Compressor Auto Drain

[MVWSR]

Has anyone found an auto tank drain that only purges once a week?. every 45min is crazy

 

[SouthernIllinois]

I know I am in the minority, but I had my dealer remove the auto-drain from my Champion compressor before they delivered it.

I'd prefer to manually drain it every few days, more often when I am using it a lot.

 

[Sumboodie]

Just put it on a timer.

 

[MVWSR]

Just put it on a timer.

good thinkin.
I didnt even consider the 45min drain on a 7day manual timer. thanx

 

[b-dog]

Mine is plugged into a switched outlet connected to the lights in the shop. Lights off, no purging.

 

[old-air-performance]

Mine has a float, it only opens when the float bowl hits the sensor

 

[geneg]

Mine has a float, it only opens when the float bowl hits the sensor

But, wouldn't there always be a quantity of water in the bottom? I'd tee the drain outlet so I could do a manual drain occasionally.

 

[dscheidt]

But, wouldn't there always be a quantity of water in the bottom? I'd tee the drain outlet so I could do a manual drain occasionally.

usually, the drain is below the tank, so the water is in the drain, not the tank. One problem with mechanical compressor drains is they can get stuck open with crud. We had one at an old job, and until we put 'blow out drain' on the closing cleaning list, it would occasionally get stuck open.

 

[Skyman]

I leave the drain petcock cracked open ever so slightly on mine. It's open just enough that when it's really quiet in the shop, I can barely hear a tiny hiss out of it if I bend down next to it. It's perpetually self-draining, needs no additional plumbing, valving, or electrical controls, and there is no noise problem. Best is that I can't forget to drain it. It also depressurizes the tank and hoses when it's not in use. I only run my compressor when it's needed, which isn't that often now that I've migrated mostly from air tools to battery tools.

 

[PhantomEB]

I rarely use my little compressor to justify an auto drain. It barely can fill up a 42” tire, so after I am done using it that time I crack the ball valve and leave open for a day or two, probably weeks!

maybe when the garage is back to my standards it will have a bigger compressor in the back corner.

 

[danielbuck]

Mine is plugged into a switched outlet connected to the lights in the shop. Lights off, no purging.

similar here, I have mine on a switched outlet with no auto-timer. Every time I turn the lights on or off, I hit the purge switch that is right next to the light switch. Has worked quite well for over 10 years now. That, combined with a cooling radiator and water trap inbetween the compressor and tank, is quite effective at removing most of the water from the system. when I purge, generally no water gets blasted out, just air (although I assume there's some water, but not like standing water)

 

[Muckin_Slusher]

Mine is up on a mezzanine. I just plumbed in some copper pipe to the bottom drain. It would take ages to fill the copper pipe with condensate.

I drain it every few months when I remember.

This way the steel tank never sees any standing water.