in hot glue and insert it into the cut rod so that its tip is visible from the metal part of the rod;
- the upper part of the syringe is attached to the bottle (a rod with a needle must be inserted into the body);
- make 3-4 holes in the lid for air access;
- The distance between the tip of the needle and the pen can be determined experimentally.
One of the advantages of this airbrush is the easy replacement of the reservoir.
Air compressor made from car parts
To operate pneumatic tools, craftsmen make an air compressor with their own hands. Devices of this type are made on the basis of the engine and compressor from a ZIL truck. It should be taken into account that such a unit makes a lot of noise during operation.
The assembly is carried out according to the installation diagram, the engine is placed separately. Such a device must be equipped with an emergency valve to reduce pressure. You can study the installation of this compressor in detail using video tutorials.
Compressor from a vacuum cleaner
Making a compression device from an old vacuum cleaner is a controversial issue. It is difficult to consider such a device as a full-fledged compressor. It’s easier to call it a spray gun for painting surfaces that are insignificant in every sense of the word: walls in the basement or fruit trees in the garden.
For these purposes, Soviet-made vacuum cleaners even had lids with a hole for spraying paint.
Method one (airbrush without spray gun)
First of all, you need to collect all the necessary tools. To make this type of airbrush you will need:
Spray gun made from a gel pen and syringe.
- a disposable syringe and a needle from it (its volume depends only on the desire of the master);
- clip;
- a thread;
- fixation - adhesive tape or tape;
- small container for paint.
The needle must be removed and heated over a fire so that it can be separated from the plastic base. You need to remove the piston from the syringe, first make the paper clip flat, and then bend it at an angle of 90 °. Tightly connect one side of the paperclip and the needle with a thread. Then use tape or tape to secure the other side of the paper clip and the body. Moreover, it is necessary to fix the structure near the hole on which the needle was placed. The tip of the needle must be positioned so that it is in the center of the syringe nozzle.
After this, you should dilute the paint so that it is liquid in a small container. Take the airbrush in your hand, lower the needle into the container with the dye and blow strongly into the wide nozzle.
Such airbrushes are popularly called “rotoblowers”. To make such a device, you will need 9-11 minutes and a minimum of equipment.
Aquarium compressor
In terms of the cost of the necessary parts, a homemade compressor for an aquarium is practically not inferior to a ready-made device. Therefore, there is always a question about the feasibility of such work.
The price of ready-made aquarium compressors is low, so craftsmen rarely make them themselves.
Content recommendations
Any compressor, including one assembled independently, needs maintenance. Content rules:
- The components of the device may wear out due to natural reasons. This point should be taken into account and the details updated regularly.
- Rapid contamination of the device occurs if it works constantly and has been functioning for a long time. The holes also become clogged, and air flows in insufficient quantities for the fish. The device should be thoroughly cleaned periodically.
- Hoses and tubes must be checked for leaks.
- Build a battery-powered compressor with a cooler. If the main aerator fails, it can be replaced with a compact version. This way the pets will be safe.
An aquarium compressor or aerator is an important component of a home pond. Without it, fish experience oxygen starvation, which negatively affects their well-being. You can buy the device in a specialized store or make it yourself. Various types of devices can be built.
Compressor for car painting
Most often, they make their own devices for painting car body parts.
The key to success in making a reliable and convenient compressor for painting will be the purchase of a durable receiver. The motor from a household refrigerator is not suitable for a device for this purpose. The best option is a car compressor and a 220 V electric motor.
An important part of a piston compressor is a special filter for removing condensate. Place it in front of the hose that supplies air to the spray gun. It is recommended to choose a filter with a fairly durable housing that can withstand high pressure.
Instead of hoses, for the reliability and quality of operation of the device, it is more reasonable to choose copper tubes and a reinforced hose.
Auto compressor modernization
You can make a mini compressor for connecting a spray gun or airbrush from a car pump, improving it a little. Modernizing the compressor will increase its power (performance) and will consist of adapting it to a voltage of 220 V (instead of 12 V), connecting the device to the receiver and installing automation.
Adaptation of the device to 220 V voltage
To connect the car pump to a 220 V network, you will need to find some kind of power supply unit (PSU), the output of which will be 12 V and the current strength suitable for the device.
Advice! A power supply from a computer is well suited for this purpose.
You can find out the current consumed by the device by looking at its nameplate. In this case, the power supply from the PC (see figure above) will be quite sufficient in terms of current and voltage.
So, if you plug the electrical cord into your PC's power supply and turn it on, nothing will happen. This is explained by the fact that the power supply will not turn on until it receives a signal from the PC. To simulate turning on a PC, you need to insert a jumper on the connector coming out of the power supply. You will need to find among the many conductors one wire that is green and the other wire that is black, as shown in the following photo.
These wires can be cut and twisted, but it is better to short them with a jumper.
Next, you need to find 2 more wires at the output of the power supply: one yellow, this will be “+”, and one black with the polarity “-”. You can take any wires of these colors from any bundle of conductors.
Since the car pump has a plug for connecting to the car’s cigarette lighter, you can cut it off and connect the device with the corresponding color wires from the power supply.
But it will be better if you buy a car cigarette lighter and connect it to the power supply, and connect the device itself using a standard plug.
There are 3 wires coming out of the cigarette lighter: red – “+”, black – “-” and yellow – “+”, intended for connecting the LED. Connect the conductors to the cigarette lighter, observing the polarity (see photo below).
If you insert the plug from the device into the cigarette lighter, you will get a 220 V electric air compressor, capable of not only inflating tires, but also working with an airbrush.
Connecting additional elements
To connect the device to the receiver, you need to assemble the structure shown in the diagram below.
This harness includes the following elements.
- Crosspiece having all outputs with BP1/2. The marking means: “BP” - internal thread, “1/2” - thread diameter in inches.
- The tee has all outlets with HP1/2 (“HP” - external thread).
- Valves in the amount of 2 pcs. (BP1/2 – BP1/2). Designed to block air movement in both directions. Double marking means that there is an internal thread on both sides of the valve.
- Check valve. Designed to allow air to flow in one direction only. You can install a simple spring valve BP1/2 - BP1/2. If you plan to work with a pressure of 6-7 bar, then it is necessary to select a check valve that does not have plastic parts.
- A straight nipple is an adapter with 2 external threads (HP1/2).
- Transition nipple HP1/2 – HP1/4. Allows you to change from one external thread diameter to another.
- Extension (60 mm) HP1/2 – HP1/2. This is the same nipple, only straight. That is, the thread at both ends has the same diameter.
- Transitional coupling. It is an adapter from an internal thread of one diameter to an internal thread of another. In this case, from BP1/2 to BP1/8.
- A tee having all outlets already with HP1/8 thread.
- Direct coupling VR1/8 – VR1/8. Has 2 identical internal threads.
- Adapter for HP1/8 hose.
- Pressure regulator (pressostat) with moisture-oil separator.
The pressure switch allows you to maintain the air pressure in the receiver not lower than the minimum and not higher than the maximum permissible level. A moisture separator may not be installed if the unit will be used as a tire inflator. When using the unit for painting, installing a moisture-oil separator is a must. The above piping diagram assumes 2 outlet fittings: the first for venting air to the spray gun (airbrush), and the second for inflating tires. - Transition nipple HP1/4 – HP1/8.
- The fitting (HP1/4 - BP1/8) is an adapter from a larger diameter external thread to a smaller diameter internal thread.
- Pressure gauges. These devices allow you to visually monitor the level of air pressure in the receiver and at the supply to the main line.
When assembling all elements, it is necessary to use thread sealant, for example, fum tape. Pressure gauges can be connected via cut-offs of high pressure hose. The latter should be pulled onto the adapters and secured with clamps.
Advice! It is recommended to place gaskets made from a larger diameter hose under the clamps. They will prevent the clamps from damaging the high pressure hose.
Pressure gauges can be screwed directly onto the thread, without using hoses, if you do not need to display them on the front panel of the unit.
What the compressor piping looks like when assembled according to the diagram is shown in the following photo.
The receiver for a car compressor can be made from a large-diameter metal pipe welded on both sides, a fire extinguisher or a gas cylinder. If the compressor is supposed to work only with an airbrush, then a regular tubeless wheel from a passenger car can serve as the receiver.
Important! When selecting a container for the receiver, you should take into account the fact that the car pump can operate for no more than 10 minutes. continuously. Accordingly, the volume of the receiver should be small (about 20 liters) so that the device can raise the air pressure in it to the required level before 10 minutes have passed.
Compressor for smoke generator
It’s easy to make a compressor for a smoke generator with your own hands. The secret of success lies in proper calculation of the power of the device.
The following parts will be required:
- fan unit (mounted from an axial fan from a computer);
- plastic containers with a capacity of 10 liters;
- tees for water pipes;
- tube or durable hose;
- variable resistance resistor.
Operating procedure.
- The fan is mounted in the slots of the plastic container and securely fastened.
- The outlet hose is placed in the neck of the container. The connection must be airtight.
- To adjust the speed, a variable resistance resistor is included in the fan power circuit.
The main purpose of this device is a constant supply of air with low pressure.
A few words about Chinese electric turbines
Literally 2 years ago, the “auto Internet” simply exploded with electric turbines from China. A small “thingy” was offered, which was installed in the gap in the air intake hose, which supposedly pumped air with pressure into the engine, a promised increase in power by as much as 15%! The engine itself was an incomprehensible cooler, neither electricity consumption, nor speed, nor pumped air - there were no indicators. If you even disassemble it visually, it becomes clear that this is a cooler similar to advanced computer coolers, so what can it increase? NOTHING! So we just don’t buy - it’s a SCAM.
Now, of course, other electric turbines are starting to appear on the same Chinese sites, many are even made in the shape of a snail - ala a mechanical compressor. But again, there are no indicators of pressure, consumption, or air pumping. Think before you buy. Let's watch an educational video.
Using a compressor as a washing machine
A simple additional device will allow you to make a sink from a compressor with your own hands.
- To do this, you need to purchase a blow gun and some plumbing items.
- The operating principle of the washing gun is based on the fact that it is equipped with an additional air inlet.
- Through the tap and quick-release connection, water enters the nozzle-gun, rests against the tee and passes through the nozzle. The air entering the gun creates additional pressure, making the water jet more powerful.
It is easy to use such a device for blowing parts.
Vacuum pump FOR 100 RUBLES
Let me share my experience of converting a 100 ruble aquarium pump into a vacuum one
. There is nothing tricky here, but you never know.. maybe it will be useful for someone.
(I saw a topic here somewhere about a water jet pump made from a syringe and two needles... someone was interested in the same thing)
So, the pump turns out to be a little more powerful than a water-jet from a syringe and, moreover, does not require water.
This is a compressor. On the market in Moscow time it costs 100 rubles:
Kompssor1. Vacuum pump FOR 100 RUBLES. Instruments and electrical equipment. Kompssor22. Vacuum pump FOR 100 RUBLES. Instruments and electrical equipment.
The design is extremely simple. We disassemble the indicated node.
Here is the part of it that is hungry for modernization:
Kompssor3. Vacuum pump FOR 100 RUBLES. Instruments and electrical equipment.
In it you just need to swap the valves (in my case, it was also necessary to saw off a corner of the part’s body, apparently the Chinese designers protected themselves from accidentally turning the compressor into a vacuum pump)
Kompssor4. Vacuum pump FOR 100 RUBLES. Instruments and electrical equipment.
So that. It's time to put it back together. In case of liquid penetration or condensation accumulation, I drilled holes in the bottom wall. Also, if you have a tube and glue, you can drain the pumped gases from the pump.
This canoe can be useful for completely getting rid of the smell during distillation; for experiments involving the creation of a slight vacuum in a distillation cube or fermentation tanks.
Source
Checking a homemade compressor
Before using a homemade device in practice, it needs to be checked.
First of all, it is necessary to inspect all connections for their reliability and tightness, and check the tubes and hoses for cracks.
When working with a compressor, the pressure level must be monitored using a pressure gauge.
The air pressure can be easily adjusted using the adjusting screw.
When using a homemade compressor, it must be periodically inspected for wear on the hoses and loose fasteners.
The advantage of a homemade device, in addition to its low cost, is its simplicity of design. This allows the owner to repair the compressor with his own hands.
Additional design ideas on how and what to make a compressor from can be easily gleaned from a photo of a homemade compressor.
Model with polyurethane foam
Having polyurethane foam in your arsenal, you can make a pump aerator. It will not only saturate the water with oxygen, but also purify the water in the aquarium.
Materials and tools
To get a pump compressor for an aquarium, you should take a number of its components:
- wooden board – 20 mm;
- self-tapping screws;
- polyurethane foam;
- aluminum alloy;
- aluminum washers;
- rubber layer;
- machine for processing metal products.
Manufacturing instructions
The compressor itself consists of a pump, a motor, and a transmission mechanism. Valves are mounted inside the housing. The latter can quickly wear out, so it should be replaced. What to do with the assembled components:
- Assemble the engine. For this purpose, attach the plate to the side surfaces. Installation is carried out using 2 screws that have an axis. It will serve as a center for transmitting motion to the motor shaft. The attached plate moves the axis.
- Use the machine. Make bushings, a flywheel and other components of the pump from aluminum alloy. Make Belleville washers, in simple words - this is a concave disk spring. Prepare a diaphragm from rubber, the size no larger than 1 mm.
- Now we need a box for acoustic junctions. This way the air duct will operate more quietly and produce less vibration. Make a box from boards using self-tapping screws. Don't forget the lid. Use polyurethane to make the legs. Line the bottom with foam rubber and cover the lid with any fabric.
- Provide ventilation - cover the hose and duct feed inlet as tightly as possible.
Another instruction for creating a compressor can be seen in the video:
