Solar Powered Air Compressor

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

What do you guys think of the feasibility of having a solar powered air compressor in the sandbar parking lot? We'd have to get something you could really bolt to the ground and lockup at night... even if it was $1000-$2000 bucks though I think we could raise that kind of money.

It'd be sweet.... pump up your struts or your whole kite then walk it out. If you've ever used a high powered air compressor to pump your kite you know how awesome it is. Takes seconds to fill an entire kite.

Could also work really well for Stevenson, could possibly even tap into the power that's out there. (Maybe Slingshot would sponser one?)

Sol-flyer · Wed Apr 04, 07 6:29 am

great idea phk!

it would only take about $300 for a sweet setup. Ebay has panels for cheap, you can usually get a whole kit (for R.V.'s) where everything's included. (exept battery's) The best to use is golf cart battery's, they charge quick and drain slow....plus there made for the same type of application.(deep cell's can burst when improperly charged)

i'll start looking around, if there cheap enuff, maybe we can get em installed all over the place. Wink

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

The big tank air compressors I have found (I'm looking here http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/) look like they require 200+ volts... what kind of battery solution do you need that can power that kind of voltage?

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

I have been thinking about a small portable C02 tank.
You can get used C02 tanks (10 lbs size) at a soda distrabution facility and a regulater all for around $40. Or you can get the totally chromed out sick unit for $350. Im thinking of using one of those spirl coil hoses.
My only question is........I wonder if C02 gas would have an adverse impack on kite bladders?

I read a post in an off road site, where you can air up about 80 big offroad tires with a 10lbs tank.

Just an alternative idea.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

I think there are quite a few folks using tanks now... from what I hear it works for about 15 full pumps. I was hoping for a longer lasting solution that could work for everybody. There are already beaches in Florida where they were able to negotiate air compressors for kiteboarding...

If you've ever used one you know how sweet it is... one pump kites you can have inflated in <30 seconds!

pacifichigh · Since 11 May 2005 1004 Posts ATX Texan

They have a compressor @ 3rd Ave in SF

stringy · Since 23 Jun 2006 1738 Posts vancouver XTreme Poster

I have a single stage that was damaged ( ran with no oil) so it needs a rebuild on the compressor motor. I would be willing to donate it for a good cause. I think this one would justify that. It is a standup and has a big tank. 7hp 135 psi, and 60 gallon tank.

stringy

shastadogs2 · Since 28 Mar 2005 336 Posts Obsessed

great idea phil, youdaman! Smile

careful of crack-heads and meth addicts though, they got no soul. Sad

whaddabout making it coin operated-would add to the expense but i'd paya buck per inflation. and it would soon pay for itself and then for its maintenance and mayhaps, even pay for some pet projects on the sand bar-maybe we could buy a flush toilet and a bag of grass seed. Shocked

just my two cents

jimmi

Sol-flyer · Wed Apr 04, 07 7:46 am

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

First off, I think it'd be best to find a compressor with a DC motor (or convert), or this is not going to be much fun (needing an inverter and such). Secondly, it's going to take more than just a few solar panels, especially since most don't put out shit for current. And lastly, I'm sure it'll cost in the thousands of dollars... Confused

I'll work on a diagram later.

P.S. - I'd think we'd want at least a 30 gallon. I use my friend's sometimes, which we normally use for car shit, and it'll run constantly after filling up even a single kite. Anything less is just going to take time to recharge and leave people waiting...

Sol-flyer · Wed Apr 04, 07 8:38 am

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

Yeah it seems like it'd all be about the batteries. They could sit there charging for all the daylight hours in the morning when nobody would even be using the compressor. Then the compressor itself only needs to run when the tank is refilling.

If stringy donates his that'd be that much more money we could have for panels/batteries.

Windmill seems like a cool idea, do they generate more or less power? seems like maintenance would be an issue. We also need a device that can withstand the winter elements and uber (40 knot) winds.

Here's what I am thinking for the container: cement slab that you could bolt down a sealed steel cage with air vents. Put the compressor/batteries in the cage, panels on top.

I think we'd want it to be fairly vandal proof if we are throwing a thousand dollar's worth of equipment into it. Maybe put a combo lock on the hose/nozzle itself for lockup overnight... only give the combo to kiters.

I don't think the cash would be a problem. Between all the kite schools and shops, CGKA members, local businsses, I'm sure we could raise the money. Port approval is a question, though I think given a good plan they'd jump at the idea.

shay - what does the SF setup look like?

Mr.Onepump · Since 11 Sep 2006 66 Posts Albany

I hear these pumps work pretty good for inflating kites. You would still hafta top off the kite with a hand pump, cause these won't get the pressure you need. Plusses are there cheap, super portable and they should pump up several kites on a charge

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-2/qid=1175705531/ref=sr_1_2/601-1700560-2112130?ie=UTF8&asin=B00005JD40

Mark · Wed Apr 04, 07 9:05 am

Nak · Wed Apr 04, 07 9:23 am

I don't think using a windmill to generate electricity would be a good idea. The cost would be pretty high to do it right. But, what about using a windmill to run a compressor? This would eliminate the generator, the motor and the fire hazard. Gear the sucker down so you don't have to use large blades and put the tank at the base.

This would still be a pretty big project, AC power from the grid would be a much easier solution...

Nak

TravisBickleRex · Since 30 Jun 2005 340 Posts Taxi Driver

Can I put an AC/DC sticker on the tank? Laughing

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6549 Posts Couve / Hood Honored Founder

AC power would be doable for Stevenson I think but not the sandbar. The portable air pumps are okay, but if you've ever pumped your kite up with a full size air compressor you know there's no comparison. It takes 1/10 the time and you can put as much pressure in it as you want (of course you got to go slow at the end or you'll blow up your kite.)

Keep the ideas coming!