Viair - Parallel Air Compressor Setup?

[Bumbo]

Anyone run smaller compressors in parallel?

Here is my design criteria...
Control over amp loads via staging/staggering.
Redundancy / Fail-Over
Installations in less than ideal locations
Air Tank

Nothing written in stone here... just thinking of the best way to get it done, but I am thinking of something along these lines...

Viair 250C-IG (Industrial Grade) which have IP67 ingress and 100% duty cycle.

One 12v pump pulls about 11 amps (0.88 CFM @ 0 PSI)

So with 4 of these little pumps I can have 3.5 CFM @ 44 amps.

The biggest advantage is I get physically smaller pumps, can put them in more places, and get to control my load, 11 amps at a time x 4.

Compared to the dual 450C OBA kit they offer... 44 amps / 3.28 CFM

With the ability to stagger the load, it gives me a bit more flexibility with a stock alternator... I can get most of what I need done off the stock alternator and battery with better load control.

Example: I need to start filling tanks at night with all my lighting on, I can start a pump while driving to get it going without having to shed load. If I am stopped, I can always shut-off 20-30 amps of lighting or accessory and send that over to my other pumps for more volume.

In addition to that, I just get a bit of redundancy which is always nice.

Is there anything I need to be aware of pumping multiple pumps into a header? Any issues with pumps being pressurized when off?

I really don't want to install an isolation valve at each pump before it enters a manifold to isolate a failed or leaking unit, nor do I want to have to buy a check valve.

Any thoughts? Bad idea? Good idea?

 

[RonJR]

I can't comment on that particular compressor, but I have the VIAIR 400C. It has a built in check valve so the system stays pressurized when the pump shuts off. It will start into a fully pressurized system. If the 250C-IG you are looking at has those same features, it should work fine to connect 4 of them to a manifold and just switch them on as you need to add capacity.

My OBA system has a pressure cutoff switch so the pump can just cycle as necessary to keep the system charged. I can inflate 4 33x10.5x15 tires from 20 psi to 32 psi in about 6 minutes.