Hi folks
So I purchased a k5la, 12 gal tank and 3 comps.
I could really use some help with wiring those comps.
This is for a marine application (see pics)
I have about a 20ft run to the 8D battery.
What gauge would you use and breaker?
Unfortunately I am a salesman by trade so my install skills are extremely lacking.
I mounted the horn, tank and compressors last season and really want to get this system oporational.
Any help would be appreciated.
Also every install post I have read, everyone has only 2 compressors.
Should I just wire 2 and forget about the 3rd.
Here are some bad cell phone pics…
Thanks so much!
That is awesome - welcome to the forums.
What pressure switch & relays do you have?
The 444’s draw 19amps each so your total is about 60amps.
I looked at 2 wire charts (1 of them is Viair’s) - they both recommend 4ga for a 20ft run.
Fuse the 4ga close to the battery. Probably 80amps, but no more than 100amps.
Then it depends on your relay setup, but you’re going to need to fuse each compressor.
A fused distribution block might make things easier.
Cool setup. We’ll get you going.
Not sure which pressure switch I have, maybe 165psi
I bought it all from Garett so the relays would be basically the ones he sold me, everything is on the boat, but I can find out tomorrow.
Will this work for the block
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?rlz=1T4TSNA_enUS379US380&q=A+fused+distribution+block&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=17433876691999718542&sa=X&ei=5x19TZW7BKaW0QGL0_3yAw&ved=0CD4Q8gIwBg#
Also if it needs to be fused very close to battery, doesn’t that mean I need about 60 feet of 4gauge?
Man that marine wire is sooo expensive!!!
and by the way, thanks for your response and help!!!
Well there are pressure switches with the relay built in and there are separate types.
There are duals and singles - so I don’t know how Garrett would have set you up.
You’ll have to see what you have.
Do a single 4ga run. Put a single large fuse close to the battery. Then use a fused distribution block close to the relays. The one you found would work, but they make all kinds. You might look for one with a 4ga input - which would probably have 8ga outputs. Your short wires to the relays will only be 10-12ga.
I’m curious what they sold you for a 3 compressor setup. The fusing could get weird…
Finally got down to the boat.
Here are the switches and relays.
I think he gave me the 150psi switch first, but then he sent me the other. So I guess it is the 165/200 switch.
I also noticed the air line is 1/2" OD, from the posts I have read, seems like folks are upgrading to a larger diameter line for bigger deeper toots.
which do you suggest, does it make sense to upgrade the line will a 12gal tank?
I am going to run the 4gauge wire next weekend.
Still confused on which breakers to use.
I understand a single close to the battery, maybe 80amp, but I want to make sure I find the right distribution block…
Any help would be great!
Thank you
Wow, that’ll be nice once its completed.
For cabling, I’d personally run 2/0 welder’s cable from a 100 amp fuse next to that battery, and then a fused distro block near the relays/compressors. Welder’s cable can be had on the cheap and in colors so you know which once is hot and which one is ground. I have experience with 8D batteries and those are bad donkey.
Fused distribution blocks can be had at any decent auto parts store, McMaster-Carr, JC Whitney, etc…
I would skip on using breakers; if you talk to the guys that use a similar air setup for their air suspensions they’ll tell you to avoid them. Fuses can be had on the cheap and they’re easier to test when troubleshooting electrical issues.
Kris
I haven’t heard the difference in the airlines - I went big to begin with. People say it makes a big difference though.
Ok you posted a Stinger D-Block. There are many brands & some are cheaper. Metra, Scosche, Boss, Knuconcepts, Tsunami, etc… All that matters is that it has a 4ga input and at least 3 8ga outputs. The MAXI fuses are probably easiest to find at a parts store, but there’s also AGU and mini-ANL. Are you planning on 30amp fuses?
There’s no chassis ground in the boat right? So you have to run a 4ga for the ground too? You could connect all the grounds with ring terminals or use a regular d-block.
What kind of charging system does the boat have? I am running three compressors and found out the hard way that my factory 80amp toyota alternator could not put out enough juice to power all three compressors. I ended up having to upgrade my alternator to adequately power these compressors and it cost me over $700.
I would think a big boat like that would have a large bank of deep cycle batteries with an onboard generator, right? How big is that boat, and how many can it sleep?
Cool setup, that is going to be one loud boat!
The vessel is 43ft long x 16.3 ft wide. (this is a super wide boat, most boats that loNg are typically 12-14ft wide)
It has twin 450hp 671turbo intercooled detroit diesels, as well as an 8kw generator on board. I am not sure how big the alternators are on the diesels.
Right now it has one 8D battery for each diesel and a smaller battery for the generator. I would like to add an additional battery for running the house electric stuff and for back-up.
I installed a new 60 amp battery charger last year, with a monitoring system so the batteries never get overcharged.
At the dock, it is plugged in to electric from the marina, so the batteries always leave the dock at full charge.
It has 2 staterooms and the dinette table drops electrically, so you can fit 6 adults, full bathroom w/ shower enclosure, full size refrigerator, microwave, stove oven etc.
if you look at the last picture on the 1st post, that is my toyota sequoia full size SUV right next to it, the boat makes the truck look like a mini cooper LOL.
Where I boat, the big charter party fishing boats always blow their wimpy airhorns when they go under the bridges. Wait till I get right behind them and give em a blast!
If I can only get this system going!!!
Metallicajunky I notice in your signature it says you only have 2 compressors, did you ditch the 3rd?
You sure it’s a 12VDC system and not 24VDC? Most of the 6V71 engines I’ve dealt with were all 24VDC (semi-trucks and some older industrial equipment) so that would make more sense.
And those alternators are huge output … even if they were 12VDC, you’re looking at around 2600 CCA in parallel, and 1500 CCA if it’s a 24VDC in series.
Kris
I am pretty sure it is a 12 volt system, everything on the boat is 12 volts. But honestly i am just a humble salesman so I am not really sure. How would I know the difference?
You’ll know how the batteries are hooked up.
If there is a short cable jumping from the negative on one battery to the positive of the other, it’s 24V. You can also look for the tag on the alternator, as they are hard set for one voltage or the other.
Kris
Ok, it is definitely a 12 volt system, there are no jumper cables connecting both batteries…
Did you install all 3 compressors or just 2?
you have to shoot a video of that! even if its with your cell phone video camera, SHOOT THAT VIDEO!
my signature says
“2 viair 480C compressors
1 Zenith OB2 compressor”
Where does the boat live? I am in the napa valley, 45 minutes from san francisco. If you are close i could give you a hand.