How hot do Viair compressors get?

[Mikeeal33]

Hello everybody I got my air ride installed this weekend, everything is working great, however the compressor gets HOT!

Details:

It's a single Viair 444c, and it's filling a 3 gallon tank, running two bags.

Here's the two diagrams I referenced:

http://www.azproperformance.com/manu...ng-Diagram.pdf

http://air-zenith.com/images_u%5C113...OB1_Wiring.jpg

Notice how ones says 85 goes to ground, and 86 goes to the pressure switch, and the other has those two flipped??? Does it matter??? I'm at work right now, but I'm pretty sure I went with 86 for ground and 85 to the switch.

Is it normal for these 12v compressors to get way too hot to touch? I'm using 8 gauge for the main positive feed going into the relay, (30) but it's really long at the moment for testing purposes (maybe 15 feet), will that do it? None of the wires or connections even get warm, just the compressor.

[chevy_mike]

The 85/86 connections are just to trip the relay. I believe they can go either way, as long as one is from the + side and one the - side.

As for the compressor getting hot, yes they will get very hot. You are compressing air, which will heat up anything it comes in contact with. Add the mechanical parts of the compressor and that adds more heat. You should feel the heat from my 7 1/2 HP, dual stage, 80 gallon compressor in my garage. It's almost like a mini heater.

As long as your cables are not getting hot, you should be fine. You only get a peak surge at start up, then the amp load lowers. 15 ft of 8 ga wire would be fine with one compressor.

[Mikeeal33]

Awesome thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention it's the body of the compressor too, not just the head. The head was too hot to even touch for more than a second after running for five minutes, it wasn't as hot as that but still hot. Normal?

[chevy_mike]

Yep, the whole things will get hot. Definitely the cylinder part, do not touch as it will burn you.

[Pro Performance]

As mentioned, this is normal for the compressors to get hot.

[Mikeeal33]

Thanks you guys.

It didn't feel as hot today I wonder if its because it was brand new and breaking in/seating itself in the cylinder.

Cool!

[Mikeeal33]

What gauge wire do you guys run for the ground to the relay? Right now I'm using the same 16g I'm using to power my switches, is that ok? This is not listed in the diagrams I referenced. Does the rule that a "shorter ground is better" apply here as it does in car audio?

What gauge for the inline switch, "switched power" going to the relay? Once again I'm using 16g at the moment is that ok? This one is listed as 16 gauge but I wanted to ask anyway.

I'm not concerned about the heat now from the replies here, I'm just working on getting everything ran and tucked away and only want to do it once!!!

[chevy_mike]

You're fine with what you are using. This is a low load so 16ga is fine. It's the load contacts that you need the heavy gauge wire on.

[Mikeeal33]

Thanks Mike.