mate 2 compressors?

[blaze_125]

Here I go again ...
I have 2 rather small compressors that are in good working conditions. Since they're so small their CFM ratings are barely enough to keep up with most air tools. I mean, I can use my impact for short periods of time, or I can even use a grinder for about 10 seconds before the compressor kicks on for a few minutes. If the compressor motors were bigger, I assume I could keep using the tools as the tank fills up because the compressor would pressurize more air than my tool is drawing. Right?

To keep my tools running longer, I first tried to run both tanks in serie with only motor hooked up to the power outlet. For anyone who's tried that before you know it "works" but the CFM rating stays the same and it just ends up taking longer to fill up the now bigger tank.

Now here's what I'd like to try. I'd like to have both compressor motor fill up the same tank. I have one motor mounted on a 5 gallon tank, and 1 mounted on a 8 gallon tank. I'd like both motors to fill the 8 gallon one. Electricity wise, I think I have it covered... The motors would be hooked to 2 different 15a circuit. So when both motors kick on, they don't consistently trip the breaker.

Feasability? I'm kinda bored right now, so I'm brainstorming all kind of crazy ideas...

Edit:

Or would it be simpler to just run both compressor in serie and actually have both connected to an electrical power source so they both kick on at the same time and fill a combinated 13 gallon, instead of having 2 motors filling a 8 gallon?

Would my total CFM increase?
Both compressors are rated 4.1cfm @ 90psi.

 

[Major Ramifications]

I had a good friend (very frugal guy) who wanted to do this. It can be done, but I told him to break down and buy himself a proper sized compressor. He finally did, and he was happy.

 

[78Bird]

I'd sell them both and upgrade. The hassle to get that working would be a lot, then you only end up with a jury-rigged 8.2 CFM at most.

 

[Packard V8]

Yes, it will be less bad than what you have now.
No, it won't really solve your problem. Those are toys. For air tools, you need a real compressor with a big tank.
Maybe, since you're bored, do it just for the education, while you are looking for a good machine.

jack vines

 

[slopecarver]

Hook them both up so they run independently. Attach a line directly between both their tanks. Crank them both up to the lower tanks rated psi and use a regulator before your air line out from this system set to your desired pressure. This will maximize your tool run time. Keep an eye out on craiglsist for a bigger used one.

 

[blaze_125]

Keep an eye out on craiglsist for a bigger used one.

Been doing so for over a year

 

[larry_g]

Blaze

This is simple, just tee the outlets together and run your load. Let each compressor kick on when it wants to. I have a manifold in the shop that allows me to attach 3 compressors into the shop piping. If your filling a tire or whatever then only one compressor will kick on and fill the system. If running a sander or hi use tool then eventually all three may kick in. Two of these compressors have been given to me and the 'big' compressor I have is only about 7-9cfm. Each compressor online will ADD to the systems capability.
Is this the best system, no, but it is cheap and I have two portable compressors to throw in the truck if I need air elsewhere.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[blaze_125]

This is simple, just tee the outlets together and run your load.

After my last post, that's actually what started running through my mind. The compressor currently has a line feeding the retractable hose reel on the ceiling... so basically instead of feeding the reel with 1 line, I'd be feeding it 2. But the end result would be the same as slopecarver's idea which is the cheapest option since one of my compressor actually has 2 outlets. It would like the attached picture

 

[larry_g]

After my last post, that's actually what started running through my mind. The compressor currently has a line feeding the retractable hose reel on the ceiling... so basically instead of feeding the reel with 1 line, I'd be feeding it 2. But the end result would be the same as slopecarver's idea which is the cheapest option since one of my compressor actually has 2 outlets. It would like the attached picture

That is what you can do. You will need to do some plumbing though. At the very least changing one of QD's to a plug or making a special line with two plugs on it, or taking two plugs and connecting them with a union. My solution at one time was to take two plugs and connect them with a ball valve as this made it possible to connect two compressors together when they were both charged up.

There are other solutions but these will work, it just depends on weather you want to discharge both tanks before connecting or connect live tanks.

lg
no neat sig line