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Air Conditioner compressors on eBay

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:55 am
by daberno123
I know there was some speculation in another thread about using air conditioner compressors and that they could possibly pump twice as much as fridge compressors.

Well if anyone wants to try it out I found some on eBay for $20 new with free shipping in the US.

Extraordinarily long link

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:10 pm
by john bunsenburner
Just so my european friend know: this compressor is 115V we mostly use 240V, so I wouldn't risk it, besides if you dont mind loosing 20bucks, then pm me and ill give you my adress :D

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:31 pm
by daberno123
Does anyone think this is worth it or not? I remember reading in some thread on here that these can pump up to 300 psi when a fridge pump can (as per mfg specs) only pump up to 150 psi. But in fact, as we all know, they can pump a bit more.

So does anyone think an air conditioner compressor can pump higher or does it just have more flow?

Also, if anyone can find the specs of this model (or a similar one) could you please post it. I'd like to have a look at them before I decide to buy.

EDIT: Here's what I could find on the the interior workings of these.

Image

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:43 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
Isn't that diagram of a fridge compressor though? A/C compressors use a eccentric pump rather than a piston if I recall correctly.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:48 pm
by jmeyer1022
I pulled an AC compressor out today, while it sounded like it was on it did nothing, might of been from how old it was I'll test my luck again tomorrow.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:53 pm
by daberno123
I'm nearly positive it's of an air conditioner one. Here's the site I got it from.

Any guess on the pressure Jack? On that same site I just linked to it said 260 psi. $20 for 260 psi isn't too bad. :twisted:

The only thing I'm worried about is that I won't be able to properly hook the output/input since I don't exactly know what form they're in (i.e. tubing, hoses, etc.)

Reckon I should go for it and just try and figure it out?

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:54 pm
by inonickname
Doesn't an airconditioner pump work more like the one in This?

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:56 pm
by ralphd
Air Conditioning systems can run 300psi+ while refrigerators typically run 150psi. The difference is the refrigerant. R22 is used for air conditioning and R134a is used for refrigerators. Now, which is better for an air compressor? I'm not sure because I've never done that. I can say that refrigerator compressors are usually smaller because of the size of the system so the volume it can pump is less, unless it's commercial but I'm talking about something we all can get. Follow the link and compare the pressures versus the temperature. By the way, $20 ain't bad unless it's free.

http://www.chillers.com/PT%20charts%20f ... erants.htm

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:57 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
daberno123 wrote:Reckon I should go for it and just try and figure it out?
For 20 bucks you don't really have much to lose, and I would say that it has the potential to go higher than a fridge compressor given the differente type of pump.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:25 pm
by daberno123
Well I just bought it. I figure even if I can only get 260 psi out of it'll be worth the $20. Not to mention it'll be a step up from the 100 psi I'm limited to now.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:48 pm
by rp181
Let us know how it goes=) He seems to have more than 200, so that would be great.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:55 pm
by daberno123
I think he's got way more than that since he's selling them in flats of 140. I wonder how he gets them so cheap, the same model goes for about $280 (which is ridiculous) on a replacement parts website I found.

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:48 pm
by inonickname
Stinks it's only U.S. free postage..but I'll see what I can sort out.

That's a good buy, it should pull more than a fridge compressor of equal power.

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:14 am
by SubsonicSpud
I am currently using an old air conditioning compressor as an air source for my air guns. It seems to pump a fair volume of air and will reach about 620 psi. It can pump up a 9 kg sized co2 fire extinguisher to 600 psi in about 4 mins 30 seconds. I would say most air conditioning compressors would move a much greater quantity of air than a fridge compressor, just look at the wattage ratings of the two types.

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:45 pm
by psycix
I'd order this if I lived in the US. 20 bucks, man thats cheap!
I am certain it is a rotary one and it probably goes up to at least 400-500 psi, with a good chance of going higher.

Arent a/c's just the same as fridges (no matter whether they're piston or rotary, I'm sure there are rotary fridges and piston a/c's around) but then just beefed up?
Try to check how much power it consumes and compare it to what an average fridge compressor draws.