Is A 1/4 Pressure Switch Restricting My Air Compressor?

[bmlocal175]

Just bought the 29 gallon from Harbor Freight and read a lot before making my purchase to ensure I had the best possible flow.

I bought Hi Flow 3/8 fittings for the compressor, tools, and for the 3/8 hose. My only concern is the pressure switch has a 1/4 female. Everything from there to the tool is 3/8. Will it make much of a difference and if so how hard is it to swap that one out to a 3/8 and can someone point me to the right item to purchase.

The original regulator is 1/4 from the pressure switch but I will probably replace that with a 3/8 regulator/filter unless you think it will not make such a difference.

 

[bob15]

The pressure switch is inline with the hose?

I understand you want a good flow of air, but a 29 gallon tank isn't going to give you much and re-plumbing it to 3/8 fittings seems to be a waste of money, in my opinion.

 

[md21722]

I would say its not worth changing the pressure switch.

Remove the air regulator and put it in a drawer. Put a ball valve and a coupler instead.

 

[bmlocal175]

Pressure switch comes off the tank. 3 ports on that, one is a 1/4 relief valve, pressure gauge for the tank and the third is the regulator for psi to the hose. All are 1/4. I bought a 1/4 to 3/8 ****** to come out of the regulator and 3/8 all the way to the tool.

Was going to just replace the 1/4 regulator with 3/8 with filter, then my only 1/4 would be coming out of the pressure switch.

This is my first compressor so just trying to get the most out of it on initial set up. I know it won't be the best for some tools but want to optimize it's chances.

 

[bmlocal175]

I would say its not worth changing the pressure switch.

Remove the air regulator and put it in a drawer. Put a ball valve and a coupler instead.

Drawer? You are saying don't even use a regulator?

 

[md21722]

Drawer? You are saying don't even use a regulator?

When you get your 3/8" regulator/filter you can put it on after the ball valve.

 

[bmlocal175]

That's my plan. Will I benefit at all getting rid of the 1/4 regulator and switching to the 3/8?

 

[gdocktor3]

Cue sberry's rant....

 

[sberry]

Get real fancy and put a t after the filter, have the option to get on the reg for low pressure use. The place big hoses,,, or short hoses help is impacting. Only when that unit is full or near full and tunning does it really have full power, few seconds really. Small rotary tools, small tools in general will run a lot better than big ones.
Air is about like pressure washer, 800$ can get to a generic 2 stage 3 hp mechanics compressor. It runs air tools, impacts, airs up truck tires and will run a 3/4 gun short. Auto body really needs 5 hp for sanding if one doesn't want to be super thrifty.

 

[sberry]

A 1/3 fitting doesn't hurt a 3/8 hose much. 1/4 pipe is often closer to 3/8 than 1/4 and short pieces can be de burred and even cleaned out with a drill bit.
I have a run with a line to a hose reel where I happened to use all 1/4 out of the reg with a 3 ft jumper to the reel and a 3/8 line. I got 75 ft of old 3/8 hose. I finally put an easier ball valve ahead of it but it really whizzes despite a couple fittings on the secondary. The hose was on for 20+ years and a guy could drop a 1/2 bolt thru it.
Gasically as direct as shot with as few turns as practical right to the filter. I don't even have drip legs in a couple of these but a ball valve on the main ahead of the filter. I could have eliminated a union and a ****** in one but had it all for free and was just as easy while not adding any problem.

 

[bmlocal175]

Do I need to put the filter way down the line? I read it needs to be 20-25ft to work right.

 

[driz]

Do I need to put the filter way down the line? I read it needs to be 20-25ft to work right.

If you put a water filter anywhere the tank it won't do a thing because the water is still vapor at that point. You need to locate it way down the line so much of the vapor has condensed. Any sort of metallic pipe before the hose helps considerably.
TIP the sandblasted outfit used to have some recommended setup diagrams. They're probably still there and make great references.

Remember that rubber hose doesn't do well condensing water. It just rolls along till it exits. A proper J trap in a metal line before that hose will greatly cut that water down so your filter can get the rest.


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