How 'bout all you people out there with a compressor for your air bags....did you use an upfitter switch for power?

Anyone see a down side (other than one less switch for something else) as I don't, but I could be missing something.

 

I used an upfitter switch on my compressor.
I find myself turning the switch on every morning. My tank leaks down about 50psi over night. The air bags do not leak so if it wasn't for my air horns I wouldn't turn the compressor on except when I needed to air them up.

If I only had the air bags I would for sure have a switch, because I wouldn't need the compressor running every day.

With the horns, I should have just wired it to something keyed on.
If I need another switch I will take the switch from the compressor.


_

 

I use switch four for my Airlift compressor. I just leave it on all the time. I use switch three for my high idle mod.

 

I wired my AirLift wireless compressor to fuse that is only on when the ignition is on.

 

I used a pressure switch (90 psi on, 120 psi off) for my compressor and didn't take up an upfitter. Then I wired a relay so that I can turn the air horns on and off. The compressor runs when needed to ensure I always have pressure to the bags when needed. I wired the air horn to the regular truck horns. When the upfitter is off, I get the regular horns. When the upfitter is on, I get regular horns and air horns both. I also used an upfitter to control the garbage truck alarm - no need waking the neighbors in the campground if we decide to hook up early in the morning.

 

I'm not real patient with the wiring and stuff, always use an up fitter. My #1 and #2 are always on. Just the way it is. My compressor is #2. #1 is for my audio amp. I don't like the sub woofer on when I listen to talk radio so I like to be able to flip it off easily.

I installed a VIAIR system on an '06 truck last week, no upfitters, so I just used the wiring that came with the kit. There's a power line to the switch in the cab on the gauge, the high current feed is a second wire from the batt straight to the pressure switch on the tank. Doing it this way is nice too. System can run any time without having to mess with the ignition. I think I will do this on my next truck. The tank leaks down so just have to remember to turn it off if you're not going to use the truck for a few days.

 

I used the #4 for the compressor relays. Overnight it will leak down enough to require the compressor.
I will usually leave the compressor off until I am on the road, so I don't have to listen to it.

When I find where it is leaking I may just leave the switch on all the time.

 

Thanks my996duc1...repped ya!

That's funny as I was going to use switch 4, as I use switch 3 for the Escort 9500ix, so I can turn it off easily when it won't shut up (there are times when the nav, radar detector and the wife are all talking to me at once and I need to be able to focus on the important one...and I am not sayin' who that is )
Would have repped ya but apparently I STILL need to spread it around...what a PITA, anyone know the numbers??? Sailor Roy?

Thanks Savage, I did notice that the compressor is a 15A fuse so switch 3 would be the matched one, but I think I will just change the 20A for a 15A in the fuse box.
WOuld have repped you to but

Now that is American ingenuity at it's best, Thanks!
Reps when I finish this

Very nice ruschejj! My plan was to just leave it on also, same as the detector...but I want to easily turn it off for troubleshooting etc.
Still in rep jail for you as well

Thanks porthole! Agreed on leaving it on...do you need a round tuit? I can send you one

 

I already got plenty of "Tu-It's", thanks anyway

I'm waiting for a horn solenoid, when I install that I will be looking for the leak down again.
I'm thinking it could be a pressure regulator I have in line reg for the air bags.
I'm going to take the regulator out and see what happens.

I've checked before and have not found anything, so if not the regulator the last step will be the one way valve on the compressor.

 

Ok, Cool...just messing with ya Porthole

 

I know, and I forgot to prove I have a "tu-it" or two

 

That is exactly what I was talkin bout Duane....Nice.

 

Duane, I am about 80% certain after messing with two VIAIR systems over the last year and a half that the one way check valve at the compressor output has to be seeping air. Either creeping back flow or just through the swivel fitting in the braided hose. I think it seeps back flow.

It's pretty slow, I'm not bothered enough by it to go making a ball valve hose to replace it, but I would look there first.

 

I removed the water separator I was using. It had a very small leak on the water drain. Just enough that when sprayed with soapy water it would form a bubble in about 10 seconds or so. Didn't really thing it would be enough to cause the over night drop. It wasn't.

Thought about the check valve on the compressor, but Air Zenith is adamant about not removing any of the factory parts or the warranty is void.
I needed an extension to replace the water separator, so I added a high pressure bronze check valve I had in my SCUBA parts bin.

Still leaks. Next I think I will remove the Viair regulator I put in line for the suspension and hitch air bags.

 

Hey Porthole, I've had a few of those in my day! ;-)