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Compressor cut in pressure?

Farmer888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2019
Messages
70
Location
Ontario canada
What does everyone have their cut in pressure at? Mine was at 90 psi and cut out 140. I've increased it to 95 cut in but might go to 100.. My thinking is if I'm using a tool that likes 90psi at the tool, by the time the compressor kicks in i'll be down too far on psi.

Not sure If I should go increase the cut out to 150 and run 100-150

thoguhts?
 
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TonyJ

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Joined
Sep 10, 2019
Messages
384
Location
West Virginia
Well that depends on what your compressor is originally rated for. If it’s rated for 150 or 175 then you can keep bumping it up till your happy with the psi at the tool if it isn’t then you can only go as for as your rated for
 

matt_i

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Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,717
Location
SE Michigan
I hold somewhere around 120-130 psi in the tank.

Not exactly sure of the hysteresis setpoint between contacts open and contacts closed. Guessing its around 15psi.
 
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vanapplebomb

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Joined
Jul 2, 2019
Messages
385
Location
Holland, MI
Most generic compressor pressure switches have a fixed pressure differential. Usually 30 or 40 PSI. So, be aware that moving your cut in pressure will most likely move up the kick off pressure.

Compressors are designed from the factory with pulleys to match the pump to the motor. There generally isn’t much headroom to move the cut out pressure up without overloading the motor. Measure the current draw of the motor near the factory cut out pressure. If you are within say 10% of the full load amperage of the motor, I personally would not change anything with the pressure switch.

Unfortunately, this is one of the pit falls of a lot of single stage compressors. I ran into this with my first 90-120psi compressor. When fully pumped up, I could just squeak out 90psi working pressure on low to medium medium draw air tools, but it would fall to about 50-60 psi working pressure by the time the compressor would cut in. A higher pressure 105-135psi single stage was better, but I still couldn’t use high use tools without being seriously down on power when the compressor cut in. The newer 155PSI single sage compressors run most air tools pretty well, but at that point they start running awfully high cylinder temps. That’s the point when I upgraded to a two stage. That gave me the headroom to regulate down to 120-130 psi line pressure. Because the compressor cuts in at 145PSI, I now have a consistent line pressure, and never loose tool power as the compressor approaches cut in pressure.
 
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Farmer888

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 19, 2019
Messages
70
Location
Ontario canada
It's a 2 stage pump and 5 hp motor.. Tag says 175 psi rated, but found out why it was set at 140 psi cutout, The relief valve sets off around 145-150.
I turned up the screw that adjusts both, then backed the cut off screw down again so it still shuts off 140 but now it cuts in at 100 psi instead of 90. Hoping it helps a bit to get the compressor on before it dips too low.
 
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