Shop air compressor wont put out more than 110 PSI

[Jonathan L]

At 05:49 AM 9/23/2009, WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com wrote:
>1a. Re: Shop air compressor wont put out more than 110 PSI
> Posted by: "jcmace59" jcmace@... jcmace59
> Date: Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:52 am ((PDT))
>
>Ed,
>
>I went way overboard with my shop compressor, but I never have to
>worry about lack of pressure or volume. I bought an upright 6hp
>175psi twin cylinder machine capable of about 15cfm at 90psi,
>IIRC. I have it hard plumbed into the garage, so I have hoses and
>air ports in several locations. If you use the sch 80 PVC, it will
>handle the normal pressures and is easy to install. Expensive,
>slightly, but I'll take it with me to the next house and never wear
>it out. I can run anything I want. I probably have ~$1500 in the
>total install, including the breaker box and wiring, pvc, hoses,
>connections, the unit itself, etc. As far as I'm concerned, it was
>(and still is) a very cheap investment that continually pays me
>back. And it only takes up slightly more floor space than most roll
>arounds, as it sits on a small pallet in the back of the garage.

Using PVC for compressed air is not something I'd do nor recommend.
In fact, I would strenuously recommend you NOT do that. Compressed
air and PVC is a time bomb waiting to go off.

Here's what OSHA has to say about it...
http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19880520.html

Here's a few PVC vendors. Note that both have notations about NOT
using PVC for compressed air or gases.

http://www.lljohnson.com/Documents/resco...%20Fi\
ttings.pdf

http://www.kbico.com/filez_29101/specshe...ule-80.pdf

ABS pipe is OK to use. But, not regular Sched 80 PVC.

But, its your life and your body parts - not mine.

Jonathan Leifheit
Gonnabee (someday)

[Joyce and Richard Hayden]

No help with the compressor - I have the same problem. My fix is to top the steering tires off with CO2 to 115 lbs. I take the tank with me to top off should it be needed on the road.

Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA

----- Original Message -----

From: "egardata@tx.rr.com"

To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

Sent: Monday, September 21, 2009 1:52 PM

Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Shop air compressor wont put out more than 110 PSI

My Porter Cable 135PSI 3HP/4GAL wont put out more than 110psi with 50'rubber hose or 30' coiled yellow vinal(I think). It has always been this way since new. No leaks or problems...My new Michlens need 120 psi so now I have to do something. What psi compressor does everybody use?
Is there a compressor expert here? Does the length and composition of the hose matter? If so what length and material hose do I need for my 135 psi compressor?The output gauge on the compressor reads 130psi but wont pump up tires past 110psi...
Ant help would be appreciated.

Ed Gardels 89SP
Arlington Tx

[Dorn Hetzel]

I have some extensive runs around the farm of air in PVC, and just 1/2" sch40 at that, BUT,

one where it's buried 36" or more underground in ditches between buildings.  I used PVC underground

to have no worries about underground leaks from fittings, but everywhere it surfaces I bring

the PVC aboveground it is encapsulated in a larger diameter metal pipe from 24" underground to past

where the fitting converts it to metal pipe.  This is done so any shards from a PVC burst will

be encapsulated by the surrounding metal pipe.  I have almost 6000 feet of underground runs

done this way around the farm and they work great and are also safe.

 

Dorn Hetzel

77FC35

Hogansville, GA

On Wed, Sep 23, 2009 at 12:07 PM, Jonathan L <"reck@gojackets.com"> wrote:

 

At 05:49 AM 9/23/2009, "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com" wrote:
>1a. Re: Shop air compressor wont put out more than 110 PSI
> Posted by: "jcmace59" "jcmace%40cox.net" jcmace59

> Date: Tue Sep 22, 2009 10:52 am ((PDT))

>
>Ed,
>
>I went way overboard with my shop compressor, but I never have to
>worry about lack of pressure or volume. I bought an upright 6hp
>175psi twin cylinder machine capable of about 15cfm at 90psi,

>IIRC. I have it hard plumbed into the garage, so I have hoses and
>air ports in several locations. If you use the sch 80 PVC, it will
>handle the normal pressures and is easy to install. Expensive,
>slightly, but I'll take it with me to the next house and never wear

>it out. I can run anything I want. I probably have ~$1500 in the
>total install, including the breaker box and wiring, pvc, hoses,
>connections, the unit itself, etc. As far as I'm concerned, it was

>(and still is) a very cheap investment that continually pays me
>back. And it only takes up slightly more floor space than most roll
>arounds, as it sits on a small pallet in the back of the garage.

Using PVC for compressed air is not something I'd do nor recommend.
In fact, I would strenuously recommend you NOT do that. Compressed
air and PVC is a time bomb waiting to go off.

Here's what OSHA has to say about it...

http://www.osha.gov/dts/hib/hib_data/hib19880520.html

Here's a few PVC vendors. Note that both have notations about NOT
using PVC for compressed air or gases.


http://www.lljohnson.com/Documents/resco...ttings.pdf


http://www.kbico.com/filez_29101/specshe...ule-80.pdf

ABS pipe is OK to use. But, not regular Sched 80 PVC.

But, its your life and your body parts - not mine.


Jonathan Leifheit
Gonnabee (someday)

[tcandt]

Greg, I read my tire pressure off the gauge above my chair in air conditioned
comfort. The only thump is when I drop my credit card on the counter.

Tommy Two Shoes McCarthy
95 PT42 WBSA
Aguanga, CA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "gregory O" wrote:
>
> I never used any air other than a shop compressor. I believe tires are good
for 7 or 8 years with air and 5 or 8 years with the other promotional stuff.
it doesn't matter what you run in them. I bet the folks that run co2 and Nitro
replace tread at 5 years anyway, oh yea do oil sampling. folks like that are
sticklers so we will never know the longevity of tires run on promo products. (
I rotate a pair'o new steer tires in every 2 years, put the old ones on one side
of the drive, then move the old drive off to the tag.)
>
> tire shops use larger hoses because their impact guns require the cfm (cubic
feet of air passed per minute) which is a measure of volumn. if they run the
smaller dia hose the guns will starve of air and friction of the tight path of
air will reduce the 'working pressure during the volumn demand'. but the
pressure will return no matter what the size of i.d. is.
>
> when I fill up a flat tire I add volume of air by removing the schrader valve
out of the stem. this helps open the airway into the tire 5 fold. this will keep
the compressor motor running and ensure you get max pressure avaliable. when
you get to the top of the max output of a compressor it shuts down at lets say
110. the compressor motor wont turn on until it goes to 85 90ish. that is why
you cant get it to max air pressure. "cut out, cut in of the compressor".
> when filling the tires and the compressor shuts down because the
flow(cfm) is slow remove the air chuck from the tire and bleed the tank until
the compressor comes on. When the compressor come on hook up to the tire again.
>
> truckers dont check pressure every day. they thump their tires with a stick.
when you open the valve to check air, there is a chance to get tire rubber in
the schrader and the tire will leak. I think tire temp, visual and thump is a
better way to check ap. A day or two before a trip I check ap with a gauge then
thump them the morning of departure.
> Greg ofTim&Greg
> 94ptca
>

[perplies_eric]

Ed,

A lot of shop air compressors have a knob on the control panel that controls a
regulator at the outlet of the compressor. Cranking that knob in will increase
the outlet pressure up to the pressure in your accumulator tank, on board the
compressor. There are several potential issues. You should be certain that the
gauge that you are using to set the compressor is good. Make sure that is okay
or get another gauge in your outlet connection. Another issue is the maximum set
point of your compressor control regulator. Yet another issue is the control
pressure range. Most ranges are set at 30 to 40 psi. Your compressor should
start about 30 to 40 pounds below the maximum set point pressur. It sounds to
me, from hundreds of miles away, like the problem may be the maximum set point
of your compressor.

There is a small black box in your compressor that contains the control valve.
Before you do anything else I would encourage you to make sure the pressure
gauge is working properly. IF YOU ARE CERTAIN that the compressor is not coming
up to it's design pressure you can adjust the shut off pressure on your air
compressor. Typically there is a bolt in the pressure control box that controls
the maximum set point pressure. The bolt I am referring to is above a large
spring inside the box. Turning the pressure adjusting screw down (clockwise)
increases the maximum air pressure on the air compressor. Frequently, one turn
equals 10 psi.

Regarding dry air. Nitrogen or CO2 are an alternative. Probably a much less
costly alternative is to use a "desiccate air dryer" with your air compressor.
Because I use compressed air for so many purposes on board using nitrogen just
isn't a good option for me. Harbor Freight has a 2" x 36" desiccate dryer that
cost $40. It's a 2" pipe with 1/2" connections containing 2.2 pounds of
desiccate. If you use a filter to clean up any possible contaminates you can
get nice dry air out of a shop air compressor.

Good luck on your quest.

Eric Perplies
currently in Chicago
96' 42' WBWL

[ED]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "perplies_eric" wrote:
>
Eric>>> Thanks for the reply. I may try that adjustment thing with the nut.
Previously, I emailed support for Porter Cable,the compressor maker. They
replied and said my 135psi comp. would only do 110psi due to factory adj..
A couple of days ago I called a local "birder" and he suggested what he had
done and that was to put in a"T" prior to the output adj knob which is at max.
That did the trick, I can now finess it up to 120psi.
That takes care of me at home but what about on the road? The other day at
Lowes I saw where Husky has come out with a storage tank with 150psi. I wonder
what psi the truck stops have on their compressors?
Thanks for the help
Ed Gardels 89SP
Arlington Texas

> Ed,
>
> A lot of shop air compressors have a knob on the control panel that controls a
regulator at the outlet of the compressor. Cranking that knob in will increase
the outlet pressure up to the pressure in your accumulator tank, on board the
compressor. There are several potential issues. You should be certain that the
gauge that you are using to set the compressor is good. Make sure that is okay
or get another gauge in your outlet connection. Another issue is the maximum set
point of your compressor control regulator. Yet another issue is the control
pressure range. Most ranges are set at 30 to 40 psi. Your compressor should
start about 30 to 40 pounds below the maximum set point pressur. It sounds to
me, from hundreds of miles away, like the problem may be the maximum set point
of your compressor.
>
> There is a small black box in your compressor that contains the control valve.
Before you do anything else I would encourage you to make sure the pressure
gauge is working properly. IF YOU ARE CERTAIN that the compressor is not coming
up to it's design pressure you can adjust the shut off pressure on your air
compressor. Typically there is a bolt in the pressure control box that controls
the maximum set point pressure. The bolt I am referring to is above a large
spring inside the box. Turning the pressure adjusting screw down (clockwise)
increases the maximum air pressure on the air compressor. Frequently, one turn
equals 10 psi.
>
> Regarding dry air. Nitrogen or CO2 are an alternative. Probably a much less
costly alternative is to use a "desiccate air dryer" with your air compressor.
Because I use compressed air for so many purposes on board using nitrogen just
isn't a good option for me. Harbor Freight has a 2" x 36" desiccate dryer that
cost $40. It's a 2" pipe with 1/2" connections containing 2.2 pounds of
desiccate. If you use a filter to clean up any possible contaminates you can
get nice dry air out of a shop air compressor.
>
> Good luck on your quest.
>
> Eric Perplies
> currently in Chicago
> 96' 42' WBWL
>