HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Topic: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade) (Read 1440 times) previous topic - next topic

HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

April 20, 2015, 01:13:22 am

This one has been on my list for some time, but today I finished the first phase of our aux compressor upgrade. This phase consisted of simply mounting the new ARB Twin compressor and using the old water separator and control assembly from the Thomas which was put in when the coach was built. The Thomas still functioned as designed, but I wanted better performance and the potential of using the aux compressor to air up the tires and pre-fill the wet tank for quick getaways. The later goals will have to wait for the second phase which involves some additional wiring, a sloenoid or two and a few switches. The ARB compressor has its own control relay and I am simply using the HWH computer controlled relay which powered the old Thomas to turn on the ARB's relay and the ARB is wired to the house battery via its own wire harness which has two 40 amp fuses in parallel on two 10 gage wires (I believe ARB used the same harness for the 24vdc version). I had previously removed the Thomas aux compressor when I relocated the 12vdc breaker panel and installed the Magnum MSH3012M inverter and the Magnum Mini panel on the forward wall of the storage bay. The Thomas compressor was mounted on a frame with the old Heart Freedom 20 inverter which was hung from the ceiling of the basement. I am sure there is a considerable amount of my DNA still adorning that metal frame collected from my scalp

. Maximizing the storage in the JoeyBed was also the reason I had relocated the drawer that was next to the inverter to the propane compartment above the tank.
Anyway, I fabricated a ¼" thick aluminum plate to mount the ARB compressor on near the center of the storage compartment across the nook from the inverter and mini panel/solar charge controller. The JoeBed can clear the compressor which doesn't stick out even as far as the inverter. So far so good. It was a bit tricky to figure out exactly how to wire the compressor as it cam preconfigured to use with an ARB air locker system (an air differential locking system used in off road use). While it is quite a bit noisier than the stock aux, it is a heck of a lot faster to raise the coach. I haven't tried it yet, but I am sure I could raise the coach high enoug to put in my safety stands even if I couldn't use the engine compressor to build air like when we were stuck by the side of the road in Canada for 12 hours while I cobbled together an air dryer bypass out misc plumbing parts and the old fittings of the Air Dryer. I still have to do a lot of wire management etc. and I have already thought of a couple of refinements, but it appears to be fully functional now for leveling or raising the coach. Since the aux compressor will only run when I am using the HWH control panel and we normally don't have it left on auto level, the extra noise is a trade off that I can live with for the much, much faster response to lift the coach. Now, if can only convince Tys...

Don

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #1 – April 20, 2015, 11:11:15 am

PURTY! I like blue! You've probably covered this in previous posts, but I'm too lazy to go look...what is approximate "street" price of compressor, and maximum pressure output?

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #2 – April 20, 2015, 02:45:13 pm

I paid about $500 at a local 4x4 parts place. It is around 6cfm @ 0 psi and 3cfm @ 90 psi. I wish it wasn't so noisy... but I don't ever remember hearing a quiet air compressor of any reasonable capacity. I tried to use the original compressor to raise the rear of the coach while stuck by the side of the road, but was completely useless for that. I believe that other Foretravel models like those with slides have higher capacity aux compressors, but I wonder how loud they are and how effective they would be to raise the coach if need be...
Don

Quote from: cajk – April 20, 2015, 11:11:15 am

PURTY! I like blue! You've probably covered this in previous posts, but I'm too lazy to go look...what is approximate "street" price of compressor, and maximum pressure output?

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #3 – April 20, 2015, 02:57:57 pm

The little compressor in our 2001 with a slide will raise the coach but it takes a long time. It is not plumbed into the front/rear service tanks so if you are out of air it will not help to release the parking brake. In 2002 and later they went to a bigger compressor. If I connect an air line to the aux air port from an external compressor at home I can raise the coach easily. I need to go through all of the check valves and connections to make sure they are installed correctly and functional. We are stopping by HWH on Thursday for a health and wellness check. They will locate any leaks and fix anything that is part of their systems. Your new air compressor look nice. Is it mounted on any sort of sound/vibration isolators? Your aluminium plate may just be a sound board. Roger

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #4 – April 20, 2015, 03:23:13 pm

The twin compressors came from the manufacturer mounted on a bracket via some soft rubber bushings. I mounted that bracket to the plate via two ⅛" thick rubber washers with a steel washer sandwiched in between. I also put two layers of dynamat extreme on the back of the aluminum plate. I may redo the mount by making a sprung mount supported from the bottom edge as well as against the aluminum plate in an attempt to uncouple the assembly from the mounting plate as much as possible. The plate spans two vertical steel frame members in the bulkhead because it obviously needs a fair amount of support. It is mounted on the wall because of the desire to save as much room as possible for storage clearance.
Thanks for the info on your compressor. Is it quiet while operating? I wonder if anybody with a 2002 or above coach will chime in...
Don

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Quote from: Home2fromHastings – April 20, 2015, 02:57:57 pm

The little compressor in our 2001 with a slide will raise the coach but it takes a long time. It is not plumbed into the front/rear service tanks so if you are out of air it will not help to release the parking brake. In 2002 and later they went to a bigger compressor. If I connect an air line to the aux air port from an external compressor at home I can raise the coach easily. I need to go through all of the check valves and connections to make sure they are installed correctly and functional. We are stopping by HWH on Thursday for a health and wellness check. They will locate any leaks and fix anything that is part of their systems. Your new air compressor look nice. Is it mounted on any sort of sound/vibration isolators? Your aluminium plate may just be a sound board. Roger

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #5 – April 20, 2015, 04:27:01 pm

Quote from: acousticart – April 20, 2015, 03:23:13 pm

Thanks for the info on your compressor. Is it quiet while operating? I wonder if anybody with a 2002 or above coach will chime in...
Don

Don, Here is a photo of the decibels recorded off of our larger Aux Compressor and an audio file if it comes thru

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #6 – April 20, 2015, 05:03:13 pm

Roger,

How far ahead did you need to schedule your appointment with HWH?

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #7 – April 20, 2015, 05:05:57 pm

Thanks Barry,
It doesn't sound that much different. A couple of questions; How far away from the compressor was the microphone, and is it effective enough to raise the whole coach without overheating? Okay three questions... how loud is it from the inside of the coach?
Thanks!
Don

Quote from: Barry Beam – April 20, 2015, 04:27:01 pm

Don, Here is a photo of the decibels recorded off of our larger Aux Compressor and an audio file if it comes thru

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #8 – April 20, 2015, 05:42:05 pm

Quote from: acousticart – April 20, 2015, 05:05:57 pm

Thanks Barry,
It doesn't sound that much different. A couple of questions; How far away from the compressor was the microphone, and is it effective enough to raise the whole coach without overheating? Okay three questions... how loud is it from the inside of the coach?
Thanks!
Don

I was standing right next to it. It does get hot when trying to air the whole coach but it can do it. Inside Decibels attached Photo.
I don't hear much when I am in the coach but I do know it is running.

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #9 – April 20, 2015, 06:02:12 pm

HWH appointment was made about three weeks before the day I wanted to be there. And I got in on that day. We will get there the afternoon before, they have hookups, and they get started at 7-7:30. I went for a mid-week appointment. Any issues I have an extra day. Roger

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #10 – April 20, 2015, 08:47:37 pm

Don, I get the same results as BArry does.

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #11 – April 20, 2015, 11:52:25 pm

Don, the smaller compressor is pretty quiet. I replaced the spring mounts with new ones from HWH. PN RAP6562. The three sets of two springs have one spring on either side of the base plate with a bolt and sleeve that pass theough the springs. It is hard to hear inside the coach when it is running. When it starts and stops is when you hear it. The torque causes the motor to twist and clunk once in a while. Much quieter with the new springs. Roger

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #12 – April 21, 2015, 12:20:51 am

I am in the process of figuring out how to soften the mount. More challenging since the compressor is mounted vertically on the compartment wall because of shear loads, but doable. Just one more project kinda, sorta, done for now...

Don

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #13 – April 21, 2015, 12:28:57 am

Don, try a marine hardware store for motor mounts used on outboard motors.

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #14 – April 21, 2015, 12:54:24 am

Thanks for the idea Richard! I will check it out...
Don

Quote from: rbark – April 21, 2015, 12:28:57 am

Don, try a marine hardware store for motor mounts used on outboard motors.

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #15 – April 21, 2015, 09:12:46 am

Don, I had a hot tub pump mounted on a 3/4" piece of plywood mounted to two studs in the garage. I could hear the pump in the house. I stuffed a big plastic bag behind the plywood and between the studs and filled if with concrete from the bottom plate up about a foot higher than the plywood. The increased mass damped out almost all of the noise. Your plate may be amplifying the compressor noise. Roger

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HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

April 20, 2015, 01:13:22 am

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #1 – April 20, 2015, 11:11:15 am

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #2 – April 20, 2015, 02:45:13 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #3 – April 20, 2015, 02:57:57 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #4 – April 20, 2015, 03:23:13 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #5 – April 20, 2015, 04:27:01 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #6 – April 20, 2015, 05:03:13 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #7 – April 20, 2015, 05:05:57 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #8 – April 20, 2015, 05:42:05 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #9 – April 20, 2015, 06:02:12 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #10 – April 20, 2015, 08:47:37 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #11 – April 20, 2015, 11:52:25 pm

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #12 – April 21, 2015, 12:20:51 am

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #13 – April 21, 2015, 12:28:57 am

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #14 – April 21, 2015, 12:54:24 am

Re: HWH lung transplant (or aux compressor upgrade)

Reply #15 – April 21, 2015, 09:12:46 am

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