Adding a tank to my new Air Compessor. How?

[craigwojo]

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased a Kobalt Quiet Tech 26-gallon, 150 PSI air compressor. I also have several extra tanks from other compressors that are not working (California Air Tools and Fortress, vertical style), and I’d like to use them as additional storage for my new compressor.

I’ve watched quite a few YouTube videos, but I’m not getting a clear, consistent answer on how to set this up safely.

My goal is to remove the pump/motor assemblies from the California Air and Fortress units and use just the tanks. Does that sound like a good approach?

What I really need help with is understanding:

• What components should I be using
• How everything should be connected
• Where a check valve should be installed (if needed)
• The proper way to tie everything into the Kobalt tank

I understand that the system pressure will ultimately be regulated to whatever I set at the compressor, but I want to make sure everything is done safely and correctly.

Any guidance or even a simple diagram would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[The Cobbler]

firstly, you don't really gain much by adding a second tank. you may get more air use per charge but that makes for longer cycle times( longer wait times to build pressure) .
what are you hoping to gain from adding another tank?

to join the 2 tanks make sure the additional tank you are connecting is rated for the max pressure of your other compressor
there's several ways to plumb the second tank... do you want it as a permanent set up or is it going to be a random use thing?

 

[craigwojo]

Thank you for the reply. I'm using it with my laser. Its just for using to cool the area of the beam while cutting or engraving. Only using about 22psi on the cuts. I just want the machine (laser) to cut longer without the air compressor restarting every 3 minutes or so. I understand that the refilling of the two air tanks will take longer, but it would be less of the ON and OFF, ON and OFF routine.

This would be a permanent setup.

Thank you Cobbler.

 

[5ubtle]

... I’ve watched quite a few YouTube videos, but I’m not getting a clear, consistent answer on how to set this up safely.
... Any guidance or even a simple diagram would be greatly appreciated.

Let's say that someone here provides you with guidance and a diagram. How does that help you? You will just have another "instruction from some random dude on the internet". How do you choose which to believe?

How about, you give us your best guess at what you need. Make us a schematic. We can work from there.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

I had intended on doing something similar and assembled a manifold out of black pipe. I had a large aluminum tank that I was going to put in my attic but it ended up being stolen and I ended up buying electric/battery tools anyway. It would have tied in at the open gauge with an old air hose. The idea with the manifold was that either tank could be isolated and blown down and the output is regulated with condensation removed. I don't see why you would need a check valve.

What happened with the california air compressor? I was thinking about picking up a 10020AC for occasional use, who knows how much more time my old steel tank craftsman has left in it.

 

[Citation]

The simple version is easy. All the compressors in those pictures have a pair of female connectors. Just get a standard hose + a male to male connector with a valve in the center. That lets you connect the two compressors and open the valve.

Get/make a male to male Milton connector with a shut off valve. Basically get this
https://www.amazon.com/Jingzan-Compressor-Coupler-Female-Fitting/dp/B0DWSJQY6R?tag=atomicindus08-20
and this

https://www.amazon.com/BILAL-Connect-Adapter-Compressor-Fittings/dp/B0CKTPX91L?tag=atomicindus08-20

You now have a valve + two male Milton couplers. Then just use a typical air hose going from the coupler on one tank into the other. I have something like this so I can add air to a 6 gallon pancake tank with no motor. I use it to top off tires that aren't near the garage as well as blow air through the garden hose before winter.

Will this make the two tanks behave like they were one, as if you had a 1" pipe connecting the two tanks? No. But how fast does the air really need to come from the second tank?

That said, at some point you are still stuck with the volume of air your pump can push out. If you can fix the pump on either of those you can use this same thing to increase your available air via both pumps running. It's not as good as some sort of wide pipe connecting the two systems but it's simple and will result in an increase in available volume/flow rate.

 

[Shoreline_]

just tie them all together not with check valve. What's so difficult ? But a laser is a constant use device. A bunch of tanks isn't gonna help with anything. Just size your pump right.

 

[craigwojo]

Thank you, everyone. I will consider all your inputs

 

[seber]

I use a double shutoff quick disconnect on mine for the air bubble. If I were adding a tank that is how I would do it. In total, that means two male and two female standard QDs plus the male and female shutoff QD.

 

[craigwojo]

Being a newbie to this, or maybe being too over-cautious. What goes where with my air compressor and my 26 Gal tank? I would like to keep my Kobalt as is, but a few modifications could be made.
I know there are many pictures, but I wanted you to see what I'm working with.

Thank you, Craig

 

[GeoBruin]

Something like this?

 

[craigwojo]

Something like this?

Thank you. Of course I will cap off the stem opening on the empty tank.