compressor auto drain conversion

[T0rnado69]

quite a while ago i remember reading someone had put a electric release valve type thing.
on the underneath of there comp.....
wired into the comp's electric box.....

so when the comp is powered up

it will release the water/air for (how many seconds you set it for)
and for
(the duration you set it for)

i think i had the item saved in my ebay watch list, but i cant find it.
a while ago i accidently removed a whole page of watched items (25) and couldn't get them back or remember them all..

so i was wondering if anyone knows what its called so i can do a ebay search for one.


cheers all.

 

[Wildefalcon]

Auto drain.

 

[Seadog]

I've one on my compressor, but yet to wire it in.

Compressor Auto Drain Valve for sale | eBay

Find great deals on eBay for Compressor Auto Drain Valve. Shop with confidence.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[mtt.tr]

Autodrain these things are great for making trouser accidents happen when buried in a compressor then suddenly a loud hiss happens.

Desiccant purge is far more effective for brown trouser moments

 

[armalites]

Got one on mine, very good and really don't cost much. A lot easier than scrabbling around under the compressor.

As @mtt.tr they scare the life out of you if you are stood next too them when they activiate.

 

[Seadog]

Since I use my compressor infrequently I'm going to wire mine through a push button.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Xtreme have them on their site. I'll fit one on mine when I have the cash and a spare plug socket!

 

[awemawson]

My compressor is powered up 24/7 with a Chinese auto drain set for a 5 second burst every 45 minutes. I run it through a mains time clock to only run 08:00 - 18:00 so as not to scare the cottage guests

 

[mtt.tr]

If you are putting in an auto drain put gauze before it otherwise you find yourself forever cleaning rust out of them.


Also consider a zero loss drain will only purge when condensate is actually present

 

[awemawson]

The Chinese eBay ones that I use incorporate a 'gauze and clearing bung' as an unscrewable item. Actually quite well made.

 

[mtt.tr]

I discovered they are all much of a muchness.

But the company charged £150 for them and bought them for £8.

 

[T0rnado69]

aww auto drain. nice one guys..

yes i plan to add one to my comp once i can get too it.
and also change the thing on top......
because with the power switch on the comp (set on) if the mains to the socket its plugged into, has been off for a while.
turning the power on, doesn't start the comp.
your need to push the red on/off switch in, then pull it back out.
its under the bench and ive not been able to use it for a while. due to everything in front of the bench.
including the 3 pieces of 10mm plate from that 8x4 sheet i bought.
so it probably got some water in it to.

been using the smaller comp when ive been needing a bit of air.
but with a hypertherm soon to be a new toy
i could really do with getting the bigger comp sorted...

was going to try move those 10mm plates today but backache, painful legs and heels. so NO..

 

[T0rnado69]

thanks mods for the title change. - saves making a new thread....

ok with the 10mm plates and marine ply pieces all moved out the way. ( man they are heavy those 10mm plates)
and the help of my son, we was able to lift the compressor out from under the bench and over the pile of metal lengths that was in the way.

as im going to need to turn this over and maybe on its side etc. so i took the motor/pump off the tank, to be safe and saves oil spilling too..
the valve that is in the end of the tank, i guess for releasing all the air.
had an elbow put before it and a water filter and quick release fitting to make it more useful.
i took all that off too and drained the tank out the end, stood it up against wall and it drained very quickly.
had a few amount of water in it. horrible brown colour.
im wonder if it would be a good idea to wash it out. while everything is off the tank. ?


so the pressure switch, i wonder if it just needs tinkering with or clearly just needs replacing.
as stated in post above. when i want to turn it on. i switch on the spur switch next to my double socket.
that puts power to the socket under the bench the compressor is plugged into.
but it wont start up. i have to push the red button in on top of the pressure switch. then pulled it back out.
not what i want, having to keep getting under the bench all the time.
and its been like this since when i bought it from someone in Stevenage long time ago.

ok ive taken the drain plug out from under the compressor,
so i guess i need a elbow, pipe and a auto drain

so i need to find out what thread this drain is,
measured it with Vernier caliper and its 16.60mm diameter.

nothing to compare it with. i doubt its metric at that size, and i only got 1/8 and1/4 bsp tap and dies.

 

[merryman]

Why go to all the trouble of electrics, truck auto drains work off air. Screw 'em into drain hole like an upturned mushroom, job done.

 

[carbon]

16.6mm is likely to be 3/8 bsp which has a tpi of 19

 

[brightspark]

Why go to all the trouble of electrics, truck auto drains work off air. Screw 'em into drain hole like an upturned mushroom, job done.

just screw an elbow in to the bottom of the tank and a length of 8mm nylon pipe with a ball valve on the end and squirt it in to a bucket under a bit of pressure

 

[mtt.tr]

just screw an elbow in to the bottom of the tank and a length of 8mm nylon pipe with a ball valve on the end and squirt it in to a bucket under a bit of pressure

In a domestic low use place definitely

 

[mtt.tr]

Why go to all the trouble of electrics, truck auto drains work off air. Screw 'em into drain hole like an upturned mushroom, job done.

These don't autodrain, they are really just to be pulled to see if the dryer is working

 

[optima21]

if you want a cheap manual one, you can use the valve off one of these clarke cat152 air filters. I fitted one into a suitable bush, when the pressure drops to less than 5 psi they vent.

Clarke CAT152 1/4" Mini Air Filter - Machine Mart - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

 

[T0rnado69]

cheers for all the replies.
the electric one sounds ideal, will only work when compressor is powered.
can set duration and length of disperse.

my compressor is only powered when im using it.
and having something that will auto drain the water out for me without me having to get under the comp is what i need.

and also fixing the issue of it not powering up when i switch the power on is another issue i need to fix while its out from under the bench.
but cant do much atm due to the weekend.