A full-fledged refrigerator compressor. How to make a compressor from a refrigerator with your own hands Garage compressor from a refrigerator

A compressor is a multifunctional device that can be used for various everyday needs, such as pumping car tires, painting and the like. But due to the high cost of factory models, many owners are thinking about self-assembly such a unit. The most common option for creating a compressor with your own hands is to use a refrigerator.

Advantages of factory and homemade devices

Before independent production air compressor from a refrigerator, you need to compare it with a regular factory sample. This will help you make the right decision.

Z factory and homemade devices have the following differences:

Limitations on motor operation

Not all refrigerator motors can operate under the same conditions. Some of them have their own limitations in operation.

Several operating modes can be distinguished:

normal - from 16 to 32 degrees;
tropical - from 18 to 43 degrees;
subnormal - from 10 to 32 degrees;
subtropical - from 18 to 38 degrees.

But, despite this, there are also combined modes that include several ranges of operation.

Thus, homemade devices are much simpler and more efficient than factory ones, in particular for working with air.

Refrigerator dismantling work

In order to craft a mini-compressor with your own hands, you need to prepare for work. First you need to remove the compressor directly from the refrigerator. This is the initial stage. It is located at the bottom of the refrigerator at the back. To remove it, you should prepare a set of basic tools: pliers, a set of keys and screwdrivers (curly and regular).

There are two tubes on the compressor itself that connect to the cooling system of the refrigerator. They need to be bitten off using wire cutters or pliers. It is strictly forbidden to saw them off with a hacksaw, since when sawing small pieces of metal can get into the motor, which can lead to catastrophic consequences.

After this, you need to remove the start relay. It looks like an ordinary black box with wires protruding from it. First you need to unscrew the fasteners, and then cut the wires leading to the plug. Don't forget to mark the top and bottom of the relay so that there is no error during installation later. You also need to pick up all the mounting elements of the unit; they can also be usefully used in the manufacture of the compressor high pressure with your own hands.

Functionality check

After disassembling the refrigerator and compressor, you need to check the functionality of all parts. This needs to be done due to the fact that the part was removed from the old refrigerator, and it may not be working for a long time. Therefore, it is imperative to do this. First, flatten the tubes with pliers.

This must be done so that air can pass through them. Next, you need to put the previously removed relay back in the same position as it was before. Do not forget about the correct installation of the relay. The top and bottom must be in place. If it is installed in a different way, the compressor may fail, which will lead to irreparable damage, or even burn out.

There are wires directly on the relay body. It is necessary to screw the wiring with a plug to them. The place where the connection will be made must be wrapped with at least electrical tape to prevent electric shock. It is advisable to carefully solder the junction of the wires before doing this.

After this, plug the compressor into the outlet and observe the performance of the unit. If it does not work, it means that the wires are not connected correctly or the compressor is not working. After turning on the compressor, air should come out of the tubes. This will be an indicator of the performance of the device. It is necessary to mark which tube the air comes out of and which one enters.

Step-by-step assembly instructions

Before you begin, you should prepare all the necessary tools and materials. Such kits may differ from each other depending on what the future owner of the compressor expects.

In addition to the compressor itself, which is removed from the refrigerator, you need to prepare the following her:

Then you should take a plastic container of any size from three liters. In the upper part of the container you need to drill several holes for the compressor tubes. Then insert the tubes into the holes made and fill everything with resin. In this case, the inlet tube should be located at a distance of 200 mm from the edge of the receiver. The outlet tube should be placed 10 mm inside the container.

The receiver can be made of plastic, and nothing bad will happen here. But for greater reliability it is recommended to make it from metal box. With this outcome, there is no need to fill everything with resin for a good seal, and the hoses are closed. Moreover, only a pressure gauge can be installed on a metal body.

To do this, you need to drill a hole in the receiver for a nut, which needs to be welded in such a hole. Then there is the option of screwing the pressure gauge into the nut. After this, work on creating a homemade compressor from a refrigerator ends. Any materials can be used for painting, but first you can clean and prime it to avoid corrosion. After this, you just need to attach the receiver to the base using a wire.

Some technical features

It is quite difficult to determine initially what the pressure in the compressor will be. This indicator may depend both on the brand of the device and on the period of its declared operation.

By the way, old designs can sometimes even show top scores than new and factory ones. The most important thing is not what kind of device you can assemble, but how you will need to care for its condition.

Such work usually consists of replacing filters (gasoline and diesel), as well as the oil in the device. All homemade compressors are equipped with three copper tubes. Two are used during installation. This is the inlet and outlet tube. The third was not touched. It is the shortest of all and sealed at the end. She is responsible for draining the oil in the device. For maintenance, you need to cut off the sealed part, drain the oil, fill in new oil and solder it back.

Is the compressor repairable?

As a rule, the relay needs to be ringed during repairs. You also need to change the oil in the device. If the compressor still does not work, then there is no point in doing anything else; further repairs must be stopped. It is better to throw away such an autocompressor and make a new one. In addition, its price will not exceed one and a half thousand rubles.

By the way, an internal combustion engine with a supercharger can also be used as the source material for the compressor. This way you can get a decent device with high power. Moreover, the piston group is provided with a high power reserve. If you have the opportunity and desire, you can find it for a fairly low price in excellent condition. With this option, the ignition, intake and exhaust systems must be removed. For its successful operation, it is enough to lubricate the pistons, the cooling system and tightness.

Similar structures can be made from a gas cylinder. There are also membrane compressors.

A homemade refrigerator compressor is most often used in conjunction with an airbrush or spray gun, as it operates almost silently, takes up little space and creates sufficient air pressure. It is also suitable for inflating car wheels. Next we will tell you how to make a compressor with your own hands.

Materials and tools for a homemade refrigerator compressor

Compressor. The motor is from an old refrigerator and is called a compressor; it is the central element of our product. You can see what it looks like in the photo: details different models may differ, but in general they are similar to each other. The compressor is supplied with a start relay (a black box attached to the side), from which comes a power cord with a plug.

Receiver. A container into which air will be pumped by a compressor. Options are possible here: any tightly closing container with a volume of 3 to 10 liters made of iron or plastic is suitable. This could be an empty fire extinguisher, small tanks, various receivers from trucks, cans from construction liquids.

Hoses. You will need three pieces of hose. Two are 10 cm long and one is 30-70 cm long, depending on the shape of the receiver and the intended mounting. It is convenient to use fuel hoses in a car, as they will connect to car filters.

You will also need one hose or tube to connect the finished homemade compressor from the refrigerator with the air consumer itself. Here the length and material depend on the specific needs. If you will be using a compressor with an airbrush, any thin polyvinyl hose (or the one that came with the airbrush) will do. When using the compressor outdoors, it is better to look for a thicker hose.

Clamps. 5 pieces, size 16 or 20 mm.
Tubes. Two pieces - copper or iron, with a diameter of 6 mm or another - the main thing is that the hoses fit.
One is 10 cm long, the second is 20-50 depending on the size of the receiver, more details below.
Automotive fuel filters. One petrol and one diesel.
Pressure gauge (optional).
Epoxy resin if using a plastic receiver.
A piece of wooden board (base). The size depends on the size of the receiver and motor. They should be placed on the board nearby.
Steel tape or wire. Needed to secure the receiver.
Self-tapping screws for wood.

Tools:

Sharp knife
Screwdriver
Drill
Pliers.
Metal file (optional).

How to make a compressor with your own hands

Now directly about how to make a compressor with your own hands.

Three tubes come out of the compressor from the refrigerator: two open and one short, sealed. Plug in the compressor and run your finger near the outlets of the tubes. The one from which the air blows will be the exit, and the one that draws in will be the entrance. Remember which is which and unplug the compressor. Use a metal file to cut two tubes, leaving 10 cm or more to make it convenient to connect the hoses. You can bite it off with pliers, but you need to make sure that sawdust does not get inside the tubes. Next, we attach the compressor to the base board, screwing the legs with self-tapping screws (you can use bolts, it’s more reliable). Important: we fix the compressor in the same position in which it was fixed in the refrigerator. The fact is that the starting relay on the motor works due to the forces of gravity; there is an arrow on the relay body pointing up. Having secured the compressor, we move on to the receiver.

Let's make a receiver. Option if you have a plastic container. We drill two holes in the lid for our tubes. We insert them there, as shown in the figure, and fasten them epoxy resin. We leave ends 2-4 cm long on top. Now about the length of the tubes. A short one (10 cm) will be a day off. The second will be the entrance, we make it as large as possible so that it does not reach a few centimeters to the bottom of the receiver. This is done to space the inlet and outlet openings inside the receiver as far apart as possible for greater air mixing.

If you have an iron receiver, we do the same, but do not glue the tubes, but solder or weld them. You can also weld nuts, and then screw fittings into them for the hoses.

The pressure gauge can only be installed in a metal receiver. To do this, we drill in any convenient location there is a hole in the receiver and solder a pressure gauge in it. A more preferable option: weld a nut onto the hole and screw the pressure gauge into the nut. This way, if the pressure gauge fails, you can easily replace it.

Now we take a piece of hose (10 cm) and put it on the gasoline filter. If you use gasoline hoses, there should be no problems; if you use polyvinyl pipes, you may have to heat it with a match or hold it in boiling water so that it fits onto the filter fitting. We put the second end of the hose on the inlet tube of the compressor. This inlet filter is needed to filter out dust. Here, the use of clamps on the connections is not necessary, since there is no pressure here.

We take the second piece of hose and connect it with the outlet tube on the compressor to the inlet tube on the receiver. We install clamps at the connection points.

Now we put the third piece of hose (10 cm) with one end on the outlet tube of the receiver, and put the other end on the diesel filter. We put on the clamps. There is an arrow on the filters (diesel and gasoline) indicating the correct direction of movement through the air filter. Connect both filters correctly. A diesel outlet filter is needed to filter water from the air.

We put our working hose on the outlet fitting of the diesel filter, which goes directly to the airbrush, spray gun, etc.

We screw rubber feet onto the underside of the base board or glue felt pads for furniture. If this is not done, the compressor may scratch the floor during operation - it vibrates. The level of vibration and noise depends on the model of refrigerator compressor you get. Motors from imported refrigerators are almost inaudible, Soviet ones are also quiet, but there are exceptions.

The pressure generated also depends on the model. Ancient motors are more powerful. Most Soviet compressors are capable of pumping up pressure to 2-2.5 bar. The compressor in the photo creates a pressure of 3.5 bar.

Maintenance of a homemade compressor from a refrigerator

Compressor maintenance involves regularly changing both filters and draining any accumulated oil in the receiver. But the main factor affecting the service life of the compressor is the frequency of oil changes. It is better to change it the first time before assembling the compressor. There is a third sealed tube on the motor. We cut off the sealed end from it and drain the oil from it, turning the engine over. About a glass of oil will spill out. Now, using a syringe through the same tube, fill in fresh motor oil, a little more than the amount that was drained.

Afterwards, in order not to solder the drain tube, we screw a bolt of a suitable size into it. The next time you change the oil, simply unscrew the bolt.

Aug 17, 2015 Gennady

Compressor for airbrushing from a refrigerator motor">If you do everything correctly and take care of shock absorption, then there will be almost no noise at all. For those who like to make things with their own hands, and this usually happens at night, this moment extremely important. parts for modeling and other hobbies that are usually done after the main job. Therefore, noise level restrictions are very important.

The design of a refrigerator compressor is extremely simple. A container is attached to the compressor from the refrigerator to equalize the pressure, since direct airflow is not stable. This container acts as a receiver and air flow mixer.

What do you need to make a compressor with your own hands and where can you buy all this?

Refrigerator compressor. You can unscrew it from your old one, or you can buy it at a repair shop that specializes in refrigerators. To avoid confusion, let us explain that the refrigerator motor is the compressor.
Sealed container that holds pressure well. Receiver. Many people use fire extinguisher cylinders, but there are also plastic containers that are quite resistant to stress. It is important that the container is large enough to mix the air and equalize the pressure from the refrigerator compressor. You can make a receiver from a suitable plastic container from garden sprayers. If the container is plastic, you will need epoxy resin for fastenings.
Start-up relay. You can take it from the same refrigerator or buy it. But usually the motor and the relay are together, and it is from the relay that the power cord with a plug comes.
Gasoline filter, diesel filter.
Pressure gauge. Sold at a plumbing store. Not mandatory, but desirable detail. Installed on a metal receiver.
FUM tape for connections.
Three pieces of fuel hose. 2 of 10 centimeters and 1 of about 70.
A hose that will remove air. You can attach a standard hose from an airbrush or a thicker hose if the equipment will be used for painting cars.
Clamps, fastenings, electrical tape.

Some DIY experience preferred.

Manufacturing process

The most fuss will be with the receiver. If you use an old fire extinguisher as a receiver, be prepared for the fact that there will be quite a lot of metal work. In addition, it will be necessary to ensure tightness. If we do not have significant experience working with metal with our own hands, it is better to take a plastic receiver.

In case of use heavy parts, you should be mentally prepared for the fact that the compressor will turn out to be stationary. It is better to immediately prepare a reliable base and fasteners for it.

Compressor preparation

Determine where the compressor has a tube for the incoming air flow and where the outgoing air flow is. To do this, you can briefly plug in the compressor and determine which tube the air is blowing from. Be sure to mark the tubes at the base so as not to mix them up. This can be done with colored electrical tape or a piece of medical tape.

Carefully trim the tubes to about 10cm. This is necessary for easy connection of hoses.

The vertical position is important for the compressor. The relay body has an arrow pointing up.

It will be convenient if we fix the compressor in the correct position.

Receiver

Let's consider a simplified version with plastic canister. Let's cut two holes in the lid for the tubes. The inlet tube must be made long, almost to the bottom. The outgoing one can be made short, about 10cm.

Small sections of about 2-3 cm remain outside.
The structure should be secured with epoxy resin to ensure tightness.
In the case of an old fire extinguisher, the same actions will have to be done by soldering and welding the fittings.
But you can install a pressure gauge on the metal case.

Do not solder parts tightly. It is better to weld nuts and cut threads where possible.

Connecting parts

Attach a gasoline filter to a short piece of fuel hose. Place the other end onto the compressor inlet tube. The filter is needed to prevent dust from falling into the compressor.

Use a second piece of fuel hose to connect the compressor outlet pipe and the receiver inlet tank. The air flow will go from the compressor to the receiver. We put clamps on the hoses, since the air flows under pressure.
Another short piece of fuel hose is needed to secure the diesel filter. The filter is needed to clean the air flow.
A hose and equipment can be attached to the outlet fitting.

Compressor Maintenance

Transformer or motor oil in the compressor must be changed periodically. It is advisable to change the gasoline filter approximately every six months. Replacing the filter is a routine maintenance that any car enthusiast can understand. All maintenance can be done yourself.

How to change oil

Inspect the motor. There should be a sealed tube coming out of the refrigerator compressor. Carefully cut off and drain the oil from the engine. Usually there is about a glass of it. However, if you purchased the compressor from a workshop, the oil has most likely already been drained. Using a syringe, you need to pump in new oil and take care of how to close the hole. It will be most convenient to glue the external thread with FUM tape and make a screw cap.

Compressor application

Mainly used for painting

For painting with an airbrush. Airbrush allows you to draw fine details and apply artistic images.
For painting auto parts using a spray gun
For quick painting during repairs. To do this, you need to attach wheels to the compressor platform, like a vacuum cleaner. The accuracy of painting using a compressor is much higher and is used in luxury interior design.

The compressor can be used in a wide variety of applications − for inflation of tires, airbrushing, painting of spare parts etc. Possessing necessary tools and certain technical knowledge, it is quite possible to independently manufacture this unit based on a conventional refrigerator. A homemade compressor produces about 7 atmospheres, which is quite enough for an ordinary garage workshop, so many people are increasingly thinking about how to make such a compressor? DIY refrigerator compressor it will turn out to be quite quiet and, most importantly, cheap in terms of cost.

On average, the production of this unit will require about one thousand rubles for all components.

Before you try to make ours out of an old refrigerator, you need to compare these two options, i.e. , sold in specialized stores, and our homemade version. Total can be identified several main differences between them:

The design of the factory compressor contains Electrical engine, transmitting torque to the working chamber through a belt drive. As for the homemade compressor, it consists of a housing and the engine itself, without belts.
The factory version already has automatic pressure relief systems, inlet and outlet filters, pressure meters, etc. installed. In a compressor from a refrigerator, you will have to install the control equipment yourself, taking into account all the features.
Although most factory compressors are equipped automatic systems, some budget models do not have this feature. In other words, these units will have to be turned off independently, noting the time on the clock. Homemade compressors are mainly equipped with a protective relay that turns off the engine if there is a risk of overheating.
Some factory models may not have any lubrication at all. Of course, their service life is short, but they do not emit various emissions. This circumstance is very important, especially if the spray gun behaves rather capriciously, not tolerating various impurities. As for homemade compressors, there is plenty of this oil. By the way, you need to pay attention to which one you pour - synthetics do not combine very well with regular ones, so you don’t need to pour just anything.
The main feature of a homemade compressor is that it works very quietly, especially if you put all the tubes on it correctly, maintaining a tight seal. As for factory compressors, they are noisier, so their use is only possible outside the home.
The cost of manufacturing a homemade compressor is very low, because we take the main components from old technology, and the adjustment equipment will cost us one thousand rubles. As for the factory compressor, the situation is different.
It is impossible to make any technical changes to the factory compressor. In other words, if the unit is not powerful enough, then it can only be used as a pump, nothing more. Homemade options The good thing is that you can add some parts to them, for example, a large receiver, thanks to which you can significantly increase the power of the device.
Factory compressor are complete technical device, so any improvisation with it is impossible. With a homemade unit, you can do almost anything - take some parts outside the body, or hide everything in one box and attach a handle on top for easy transportation.
You can install a fan on a homemade compressor to cool the device from the outside.

Read also: Review of chargers for AA batteries

Most refrigeration compressors have some limitations in terms of their work. There are several modes in total:

Normal - from 16 to 32 C.
Subnormal - from 10 to 32 C.
Tropical - from 18 to 43 C.
Subtropical - from 18 to 38 C.

However, combined modes are more common, having a different range.

Thus, a homemade compressor can be much more efficient than factory ones, in terms of working with air.

The video shows a version of a homemade compressor for inflating wheels

Dismantling works

To make a homemade compressor from a refrigerator, you need to make initial preparations. It consists of certain dismantling works, i.e. We simply need to remove the compressor from the refrigerator itself. It is located at the back of the refrigerator, in the lower part. To remove it, we need a basic set of tools: pliers, spanners and two screwdrivers (positive and negative).

On the compressor there are tubes that are connected to the cooling system. These tubes must be bitten off using pliers, but under no circumstances should they be sawed off with a hacksaw. The fact is that with this method, small chips inevitably form, which can get inside the compensator.

Then we move on to removing the start relay - it is an ordinary black box with wires sticking out of it. We unscrew the fasteners, then cut the wires that lead to the plug. We must remember to mark the top and bottom of the starting relay - this will be useful to us in the future. By the way, we also take all fastening elements along with the unit itself.

Functionality check

After we have removed the compressor, it is necessary check its functionality.

The fact is that we are removing the device from an old refrigerator, so we need to make sure that our unit is still “alive”. So, we flatten the tubes with pliers - this is necessary so that air flow passes through them. Next, we need to put the start relay in the position in which it was in the refrigerator design. This is very important, because if the position is incorrect, there is a risk of damage to the device, as well as failure of the compressor winding.

There are wires on the relay body to which you need to screw a piece of wire with a plug. It is better to wrap the connection point with electrical tape to eliminate the risk of electric shock. We plug the device into a power outlet. If you did everything correctly, the compressor will work, and air will flow from its tubes. By the way, it is necessary to mark which tube the air flow comes out of and which one it goes into.

Step-by-step instruction

Before you start self-production, you need to make sure you have everything necessary materials and tools.

We invite you to watch the video from detailed description process of one of the manufacturing options

Read also: Selecting oil for an air compressor

In addition to the compressor itself, which we previously removed from the refrigerator, we will need:

Receiver. In this case, you can use the body of an old fire extinguisher, or weld the body from sheet metal and pipes.
Various hoses. In this case, the length of one hose must be at least 600 mm, and the other two - about 100 mm. In this case, you can take hoses from the car.
Various Consumables- gasoline and diesel filters, wire, clamps, pressure gauge and epoxy.
Related tools, i.e. screwdrivers, pliers, drills, etc.
In addition, we need the usual wooden plank, which will be the basis of the entire structure. We attach the compressor to it using ordinary self-tapping screws. The fastening should be carried out exactly in the same position that it occupied in the refrigerator design.

We take any plastic container of suitable volume (from 3 liters or more). In the upper part you need to drill a couple of holes to fit the size of the outlet tubes. We insert the tubes, and then fill everything with epoxy resin. The inlet tube into which the air enters must be located in such a way that there is about 200 mm from its end to the bottom of the receiver. The outlet tube should be immersed ten centimeters inside.

This is a description of a plastic receiver, but for greater tightness it is best to make the receiver in an iron case. In this case, there is no need to fill everything with resin, and the hoses are simply welded. In addition, only an iron receiver can install a pressure gauge.

To install it, you need to drill a hole for the nut on the receiver body. We insert it, and then brew it. Only then do we screw the pressure gauge into this nut, after which the work is completed. Now we attach the receiver to our base using wire. The scheme will be something like this:

Our homemade unit is almost ready.

There are quite a lot of photos and videos of its work on the Internet, for example, it is shown how it is used in airbrushing and for painting various spare parts, so the feasibility of its manufacture is quite obvious. Finally, we need to add a few additional touches to our device.

You need to take one of the hoses, which is ten centimeters long, and put it on the filter. If this is difficult, you can slightly heat the end of the hose to make it easier to fit onto the fitting. We put the second end of the hose on the inlet of our device. In this case, the filter will protect against dust from entering the housing. The second 10-centimeter hose needs to connect the inlet of the receiver and the outlet of the compressor. In this case, it is better to tighten the connection points with clamps. Our third hose needs to be put on the diesel filter, and the other end must be inserted into the outlet of the receiver. At the same time, the free filter fitting will subsequently be connected to various equipment for airbrushing, a spray gun for painting, etc.

Another video on the topic

Some technical data and service features

It is quite difficult to say unambiguously what pressure a particular compressor will show. Much depends on the specific brand and service life of the device itself. By the way, old units show even better performance than modern ones.

Read also: We repair Resanta voltage stabilizers with our own hands

Serving our homemade device- this is very important point in operation.

The main work will consist of replacing diesel and gasoline filters, as well as changing the oil in the device. The design of compressors usually contains three copper tubes. We used two of them earlier, and the third remained untouched. It is the shortest and sealed at the end. So, the oil is drained through it. To do this, it is necessary to cut off the sealed part, and then drain the treatment. Filling is done through it.

Does the compressor need to be repaired?

As for repairing the resulting device, then everyone decides for themselves here- whether it makes sense to tinker with this or not.

The repair will consist of ringing the relay, as well as changing the oil in the device. If the manipulations carried out did not help, then there is absolutely no need to come up with something else. It is best to throw away the used device and then make a new one. Moreover, the price of the issue is no more than 1000-1500 rubles.

Conclusion

Basically, we figured out how to make a compressor from a refrigerator.

The feasibility of its manufacture can hardly be overestimated, because with the help of this device can be produced various works for airbrushing, tire inflation, painting various components and other work that requires pressure.

An additional advantage is that such a device can be used at home, because it makes little noise. In fact, this is the same refrigerator, only without unnecessary body parts.
Compressors recommended for ordering are presented below:

Description and characteristics

CALIBER KMK-800/9

Compressor type - piston oil

Engine type - electric

Power - 800 W

Max. compressor capacity - 110 l/min

Min. pressure - 0.2 bar

Max. pressure - 8 bar

Receiver volume - 9 l

Drive (type) - direct

Portable air compressor, low noise, consuming relatively little electricity - this is probably the dream of every owner of a private house, cottage, garage, or small business. Well, it’s quite possible to make a mobile compressed air installation yourself, for example, by taking part of the equipment from an old household refrigerator. Each refrigeration unit has a built-in compressor. If you remove this part and add accessories, you will get an air compressor from a refrigerator compressor.

Before deciding to implement an idea, it is advisable to decide exactly: is this idea really worth taking on? Let's look at a few important aspects to the topic in order to help future designers make the right decision:

not intended for use with air.
The compressor performance of domestic refrigerators is low.
To lubricate the mechanism of refrigeration compressors, special oil is required.

The corresponding conclusions follow from this. When working with air, the device will not be able to function long time without good cooling.

When a refrigeration compressor operates with freon, the housing is cooled due to other temperature parameters of the refrigerant.

Compression of the air mixture by a refrigeration compressor occurs in completely different temperature conditions, which will lead to an increase operating temperature by an order of magnitude. Ultimately, without good cooling, the compressor will simply burn out.

A burnt-out refrigerator compressor as a result of a violation of technological operating conditions. The same fate awaits the device that is supposed to be used in the project, if you do not use special means protection

The low performance of home refrigeration units is another factor limiting the use of such equipment for producing compressed air.

For example, to pump a 5-liter receiver to a pressure of 5-7 atm, it will take at least 15-20 minutes of operation of the refrigeration unit.

Meanwhile, this volume of air is not enough even to inflate a car tire in one sitting or spray paint one wall of a small garage room.

Poor performance of the refrigerator system is common for such equipment. But for an air compression system, especially with a high flow rate, a high-performance system is required

Finally one more important factor– compressor oil. To lubricate the mechanism of refrigeration compressors, a special freon oil is used, the properties of which change dramatically in contact with air.

If you do not change the oil to another type of lubricant that is structurally friendly to air, after a certain time the compressor mechanism will simply “close up” due to rapid wear of parts.

DIY design

So, if, despite all the noted nuances, the decision is made to assemble from the refrigerator, you can proceed directly to action.

Approximately this design should result from the implementation of the conceived idea. By appearance no complaints. The device looks more than flawless and quite impressive

The first step is to collect everything necessary details project equipment:

Air receiver.
Oil separator.
Differential pressure switch.
Copper tube.
Inlet air filter.
Shut-off control and control valves.

For air receiver A compressed air cylinder from a KAMAZ vehicle is optimally suited. The five-liter capacity is suitable for a domestic environment dimensions and meets the requirements for pressure vessels.

It is best to equip a home compressor made from a refrigerator with one of the cylinders that are used on KAMAZ truck tractors. These vessels comply with Rostechnadzor standards

An oil separator design option that is recommended for use as part of the installation. For reliable operation of the system, high-quality separation of oil from air is required.

A differential pressure switch (for example, from the RT series) is used from among those used in industrial refrigeration units.

Copper tube is available in sufficient quantities in the design of the condenser of a domestic refrigerator. Its diameter matches the outlet pipe of the refrigerator compressor.

An air filter at the compressor inlet can be easily made from any suitable plastic container by placing a regular foam sponge inside. Shut-off control and control valves - valves, check valve, pressure gauges - can be bought in the store.

Air unit assembly

An air receiver (for example, an air cylinder from a KAMAZ vehicle) is mounted on a chassis made of a metal corner. Additionally, it is recommended to install a pair of wheels on the chassis for ease of movement, a support “leg” and a handle.

A platform for installing a refrigerator compressor and a bracket for mounting a differential pressure switch are fixed above the upper area of the cylinder. An oil separator is attached to the side of the receiver, through a clamp and an outlet fitting.

DIY oil separator. For fastening, one clamp with a bracket is used on the left side of the separator, and the right part is attached to the fitting of the receiver inlet pipe

An air filter must be installed on the inlet pipe of the refrigerator compressor. An air filter is required to reduce the entry of foreign particles present in the air into the system.

Air filter easy to make from any plastic container by attaching it through an angle threaded transition to the inlet pipe.

Air filter on the inlet pipe of the unit. It’s easy to make one with your own hands from a suitable plastic containers. There is a foam sponge inside the filter housing

The outlet pipe of the compressor is connected through a compensation copper tube-heat exchanger to the inlet fitting of the separator (oil separator). The outlet pipe of the separator is connected to the receiver through an angle adapter.

A tee and (compressed air outlet) are installed at the outlet of the receiver. Through the tee taps, the receiver output is additionally communicated copper tubes with differential relay and pressure gauge. A safety valve is also installed there.

Electrical part and principle of operation

The electrical circuit diagram actually remains untouched, with the exception of minor changes. That is, the compressor from the refrigerator was powered from the mains alternating current through the start relay, so this option is left unchanged.

Another question is that the circuit can be slightly modernized. For example, supplement it with a switch mounted on the case assembled installation. Still, this option is more convenient than periodically plugging and unplugging the plug from the socket every time you use the device in action.

This design does not provide a separate power switch. The compressor is connected to the network with a two-wire cord with a plug through the contact group of the pressure switch

Also, the voltage supply circuit to the compressor must be configured taking into account the inclusion of the contact group of the differential pressure switch.

Due to this configuration, the device will turn off immediately after reaching the set air pressure limit. That's all. The air compressor from the refrigerator can be considered done.

Some notes on the project

A fire extinguisher for a receiver for a home compressed air unit must be selected taking into account a three-fold pressure reserve. Powder OT canister is not the best choice

Often as a receiver for homemade projects use fire extinguisher cylinders. Meanwhile, the containers of powder fire extinguishers have a low limit of the maximum permissible operating pressure (8-12 atm.).

In addition, such vessels are subject to mandatory inspection after a certain period of time by the relevant authorities. If you still take a fire extinguisher vessel under the receiver, then vessels from carbon dioxide systems can be considered an acceptable option.

Finally, the most important point. Such designs, in fact, should be registered with Rostechnadzor, since the assembly contains a vessel operating under a pressure of more than 0.07 MPa (operating pressure of the installation is 10 atm.).

Owners of unregistered homemade air compressors may well be held accountable (administrative and even criminal), as soon as something extraordinary happens during the operation of the equipment that threatens the life and health of people.

So you should think a thousand times before trying to assemble an air compressor from a refrigerator compressor with your own hands.