Another way to get 400 psi

Cannons powered by pneumatic pressure (compressed gas) using a valve or other release.
User avatar
boyntonstu
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 1039
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:59 am

Another way to get 400 psi

Almost any 12 V 200 psi tire inflator can be purchased for under $20.

Some can do 250 an a few claim 300.

O.K. We have 200 psi and we need to double it.

Let’s say that our chamber has a 4 cu in volume.

We have to compress 8 cu in into 4 cu inches to get 400 psi.

We need a piston whose face area is .5 sq inches.

A 0.8” diameter is almost .5 sq in.

If we apply 200 psi against a 0.5 sq in surface, we double the pressure to 400 psi.

All we need is a 4 cu in cylinder whose ID is 0.8”.

We apply the 200 psi from the pump against a free floating piston and push it to the bottom and out into the chamber.

Presto! 400 psi. Inexpensive, compact, light, portable and pretty fast!

BoyntonStu
User avatar
twizi
Corporal
Corporal
Posts: 511
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:04 pm
Location: up yours

i have truck air i have gone to 320psi its possible
dont play with airsofter with 1000$ gun and play with a 5 dollar pair of glasses
User avatar
boyntonstu
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 1039
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:59 am

twizi wrote:i have truck air i have gone to 320psi its possible


Is you compressor 320 PSI?
User avatar
Hotwired
First Sergeant 3
First Sergeant 3
Posts: 2599
Joined: Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:51 am
Location: UK

The duty cycles on those little compressors are very poor. Run them for too long without a break and the magic smoke escapes.

http://www.spudfiles.com/spud_wiki/index.php/Compressor

Also:
If we apply 200 psi against a 0.5 sq in surface, we double the pressure to 400 psi.
I think you meant 200lb of force as opposed to 200psi.
User avatar
Technician1002
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am

boyntonstu wrote:Another way to get 400 psi

Almost any 12 V 200 psi tire inflator can be purchased for under $20.

Some can do 250 an a few claim 300.

O.K. We have 200 psi and we need to double it.

Let’s say that our chamber has a 4 cu in volume.

We have to compress 8 cu in into 4 cu inches to get 400 psi.

We need a piston whose face area is .5 sq inches.

A 0.8” diameter is almost .5 sq in.

If we apply 200 psi against a 0.5 sq in surface, we double the pressure to 400 psi.

All we need is a 4 cu in cylinder whose ID is 0.8”.

We apply the 200 psi from the pump against a free floating piston and push it to the bottom and out into the chamber.

Presto! 400 psi. Inexpensive, compact, light, portable and pretty fast!

BoyntonStu
That works if you count all the dead spaces. :D Don't expect to get all 4 cu in out the valve into the chamber. :(
User avatar
velocity3x
Corporal 4
Corporal 4
Posts: 828
Joined: Fri Jun 05, 2009 3:09 pm
Location: Yuma, Arizona
Contact:

[quote="boyntonstu"]Another way to get 400 psi

Almost any 12 V 200 psi tire inflator can be purchased for under $20./quote]

If you'd consider carrying along extra equipment such as a compressor and battery (you may also need a solar panel to maintain the battery). why not go to a welding supply and rent or buy a bottle of gas. It's less to carry, more reliable and with 2,000+ psi at your command you'll fill the chamber in an instant.
User avatar
POLAND_SPUD
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5402
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:43 pm
Been thanked: 1 time

well I know I say it all the time but you can build a fridge compressor for less than 20$ if you already have the compressor itself (from a junkyard or any other source)... and it's something that ofers good performance and lasts

I had a tire compressor for a few weeks and I've been using fridge compressors for the past few years and I got to tell you that there is no comparison between the two
Children are the future

unless we stop them now
User avatar
boyntonstu
Sergeant
Sergeant
Posts: 1039
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 8:59 am

POLAND_SPUD wrote:well I know I say it all the time but you can build a fridge compressor for less than 20$ if you already have the compressor itself (from a junkyard or any other source)... and it's something that ofers good performance and lasts

I had a tire compressor for a few weeks and I've been using fridge compressors for the past few years and I got to tell you that there is no comparison between the two
You are probably right.

Also, with a medium sized inverter you can run the fridge compressor from a car battery.


However, my homemade design is cheaper in the field.

What pressure does yours pump to?


Modified or stock?

Thanks,

BoyntonStu
User avatar
POLAND_SPUD
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5402
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:43 pm
Been thanked: 1 time

fridge compressors reach 300 - 400 psi with no problems... it what makes them different from tire pumps, which have problems getting past 250 psi mark

fridge compressors can reach more than 600 psi.. in fact maggotman has reached 1000 psi but that wasn't the safest idea and it was defienatelly too much

mind you that, although these things are not designed to reach 400 psi or more, they can handle it quite good but going past 600 psi puts a lot of strain on the motor and parts (as it's several times more than what they normally pump when they are still a part of a fridge)

ohh and no there are not altered in any way... they are cut off from a thrown away fridge.. converting one into an air compressor takes about 0.5 hour
Children are the future

unless we stop them now
joepage2008x2
Private 3
Private 3
Posts: 57
Joined: Thu Jul 02, 2009 2:12 pm

My mini car compressor used to go up and over 400psi until one day i was trying my homemade bb gun up to 400psi and the piston seal blew and could not be fixed.
In my opinion a fridge compressor is the way to go, there usually free and are built well. Im searching for one at the moment, going to attatch it to a gas cylinder,and hey presto - i'll have a 40L compressor that can go over 300psi and it will cost me nothing.
User avatar
Technician1002
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am

A common complaint is the cheap ones run on 12 volts and fridge compressors can't. A proper inverter will work, but due to the higher power draw, a lighter socket won't provide the power. A properly wired inverter is required.

The inverters are not expensive. Mine was under $60 at Costco. I can run a 1/3 HP compressor or fridge. I use a regular compressor for my low pressure cannons. The volume delivered is much higher than a fridge compressor which is low volume at higher pressure.

It takes several minutes to fill the large cannon. The small cannon shooting marshmallows or tennis balls is simply load and fire, no wait.

Small Harbor Freight compressor running on an inverter in my trunk filling my t shirt cannon. The inverter is above the compressor to the left of the light. The black inverter in the shade doesn't show well. The red power switch and green power light can be seen.
Image

A discussion thread including details of an inverter installation to run this stuff away from AC power is detailed in this thread;
http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/how-to- ... 18124.html
User avatar
POLAND_SPUD
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5402
Joined: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:43 pm
Been thanked: 1 time

fridge compressors are designed to last long... lol just realize that they have to run for several hours everyday for several years...
Children are the future

unless we stop them now
User avatar
Technician1002
Captain
Captain
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Apr 04, 2009 11:10 am

POLAND_SPUD wrote:fridge compressors are designed to last long... lol just realize that they have to run for several hours everyday for several years...
They are not designed to handle dirt and moisture. Keep it in mind. Expect shorter life with air which has both. An intake air filter is recommended. For the small inlet size, a new gas line filter works great.
feathers
Private 2
Private 2
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:55 am

its kinda funny reading all these crazy complicated ways to get to 400 psi i work at a paintball feild so i can get 68 cu in of 4500 psi regulated down to 800 psi coming out of the tank wouldnt it make sense to buy some sort of paintball hpa or scuba tank get it filled once then regulate it down to what you need
jeepkahn
Corporal 3
Corporal 3
Posts: 747
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:11 pm
Location: Triad, NC, USA

feathers wrote:its kinda funny reading all these crazy complicated ways to get to 400 psi i work at a paintball feild so i can get 68 cu in of 4500 psi regulated down to 800 psi coming out of the tank wouldnt it make sense to buy some sort of paintball hpa or scuba tank get it filled once then regulate it down to what you need
A lot of people on here do just that, I lease a 50lb co2 bottle for $50 a year, and 15 for refills, and have adapters to run paintball regs and filler hoses to fill the cannons... I'm setup so that I ca run unreged(850psi) or reg down to 600 or add a reg to reduce to 150 to 200....
Post Reply

Create an account or sign in to join the discussion

You need to be a member in order to post a reply

Create an account

Not a member? register to join our community
Members can start their own topics & subscribe to topics
It’s free and only takes a minute

Register

Sign in