So I finally got 240V to my garage, big deal for me w/ local electricians looking for close to $2K. Did it myself for around $500- Shhh. Researched compressors and settled on a Kobalt 3.7 HP, 60 Gal, 155 PSI. Would have liked to go larger but $$ were an issue. Got it in place and wired up and ran it for the first time. It ran up OK but the tank temps were really high and there was a ton of water (90% humidity, 90 deg day). I knew I needed to do something about that. Commercial aftercoolers were way too spendy so I looked to the net and then to my father in law’s old stock. He had some Slantfin heating tubing that looked just right for the project. I originally planned 2 parallel runs of 4’ but the stock was 6’ long. I carefully measured, cut and soldered in a nice piece with L grade copper, made supports etc. and then gave it a try. Well, I should have done more research. I originally used 50/ 50 solder and found out quickly that it could not stand the temps. I disassembled , cleaned and re-soldered with 95/5 which should have been OK. I’m not sure if it was the residue of the 50/50 or the absolute temps but the system failed 3x and I had to keep replacing joints.
Ultimately, I wound up with soft tube and all compression fittings between the pump and the fin pipe and that seems to work OK even though it is an ugly install ( did not have a proper bender). Cycled 4x and all seems well. Will add the water drain tomorrow and I should be good to go.
I was buying the last compression fittings at my local store today and explaining my issue to the clerk when a guy from a plumbing house chimed in and said- Oh yeah, you can’t run over 120 PSI on solder, you need to silver solder or braze, we do that all the time. Well, wish I’d known, I can silver or braze no problem if I know it is needed. Shame on me for not knowing but all seems well just now w/ the compression fittings and tank temp is cool as a cucumber w/ lots of water captured in the down leg.
Thought this might help someone down the road. D
Ultimately, I wound up with soft tube and all compression fittings between the pump and the fin pipe and that seems to work OK even though it is an ugly install ( did not have a proper bender). Cycled 4x and all seems well. Will add the water drain tomorrow and I should be good to go.
I was buying the last compression fittings at my local store today and explaining my issue to the clerk when a guy from a plumbing house chimed in and said- Oh yeah, you can’t run over 120 PSI on solder, you need to silver solder or braze, we do that all the time. Well, wish I’d known, I can silver or braze no problem if I know it is needed. Shame on me for not knowing but all seems well just now w/ the compression fittings and tank temp is cool as a cucumber w/ lots of water captured in the down leg.
Thought this might help someone down the road. D
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