Thumper Twin Air Compressor install

[Silveredition]

I had another go yesterday - same temp and same 6 tyres. First - the circuit breaker didn’t trip the last time I used it- an air hose popped off as I didn’t tighten a hose clamp!.... This time was without issue as I let the compressor run the whole time....
Got some good fish too!

 

[CruisingSned]

Good stuff!!

 

[scottywhibs]

A couple of days back I had the opportunity to try out the compressor in the situation that I went to all the effort for... Down the bottom of Exmouth Gulf - car tyres and boat trailer tyres getting pumped up as quick as possible in temps over 40 degrees... I found out a couple of things...
1 - it is quick!
2 - it doesn’t like getting to the 120psi cut out.. each time it cut out (after the first 2 tyres) I would have to turn the dash switch off and on again for the compressor to re-start... If I left the air flowing through the hose and the compressor continuously running it was fine..
3 - once I was finished all tyres I unplugged the hose from the rear bar and the Narva 120amp circuit breaker tripped... a few minutes later it re-set and all was good... Once again as it hit the 120psi cut out...

I have my Thomas Bluetongue with me and will continue to do so until I have some confidence in the Thumper... (this may be never!!)
View attachment 53203

Hi Silveredition
I have tested my new thumper max today and found that by the time the compressor gets to 120psi the voltage isn’t high enough to continue even with your engine idling (remembering the lower the voltage of your battery the higher the amps the compressor wants to pull. Therego your circuit breakers will keep tripping). I have found with my engine idling at over 1000rpm that puts enough current for the compressor not to cut out. I hope I could fix the issue that sounds the same as what happened to me. Cheers

 

[red hilux]

Cut a stick the correct length you need to wedge between seat mounting bracket and accelerator. I can move mine sideways. It can idle up between 1100 to 1500rpm

 

[Batts88]

Is that correct it can draw up to 90amps hope you have an alternator big enough to cope or it will soon die.

 

[Silveredition]

Is that correct it can draw up to 90amps hope you have an alternator big enough to cope or it will soon die.

Yeah - apparently is does draw 90 amps - I am unsure if this has been confirmed, and under what conditions is does draw max amps....
I have been using it with the engine running - revs set to about 1000rpm. I haven’t had any further dramas other than when I first used it, and don’t let the pressure build up in the hose , so max pressure would be tyre pressure...
Running for 5mins max for all 4 car tyres and 2 boat trailer tyres should hopefully not stress it (or the alternator) too much!

 

[Batts88]

Yeah - apparently is does draw 90 amps - I am unsure if this has been confirmed, and under what conditions is does draw max amps....
I have been using it with the engine running - revs set to about 1000rpm. I haven’t had any further dramas other than when I first used it, and don’t let the pressure build up in the hose , so max pressure would be tyre pressure...
Running for 5mins max for all 4 car tyres and 2 boat trailer tyres should hopefully not stress it (or the alternator) too much!

No worries if it's doing the job then all good but that's a massive current draw for a compressor.

 

[CruisingSned]

I wouldn't imagine the 90 amps is continuous. Going by the length and mm2 of cable OEM cables it maybe the maximum current draw of the motor on start up?
From memory to be rated for 90A with 5m of cable at 12V you need 35mm2. See redarc cable size calculator.
My twin thumper has 6mm2 I think at about 2m.
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/22948702/wire-gauge-worksheet-redarc-electronics

 

[Turorit]

I have the twin thumper & confirmed with a DC clamp meter that it does in fact draw 90A continuous.
Mine is mounted in my pajero just behind the cargo barrier with 4m of 6B&S to the second battery. So far no fires! If I did this again, i'd run 4AWG or bigger.
When running, I use the dual battery isolator override switch to link the starter&main batteries & bring the engine idle up to around 1000rpm.

Picture- Before the cargo barrier was installed. Removed middle row seat for a fridge platform. Compressor mounted underneath the rear storage shelf.

 

[CruisingSned]

I have the twin thumper & confirmed with a DC clamp meter that it does in fact draw 90A continuous.
Mine is mounted in my pajero just behind the cargo barrier with 4m of 6B&S to the second battery. So far no fires! If I did this again, i'd run 4AWG or bigger.
When running, I use the dual battery isolator override switch to link the starter&main batteries & bring the engine idle up to around 1000rpm.

Picture- Before the cargo barrier was installed. Removed middle row seat for a fridge platform. Compressor mounted underneath the rear storage shelf.

Damn.
I'm glad I ran 35mm2 to the back of my cruiser.
Thanks for letting us know.
Install looks good !

 

[Turorit]

No worries Its a thirsty beast!
I'd originally run the 6B&S for my fridge/other accessories. The mounted compressor was an afterthought, fortunately it kinda worked out...
Ideally I'd have a 4AWG+ run to the starter battery and a smaller gauge to the second battery for the fridge, hopefully would still fit under the sill trim panels.

 

[CruisingSned]

It was really tight getting 35mm2 (2b&s I think) under my trim.
Guessing you're got an electrical background?

 

[Silveredition]

I have the twin thumper & confirmed with a DC clamp meter that it does in fact draw 90A continuous.
Mine is mounted in my pajero just behind the cargo barrier with 4m of 6B&S to the second battery. So far no fires! If I did this again, i'd run 4AWG or bigger.
When running, I use the dual battery isolator override switch to link the starter&main batteries & bring the engine idle up to around 1000rpm.

Picture- Before the cargo barrier was installed. Removed middle row seat for a fridge platform. Compressor mounted underneath the rear storage shelf.

Looks great!
Did you manage to get rid of all of the factory wiring, or did you join it to the 6B&S at / near the compressor?
I have mine straight to the starter battery and ensure the engine is running with the idle bumped up...
So far so good - and I have now been through plenty of water and mud....

 

[Albynsw]

So you buy one of these, rewire it , add a pressure switch, replace the hose, make a waterproof enclosure for it, and then you need to make sure you have enough power to run it.
They don’t sound like such a bargain to me.

 

[CruisingSned]

So you buy one of these, rewire it , add a pressure switch, replace the hose, make a waterproof enclosure for it, and then you need to make sure you have enough power to run it.
They don’t sound like such a bargain to me.

It's far cheaper than an equivalent ARB you would have to wire/plumb in with similar amounts of effort/hardware.
I think this thread is a great way to help others get theirs right the first time.
There's also the satisfaction of taking components and making a working system rather than getting fleeced by an installer/retailer who just wants to sell crap you don't need.
And possibly learn something new.

 

[CruisingSned]

Alby
Don't take my last post as a piss take please.

 

[Albynsw]

Alby
Don't take my last post as a piss take please.

No offence taken nor was I trying to offend
If you get pleasure out of doing all of that it is great, that is what it is all about

 

[Silveredition]

So you buy one of these, rewire it , add a pressure switch, replace the hose, make a waterproof enclosure for it, and then you need to make sure you have enough power to run it.
They don’t sound like such a bargain to me.

I used the pressure switch that came with it, and the hose that came with it. I needed extra hose to go from where the compressor is mounted to the back bar where the outlet is as wounwould with other compressors (and fittings).
The wiring from the battery to the compressor was expensive, but any compressor mounted in this position would require extra wire (probably not that large though).
The enclosure / mount is made up of left-over steel so $0
As far as $ go I still think it is a bargain for the convenience of flicking a switch on the dash and speed of inflation.
I enjoyed the process (at times I probably didn’t)
It may not be such a bargain if it stops working in the next 6 months or so due to water damage though....

 

[Luvdat]

I e hard wired my compressor tho it continues to cut out and back in anyill it trips the 100amp CB I’ve added, is it possible to remove all the electrics from the thumper and run it through a 120 amp solinoid and 100amp cb. I’ve got a feeling the relays it came fitted with are faulty. I’ve already disconnected the pressure switch as I’ve installed my own . Cheers

 

[Bigfish1]

Did some testing on mine and found that it will pull 90amps on start up...to be expected. Once running I found that around 45 amps was the norm.. Lets face it even if you use it for 30 imutes total (30 mins in one session would see a circuit breaker go off) it will only use about 25 amps...bugger all in the scheme of things and it wont take 30 mins to reinflate 4 tyres after letting them down.