Hard wiring 12v air compressor?

[kzj90nz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kzj90nz]

Hi guys,

I've just bought a 12v 150psi Ridge Ryder air compressor. It's a fairly bulky unit and don't want it to fly around in the vehicle - particularly if there is an accident!

I've seen that many of you have mounted them in the engine - I'm not too sure about that given the exposure to engine temps, dust, must and water!

I'm thinking that I'd like to mount it next to where the tools are stored in the rear of the vehicle.

Anyone done this and have any tips? Perhaps you have thoughts on other mounting locations?

[Guest Close Guest]

You will need pretty hefty cable as the compressor will draw 30-40A.

[Mule Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mule]

Don't worry about the engine bay. I have not come across anyone who has had a failure for that reason. You can always plumb the intake directly from the engine air filter box if that worries you. Compressor temperature when operating will rapidly exceed engine bay temp no matter where you mount it. An alternative would be to run a heavy cable to the outside with appropriately mounted terminals for quick connection like Anderson. Keep your Ridge Ryder in it's bag and just connect it up outside your vehicle.
In my previous vehicle I mounted one under the drivers seat but then you have to have a door open to run out the air line. The family would complain about the heat and flies. I think you would have the same problem (perhaps less in NZ) using the back door unless you then plumb the air to the outside.
I'm more than happy using the engine bay.

[kzj90nz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kzj90nz]

Thanks heaps Mule - you've now changed my mind about mounting it in the engine bay. The odd river crossing makes me a little bit nervous but as you say you haven't heard of someone using one yet!

How do you go about wiring up your old one under the seat?

If I put it in the engine bay would you just wire it up directly to the battery?

[Rainman Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Rainman]

I have an old Bluetongue IV in my engine bay. Mine is the RV model so didnt come with ABS which provided a nice safe spot up near the firewall for mounting. I've run a hose from the compressor down to the bull bar with a male fitting on the end that the hose attaches too. I have an on off switch on the dash board to turn it on and a pressure switch on the compressor means the hose acts like a tank.

[kzj90nz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kzj90nz]

So in terms of actually wiring in the system, would you just cut the existing jumper style leads which are used to power the compressor, add some ring terminals and wire directly to the battery?

[kzj90nz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kzj90nz]

Am getting an auto electrician to help...

[Guest Close Guest]

So in terms of actually wiring in the system, would you just cut the existing jumper style leads which are used to power the compressor, add some ring terminals and wire directly to the battery?

Yes, ensuring that the wires are properly fused.

[kzj90nz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kzj90nz]

Thanks a lot Amts

[maulbeagle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maulbeagle]

Also assuming that the device has a switch/isolator. Otherwise it will run all the time !
An old one I had had no switch so as soon as cables were connected it started working.

[kzj90nz Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close kzj90nz]

Hi Maulbeagle - yes it's got a switch on the size of the compressor so you can turn it on/off. I just wasn't sure if I could just cut the cables and wire it directly to the battery. Sounds like I need to add a fuse!

[maulbeagle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close maulbeagle]

Yes probably about a 40A fuse or circuit breaker, in the positive wire as close to the battery as you can get, but check the specification of the compressor to see how much current it will draw.
Actually it's probably already got a fuse in the wires, have you checked ?

[pradosteve97 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pradosteve97]

keep it in its bag in the back somewhere and pull it out when you want to use it.
The 45 Min duty cycle @ 40 PSI makes it a waste of time hard-wiring it , 5 meter hose isn't going to reach too far.
The blokes that mount the comp need it to drive their diff lockers try run that comp all day. I doubt it would last too long.

[Mule Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mule]

Thanks heaps Mule - you've now changed my mind about mounting it in the engine bay. The odd river crossing makes me a little bit nervous but as you say you haven't heard of someone using one yet!

How do you go about wiring up your old one under the seat?

If I put it in the engine bay would you just wire it up directly to the battery?

Sorry have been away and under the care of the surgeons.

I ran heavy enough cables from the battery through the fire wall with fuse. I made a plate from an old plastic chopping board to mount every thing to and found an anchor point to bolt the plastic to. Had to lay the compressor on it's side.

Current one in engine bay, low current switch on dash to solenoid to power up compressor taking heavy cable from battery. Like it there but note I have air lockers.

It is not much more trouble to keep it in the bag and just connect to the battery and if I did not have lockers would probably just do that or run a bit of heavy cable for quick connect to save opening the hood.