air compressor regulator question

Hi Folks,
I hope ive posted in the right category thread. You see I've got a new air compressor but it came with "poor" instructions and therefor am unsure of how to set the thing up. Ive got some photos that show one larger dial gauge and a smaller gauge. I assume that the large gauge shows tank pressure and the smaller one is be used to adjust working pressure at the tool or spray gun. Is this correct in what Im thinking?

The adjustable red knob at the top allows for increasing and decreasing pressure I assume. You see when I turn the thing either + or - there is no difference observed. If you turn the thing to max - side should there be no air coming out of the valve or is it just reducing flow without any obstruction. What am I overlooking or can someone assist me in understanding how to set this thing up to give say 45-50 psi at the spray gun.

I hope I have explained myself and look forward to those who are experts at compressor usage and set up.

Here are some photos of the compressor guages.

Thanks for any help

violincrafter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by violincrafter

Hi Folks,
I hope ive posted in the right category thread. You see I've got a new air compressor but it came with "poor" instructions and therefor am unsure of how to set the thing up. Ive got some photos that show one larger dial gauge and a smaller gauge. I assume that the large gauge shows tank pressure and the smaller one is be used to adjust working pressure at the tool or spray gun. Is this correct in what Im thinking?

The adjustable red knob at the top allows for increasing and decreasing pressure I assume. You see when I turn the thing either + or - there is no difference observed. If you turn the thing to max - side should there be no air coming out of the valve or is it just reducing flow without any obstruction. What am I overlooking or can someone assist me in understanding how to set this thing up to give say 45-50 psi at the spray gun.

I hope I have explained myself and look forward to those who are experts at compressor usage and set up.

Here are some photos of the compressor guages.

Thanks for any help

violincrafter

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You are correct with your assumptions. Large gauge is tank and smaller is the line. To adjust, try pulling the red knob up - then turning. It gets pushed down to lock it.

You will need to run the compressor to fill the tank first, then you will see the gauge react when you turn. There will be a slight lag when you turn the knob as the pressure adjusts.

I recommend you ease the pressure at least weekly and drain the tank of water (valve at the bottom). Others may say do it nightly and still others may say they never do it.

cheers.

"You will need to run the compressor to fill the tank first, then you will see the gauge react when you turn. There will be a slight lag when you turn the knob as the pressure adjusts."

Yup thems true words... but

Some guages(cheapys)wont move until you allow some air flow, connect up your spraygun and hold it on while adjusting the pressure. If you dont you will get an incorrect reading of pressure with a continuos flow(psi will drop around 5-10psi when air flows).

Thanks guys for your replies. The RED turn knob has a positive and negative marking to indicate which way to turn for increase or decreased pressure. It cant be lifted in any form because its threaded on with a central brass pin plunger. I guess I will get the knack of using it but as of now was not confident in doing something wrong and have it "blow" up or something lol. Anyway it does have a safety valve which is comforting.

I hooked up a couple of spray gun one being a small touch up gun 200 ml pot, a air brush modellers type and a one litre pot HP gun. Had a couple of leaks here and there but a few adjustments and teflon and shes GOOD.

The mini air brush work well also. I think the thing works ok so far for what it is. Its not the top of the range but does have a 40 litre tank a 2.5 hp direct drive motor.

Ill have to fiddle with the settings. I havent allowed it to reach working pressure because I wasnt sure of how to use the gauges. You see I thought that by turning the red adjuster that this sets tank pressure and when it got passed 65 psi I thought id better turn it off because it kept climbing when i turned the dial to the minimum. You see as I found out the maximum setting is factory set at 8 cfm. Am i correct? It will turn off at this and cut back in at about 85 psi. I hope i am right. You see I wanted to be certain rather than blow the thing up. Please dont laugh at me to loud. LOL.

Oh well guess I was to cautious in using the thing. :p

Violincrafter,
8 cfm = 8 cubic feet of air per minute this is the volume not the pressure.
the tank max pressure will be between 100 - 125 Psi and as you said will restart at about 85psi

Sorry I meant 8 BAR. Anyway thanks. So it looks like that I can let it run till it gets to max 125 psi before it cut out there abouts. I hope it wont go higher than this.

100 to 125 psi tank presure is probably a bit ambitious for a cheapy compressor 95 to 110 would probably be easier on the works.
It is certainly worthwhile to check & most probably adjust the cut in & cut out preasures at some time. (leave that till a bit later)
All preasure readings & adjustments to regulators should be made with some airflow.
cheers

Hi, I'm a chiropractor with a new silent aire 50-15 compressor. The operating instructions are awful with this thing and I have a question about the regulator valve. Please excuse my horrible explanation, but I really don't know much about these thing. So here goes, I filled the tank with are, hooked up my device to the compressor and now air was being sent to my device. Manuel says turn right or left to decrease and increase, but this is where I have the problem. How tight does this vavle need to be screwed into the tank? When i pull up on the valve to release the lock and turn it, clockwise it will not move, and counterclockwise unscrews the whole valve.

What am I doing wrong, no air comes to my device, and as said before the tank has air in it showing 120 psi gauge by regulator valve shows 0.

Thanks,
Charlie

Hi Charlie.

Hard to say, but it sounds like the valve is jammed and needs some real force to start it turning clockwise!

Please be careful, I would bleed the pressure from the tank first before trying it.

Sounds like that regulator is the same one I battled with ages ago and eventually chucked in the bin. Bought a $35 one with moisture trap from Supercheap Auto and it works better and is easier to adjust.

To set your pressure, fill your tank, connect your air tool and let air run through it continuously etc. While the air is running through, adjust regulator down to 0 pressure, so basically no air is coming through. Then start adjusting up to your working pressure until it is showing correctly on your second gauge (closest to air tool) and then lock the regulator down at that point. Doing it this way stops the air line filling back up to max pressure and "pulsing" the air flow again when you first allow air to run through again.

You can't start at max pressure and then try regulate down, at least it didn't work with the regulator I have on my compressor. I had to go to 0 pressure, then adjust up to desired pressure. This way it keeps the air in the line at the pressure you have selected after you have let go of the trigger.

May be obvious to many, but its something the manuals never tell you.
Hope that helps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dean

You can't start at max pressure and then try regulate down, at least it didn't work with the regulator I have on my compressor. I had to go to 0 pressure, then adjust up to desired pressure. This way it keeps the air in the line at the pressure you have selected after you have let go of the trigger.

May be obvious to many, but its something the manuals never tell you.
Hope that helps.

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My compressor has two gauges cylinder and line as everyone elses does. The way I get the pressure I want is when the cylinder is up to pressure (about 120psi or 8 bar one bar being 14.7psi) is to wind the line pressure right down. I have to release pressure from the line to get a vague idea of where the pressure is. I then let it back up just above the required pressure and have a blast on whatever is attatched then check the pressure. Next as it ideally will be a bit high give a gentle adjustment down release the pressure to get a true reading.

Machines always appreciate being adjusted down to avoid the slack in the mechanism mucking things up. This is a complication as adjusting down means there is pressure held in the line and so you will get no change to your line gauge.

Stevo