Air Compressor WARNING!

[TimberXX]

I bought an aluminum california air tools air compressor and love it. Its only a little lighter than steel, and i bleed it everytime, but I use mine all the time, and I like knowing that its not going to rust on me.

 

[fried1765]

I bought an aluminum california air tools air compressor and love it. Its only a little lighter than steel, and i bleed it everytime, but I use mine all the time, and I like knowing that its not going to rust on me.

Those are nice looking little units!

 

[repete]

I use a solenoid valve at the discharge port of the air compressor and connected to the shop lights. https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Sol...ds=electric+water+valve&qid=1613091529&sr=8-3 When I enter the shop and turn the lights on the valve opens and when I leave and turn out the lights the valve closes. No leaks and no worry of broken hoses.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I use a solenoid valve at the discharge port of the air compressor and connected to the shop lights. https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Sol...ds=electric+water+valve&qid=1613091529&sr=8-3 When I enter the shop and turn the lights on the valve opens and when I leave and turn out the lights the valve closes. No leaks and no worry of broken hoses.

Sometimes you get pretty awesome ideas from a thread. This is one of them.

 

[ultrarunner]

^^^ Very Clever...

 

[Industrial Toys]

I can't imagine dumping all that air. And waiting twenty minutes if I need air to pump my five buiiding system back up again. I did think up ideas and got the stuff together for a timed solenoid valve, but never finished the project. Now, with my once again clogged drain, I wish I had.

 

[repete]

I can't imagine dumping all that air. And waiting twenty minutes if I need air to pump my five buiiding system back up again. I did think up ideas and got the stuff together for a timed solenoid valve, but never finished the project. Now, with my once again clogged drain, I wish I had.

If you are speaking of the solenoid valve it is not to dump the air from the tank but to disconnect the entire system from the tank. Tank stays full. Tank, solenoid valve, distribution piping.

Another benefit is when I come in I can hear if I have a small leak. If my hoses are tight with no leaks I just hear a click when I turn the lights on. If I hear the click then the hiss of air to fill the system I need to find the leak.

I have installed a system similar to this at our local volunteer fire station but rather then control it by a light switch I control it with a radio. When the radio "hears" that particular fire station's radio code the receiver closes a set of contacts which activate a Delay On Release timer. This DOR timer controls the solenoid valve allowing air to move from the compressor to the apparatus' air brake systems. After three minutes it automatically closes the valve. With this system when the volunteer station receives a 911 call, the trucks are filled and ready to roll when the volunteers arrive minutes later and open the door. Prior to that the compressor was "hot" to the rigs all the time and we had issues with water in the tanks.
Thirty and 40 year old fire engines can have a lot of minor leaks and the yellow coil umbilical hoses can separate causing compressors to run till they die with no one there to hear them.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I must say, I like your way of thinking beyond the "norm". I was also going to put a timer on my compressor that if it did run for too long it would shut down. Another project that never happened! I think my compressor is rated for 100% continuous duty, but that's not the point.

 

[5030]

I must say, I like your way of thinking beyond the "norm". I was also going to put a timer on my compressor that if it did run for too long it would shut down. Another project that never happened! I think my compressor is rated for 100% continuous duty, but that's not the point.

Your electric bill.... Not mine.

 

[SylvainG]

I had a 8 gallons compressor that was stolen in 2012 so I bought a new one then. The old one, I would drain after every use (plug was easy access) but the new one, I never drained it, thinking I only use it a few times a year anyway. Boy, was I wrong. Reading this thread, I went ahead and drained it. Here's what came out of it

Lets say I'll drain it more often now...