How to make an auto fill cheap

[keithvegas]

I got sick of undoing the Velcro strap I use to keep my air compressor fill gauge open to check pressure and it is a waste of time to be waiting for proper pressure in each tire so I put my mind to work on a fix. What I came up with was to tee off a ball valve and adjustable pressure relief valve to the gauge.

I bought the ARB kit with their inflator gauge but this should work with any system. I removed the quick connect and put a male to male 1/4" adapter on the bottom of the gauge and connected that to a 1/4" Tee fitting. Put the quick connect on the side of the Tee and another male to make on the other end. Off that end I attached the ball valve and the pressure relief valve. The one I got from grainger (part number 6D915) has springs to set a range of pressures. I used the yellow which runs from 25 to 50 psi.

With your tire at approximately your correct pressure attach the chuck to the valve stem and hold a thumb over the open coupler where the hose to the compressor leads. Adjust the pressure relief valve screw until it just barely holds air with the ball valve open. Close the ball valve and connect to your compressor. It will take a while of trial and error to get the relief set correctly but let about 5 psi out of the tire, fill as normal but open the ball valve after filling starts. When the relief opens close the ball valve and check pressure. Adjusting is simply a matter of turning out the screw for less pressure or in for more. Once you are happy with it lock the set screw and you are done. Next time you air up once you reach your set pressure the relief valve should open and any excess pressure will dump. Close the ball valve and check your pressure. If it is correct from now on you should be able to just close the valve and remove the chuck from the valve stem and move on to the next tire. Once you begin to fill open the ball and wait for the relief to dump.


Here is what mine looks like. Gauge on top then male to male, Tee with quick connect to hose on the side, on the bottom another adapter, ball valve and adjustable pressure relief valve.

[Zombie Hunter]

I like that. May have to make one myself.