Compressor regulators at each drop? Or inline?

[infinkc]

Well, finishing up my compressor install finally.

I have a dual stage 80 gal that is currently set at 145 psi.
Have a regulator off that set to around 130psi feeding the full garage.

I have a tire machine that I need to feed 125 to.(have a regulator on it going in)

Having 130 at all the drops is a bit much and I need to do some type of regulator. Not sure what to do?

I have maxline fastpipe so there really isn’t an easy way just to inline a regulator unless I buy a bunch of special fittings to place it before the outlet.

Should I just do inline regulators off the disconnect fittings? Run a short hose to a regulator mounted on the wall?

Not really sure what to do in my situation. The tire machine is at the 3rd drop, so I can’t regulate it after that.





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[bdbecker]

The simplest solution (based on the info given) would be to put at tee between the compressor and the 130psi regulator and then run a dedicated line from that fitting (at 145psi) to the tire machine regulator. Then you can back the 130psi regulator down to whatever pressure you deem appropriate for all the drops in the shop.

 

[sberry]

Nothing says you cant run another pipe. I know I will hear it but I do have a few connectors and I got them where I connect equipment with them, my tire machine, the plasma but anywhere I use a hand use tool is from a whip or a reel that is plumbed in. Some places I worked early on had variations of this whip and connector system but there were reasons and caused me to frequently discharge air hose sections which is bad. The user connection belongs on the end of the reel and at the tool.
And if long branch ant T a local valve on the hard line ahead of any equipment for local disconnect, perfect to shut off reel, any of that stuff.
Nothing wrong with modifying after the fact once you get a bead on it,,,, and in some ways as good or better due to the fact that fore effort ends up on the right spot and less on a shotgun approach with various hydrants.
Pic 1 and 2,, no where else for anyone to use this any other way than the end on the reel and a local shut off for this old equipment. I moved the air line in a remodel, it had been in for 25 years. I put new pipe around in it to a different drop and a valve in a easy spot. Actually removed an outdoor hydrant and aligned the reel with a port I had for the steamer and that little HD feeds the reel. Its really for outdoor, use it for blow offs and tires.
I did put a connector on the reel in pic 3, I had a fist full and that was a bit of a prototype and has been thru a could revisions since this old pic. I had got a big old box of type H at a sale and kind of started with them. A bit bigger but were hi flow from the start and worked on a class bigger tools occasionally also. I have a 1/2 air hose on my service truck on a reel. I had a big nut in the shop, last 2 times I needed a 3/4 gun I used the common 3/8 hoses I have and really didn't notice, wasn't worth any improvement for 30 seconds work in a year.

 

[sberry]

If you have a 2 stage in good working order set it near or at operating pressure. I got 165 but 200 gallon tanks and if I was real busy might turn it up and I never did tune it in recent times, its just that way. If you are not using more than you make I spose the 145 is ok
The feed to this is 30 ft of 1/2 regulated. One reel at tool pressure and a second mini fil/reg to that retractor for pain guns, gives local pressure.
Pic 2 is the disconnect to it, note, valve on the hard line and all the hose/equipment after. I don't use any of it every day, its all old, simply shut it off.

 

[sberry]

Don't be scared to modify and tzailor, that's where the rubber hits the floor or not. Looks like in pic 1 might be able to see a second connector someone jacked on to allow another hose at paint pressure. .It took me a while to learn from mistakes and finally know just enough to prototype on the cheap before committing to an expensive system.
I collect fittings and hardware, I buy some new and not every piece needs to be the best they make or pipe as big as a guy can afford.

 

[johninct]

Don't use any regulators, you will be happier.

 

[kwb]

Regulate shop air to ~100psi as long as you have good sized lines tools should work just fine. Run a dedicated line to the tire machine if 125psi is a must for it. Keep the tank at higher pressure if you have a real 2 stage compressor then keeping the tank at 150 just adds volume you can run before the compressor will cycle. Put a pressure gage at the tool and while you are running it (not freewheeling it) if you are 85psi or better that tool is doing what it was designed to do. 100' of 3/8 hose on a 3/4" impact.... that won't work but 25-50' 3/8 hose on most tools will flow the CFM you need to run the tool.

When you run shop pressure high - all you do is burn energy for marginally faster tools in some cases, most just burn through more air without getting more work done. Lots of people will run the high pressure (I did for a long time and long story how I came around) because it masks the fact that you aren't getting the running pressure and CFM out of undersized hoses and lines.

Edit - I should add .... Make sure your whole shop regulator can flow a shitton of CFM otherwise it will throttle everything.

 

[May Pop]

Only a regulator at sand blast cabinet and for the paint area.

 

[BillK]

Don't use any regulators, you will be happier.

This,
My entire shop is at full line pressure of about 165 lbs. I do have a couple of regulators that are actually on a couple of machines but otherwise none. Impact guns etc work so much better

 

[HenryAZ]

I use a regulator and water separator at each of my three manifolds. One is at the reloading/gun cleaning bench, and that one stays dialed down to 25psi permanently. The main one (with the hose reel and extra quick connect hookups) stays mainly at 95psi, for running air tools, blow guns, etc. The third gets changed around as needed (it is at my workbench). Down low for blowing dust off the bench and other low power needs, 95psi for tools, and 150psi for filling my portable air tank (which takes 125psi max). The compressor itself (Quincy QT-5) puts out 175psi and is unregulated. I regulate only at the manifolds.

 

[sberry]

Plumbed a valve ahead of the connect to the plasma as it's internal reg started leaking. I have been intending to tear in to it, when it's not in use, if I hear it simply shut it off.

 

[bts]

My main line around the shop runs at full pressure from two compressors. From there I have 3 main drops. Each drop runs two outlets.

One outlet has filter/regulator for straight air (yellow line) and the other has filter/regulator/oiler for the things that require lubrication (blue line).

The straight air, oiled air lines have different connection types. This stops any cross over contamination. Nothing worse than getting oiled air in your plasma torch or paint gun and I don`t have to worry about pre lubing air tools.
Things like the sandblaster run direct of the main line with their own filter/reg.

Tony

 

[CraigStu]

Why is 130# too much? Why not run the tire machine at 130#? I don't think 5# over spec is going to blow it up.

 

[sberry]

Agree, close enough.