Altaros booster inner workings full details

[oldpro]

Altaros just posted this fantastic animation and thought people would like to see! http://airgunguild.com/airgun-tanks-compressors-and-filling/altaros-air-compressor/45/

[Taso1000]

Travis,

Thanks for the link.  I always wondered how the Altaros worked!

Taso

[Tims229]

That explains why it runs so cool with the exhausted air running through a jacket surrounding the low and high pressure cylinders. Fairly ingenious cooling system.

[TerryH]

Very cool. Thanks for posting the link Travis! I might just go this route when I get to the point of getting a compressor. I have a 5hp/80gal Snap On compressor for my shop already. It is not an oil less compressor. Is that acceptable?

[oenomaker]

Very cool. Thanks for posting the link Travis! I might just go this route when I get to the point of getting a compressor. I have a 5hp/80gal Snap On compressor for my shop already. It is not an oil less compressor. Is that acceptable?

You are still dealing with high pressure and detonation risks, so you DEFINITELY want to use an oil/water filter!

[TerryH]

Very cool. Thanks for posting the link Travis! I might just go this route when I get to the point of getting a compressor. I have a 5hp/80gal Snap On compressor for my shop already. It is not an oil less compressor. Is that acceptable?

You are still dealing with high pressure and detonation risks, so you DEFINITELY want to use an oil/water filter!

I have an inline water and oil filter/separator in my system but wasn't sure if a true oil less compressor was required for the air source.

[oenomaker]

I would personally use one before the Altaros just to be sure.  Water isn't as big of an issue, although not good, but the oil can be a real danger. 

[MJP]

Why use oil less compressor when you can use normal shopcomp and separator. If you can paint with the air there isn't much oil in it. IMO

Marko

[TerryH]

Why use oil less compressor when you can use normal shopcomp and separator. If you can paint with the air there isn't much oil in it. IMO

Marko

I'm in the body shop business. Don't do any painting at home but have dry air. Not sure I want to go the booster route but it's an intriguing price point compared to the stand alone compressors.

[oldpro]

Travis,

Thanks for the link.  I always wondered how the Altaros worked!

Taso

Your very welcome.

[KnifeMaker]

Terry,

It will be just fine. In fact, Astaros says so in their vid.

The Danger is in the compressor itself if it is a high heat compressor supplying your tank. Or a unit such as the shoebox which has a very high temp, tiny "Very" high pressure, chamber before actually discharging the air.
However, there has never been a reported incident with a even a shoe box being filled with a "Real" shop compressor such as yours. EVER!  Just use good techniques, such as a good water/oil separator before the ShoeBox. (Or a very slow, LOL typical portable oilless unit. If you are patient enough.

 The Altaros is cool, actually COLD to the touch when pumping. I have been using a compressor very similar to yours and with water/oil separator for at least 7 years, and with Big Bores, "a Lot)!!!, You're Golden! 

In fact, Tofazfou has just gone Exactly the  same route. A;nd he is Very Technically minded, and safety conscious by trade.

You can wrap your hand around the Altaros, even after extended pumping/fill sessions, and it will be actually cold to the touch. Not room temp, actually Cold!  Pretty much exactly the opposite to anything you have ever seen in a high pressure pump of any kind.

Knife 

[TerryH]

Terry,

It will be just fine. In fact, Astaros says so in their vid.

The Danger is in the compressor itself if it is a high heat compressor supplying your tank. Or a unit such as the shoebox which has a very high temp, tiny "Very" high pressure, chamber before actually discharging the air.
However, there has never been a reported incident with a even a shoe box being filled with a "Real" shop compressor such as yours. EVER!  Just use good techniques, such as a good water/oil separator before the ShoeBox. (Or a very slow, LOL typical portable oilless unit. If you are patient enough.

 The Altaros is cool, actually COLD to the touch when pumping. I have been using a compressor very similar to yours and with water/oil separator for at least 7 years, and with Big Bores, "a Lot)!!!, You're Golden! 

In fact, Tofazfou has just gone Exactly the  same route. A;nd he is Very Technically minded, and safety conscious by trade.

You can wrap your hand around the Altaros, even after extended pumping/fill sessions, and it will be actually cold to the touch. Not room temp, actually Cold!  Pretty much exactly the opposite to anything you have ever seen in a high pressure pump of any kind.

Knife

Awesome! Thanks for your help. It'll be a bit before I can take this dive. Also waffling back and forth between this and the Air Venturi stand alone.

[KnifeMaker]

Terry,

It will be just fine. In fact, Astaros says so in their vid.

The Danger is in the compressor itself if it is a high heat compressor supplying your tank. Or a unit such as the shoebox which has a very high temp, tiny "Very" high pressure, chamber before actually discharging the air.
However, there has never been a reported incident with a even a shoe box being filled with a "Real" shop compressor such as yours. EVER!  Just use good techniques, such as a good water/oil separator before the ShoeBox. (Or a very slow, LOL typical portable oilless unit. If you are patient enough.

 The Altaros is cool, actually COLD to the touch when pumping. I have been using a compressor very similar to yours and with water/oil separator for at least 7 years, and with Big Bores, "a Lot)!!!, You're Golden! 

In fact, Tofazfou has just gone Exactly the  same route. A;nd he is Very Technically minded, and safety conscious by trade.

You can wrap your hand around the Altaros, even after extended pumping/fill sessions, and it will be actually cold to the touch. Not room temp, actually Cold!  Pretty much exactly the opposite to anything you have ever seen in a high pressure pump of any kind.

Knife

Awesome! Thanks for your help. It'll be a bit before I can take this dive. Also waffling back and forth between this and the Air Venturi stand alone.

Terry, all that I can add to this, is that you all ready have the required work horse in the Snap-on compressor. And the Altaros is ultra easy on maintenance if you shoot a lot. As in None.
Company claims two years of continual use before first refreshing will be needed.

Sounds like a win-win to me.

Of course, I have not been using it for two years.  But for the months I have had it, I have give it a real workout. As in just about every day filling for the .257, and it does so without complaint.  I really couldn't be happier with it!   (It also must be noted that the unit has had years of test, and use in Europe, with very good reports).

And finally, it is a proven design. I would like to know more about the Air Venturi unit. With input from those who have used it hard!

Now finally Terry, You're a Drag Racer, As I was for years. You like it FAST and HOT!  And as in racing, speed cost bucks.
If your looking for FAST, The Bauer is no doubt the way to go.
Now that I'm retired, I've slow'n down a bit. GRRRRRR!!!   

Knife 

[TerryH]

Terry,

It will be just fine. In fact, Astaros says so in their vid.

The Danger is in the compressor itself if it is a high heat compressor supplying your tank. Or a unit such as the shoebox which has a very high temp, tiny "Very" high pressure, chamber before actually discharging the air.
However, there has never been a reported incident with a even a shoe box being filled with a "Real" shop compressor such as yours. EVER!  Just use good techniques, such as a good water/oil separator before the ShoeBox. (Or a very slow, LOL typical portable oilless unit. If you are patient enough.

 The Altaros is cool, actually COLD to the touch when pumping. I have been using a compressor very similar to yours and with water/oil separator for at least 7 years, and with Big Bores, "a Lot)!!!, You're Golden! 

In fact, Tofazfou has just gone Exactly the  same route. A;nd he is Very Technically minded, and safety conscious by trade.

You can wrap your hand around the Altaros, even after extended pumping/fill sessions, and it will be actually cold to the touch. Not room temp, actually Cold!  Pretty much exactly the opposite to anything you have ever seen in a high pressure pump of any kind.

Knife

Awesome! Thanks for your help. It'll be a bit before I can take this dive. Also waffling back and forth between this and the Air Venturi stand alone.

Terry, all that I can add to this, is that you all ready have the required work horse in the Snap-on compressor. And the Altaros is ultra easy on maintance if you shoot a lot. As in None.
Company claims two years of continual luse before first refreshing will be needed.

Sounds like a win-win to me.

Of course, I have not been using it for two years.  But for the months I have had it, I have give it a real workout. As in just about every day filling for the .257, and it does so without complaint.  I really couldn't be happier with it!   (It also must be noted that the unit has had years of test, and use in Europe, with very good reports).

And finally, it is a proven design. I would like to know more about the Air Venturi unit. With input from those who have used it hard!

Now finally Terry, You're a Drag Racer, As I was for years. You like it FAST and HOT!  And as in racing, speed cost bucks.
If your looking for FAST, The Bauer is no doubt the way to go.
Now that I'm retired, I've slow'n down a bit. GRRRRRR!!!   

Knife

Thanks for the advice. I know you're right. Everything points towards the Altaros especially since I have the big compressor already.

[TerryH]

And so I ordered one. 

Today's all in price: $639.00.

[KnifeMaker]

WOW!!! They really went up! That's a full 4 dollars more than I paid.    Really, 4 bucks!!!

Seriously Terry, congrats Sir, You're gonna love it!

I just got off the phone with Tofazfou, and he too is lov'n his. He has his turned down a bit more than mine, so a bit slower. He was getting too much water in the trap. 

I added a 13 or 14" fan on the wall angled down to the head of the shop compressor, and this cut out a good 90% of the moisture I was getting in the trap. It's all about heat I guess.

Tof, said he had his reg. in the Altaros box set about half way. I finally opened mine up full on after I put the fan up. My Ingersoll Rand kicks on at 90 and off at 140.  I do wish it was adjustable, but it is not. So I use no reg on the I.R. and only use the adjuster in the Altaros Box. 

Let me know how she does for you Terry, and cut two pieces from the packing open cell foam  and wedge between the back of the Box and the Air Outlet holes If you need it to run quieter. This is suggested ty Altaros.

Knife/Mike

[MJP]

I don't think price went anywhere, just the dollar exchange rate has gone down.

Marko

[TerryH]

WOW!!! They really went up! That's a full 4 dollars more than I paid.    Really, 4 bucks!!!

Seriously Terry, congrats Sir, You're gonna love it!

I just got off the phone with Tofazfou, and he too is lov'n his. He has his turned down a bit more than mine, so a bit slower. He was getting too much water in the trap. 

I added a 13 or 14" fan on the wall angled down to the head of the shop compressor, and this cut out a good 90% of the moisture I was getting in the trap. It's all about heat I guess.

Tof, said he had his reg. in the Altaros box set about half way. I finally opened mine up full on after I put the fan up. My Ingersoll Rand kicks on at 90 and off at 140.  I do wish it was adjustable, but it is not. So I use no reg on the I.R. and only use the adjuster in the Altaros Box. 

Let me know how she does for you Terry, and cut two pieces from the packing open cell foam  and wedge between the back of the Box and the Air Outlet holes If you need it to run quieter. This is suggested ty Altaros.

Knife/Mike

Thanks Mike! I saw the video about he foam on the exit ports. I do want to make it as quiet as I can. Already have the compressor in a separate room. I'm going to get a dual stage filter from Harbor Freight and put it right at the Altaros. My compressor is hard plumbed into the shop so the air has cooled considerably before it gets to my Devilbiss filter. I also have moisture drops, basically just extensions of the elbows on the down drops with a bleeder so I can drain any accumulated moisture in the lines before it even gets to the filers so we will see.

[Rollo]

I received mine the other day and it works great.  My 2hp 60 gallon Craftsman is probably the minimum shop compressor you want to use with this, for any extended period of time.  I have my compressor output regulated to 110 psi, my Altaros wide open on the intake and my compressor runs 1 minute 45 seconds and rest 2 min. 30 sec.  (110psi to 140psi cut on/off).  I have a single water trap at the output of the compressor and only getting a few drips from the Altaros trap after a couple of hours of run time.  I live in S. TN so the humidity has been really high lately.  I think that's pretty good.  Takes about 35 minutes to fill my 14 cft. Airhog from 200 to 300 bar.  Not the fastest but sure beats pumping and driving to the dive shop. 
The only issue I've had so far is I blew a burst disc yesterday.  The Altaros had just cut off at 300 bar (according to my Airhog gauge) when it blew 30 seconds later.  Michal is sending me 7.5k replacement discs.  GREAT customer service.  But I went ahead and ordered some on Amazon so I could fill over the weekend.  Just have to make sure the threads are the same.  The burst disc I removed (5k) from the Altaros fill valve had a SAE head on it (3/8").  It was not a 10mm head.  Hopefully these disc threads are the same. 

[TerryH]

And we have a tracking number.