Pressure Switch Adjustment, what is..

by Kevin
(Calgary, Alberta, Canada)

I can't find a pressure switch that is pre-set to the manufacturers high/low setting on an older compressor I have. I use 2 compressors in series with a rather elborate filter and air-drier setup. until the pressure switch quit working on the one compressor, I had the high/low settings adjusted (downward) slightly so that they were perfectly balanced and supplied me with an ample volume of air to run some of my air tools that really gobble it up.

The closest switch I could find is still 20 lbs too high. I unplugged the compressor, drained the tank and popped the cover only to discover 3 spring adjustments instead of the 2 that I am used to. There are the usual 2 larger ones side-by-side, and then another smaller one off to the side. I was wondering if you can tell me what this one would be for?

I can't find any model number on this switch, it's a LaPlante, if that helps.

(not sure if this will post twice, I wanted to add an image i found of a similar switch showing the adjustment I'm referring to)

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Bill says...

If, under the lid, there is no schematic showing the adjustments, then if it were my switch, here is how I would figure it out.

After you have identified the normal cut in and cut out levels of the switch, pick one of the nuts and turn it 1/4 turn. If the tank is full, bleed out the air until the compressor starts. At what pressure did it do so, and is that the same original setting? If it has changed, then you know which nut adjusts the cut in pressure. And so on.

Is this a Condor switch? If so, you might be able to get more info at: www.condor-usa.com

Cheers,

Bill