air compressor

[mike_s]

I'm after one of these for dry testing water pipework before filling to be more professional than running around looking for drips until the customer informs us that water is dripping through the ceiling...

I've done my research and I know that you have to pressure test with water afterwards but this is just for a low pressure test prior to this so that there isn't anything obvious. I've seen this for £37.00 Rothenberger Cordless Air Pump For Dry Pressure Test Kits

I only want to test to about 1.5bar with air as I know high pressure air testing can be more dangerous if something pops off.

My only question is how long will this take to pressurize a heating system, from small 6 rad systems to larger 20+ rad systems. Is this adequate or do I need something more substantial?

 

[on31ll]

I bought one of the very small stanley compressors for this ! About 3 weeks ago ! I plug it in leave it to pressurise its tank then connect to pipework via the rothenberg connector and boom its done takes seconds !

 

[gassafe]

Rothenberger Cordless Air Pump For Dry Pressure Test Kits[/URL]

DON'T waste your time with that thing!

My friend had one, it struggled to pump up a mini rugby ball! It was an absolute joke! Get a proper mini size one like above or the full size ones!

 

[dancinplumba]

make one from an old fridge compressor

 

[lambchop]

My mate gave me that exact one for free, I quickly passed it on.... (with a straight face)

 

[gassafe]

make one from an old fridge compressor

You will be suggesting he makes his own heat pump soon... I hear there a fridge in reverse!

 

[gassafe]

My mate gave me that exact one for free, I quickly passed it on.... (with a straight face)

I guess you mean the rothenberger one... There tools are normally pretty good, I don't know what they were thinking with this!? The op would need about 200 batteries to charge his 7 rad with 1.5 bar of air pressure!

 

[CXR100]

i use a foot pump on small system , it does not take long to pump up , a good one that my dad uses to re inflate machinery wheels when out on the fields is he made a fitting to fit a old lpg gas bottle, not sure how, il have a look and maby post a pic up tommorow, he connects it to a very large compresor in his workshop and leaves it to fill up to the same pressure as there is in the compreesor itself , he then disconects it , puts it in the back of the pickup and off to the field, it holds enough air to inflate a combine harvester wheel from flat, so maby a small 9kg lpg bottle would do you??? not sure if its legal tho!!!!!!!!!!!! and could be a pain if the air runs out! but saves carrying a compressor! and handy if no electric!!!!

 

[mike_s]

haha I thought this hand held rothernberger thing couldn't be up to the job. I'll check out some of your suggestions. Plan to buy a compressor of some kind this week.
Thanks for quick response.

 

[mike_s]

How about this for 100 quid? Stanley DN/8/5 4.5Ltr Portable Compressor 240V | NoLinkingToThis
How do I attach it to a test point? Does it come with a hose?
I plan to make up my own dry pressure test kit if I don't buy the Rothenberger one for £30. I've got home made air testing kits for commercial gas strength testing which I pressurize with a hand air bulb, it would be similar to one of them but with a 4 bar gauge rather than a manometer and I'd connect this compressor somehow.

 

[Mike Jackson]

If you get a tyre inflater with the compressor you can then use the rothenberger tester and you've got the bonus of bring able to do the van tyres.