Airline to tank hookup

[minerfarmer]

I have searched through the compressor threads and can't find an answer. My dad gave me a Porter Cable compressor that I want to mount up on a platform in my shop. It will be 7 ft off the floor. Any reason I can't bring the air supply out the bottom of the tank with hose and hook it to my black pipe with a drain below that?
I will include a picture of a compressor just like mine I found while searching.

 

[JJThrasher]

You could I guess, but is the drain hole at the bottom big enough to flow the air you'll need?

 

[The Cobbler]

you would get a lot of water in your hose that way . the bottom port is meant to drain the condensate from the tank.

 

[minerfarmer]

The fitting in the bottom of the tank is at least a 1 inch reducer for 1/4 inch drain. I would like to run a 1 inch hose about 4 ft sloping down to black pipe with a drain below that.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I wouldn't do that. Not only does water come out of the bottom drain hole but any **** that has developed with the moisture in the tank will come out of there too. Running a piece of black pipe from the rest of the system up to where the compressor is only going to cost a few bucks.

 

[RickP]

I wouldn't do that. Not only does water come out of the bottom drain hole but any **** that has developed with the moisture in the tank will come out of there too. Running a piece of black pipe from the rest of the system up to where the compressor is only going to cost a few bucks.

^ Exactly. Especially if you're already planning to install a black pipe system. Depending on how you set it up, you might even be able to just tee the supply hose into the vertical pipe that you'll run up the wall anyway.

If you want to bring the supply down from the top of the tank with a hose, you could get an 8' hose made up at a hydraulic fittings store. Then you can specify bigger fittings than the standard ones on the pre-made hoses from the big box stores.

 

[minerfarmer]

The reason I was thinking of using the bottom fitting is because the only other access to the tank is the top manifold at the pressure switch and it is just 1/2 inch.

 

[sberry]

1/2 is plenty and good for 2x or more than this.

 

[FTG-05]

The reason I was thinking of using the bottom fitting is because the only other access to the tank is the top manifold at the pressure switch and it is just 1/2 inch.

On a tank that size, there is almost surely at least one more outlet, probably 3/4" or bigger. There is probably the main outlet on the side, maybe even two. My 80 gallon tank has two on the side, one is open with the 3/4" valve on it.

Plus the pressure switch port looks like a 2" plug with a 1/2" hole tapped into it. My tank has the same type hole and plug. You'll probably play hell getting that 2" plug out though. BTDT.





Having said all that, personally, I'd be inclined to use the drain port as the main outlet. But I would also go to great lengths to isolate the water, moisture and crud coming out of it from getting into your main lines. Like a fairly large verticle run straight down, with a horizontal, then up line that goes to your main air line, with filters.

 

[nadogail]

If you pull from the bottom of the tank, which I think might be in your case a good idea, you will need a drain leg on the vertical pipe you connect your compressor to.

An automatic valve that spits your condensate is preferable.

I have a 1/4" ball valve on my tank drain.

 

[CNGsaves]

NO way would I use bottom drain port on compressor tank for your main connection to airline system.

You're immediately setting yourself up for Wet & Dirty air as NuttsGT describes. Also, you're not understanding the best method to setup airline system with that line of thinking where you direct air down. You want to direct air UP to airline system that then has drops and additional water traps and drains. See proper airline system design below.

Mount your compressor up where you want it and benefit from that to easily have your drain port accessible on the bottom of tank. An auto-drain would be nice, but you could just go with extension to the drain port with small black pipe steel and a ball valve.

From normal side port in tank, connect to black pipe airline system with a hydraulic hose from Tractor Supply that can either be 3/4" or 1/2" . . . . both more than you'll ever need in flow. The hose will handle vibration so you don't cause cracks in airline system joints.