Planning out my compressed air lines....

[fineford]

Morning all,

I've just come across this site and after reading some comments liked what I saw!! Is there a way of viewing some of your garages/shops? I've just built a new shop/garage and need your help/advise re air lines. First of all I'm thinking of running a loop of 3/4 copper from the compressor round the back wall and down the far side wall. Then another loop down the other side wall. Now what I'm not sure of are the drops. I'm going to go with 1/2 copper drops but are they to be vertical down or can I solder them vertical up? My way of thinking is any moisture will be contained in the 3/4 horizontal pipe if I run vertical up "legs". If I add a blow off valve at the end of each end of the loops then any residual moisture can be blown off at days end. Thanks for any help/advice...appreciate it immensley!!!

 

[lametec]

Go up. Your thinking is spot on. Also make the 3/4" pipes "downhill" towards the drain valves.

 

[ghnl]

Do your homework before using plastic pipe for compressed air lines. If/when is breaks it can shatter and send out shards of shrapnel. If a fluid pipe bursts the pressure is gone in an instant (fluid being non-compressable). But if a compressed air line bursts there is a lot of energy to release. And, yes, many have used plastic pipe for years with no problems...

TP tools has a sketch of how to lay out air lines.

 

[G-force]

Yep, vertical ups on the drops, and angle the 3/4" mainline at a gradual slope to a drain. I have mine at about 1" drop to every 10 feet.

 

[bofus]

I ran 3/4" copper sloped and insulated in the attic. T's off main line were run vertical before dropping down the wall. The drop line goes past the point of use and continues to the floor and then horizontally to a 1/2" condensate blow-off valve exiting outside. If you want to study the pix, you can see some additional details of the compressed air system in my forum thread at:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13700&showall=1