Air regulators/filters

What do you guys suggest, having the regulator and filter as separate units, or using those big combination setups, that have a big filter can with a little chrome regulator bolted to the front?

Does it matter?

It all depends on what kind of lines your running and how many drops. If you have copper lines there is no sense in having two filters... you only need one, just stick it right before your first drop or if your running a loop around the shop before your first drop in each directions. Then stick a regulator at each drop before each hose. If you have just one drop you can use a combination over/under at each drop. It just gets alot more expensive when you have multiple drops and want to use these.

If you have black pipe or galvanlized, then and over/under combination will make more sense for space reasons, because youll need both, and they are usually cheaper than two indivdual units

Jim

I plan on using one single regulator to drop the 175 psi tank pressure down to a system pressure of around 100 psi. I cannot think of any reason why I would need more than 100 psi, never have in all my years of mechanical work. Anyhow, I already have the regulator, sitting in the box waiting for me to install the system. I bought a Wilkerson with 1" pipe thread fittings and capable of around 500 CFM, overkill I know, but it will make a good system regulator, right off the tank, and the price was right from www.surpluscenter.com

Some people I suppose perfer to have 175 throughout the system and regulators and filters at all drops, more expensive and I intend on using one inch pipe for the loop around the shop, though I may close the loop at the far end (which will be largely unused anyhow) with something smaller, possibly 3/4 to save money. (more like a horseshoe around the shop with the smaller pipe connecting the ends).

In any case, watch www.surpluscenter.com as their inventory changes constantly., but good to deal with.

Charles

Charles (in GA) said:

I plan on using one single regulator to drop the 175 psi tank pressure down to a system pressure of around 100 psi. I cannot think of any reason why I would need more than 100 psi, never have in all my years of mechanical work. Anyhow, I already have the regulator, sitting in the box waiting for me to install the system. I bought a Wilkerson with 1" pipe thread fittings and capable of around 500 CFM, overkill I know, but it will make a good system regulator, right off the tank, and the price was right from www.surpluscenter.com

Some people I suppose perfer to have 175 throughout the system and regulators and filters at all drops, more expensive and I intend on using one inch pipe for the loop around the shop, though I may close the loop at the far end (which will be largely unused anyhow) with something smaller, possibly 3/4 to save money. (more like a horseshoe around the shop with the smaller pipe connecting the ends).Charles

Click to expand...

This is where I'm at too. Putting up copper now, 3/4" main with 1/2" drops.
9 drops so a filter/reg at each isn't happening. I'm a one man show so its
not like there's gonna be more than one drop being used at a time. Looking
at a 3/4" water seperator and regulator at about 25 feet into the3/4 main
before the first drop. Also considering one of the coalescing filters after the
reg but its only 1/2" in/out... and worried about restriction. All the drops
have drain legs. Any thoughts on this? What would you do?

I must bought a Ingersoll-Rand 7.5hp compressor. I am thinking of using the I-R 'SimplAir SL' piping system. My loop would have 6 drops. Would one regulator/seperator/lubrictor on the main line near the compressor be enough for the entire loop?
Mike

red vette mike said:

I must bought a Ingersoll-Rand 7.5hp compressor. I am thinking of using the I-R 'SimplAir SL' piping system. My loop would have 6 drops. Would one regulator/seperator/lubrictor on the main line near the compressor be enough for the entire loop?
Mike

Click to expand...

Use a big enough regulator and it will be fine. I bought one with a one inch pipe thread fittings, something like 400 CFM capacity, should do the whole system fine. Cost me about $50 at Surpluscenter.com

Charles

You want your water separator away from the compressor. Having it next to the compressor kinda defeats all that nice cool-down pipe. You're blowing hot air with evap'd moisture right off the compressor... put that through pipe, air cools down, water condenses easier, the watertrap can do its job.

And I'd think you wouldn't want the oiler right off the compressor either. Otherwise you have nowhere to tap to get clean dry air if you need it (like for paint or blowing stuff clean) - your pipes and entire system would be full of oil.

So a regulator right off the compressor would be fine - but I'd still put filters at each drop, and make dedicated stations for dry air and/or oilers (or put taps before the oiler).

A big seperator will not work very well, it is designed for higher volumes of air. You want one more closely sized for your system.

If you put the regulator and seperator on the main line coming from the compressor, but down line some feet (25-30) but before the first drop-would this work? Or should you have a regulator/seperator at each drop? Trying to get the big picture and appreciate the help.
Mike

Fact is, you are probably not going to see much moisture in the system. I'd put a master regulator near the compressor, then, somewhere close by, some sort of main filter that will remove any possible trash and not restrict your flow, and if you need real perfect filtered air at any one drop, put a smaller filter there, otherwise you probably won't need anything else.

Two stage compressors tend to condense out more water in the tank, expecially with low use, low flow.

Charles