Auto drain valves - how many can you install?

[myredracer]

Just about to install the piping for my shop at home. I'll have one riser and two drops and the tank that I want to use auto drain valves on. Will 4 auto drain valves work okay together? I bought the HF ones because the price was right. I don't know exactly how they work except every time the compressor starts and again when air is bled off the tank, the valve will open. Just don't know if there is a limit to how many of these things are okay.

Also, can I tee the tank bottom and drain at bottom of riser together on the pressure side of a valve with hard pipe and use a common auto drain?

 

[mburrus]

i was actually thinking about this this weekend... id like to use some pneumatic solenoid valves at the drain port on eact drop (using that 3/4 max line stuff), was thinking to control it off a small plc so that it will dump only once per day, when i am not home (middle of the day) as long as tank pressure is above a certain value. it would dump the tank and then each drop in sequence, so they werent all open at once.

 

[bgarrett]

how does the HF hook up? I couldnt understand the chinese instructions

 

[akdiesel]

I have two. One on the first knock out drum and the second on the main tank. They are set to go off at different times since the use the same drain line to the exhaust vent outdoors.

 

[myredracer]

how does the HF hook up? I couldnt understand the chinese instructions

That's odd, my instructions are in English!

I just got Servore welding goggles. Wow, these things are totally awesome. Only problem with tho is that the instructions are in Korean... Why would they do that?

 

[redmondjp]

how does the HF hook up? I couldnt understand the chinese instructions

If I recall correctly, you tee into the unloader air circuit. So you'll have to run a 1/4" plastic air line to each location where you want to install the auto drain valve.

Personally, I'd only put the auto drain valve on the compressor tank itself. Put ball valves on your air drops, as you won't need to drain those that often (depending upon how much you use your system). Plus, you can always add the auto drain valves at these locations later, should you find that you need them.

 

[sberry]

There was a thread about a drain failure the other day, now we are going to add 4.

 

[Showkey]

"Unsupervised " auto drains are a real concern if they stick open.........the compressor will run continuously until the problem is corrected or something bad happens. HF drain does not inspire quality or reliability. Guess that asks the question have many leave their compressor powered up while they are away from the shop.

 

[raffaelli]

how does the HF hook up? I couldnt understand the chinese instructions

I have one of these on my compressor. You need to use the Tee in the kit to interupt the line from the pressure switch to the tank. Connect the through portion of the Tee to the cut ends of that line. Run the line that comes in the kit from the open end of the Tee to the valve in the kit. Locate the valve in the kit under the tank. I have lifted the tank up a bit so that the new valve will spray into a plastic container.

Problem though. I recently painted a car. It was the first time the compressor worked hard (5hp 60g 240v, shut off at 150psi) since I installed the valve. The hot air from the compressor seemed to be the cause of the kit hose to rupture near the new Tee, where the air is hottest. The hose is rated for 145psi but does not mention at what temperature. I suspect that the hose heated up, expanded, thinned then ruptured. This happened near the end of each coat of paint. Annoying.

I can reduce the psi of the tank, but I would rather just find a hose that can handle a higher psi. Haven't looked too hard for it, but the big box stores don't seem to have what I am looking for. Considered changing this line to flexible copper.

Aside from this, everyday normal hobby garage use of the compressor, this kit works great.

 

[sberry]

I seen it done a lot of ways and many were due to supervision etc. But for a 1 man show hook a stem with a ball valve to a tube thru thewall. I used old copper water line and fittings I found not good for anything but scrap. When you read a thread about compressors on occasion kick the valve open.
I have 3 vessels, a valve on each plumbed to t and thru the wall. I could improve things a bit but it hit the good enough threshold. Beats jug capture, takes a minute. No other parts to maintain and I do it if I have heavy use. I am not worried about water in the tanks,,, that is exactly where I want it.