dantastic Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'm in the market for a new compressor to pump tyres. After googling a good bit it looks like the TMax 160l compressor is cheap and, at least on paper, quite good. Have anyone got one of these? How long have you had it?? I'm seriously concerned as it is being distributed by Britpart and I have never had any luck with their longevity. http://www.island-4x4.co.uk/tmax-compressor-160lpm-ba2663-p-3923.html I have read reviews saying the pressure meter isn't accurate. I'm OK with that as I will modify it to take a normally closed tyre inflator. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Very good,had mine for years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elbekko Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 It works brilliantly. Worked fine for popping a tyre onto the bead as well. The air line gets very hot though, after prolonged usage you pretty much require gloves to take the quick coupling apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Yep, second the heat, but at 160l/min I guess it has to go somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantastic Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 Heat would be expected alright. Thanks guys. Looks like it's a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L19MUD Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I echo all the above comments. Brilliant for the price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I have one permanently fitted in my 90 for onboard air. It's only been fitted for a couple of month so I can't talk about longevity but I've been impressed with the performance and build quality It doesn't have the capability to start under full load so I use a check valve and unloader circuit which also switches it in and out at set pressures. I binned the standard hoses and tyre inflator and use proper workshop stuff instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantastic Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 I use a check valve and unloader circuit which also switches it in and out at set pressures. I binned the standard hoses and tyre inflator and use proper workshop stuff instead This was exactly my thinking. Was thinking might even add a 1-2l tank as just a bit of buffer to prevent the thing from just starting-stopping-starting-stopping. Or how do you find it? What pressures did you use for the pressure switch? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Davies Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I was thinking of using something like this as part of an onboard air system. Have you got details of how you have set yours up Lewis? Cheers Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverik Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Mine lasted about 2 years with being used about 5 times for filling the odd tyre... not impressed at all... the motor packed in, on taking it apart it was pretty nasty cheapness... SO the replacement I got was the cheapest Britpart one I could find, and I was gobsmacked at the quality difference (britpart one being much better)... - and thats a statement I've never ever said before ever! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 When my last ARB HD compressor gave up the ghost in my competition motor I decided enough was enough and replaced the ARB with a T-Max on the grounds that, at that price, it doesn't matter too much if it dies within a couple of years. I'm still on my first one though after 2 1/2 years so quids in ! The on/off switch seemed a bit cheap and nasty so I bypassed that (no need for it in an automatic system) and it's wired through a Maxi fuse and a suitable HD relay. As per the manual that came with it, I've put a none return valve between the pump and the reservoir. I have a fairly large air tank in my setup that I'd previously disconnected because the ARB couldn't really cope with it, the T-Max copes with it though so it's back in too. It's mainly used for Diff locks and winch freespool activation and tyre inflation at the end of an event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I used a cheap Chinese non return valve from eBay (~£2.50) and a four port compressor unloader valve with built in adjustable pressure switch (~£20) the same as most domestic mains compressors would use. Like Dave w I bypassed the standard switch and wired the relay switching circuit through the pressure switch. I already had a small moisture trap/regulator, and a 2 litre tank fitted from my previous install. I adjusted the pressure switch to cut in at 90psi and out at ~125psi, the regulator supplies 80psi to the locker and freespool to keep them happy. I also have two pcl outlets for plugging in the tyre inflator Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantastic Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 Fantastic! That was exactly what I had in mind! Thank you, confident now. Out of curiosity, where did you get the 2l tank from? I haven't seen any handy ones on ebay or anywhere else... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 It's a repurposed plumbed in powder fire extinguisher tank like you would find on a rally car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeyw Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 There are lots of cheap air suspension receivers on eblag, from big 4x4s like Audi, BMW, VW etc. I however had a 2kg spent extinguisher to repurpose ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I had a full 2 litre extinguisher to spend, just to repurpose it made a right mess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Davies Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 Thanks Lewis, I think I get it, bit of a vapour idea ATM so will no doubt come back with more specific questions when it gets off the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'd like a bigger tank really, for a bit of extra capacity when inflating tyres, and to stop it cutting in quite so regularly when I'm offroading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I have a few boc bottles from a fizzy drinks machine that they don't want back. I'll look up the size and pressure if they're any interest. Free if you collect lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted September 21, 2015 Share Posted September 21, 2015 I'd be interested Al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 I don't think they're any bigger than what you have, the cylinder bit stands about 350mm high 140mm diameter. They're pressurised to 50 bar though so I guess they'd be thick enough to mount under the car without worrying about the odd rock hitting them if space was an issue. Guess you could plumb a few together for extra volume. Think I have 4 or 5 in total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zim Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 "Disposable" welding gas bottles are a perfect size. With regards to using a bigger one on the basis that you get more is a bit difficult. Unless you were to go for something really big, your benefits are really small. I have about a 10l tank, and will run much smaller next time. Mine is charged from an air con pump, but have a t max plumbed in as spare. No complaints about them, have killed one but that was understandable because of how it was treated ! G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 If you want to spend some money, Matt Savage will supply you a Viair tank.... and all the fittings you could want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dantastic Posted September 22, 2015 Author Share Posted September 22, 2015 Hope this helps The relay jobby you have looks like it's for a 230v system rather than a 12v one. Do the 230v relays work on 12v or is that in fact a 12v relay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cynic-al Posted September 22, 2015 Share Posted September 22, 2015 The black box is a mechanical switch which trips on and off with the air pressure rather than through an electrical coil. There is a 2 pole switch inside which is just brass contacts and is fine on 12v providing your pump doesn't overload it current wise. I use one on my A/C based system and they are ok with the 5ish amps the clutch draws however I suspect a T-max draws significantly more so I assume people use this to switch a suitable 12v relay. They also have a decompression valve built in for the supply line and a safety valve so are ideal and cheap. You just need a check valve on the reservoir so that you don't decompress that! I have a 24 litre tank from a domestic compressor, if you ask around they're usually kicking about as the cheap motors / pumps fail and then you have all the fittings you need, I've even known people buy them new from lidl etc and skip the motor / pump The big reservoir is ideal for putting tyres on rims or running air tools as it gives you that initial quick flow of air you need. If it's just for lockers or pumping tyres back up after a days offroading then your probably just unnecessarily working your pump risking early failure. Hope that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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