Pressure Switches Air VS Water

[Industrial Toys]

Is there a difference between pressure switches found on a home shop air compressor and that found on a domestic rural water system? They look the same.

I intend to put another on my water system as I have never had much luck operating a water softener. They don't like the low pressure when doing a recharge, so I figured I would add a second switch that doesn't swing as far, and only switch this switch in when the softener is recharging, which I initiate manually anyway.

 

[nybirdman]

Air pressure switch has a max set point(I.E.100lbs) and shuts off when reached;water has two set points ;high and low.I.E. 40-60lbs.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Sorry. What's the difference? Last night a friend asked me to look at his compressor switch as he was unable to run his impact gun down at 70 pounds which is when the compressor comes on, and then up to 100. It had two adjustment screws and it wasn't possible to get less swing. It's on a fairly new Campbell Hausfield 5HP Iron Horse Compressor.

So I have to look through my stuff for two switches. For him and my water project. I tend to collect them, when I see them. So I wondered if there was a difference in switches.

 

[teejk]

Sorry. What's the difference? Last night a friend asked me to look at his compressor switch as he was unable to run his impact gun down at 70 pounds which is when the compressor comes on, and then up to 100. It had two adjustment screws and it wasn't possible to get less swing. It's on a fairly new Campbell Hausfield 5HP Iron Horse Compressor.

So I have to look through my stuff for two switches. For him and my water project. I tend to collect them, when I see them. So I wondered if there was a difference in switches.

Good question...as far as I can tell they are the same other that the ranges they operate in...they both need "cut-in" and "cut-out" settings. Your water system will operate in a much lower range. But curious about that water softener thing and why it would be a problem and what you would hope to accomplish with a higher rated switch.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have had two softeners. One a used Culligan, and a new GE. They both exhibited the same problem. They never refill the brine tank, and I have to do it manually. Some of the operations like sucking out the brine is done by venturi action. Pressure and flow would have an effect on that. Not sure why the brine tank never fills.

 

[dadster4]

Pressure switches for water systems are designed to isolate the "wet" portion from the "dry" control components and utilize appropriate materials to accomplish this. An air pressure switch may be susceptible to water damage and lead to a dangerous situation. If you regenerate the softener when the water pressure is highest (after the pump cycles off) and don't use any water elsewhere, can you get through the whole cycle?