Outdoor Compressor Considerations

[2manyrocks]

The really big compressors at service stations and tire shops used to be outside years ago. Not sure if they still do that because of theft and vandalism.

 

[MossRoad]

I’ll second the comments about mud dauber wasps. They love the tight spaces outdoors or on sides of buildings. Never see them deep inside a garage, always on exterior walls, overhangs, on old cars and trucks. Also see paper wasp nests inside of fenders by door joints, in side mirrors, etc.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I think that having the compressor outside, or in a different room, is a great idea. If I ever get around to building my shop, that's what I'm going to do. Currently, it's in my garage, it doesn't take up any room because it's under my workbench. It's noisy, and for that reason alone, I would move it if I had a place to put it.

I drain my tanks a few times a year. It's amazing how much water gets in there. My compressor is a wheelbarrow style Emglo, so there are two tanks. It also has a wheel to move it around like a wheelbarrow, so it's easy enough to get outside to drain the tanks. It just takes a little time to get it done.

If I had it outside, my biggest fear would be dirt dobbers. They will find a way to plug up every hole that you have. I've had to through away an air line that they plugged up so badly that I just gave up trying to clean it out. I can't imagine what they would do to an outdoor air compressor, but I know they will do something!!!!!

You almost had me convinced to put it outside again, but then you started talking about mud daubbers. It is ok, I have 3 rooms in my shop, I can put it in the store room and soundproof it a little to keep the noise down.

 

[jwmorris]

Just because you don’t want your compressor inside your work area, doesn’t mean you have to leave it out in the elements.

it just needs its own shelter. The same electricity that runs the motor, can also run cooling fans and an automatic tank drain.

 

[jwmorris]

This is how I have mine setup.

The red arrow is a surface outlet I installed to have 120vac when the pressure switch fires up the motor. It powers up the tank drain and cooling fan (yellow arrows) and turns off when the pressure switch opens at max pressure.

The blue arrow is an electric ball valve that opens and closes the tank to the air lines, the lower green arrow is a timer circuit that is set for 1 hour. The upper green arrow is a receiver that activates the timer, opening the valve for an hour then shutting off.

Then I have remotes around hose reels, blasting cabinet, and other outlets.

This makes it so I don’t even have to go to the other building to get air and it’s not running unnecessarily when unneeded and keeps the tank from draining due to any air leak. That can save a lot of tracking, once you have a dozen or more locations with quick couplers.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I like those last 2 posts! Thanks for the info. Great ideas!

 

[jwmorris]

You’re welcome. The on tank valve greatly reduces the risk of a leak causing the compressor to run on because it shuts off all airlines but it doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility.

I would also use a contactor that kills power when you shut the lights off or is also controlled by the remote/timer circuit, to completely eliminate the compressor running for days if you are absent and something let’s go.

Thats actually how I originally had the ball valves on the tank wired but I do have enough leaks in the old shop it ran unnecessarily so I switched it over to a “delay off” from the time I stop pushing a remote button.

 

[mrmikey]

I've got mine under an unheated leanto at the back of my garage where I store my tractor. Sometimes gets a bit of snow in there but I've had no problems in 6 years. I have an indicator light on my electrical panel so I'll remember to turn it off when I'm not in the garage. Best thing I ever did, quiet and no lost space I also have an auto water drain on it as well.

 

[droy]

I’ll second the comments about mud dauber wasps. They love the tight spaces outdoors or on sides of buildings. Never see them deep inside a garage, always on exterior walls, overhangs, on old cars and trucks. Also see paper wasp nests inside of fenders by door joints, in side mirrors, etc.

+1 with a mud dauber concern. I have them inside and out, so constantly fighting the pests. Things such as seldom used air tools with 1/4” quick couplers have to be taped / plugged shut or they WILL be mudded shut. In my tool box I constantly check my smaller sockets wrenches, etc. I hate daubers! The mud dries concrete like, very difficult to clean out. Seems the only way to kill them with nowadays wasp spray is to drown them with it. I think they are more resistant to the stuff than regular wasps.
Sorry for the rant
On the outside air compressor, friend had his against the rear wall under a lean-to. Draining the tank meant walking almost completely around the large cluttered outside area to the ac, easy to “forget” the daily drain in inclement weather. He solved that by routing the drain into his shop where he placed a drain valve. The drained moisture was routed back outside. Worked pretty good, he did have plans to install a rear door for easier access but that was a distant project. Wasp nest are also a constant concern around outside / remote placed electrical stuff but still prefer them to the darn daubers!

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Interestingly Mud Daubers are not a huge issue here. We have them but they have never really been an issue. And I have LOTS of stuff sitting outside.