DeTomaso Mailing List: May 99, Message #168

Haven't heard anything recently on this subject, with all the fast cars
entered, maybe it's solved. Anyway, I did some tests with my air
compressor. If you read my recent painting post I have a 5 hp intercooled
(Pantera A/C condenser between the compressor and the tank with forced air
cooling) setup with water traps after the condenser and out of the tank.
Almost no water shows up in the second trap.

Recently I blew air into a trash bag and measured the humidity. Air temp
was about 61 deg, and humidity about 65%. Air out of the tank was 37%
humidity. Much lower but still significant. I doubt if anyone's air (unless
they're from the desert) is much lower. BUT THAT'S THE POINT. Ely is in the
desert and at about 7,000 ft (which also reduces water content). My guess
is that the humidity during the day (if it gets warm) will be in the teens.
In any event I'm sure it will be lower than almost anywhere anyone is
likely to have come from. Hopefully, the local filling station has a water
trap on their compressor and it could be even lower, unless everyone fills
up their tires at night when the humidity is usually much higher. Anyway,
if you fill and deflate (most of the way) your tires 3 to 5 times, you
should be able to get rid of most of your bad sea level air and trade it
for some good dry mountain desert air!

Another thought. If anyone is a SCUBA diver, bring a tank. I believe tank
air has virtually no humidity (at least it did when everyone had steel
tanks). A simple adaptor from the regulator hose to a tire air fitting is
all that is needed to supply lots of dry air.


Sincerely,
Richard Barkley

To Ski or not to Ski, that is the question!

Richard Barkley
(310) 373-6695 (home), 813-2432 (work)
E-mail: richard.barkley@trw.com (work), rbarkley@earthlink.net (home)
Mammoth Condo 2BR+loft/3Bath - Horizons 4 #186 (760) 934-6758
Condo web address: http://home.earthlink.net/~rbarkley