Compressors: dos & don'ts?

J

Jerry

Guest

• Oct 4, 2006

• #1

I'm enjoying life (sad, I know!) with my first compressor (belt-driven,

twin-pot, 100ltr). Are there any general dos and don'ts to look out for

in owning, using and maintaining a compressor? For example, is it okay
to leave it pressurised with air or should the tank be emptied?

The manual is very thin gruel to say the least!

Any pointers much appreciated.

 

O

Oily

Guest

• Oct 4, 2006

• #2

"Jerry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm enjoying life (sad, I know!) with my first compressor (belt-driven,
>
> twin-pot, 100ltr). Are there any general dos and don'ts to look out for
>
> in owning, using and maintaining a compressor? For example, is it okay
> to leave it pressurised with air or should the tank be emptied?
>
> The manual is very thin gruel to say the least!
>
> Any pointers much appreciated.
>

Apart from occasionally checking the oil in the pump, draining any water
that accumulates in the tank and cleaning the air inlet filter they don't
need much attention. It is ok to leave the air in the tank as well.

Martin

 

G

Greg

Guest

• Oct 4, 2006

• #3

"Oily" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jerry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I'm enjoying life (sad, I know!) with my first compressor (belt-driven,
> >
> > twin-pot, 100ltr). Are there any general dos and don'ts to look out for
> >
> > in owning, using and maintaining a compressor? For example, is it okay
> > to leave it pressurised with air or should the tank be emptied?
> >
> > The manual is very thin gruel to say the least!
> >
> > Any pointers much appreciated.
> >
>
> Apart from occasionally checking the oil in the pump, draining any water
> that accumulates in the tank and cleaning the air inlet filter they don't
> need much attention. It is ok to leave the air in the tank as well.
>
> Martin

Also don't start and stop the compressor by switching the supply, use the
knob on the pressure switch as it probably tells you in the instructions. A
lot of people don't think this matters but it does, the switch vents a
length of pipe so that when the pump starts it's off load until the pipe
fills, thus minimising the starting currents.

Greg

 

G

gary

Guest

• Oct 4, 2006

• #4

Well mines sits outside, under a cover, and has done for the last 18
years, never changed the belts, air filter, or anything.

Changed the oil about 8 years ago for fully sythetic.

I switch it on via a cooker switch in the garage, but as the previous
post, I never switch it off while its running, so it has time to vent.

it is just a normal hobby type comressor 3HP 14 cfm, but it gets some
real stick, offten running for hours on end while using a DA or the shot
blasting cabinet.............

You do realise now i have typed this the bloody thing will blow up at
the weekend!!!!!

Gary

Jerry wrote:
> I'm enjoying life (sad, I know!) with my first compressor (belt-driven,
>
> twin-pot, 100ltr). Are there any general dos and don'ts to look out for
>
> in owning, using and maintaining a compressor? For example, is it okay
> to leave it pressurised with air or should the tank be emptied?
>
> The manual is very thin gruel to say the least!
>
> Any pointers much appreciated.
>

 

S

steve

Guest

• Oct 4, 2006

• #5

Oily wrote:

> Apart from occasionally checking the oil in the pump, draining any water
> that accumulates in the tank and cleaning the air inlet filter they don't
> need much attention. It is ok to leave the air in the tank as well.

Drain it religiously at least every week if you are using it
continously, and never store it without draining it.

Steve

 

D

Derek

Guest

• Oct 5, 2006

• #6

"Jerry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm enjoying life (sad, I know!) with my first compressor (belt-driven,
>
> twin-pot, 100ltr). Are there any general dos and don'ts to look out for
>
> in owning, using and maintaining a compressor? For example, is it okay
> to leave it pressurised with air or should the tank be emptied?
>
> The manual is very thin gruel to say the least!
>
> Any pointers much appreciated.

the new one came with instructions to drain it eacg time after use - don't
be holding your breath tho'

Derek

 

T

TonyB

Guest

• Oct 5, 2006

• #7

"Derek" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jerry" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I'm enjoying life (sad, I know!) with my first compressor (belt-driven,
> >
> > twin-pot, 100ltr). Are there any general dos and don'ts to look out for
> >
> > in owning, using and maintaining a compressor? For example, is it okay
> > to leave it pressurised with air or should the tank be emptied?
> >
> > The manual is very thin gruel to say the least!
> >
> > Any pointers much appreciated.


We used one in the hospital for a floating aerotable and had to have the
tank welds inspected by endoscope every two years.
Dunno if that applies to a domestic unit or not. We were running at around
180 psi.
TonyB