Compressor plumbing

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May 27, 2003 | 11:32 AM

Fat Fendered Ford

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Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 808

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From: east central Illinois

Compressor plumbing

I have a question regarding the plumbing for my compressor. I bought a Porter Cable two stage 6hp compressor that is rated at 17.3 SCFM @ 100 psi. It has a 1/2" outlet. I bought a 1/2" ball valve for a shutoff. I also bought a 3/8" air regulator that I plan to mount right after the ball valve. Will this restrict the air flow too much?

I plan to run copper pipe across my garage to my grit blasting cabinet. It will use a 10 gallon pressure blaster. I'm the only one who will be using the compressor which is why I'm thinking about mounting one air regulator. The plumbing will have water traps and filters where necessary. I plan to run a section of tubing back and forth across the garage to help cool the air so I don't have moisture problems when blasting. When folks recommend running 3/4" pipe I assume they mean between the compressor and regulator(s). Any comments or advice?

Thanks!

May 27, 2003 | 11:45 AM

ranger pat

Cargo Master

Joined: Mar 2001

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From: Elk River, MN

Compressor plumbing

I have the craftsman 7 hp/80 gal tank compressor. With heavy use, it was creating so much moisture in the tank than I plumbed in a cooler between the compressor and the tank. It is simply a 50 foot roll of 1/2" copper tubing. Now the tube going into the tank is not hot to the touch, like the red hot other end coming out of the compressor. When I blow off the water in the tank perodically, I get a couple squirts instead of fire hose stream. In regards to plumbing, bigger is always better, except the restriction is usually some small diameter whip hose coming off the tank going to a manifold where the regulators, separators, oilers, etc are located.

May 27, 2003 | 06:34 PM

Torque1st

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Joined: Sep 2001

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Compressor plumbing

Why run a regulator?

Ranger Pat- Where is all the water going in your system? Air has moisture in it so the moisture is going somewhere. Is it all collecting in your "cooler"?

May 29, 2003 | 09:24 AM

Fat Fendered Ford

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 808

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From: east central Illinois

Compressor plumbing

Quote:

Originally posted by Torque1st
Why run a regulator?

I need to run a regulator because a lot of tools won't like the 175 psi my compressor puts out.

May 29, 2003 | 02:30 PM

Torque1st

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Compressor plumbing

Turn the pressure switch down on the compressor and just turn it up when you need the high pressure. Otherwise you are wasting half of the energy your compressor uses.

May 29, 2003 | 03:24 PM

Fat Fendered Ford

Thread Starter

Laughing Gas

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 808

Likes: 2

From: east central Illinois

Compressor plumbing

I'm a little new to compressor usage so forgive me if I sound a stupid. If I understand what you are saying, turning down the pressure switch will lower the pressure at which the compressor shuts off. I plan to do a lot of sand blasting which requires a large volume of air. Wouldn't having the tank kick off at 175 psi as opposed to say 100 psi make more air available and cause the compressor to run less? I can't say for sure. It's been several years since I took a physics class on this kind of thing. But then I plan on using a pressure blaster which I think has it's own regulator so maybe it's a moot point?

May 29, 2003 | 04:00 PM

Torque1st

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Compressor plumbing

Your compressor will run more trying to pressurize the air to 175 psi. There are some neat formulas avail for figuring energy and HP to compress air and energy lost due to regulators etc. They are far to extensive to post here again, but you can find some of them with a search here.