RapidAir Fast Pipe Install

[jeepxj]

Went total over kill on the house garage cause... why not.


What shows up. a box and a tube

Not much to it. Just make sure if you take the compression stuff apart it goes back like they say.

Trunk line style:

Drop between the garage doors

Used a cut off section to make the mounting transition from ceiling to wall right.

I didn't like the idea of water ruining the sheetrock so I plumbed the drains.

I used the included 3/4" fitting for an additional tank on the other end of the system later.

Feeding the system through the drain port on one of the blocks

baby compressor tucked in the deep under stair closet.

Tip section:

Don't assemble the blocks until they are mounted on the wall. The fittings cover the mounting holes.

Unless you are a Type A with OCD you will be making 45 trips to the hardware store for fittings.

Going from ceiling to wall use this setup to keep things in line

 

[bimmer1980]

Nicely done!!

Just curious what you have invested for a system like this....

I like how you did the drains as well. Very well thought out.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Nicely done! As much as I like that system, I don't want to do anything that fancy with all the quick connects and such. I'd have to take a LOT of stuff apart to re-run with hard tubing. I just have good old rubber hose feeding two hose reels.

Tommy

 

[jeepxj]

400 for the kit itself
80 bucks in wire, hose, fittings, quick connects, etc from the industrial outlet store

 

[motofool33]

are those 6 or 8 foot fast pipe sections?

did you cut any with normal pipe cutters?

 

[jeepxj]

are those 6 or 8 foot fast pipe sections?

did you cut any with normal pipe cutters?

8' cut with normal pipe cutters. Then used the included tool to taper/deburr the edges.

 

[Flathead4]

Nice work jeepxj,

I like the drains you have incorporated. (You must live South of Minnesota)

I am new here and just enjoying the reads.

I work in the compressed air business, not as a sales person, just service compressors, install them, and install air systems.

My garage system is not as nice, good job.

B

 

[jeepxj]

Did you see the thread about the garage rails with 32" radius? You have a lot of room above your doors as well. Just an idea.

Just out of curiosity, why didn't you use the yellow plumber's tape that is resistant to oil/grease? White plumbers tape is for water lines.

Also, I like to use a wire brush to get all that extra plumbers tape off. I hate the unsightly look of all extra tape on the fittings.

I did not. I'd love to move the doors up without having to get all new doors.

Had the white on hand. if it leaks down the line I'll find some yellow but I have my doubt it'll be a problem.

Good call.

 

[jeepxj]

Nice work jeepxj,

I like the drains you have incorporated. (You must live South of Minnesota)

I am new here and just enjoying the reads.

I work in the compressed air business, not as a sales person, just service compressors, install them, and install air systems.

My garage system is not as nice, good job.

B

I just didn't like the idea of it spewing all over sheetrock.


For the bowl drain I'm putting this under it to catch what comes out.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I just didn't like the idea of it spewing all over sheetrock.


For the bowl drain I'm putting this under it to catch what comes out.

I wouldn't have guessed a bottle cap catcher would be water tight.

Tommy

 

[jeepxj]

I wouldn't have guessed a bottle cap catcher would be water tight.

Tommy

They're not. I have a plan however.

 

[motofool33]

for the water seperator does it have an auto drain or manual?

i would probably just run the hose over and T into your other blue drain rather then try to catch it in that metal tray.

 

[jeepxj]

for the water seperator does it have an auto drain or manual?

i would probably just run the hose over and T into your other blue drain rather then try to catch it in that metal tray.

Manual drain. I don't need an auto drain. Plus it gives me something to do every now and then.

 

[8man]

Nice job! Looks great.

 

[jeepxj]

First big workout on the system. Blowing out the sprinklers. No leaks. No problems at all really.

Power consumption on the lil compressor is interesting. No idea on the hard start

 

[fnieto]

Our fast pipe system 350' (loop system) is still leak free after two years of service. No water found at business end either,but thats another system/s.

 

[Vinko]

I like this. I've seen the RapidAir at trade shows, I think. Is this the stuff resold by Prevost and Kaesar?

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

First big workout on the system. Blowing out the sprinklers....

Maybe I missed something you wrote elsewhere in the thread ...what does "blowing out the sprinklers" mean? Fire sprinklers? Lawn sprinklers?

Anyway, I've been interested in a Rapidair system for awhile. It seems SO much easier this installing either black iron or sweating a copper system in.

It appears you installed your system NOT as a continuous loop - which is what I always read is supposed to be optimum. If I install a system as basically a large "T" do you think this would work ok? I know I'd have to put a drain at the end of each leg of the "T" and of course I will put a quick disconnect outlet at each end too. But I have retractable air hose reel also and I want to install it at the front of my garage pretty much right next to the compressor. How to do that and still get all the water out?

 

[jeepxj]

Ahhh california. Yes blowing out lawn sprinklers. Growing up we had to do them by hand with a tennis ball to seal the line and manually screwing with the valves. At my place I have a quick connect into the sprinkler system to pressurize it. Then with http://rachio.com/ I have been blowing them out from my couch.

It was blindly easy to install compared to copper. You are correct I didn't install in a loop. The loop helps with balancing the airflow when you have demand from 2 ports at once among other things.

With the rapid air "blocks" each drop will have a drain on the bottom of it.

For what your thoughts are I would think where i have the T on the right side going into the bottom of the rapid air block, you could have a cross and send a line up to the hose reel. My filter/regulator combo has been full of water all day. I'm hardly getting any water out of it on the far sides.

All in all I would say do it.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks for the response. Duh, I don't know why I didn't think of a cross.

Your signature doesn't have where you're located and as your California comment alludes to, I've never considered having to blow out sprinkler lines in my life!

 

[gnpenning]

Nice install. With the drain valves at the block you do not have a place for the water to collect. It will all go through the fittings to your tools. If the drain valve was down the line allowing for a collection point you would get a better read on if you have water getting that far. Basically there is no place for the water to build up like you have at the compressor connection point.