Getting more use from a compressor

[John Rumm]

I have a cheap compressor (1.5hp, 10L receiver - branded "cosmo") that was bought a few years back for use with a nail gun. It mostly gets used for brad nailing, and with a blow head, and serves its purpose well enough.

One of the irritations with it however, is it does not auto switch based on receiver pressure - you have to turn it on and off manually. It's fitted with a crude bypass valve which basically "leaks" air once a preset pressure has been reached. This also has the implication that if you want an air supply at a particular pressure, then you have to run the receiver at that pressure as well, since there is no separate regulator for the output.

Fitting a secondary regulator would seem to be easy enough, but does anyone know where I can buy the type of switch gear fitted to most grown up compressors that I could retro fit to give full auto control?

(BTW this compressor does not have any special starting requirements that I am aware of - all the current switch gear does is switch the mains input to the motor)

[Grunff]

Main problem is that compressors in that bracket are soooo cheap, that by the time you've bought a pressure operated switch and a regulator + gauge you've almost paid for a new machine. If you don't believe me, check out Screwfix 24105. With a 50l receiver it's gobsmackingly cheap.

But, if you really want a pressure switch, Machine Mart do one at ~£20.

[John Woodhall]

Try machine mart john, they have auto pressure switches available, but I suspect for this you will be looking at at least 20 quid, the there`s the second regulator to think about, a new quality unit may be your best bet.

[John Rumm]

John / Grunff - thanks for the information.

I was w> Try machine mart john, they have auto pressure switches available, but I

the compressor components list. Described as "Pressure Switch - Single port For accurate, automatic compressor control. £18.74" - no photo alas - anyone got the dead tree version of the catalogue? Does it give any more info or piccies?

For 20 quid it would probably be worth it for the convenience - the secondary regulator is less of an issue, especially for things like the nail gun that is happy with anything from 40 to 100 psi.

[Grunff]

Yup - and that's the fella. It's a black box. Comes in single phase (000320100) and 3 phase (000320106).

[John Woodhall]

You can get real bargains on ebay, I got a 150 litre, 3 hp beast from ebay for only 120 quid. Old and tatty but works fine. E bay it and get yourself a new one. (You know you want to). ;-)

[John Rumm]

Well I know I want to! But then again I have a loft conversion to do so I expect there may be some other toy^Hools that need to be moved up the priority list first...

Anyone happen to know what size connectors are on that pressure switch by the way? (I have a feeling that buying one and working out how to glue it on afterwards might be the best way!)

[John Woodhall]

They look the same size on both my 7 litre tank with 1.5 hp motor and the

150 litre 3 hp beast, I presume as they are only for pressure control that the small black pipe which goes in is a universal size. This small black pipe is what takes the pressure to the switch, I suspect from what you said about your compressor that you will not have this, so unfortunately this is another cost which you may have to factor in.