VMAC G30 Gas Drive Air Compressor Installation Best Practices

October 20, 2016

You know better than anyone that being an effective truck upfitter requires a unique set of skills – understanding of machinery along with their mechanical and electrical components, knowledge of customer needs and capacity to problem-solve. Customers require that all tools and equipment fit and perform optimally on their job sites.

To remove some of the challenge, below is a list of best practices for proper installation and operation of VMAC’s G30 Gas Drive Air Compressor.

  1. Enclosure considerations: Keep the oxygen flowing.air flow
    • Oxygen is a required element for operating gas combustion engines.  This means if there is a lack of oxygen flow around the machine there will be issues.  Engines can be enclosed, but maximizing the space around the engines will prevent overheating or stalling.
    • This is true for air compressors as well. The air compressor front and WHASP tank side must remain free of obstructions, so enough oxygen can get into engine and keep it running.
    • G30 Best Practice:
      • Leave a minimum of two sides open – one of these sides should always be the WHASP tank side.
      • Leave the front of the machine clear of obstructions.
  2. Ventilation attentions: Avoid exhaust related stalls.VMAC Gas Drive Air Compressor with Cage
    • Just like vehicle exhaust, these byproducts of spent gasoline need to be exhausted away from small gas combustion engines. This is because exhaust is full of carbon monoxide which suffocates the engine. If the engine is located out in the open, exhaust should never be a worry. If the engine is mounted near walls or other equipment, proper exhaust routing is required.
    • Adequate ventilation is vital for proper operation and safety. When a system is not properly cooled, it can lead to oil deterioration, increased oil consumption, power loss and reduced life or failure of the engine or compressor.
    • G30 Best Practice:
      • Ensure engine exhaust vents away from the engine/compressor intake.
      • Use adequately sized exhaust pipe for the extension required.
  3. Design utilizations: Follow the installation manual.
    • Equipment installation manuals are written to ensure optimal performance and operator safety. It’s best to always review manuals before starting installations, following manuals throughout installations and ask the manufacturer questions if anything is unclear.
    • G30 Best Practice:
      • Installation, Owner’s and Service Manuals are shipped with every G30 air compressor.
      • Ensure manuals are shared with customers when installations are complete.
  4. Safety, safety, safety: Keep operators healthy.Chemical-Warning-Signs-Industrial
    • The discovery stage of the sales process, working with customers to identify their unique requirements, should not be taken lightly. Ensuring customers specify the right equipment for their jobs, while maintaining continuous safe operation of equipment is vitally important to everyone’s personal and business health and well-being. Consider all
      safety precautions when helping customers through this process.
    • The final and possibly the most important stage of the sales process is final delivery of the upfitted vehicle to the customer.   During final delivery, customers need proper training on the installed equipment, including any potential safety hazards.
    • G30 Best Practice:
      • NEVER install gas-driven air compressors inside any area where operators work, such as a commercial van cargo area. Attempts at proper ventilation rarely work as intended and if they fail can have dire consequences.  Gas engines quickly consume oxygen in a small space and replace it with odorless and potentially deadly carbon monoxide.

Follow these best practices to ensure customers are 100% satisfied with their equipment. 

If you have any questions about this article or anything mobile compressor related, please contact us.