Help installing Viair OBA
 

I tried installing my Viair constant duty kit the other day and I was not victorious. :naw: I'm not electronically inclined when it comes to vehicles. So I got to the end of compressor wiring install and the next to last step says to to connect and TEST compressor system by running the compressor for a short time to build up pressure in your air tank.....so I tried it and nothing, unless it's a new silent compressor...ha, no. Not quite sure what I could have done wrong up to this point.

I've followed the instructions, and got nothing. I read on and just got more confused when it instructs me to hook up to "ignition (Switched Power)" I assume this is a master switch for the whole system. That can't be why the compressor didn't turn on when I touched it to the battery. Is there a little switch on the compressor I'm missing....AHHH

Every thread I've read about this system, everyone says its a straight forward install.....well I guess I'm crazy, cuz I'm confused.:crazyeyes:

Please help me out, I would like to get this thing up and runnin'

Thanks, Dennis

This means the you need a 12v wire that is hot ie Live when the ignition switch is on.

http://www.viaircorp.com/OffRoad/Schematics/oba_wd.pdf

I got rid of the cheap pressure gage and switch. Installed a "real" gage right on the tank and bought a nice rocker switch for the dash. Also didn't use a keyed power source went to the battery with a fuse. I have a yellow top battery so I'm not too worried.

OK, well as I have no clue what's goin on, where would I find said switch/wire for ignition. That's what I figure but I don't know where to look under the hood.

The line supplied already has a fuse, plus shouldn't the compressor turn on when I tested by attaching directly to the battery??? Well it didn't.

I bought the same air system, haven't installed it yet. Do you have any pic. of where you installed the compresser & tank?

I can take pictures if you want but I simply have everything in the trunk area bolted to a spare piece of plywood until I can decide on a better spot for everything.

Could an improper grounding location be the cause of the compressor not turning on when connected to a power source. Right now I have it grounded to the frame bolt for the rear seat.

I bought the ( one off fabrication ) bracket for the compresser that mounts the compresser under the hood, I got it from 4WD.com

For the tank I'm fabricating a bracket that will mount the tank over my winch on the front bumper.

I haven't got to the Electrical part yet so I can't help you there.:dontknow2:

Ok, if I'm reading this diagram right it looks like there's a relay built into the compressor or there's an external relay to drive it.

You've got the power wire that runs from the battery itself to the relay, this is the actual power for the compressor itself and is a larger red wire.

Then you have a smaller red wire coming off the relay to the switch itself. This is a trigger lead and gets wired to the accessory position of the switch.

The switch itself should have 3 connectors, a positive, ground, and a trigger lead. This trigger lead is the smaller of the two red wires. The yellow wire in question is the power for the switch itself. It looks like they're recommending you wire that to a keyed power wire (meaning it only gets power when the key is on). They're doing this to keep you from running the compressor while the engines off so you don't drain the battery. You can wire that lead directly to the battery if you like. If you do it that way the compressor will work if the engine is running or not. The ground lead goes to an piece of bare metal.

So you have two power leads total. One for the switch, and one for the relay. When the switch is flipped it causes the relay to close. When the relay closes power travels through it to the compressor. When you turn the switch off, the relay opens and no power goes to the compressor. Make sense?

Ha, thanks but I think I got half of what you are saying. I was able to get the compressor running as per the instructions. So now I'm trying to wire up the pressure switch and gauge panal with on/off switch. I don't know where to find the ignition wire to tap off of or whatever. I don't want the compressor to be able to drain the battery. I would like to install everything as suggested. Plus there wasn't any wire supplied with the kit unless I'm supposed to cut up the power line going from the battery to the pressure switch.

This is getting frustrating.

Your Viair came with no wiring harness of any kind?