New to me Compressor and Tanks. Now what?

[Timmyjane]

This unit came from a fire station. The sticker says the filters were service 2 years ago. Idk if that’s just a cleaning or is a replacement. I suppose that the controller will give me the information once it’s fired up.
Building the system on paper is my current hang up. I am not sure what all is needed. That’s the information I’m trying to obtain.

 

[Still Kicking]

The name and phone number of the compressor tech is on the label you posted. Why not give him a call and see about hiring him to get you up and running, or at least get an estimate on what you need?

 

[Timmyjane]

The name and phone number of the compressor tech is on the label you posted. Why not give him a call and see about hiring him to get you up and running, or at least get an estimate on what you need?

I considered that. I drove 4.5 hours, one way, to pick this up so he’s not really close by.

 

[Still Kicking]

I considered that. I drove 4.5 hours, one way, to pick this up so he’s not really close by.

Ok he's not going to drive out to you but it's worth a call to get some pointers and maybe a referral to a local tech.

I think you're going to have a steep learning curve to DIY this without prior experience.

 

[Bloody Knuckles]

Timmyjane, It's been awhile...We exchanged some thoughts on your MK10 rebuilds, I'm assuming all went well with that endeavor? Regarding your compressor acquisition, just one thought comes to mind..."Sweet deal"!!! I've been filling my own cylinders with a Coltri MCH-6 now for about 5 years and in my opinion, the satisfaction that comes with being completely independent and "off the grid" far outweighs any capital investment and /or operating costs. Once you get it up & running you're gonna love it. If mine blew up tomorrow, I'd buy another one in a heart beat. Regarding, parts & accessories, try NUVAIR.COM They tend to be a bit pricey, but well stocked and will provide custom services. As an aside, you might just try sneaking up on it. A cascade system is great and I'm sure that's what you'll end up with, but in the interim, there's no reason you just can't fill your tanks individually. You need to baby sit the compressor a little more but it typically takes me only 15-20 Min to fill an 80 at 3.5 CFM and I'm sure that bad boy you have is in the neighborhood of 5-7 CFM. Just make sure you have an appropriate pressure relief valve, somewhere around 4K psi should be fine. Just a few suggestions. I would change the oil and filtration media / cartridges. Empty one of your tanks, take a peek inside. Fill it and drain it a few times. Take another peek. If all is clean and dry. Go dive. Congratulations...I'm jealous, $174.00... Mine was 3K and worth every penny. My only regret is not buying one sooner

 

[Timmyjane]

@Bloody Knuckles
Thanks for the feedback. The MK10s went great. I built and shared a bunch of tools in the 3d printing thread. Did the same with a bunch of G250s.

I’ll check and change the oil.
I need to understand the media and cartridges. This is a Scott compressor built by 3M for municipalities. As a result, there is basically no information out there that I can find. No guides or service manuals. I suspect it’s because of the target market. I did find one year manual but there isn’t any discussion about maintenance or connections. It’s just how to fill tanks with a filling station basically.
I’ll check out the supplier link. Perhaps they will have some info I can put together.
I’m thinking there will be a hose that goes from the compressor that goes to the big tanks. Those tanks are daisy chained and feed a whip that has a SCUBA tank adapter. Somewhere in that system with be a pressure relief, gauges, and perhaps a regulator? It’s the required parts and pieces I am not sure about. Does that setup sound correct?

 

[Timmyjane]

Here is the manual I found.

 

[Gone for diving]

I’m super mechanically inclined. There just isn’t any info out there on these compressors and much of my reading leans towards using a filling station. Generally, info is scattered and limited on DIY filling stations. I’ve never been around tank filling so this is all new to me.

That's great.
If you want to go super cheap. Hydraulic fittings and hyd hoses
Personally I like #4 jic to everything adapts to jic

Assuming you have hp shutdown on the compressor and after filters
Goes something like this.
Outlet of compressor
Possibly a check valve.
To Hose.
To Tee.
One end to filler whip.
Other end
To hose
To bulk storage tanks.
Then you can fill tanks from storage tanks.
And top off tanks from compressor.
And also top of storage tanks.
And of course you want a gauge or 2 in there somewhere...
Probably multiple fill whips etc

PCP ends and hoses are useful as well

I'll draw you a diagram picture when I have a chance...

Part of my system

 

[iain/hsm]

This is a Scott compressor built by 3M for municipalities.

No it's not even close your not even on the right continent.

The block and filter you can no longer get parts for was made in the UK by Bristol Pneumatics who sold to Hamworthy who were bought out by Gardner Denver. Scott provided the label to fool the Yanks.
For a proper maintenance repair manual a stab at searching Hamworthy model 4S4-60 some of us still have these manuals on PDF once you establish the model ( a Red label on the block)
The Aluminium filter shells had a 15 year life although the chemical throw away cartridges are still available from the self branding folks. Parts sadly only a few folk have them most are from cannibalised scrap and all in private hands ebay and the like. Pricing is difficult to nail down for the likes of pistons heads and liners inlet and discharge valves. Oil was ANDEROL 500

Just be aware you bought scrap if it works fine if not tough. Sell it to paintballers they don't count.

 

[rob.mwpropane]

@Timmyjane don't let @iain/hsm deter you. He is ruthless on all of our compressors! Technically, they're all crap!

If it was just serviced in the last 2 years that's better than most of us started with. Change the oil (with the right stuff), change the filter and then get the air tested and see where you're at.

Someone mentioned calling the tech that serviced it... that is right on point. Send him some $$ to help guide you with what you need.

You will have more $$ in it then you think, but the end result is super convenient.

Read the article I linked to understand how a compressor works and then match that up to yours. If you can label everything in your head and what you have and where you will be way better off. Don't just start it, hope it runs and breath air.. understand it.

For instance, you may have a PMV/BPV (pressure maintaining valve / back pressure valve) already on your unit. You should, it'll save the filter, but not all compressors come with these from the factory. Find it on yours. Find where you bleed the coalesers (maybe they're automatic?). Once you understand it it's really not that bad at all.

Try and figure out what all the parts are and if you have questions look up #'s written on them or post pictures here. I am by no means an expert (very far from it). I know just a little, enough to feel comfortable doing what I do.

Btw, @iain/hsm IS an expert! Listen to what he says, just don't let him get you down. He is full of great information... and a bunch of criticism!