Compressor setup 101

by Bob
(Delaware)

I have a new 80 Gal, 5hp, 3 cylinder (piston style) compressor. I have been using it for some tools and blaster, no real problems, some water in the line when blasting.

I am going to start priming and painting soon, so I need to set up the externals. As of now, I have a single line that goes up to the ceiling and to the tool, small air filter but nothing else.

I have been reading the pages here and I am planning on changing the setup.

1st, the plumbing, I want to run new lines up the wall and maybe back down and up again so that water can run off, using a T fitting and not an elbow.

I also want to run a second tank, anywhere from 10 to 20 gallon. This should help the air cool.

Questions:

1) Should I run the line up and down the wall before or after the second storage tank?

2) Should I use a steel line, or would hose or plastic be better to eliminate water?

3) The compressor is set at 155PSI, and since I need way less for painting, I assume that I can change the time it kicks on to a lower psi setting.

4) I am just not sure on what the best setup sequence would be, main tank, filter, line then extra tank, or extra tank first, etc etc.

5) Is there a simple home made contraption that would help dry the air?


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Bill says...

Sure a lot of questions, Bob. I welcome them and your visit. The answers to pretty much all of them are found on the pages of the site.

To help your proceed, here are some short answers.

1) After, but not up an down. Take the drop off the top of the main not from the bottom. See plumbing pages for details.

2) Copper, rubber then polyethylene. Please read the plumbing pages and hose and tube pages for details. The air line material has little impact on water in the lines. Read the pages on Water to see where and why there is water in compressed air.

3)Leave the cut out pressure at 155 and use a regulator anywhere you can to use less pressure at the application.

4)Please see the pages on "Adding a tank" linked from the sitemap.

5) For painting I would use an in line chemical desiccant air dryer. There pages of info linked from the water pages that talk about how to treat compressed air to make it right for your application.

You can build a water jacket drier or use an old refrigerator, but for most apps, proper plumbing, well placed water removal filters, and at point of use, a higher level water and water removal device will do. All covered in the pages on this site.

Cheers,

Bill