Remote mounted air compressor tank?

[240sxguy]

I have a weird question for you guys. I am looking at buying a horizontal 80 gallon compressor for a very good price, its an older unit with a Quincy head and newer motor. The tank is obviously very large.

I have a totally empty attic above my garage. It is connected to the house near my master bedroom so the noise of the pump shaking the structure would be annoying, however the tank in the attic should not be problematic. I can set it up so I can drain it etc.. I have really short ceilings. I will be remodeling the garage come springtime, so cutting a hole to get it up there is no problem.

Is this idea totally ridiculous? Because it almost seems too ideal LOL.

Thanks everyone, this is my first post. This site ROCKS!

Evan

 

[buening]

Structurally, it depends on what your trusses were designed for. That compressor isn't exactly light, so you'd have to distribute the weight to as many trusses as possible. How do you propose you will get it up there?

 

[Speed-Racer]

My quincy 80gal compressor weights around 600lbs, I would not want anything that heavy in the attic. During the summer, its going to pull in a lot of really hot air and it will freeze in the winter. Besides the safety concerns, for the amount of work getting it in the attic, you could build an small storage shed next to the garage. A lot safer and much easier to service. Use the attic for storage.

 

[vlocci]

Evan,

I do just this, so it is not too out of the ordinary.

A few concerns, that are pretty easy to address

1) be careful of collecting too much condensed water in the pump to tank supply line. Theoretically you could hydrolock the pump. I have a simple drainage T in the line near my pump that catches any condensate that is in the line when the pump shuts off.

2) Where to put the check valve/unloader? Mine is at the pump as opposed to the tank, since I had a long run and did not want to listen to air bleeding out out of 50 feet of 3/4 pipe every time the pump shuts down.

3) Where to put the pressure switch? Mine is at the pump side as well after the check valve, as it simplifies wiring and installation. this also eliminates needing to run wiring to the tank. Location will depend on where you put the check valve/unloader.

4) overpressure vents at the pump side and tank side, in the event that the pressure switch sticks on and the pump overpressurizes the tank before the circuit breaker kicks. If your running a high CFM pump, be sure your overpressure safety vent can actually bleed off pressure faster than the pump can make it. My 2 stage pump could initially continue to build pressure in the tank when the safety vent was open, which is a dangerous condition. A trip to a local hydraulic store resulted in a much larger safety valve that can bleed air faster than the pump can make it.

Otherwise, the suggested installation is pretty easy to accomplish and is often done in industry. Just think things through and you should be fine. The load carrying capacity of your trusses is certainly something to investigate as well as this was not an issue in my installation

Vin.

 

[vlocci]

Evan,

I think I may have misunderstood your questions. My answer (above) addressed remote mounting the tank separate from the pump. (i.e. pump in garage, tank in attic)

Please disregard my reply if this is not your intention.

Vin

 

[240sxguy]

Vin, you hit the nail on the head.

Thanks alot guys, I had no idea this compressor could be so heavy. I certainly would NOT try to put 600 pounds of tank up there. Keep in mind, I dont have this compressor yet but am trying to figure out if I can make it work. Its more than adequate for me, but footprint is a real problem. Building a reinforced platform would be the way to go provided this tank doesn't weigh too much.

How to get it up there? Well, I haven't thought that far into the whole situation. I figured I could start measuring if it was even feasible.

I find out exact tank dimensions on Thursday. Ill update then.

Evan

Speed-Racer, that is kind of a last resort for me. I would like to keep it where maintenance is easy.. however you may be on to something. I do have a storage shed. I would have to trench a long distance to stick the tank in there though.

Evan

 

[Speed-Racer]

Even a small outside enclosure with a slanted roof would house a compressor and could be build with minimal materials. If you search GJ, you will see a IR compressor that was placed on the second level of a barn. Getting it up into the space maybe a lot easier than lowering it down for repairs/replacement. I was considering building an outside "doghouse" for my compressor, but the rep at Quincy talked me out of it, it would be hard to check the oil level, perform service and drain the water out of the tank. They wanted the compressor to be a heated space.

 

[T56 Impala]

This has me thinking.....

I have a small compressor. Sanborn 80gl. If indeed the tank and head can be mounted in different locations, this would solve a great noise problem for me.

Building an out door storage "shed" is not an option. HOA violation you know. But..... I could hide a small "box" that could conceal the pump and motor outside. Low to the ground. Behind a bush or something along those lines.

How hard is it to remote mount the tank or pump?

I actually thought about burying the compressor. (Digging a big hole, forming walls out of lumber and making a lid for it.) not too sure how that would work during the rainy season though.

 

[240sxguy]

Even a small outside enclosure with a slanted roof would house a compressor and could be build with minimal materials. If you search GJ, you will see a IR compressor that was placed on the second level of a barn. Getting it up into the space maybe a lot easier than lowering it down for repairs/replacement. I was considering building an outside "doghouse" for my compressor, but the rep at Quincy talked me out of it, it would be hard to check the oil level, perform service and drain the water out of the tank. They wanted the compressor to be a heated space.

Part of my concern is that the compressor is heated so I can use it for the winter. Hence the desire to seperate tank from pump head/motor. I wanted to keep that part in my heated garage and locate the tank elsewhere.

Thanks for everyones input, Ill keep this thread updated.

Evan

 

[thundercow]

It's funny, I was going to post my question here on GJ, but I searched first, and sure enough, someone had already posted about putting a compressor in the attic. I didn't want to start a new thread because it's sort of really just an extension of the original poster.

I have a 5 gallon craftsman compressor, just for little jobs in the garage pumping tires, and for wrenches. . Above my garage I have tons of space, and power outlets. There's no mount or anything, just rubber feet. I'd like to have this compressor in the attic, and just drop the hose through a hole in the ceiling. If I want to get fancy, I can mount a hose reel. Oh, and with our texas climate, the attic will not freeze--but does get quite hot in the summer.

To me, this seems completely sensible--although some of you more experienced guys might point out something I am not considering.

Once question I do have is that I don't want the compressor turning on as air leaks out. I want to be able to turn it on on demand, and I have been looking for a remote switch--but I don't want to have a permanent switch mounted, I was hoping for one of those hanging ones on a coil that I have seen that operate hoists...so that's another question i have.