Dive Team Compressor Recommendations

[NorthWoodsDiver]

Okay so I am on a public safety dive team (volunteer) and we are working on trying to figure out a new dive vehicle setup so we can apply for grant money. I am doing most of the research right now cause I have the time.

We are looking at 2 basic vehicle types but which ever it is we would most like to have a compressor onboard with cascades. I have talked to my local compressor facility (north shore compressor) and talked to one Bauer retailer but I am not totally convinced as to what our needs are and what they want to sell.

There is alot to know about compressors and I know very little but I do know that from experience I dont like having to wait for long periods of time to fill tanks so a cascade system is vital. I dont know what brand of compressor, number of cascades, size of compressor, number of stages, CFM, etc to ask about and I'm the type of person (especially when dealing with outher peoples money) to get the biggest and best and usually the most expensive. Where I hit a road block here was most large capacity HP compressors are not designed to be powered by gas or deisel engines but rather 3 phase electrical power. That wouldn't be a problem except its hard to find that power in remote lakes/rivers/ponds/etc. I did notice most gas powered compressors are only 3 stage also, is there a bennifit to having that 4th stage.

I thought maybe we could get a compressor integrated into the PTO (power take off) on the main vehicle engine but no one I have talked to thinks that is possible.

Can someone point me in the right dirrection and give me some tips here on maybe what your dive team has or what you have seen. Even fire depts or other rescue operations that need HP air. What brands of compressors are out there (finding good websites can be hard) do they do custom setups, numbers of cascades, compressor mounting systems. I'm looking for any help or information I can get.

Thanks alot

 

[rcontrera]

There are a couple of things to consider in choosing a compressor for a response vehicle.

The first thing is the size (capacity) you will need. That is based on projected usage ... not on the size of the cascade system. One of our bigger portables is 9.8 CFM and can be driven by gas or diesel with no problems. At 9.4 cfm (10.8 SCFM) you can fill about 10 SCBA bottles to 4500 psi per hour. Our biggest portable can only be powered by diesel and pumps to 6000 psi at 22 CFM, 26.4 SCFM.

Plus, since you are talking about putting it in a truck, you have access to a power supply so it is possible to add automatic features (automatic blowdowns, automatic shutdown, electric start). If, for some reason, you need to take it out of the truck, then the automatic features must be powered by solar panels. Oh ... and the big one comes standard with all the goodies.

Lots of people use our pumping systems to put together custom systems so parts and service is no problem. but you will want to have a guy on call or part of the team to make sure that your system gets serviced properly (oil and filter changes, valve cleaning, hose changes, etc.).

By the way ... last year was the year for compressor grants from Homeland Security. I have heard that this year is SCBA equipment. So your response truck should be a "Mobile SCBA Storage and Fill Vehicle".

I hope that helps a little!

Good luck!

 

[bigchrisb]

I had a bauer that I'd rigged up for a power take-off on my old truck - small portable compressor running off the main diesel. Anyone in the industry I asked about it thought I was mildly insane. But it worked just fine for personal use.

Also, most of the larger portable engines inlcude a 12V alternator for battery charging - easy enough to use this to drive the electronics.

 

[dannobee]

I remember seeing a compressor system on a yacht that was hydraulic powered, via a pump on the engine. I don't know if something like that is still produced, but if it was, you could possibly drive it off of the power steering pump.

 

[rcontrera]

If you are handy, you can power your compressor off of just about any engine, motor, power take off, hydraulics, etc. I did have one customer that purchased just teh compressor portion and mounted it in his yacht but powered off his inboard engine.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

You mentioned a portable that can only be powered by a diesel engine and has an SCFM of 22 but I dont see that on your website. What model is it. Thanks

 

[rcontrera]

Yeah ... that one is actually made with a standard $11,076 MCH36 compressor in a custom frame and engine mount with a specialized filtration system. It is the newest configuration and is actually assembled in the US. I have to wait until I get permission to put it on the website since I advertise ColtriSub and it is Coltri's largest distributor that assembles it.

So far, they have only been made custom and the pricing has ranged between $15,000 and $20,000.

Sorry for not including that info in my last post.

 

[NorthWoodsDiver]

sounds more like what I am looking for although the price is a bit higher than expected that seems to be how this sorta stuff works out.

 

[rcontrera]

I put up a page with the custom configurations that have been built primarily for fire and rescue trucks. It is at MCH 36 Portable Air Compressors from ColtriSub to give you an idea of what can be done. I actually had a couple of dive shops order for the shops because of the triple stacked filtration.

 

[rjack321]

I had a bauer that I'd rigged up for a power take-off on my old truck - small portable compressor running off the main diesel. Anyone in the industry I asked about it thought I was mildly insane. But it worked just fine for personal use.

Also, most of the larger portable engines inlcude a 12V alternator for battery charging - easy enough to use this to drive the electronics.

I think the OP is looking for something slightly more sophisticated than a second fan belt powering a 3cfm Bauer LOL. If you have the setup I think you do, you should post the pics. They certainly demonstrate ingenuity