Alright, I want to add another tank to my existing 33 gallon Air compressor, so that I can run a die grinder and a multitude of other high end air tools. People say that you can buy a 15-30 gallon air compressor that is broken and use tee fittings to basically expand the tank size.. I'm 20 and plan on moving out of here in about 2 years, so eventual disassembly/transfer would be nice. I'd also like to keep the costs to a minimum.

I've researched this and drew diagrams. Please note that the tank on the right is the added one, and the purple lines (that represents hard tubing) are both going to run horizontally. I'm going to relocate the regulator. I'd prefer to avoid many quick connect fittings as they cause a pressure drop. I would also like to keep my current one as mobile as possible. The ball valve is used as a simple manual switch from 33 gallon to a 33 +x gallon..maybe I'm thinking of a shut off valve?

Some other questions that I have are:
Where can the ball valve, air filter, tubing be had for cheap?
What sized tubing would you reccomend?
If copper tubing was used and soldered in, how could I eventually disassemble it w/o hacking it up?
Will alot of adapter/reducer fittings (ie 1/4 to 3/8, 3/8 to 1/4 etc etc) cause any issues?

Thanks alot

 

Remember your gas laws.

Basically you can connect the second tank anywhere on the system and it will equalize itself. Mine is set up as follows
Compressor one output Tees to Compressor tank two and Shop Air Hose out.

That way its always equalizing early on. It works very well.. DOnt mess with that hoes your showing.. Its very fragile.

Just get a T and screw it on the output of your compressing compressor. Then one side goes to a ball value *they are cheap* and then onto the second tank. The other side of the tee goes to your air hoses.. Simple!

 

Right, but won't having a tee after the pressure solenoid (that determines cut on/off) cause some kind of a problem..? Also how is your air regulated? What's wrong w/ the hose that I have?

Thanks

 

im doing motorized compressor-----T-----tool
the bottom of the T is the extra tank

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ILLICON5000 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Right, but won't having a tee after the pressure solenoid (that determines cut on/off) cause some kind of a problem..? Also how is your air regulated? What's wrong w/ the hose that I have?

Thanks </TD></TR></TABLE>

no problem.. The gas will equalize pressure constantly so the switch will know whats going on.

I regulate air at the tools.. But if you wanted you just regulate after the exit hose. It will regulate both.

 

thanks for the replies. I'm still a bit confused on what kind of tubing, size I should use and where all these supplies can be had ? I'm guessing a plumbing supply place, but some of them are sooo expensive and just a flat out rip off.