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Results 1 to 8 of 8
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2nd August 2012, 06:36 PM #1
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Questions about my new compressor
Hi. I have just purchased a new compressor and have a few questions about it. Its 2.5hp, 50 litres and 14 thingees of free air delivery. I will be using it mainly for spraying lacquer - mostly small objects. Anyway:
1. No hose came with it. I'm using one of those thin coiled hoses, which came off a smaller compressor. Is this an issue, should I be using a wider diameter hose of some sort ??
2. Does hose length matter ? At some stage in the future I'd like to use a long hose and move the spraying into the (powerless) shed at the rear of the yard.
3. There is a sticker on the motor that says I should not use an extension cord with it. Is this just a case of manufacturer being overly cautious ? I limited myself to 2.5hp because I wanted to use it in the back yard where there is only a 10 amp outlet, and if I cant use it with an extension cord then it really isnt much use.
4. I keep the compressor in an outdoor cupboard (used to be a toilet, outdoor but attached to the house). Is there any problem actually running the compressor inside the cupboard - mainly to keep the noise down ?
cheers
ArronApologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.
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2nd August 2012, 07:11 PM #2
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[quote=Arron;1529480]Hi. I have just purchased a new compressor and have a few questions about it. Its 2.5hp, 50 litres and 14 thingees of free air delivery. I will be using it mainly for spraying lacquer - mostly small objects. Anyway:
1. No hose came with it. I'm using one of those thin coiled hoses, which came off a smaller compressor. Is this an issue, should I be using a wider diameter hose of some sort ??[QUOTE]
Those cheap coil hoses are crap because they tangle so easily and the leak and break too easily. In terms of air flow they are ok if the length is kept short.
2. Does hose length matter ? At some stage in the future I'd like to use a long hose and move the spraying into the (powerless) shed at the rear of the yard.
3. There is a sticker on the motor that says I should not use an extension cord with it. Is this just a case of manufacturer being overly cautious ? I limited myself to 2.5hp because I wanted to use it in the back yard where there is only a 10 amp outlet, and if I cant use it with an extension cord then it really isnt much use.
4. I keep the compressor in an outdoor cupboard (used to be a toilet, outdoor but attached to the house). Is there any problem actually running the compressor inside the cupboard - mainly to keep the noise down ?
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2nd August 2012, 07:28 PM #3
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This answer and the previous one implies that pressure drop is more of a problem in a thin hose then a thick hose. Is this right ? I intuitively thought it would be the other way round.
3 metres would be OK. Also, I dont have a 15 amp circuit at the back of the house - so do I simply buy a 15 amp cable and change the plug to a 10amp one ?
This is to prevent overheating, right ?
thanks for your replies.
ArronApologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.
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2nd August 2012, 08:32 PM #4
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Pressure drop is greatest for narrower hoses because the flow rate of a fluid through a pipe is proportional to r^4 so small pipe has MUCH smaller flow (think about clogged arteries).
3 metres would be OK. Also, I dont have a 15 amp circuit at the back of the house - so do I simply buy a 15 amp cable and change the plug to a 10amp one ?
I have my 2.5HP compressor on it's own 15A circuit because when it was connected to the old shed circuit that was a 10A circuit connected to the house, depending on what else was connected to that circuit at the time it would sometimes trip the breaker. You might have to try it and see how it goes.
This is to prevent overheating, right ?
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2nd August 2012, 08:35 PM #5
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Ok
Thanks very much for your answers
arronApologies for unnoticed autocomplete errors.
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9th August 2012, 10:54 PM #6
As far as the power cable is concerned.
Yes they are "concieling their donkey" (covering their ass), a very short extension should not present too much of a problem, but of course some idiot will try running on a 50 meter cord...seriously lots of builders run on a 25 or 30meter 15 amp cable with 10 amp plugs.
I have the polocy of replecing the mains cord on most machines with 5 meters of 15 amp cable.....this removes the need for extension cords much of the time.
How much the hose size matters depends on how much air you are flowing.
Builders regularly use 30 meter pluss lengths of 1/2 inch air hose. Hell I have sprayed right down the back of my lawn on 45 meters of hose no problem.
Spray guns realy are not a high demand item.
As for the ventilation
there are tw good reasons why you ventilate a compressor.
First is to keep the motor cool....but it has to be a small cupboard to be a problem.
Second, the coller you keep the actual compressor and its tank the better it will perform and the less water you will get in the air lines.
One of the first things you should buy is an off machine filter reguator.
Seperate this from the machine by at least 3 meters of air hose.
the filter regs on many machines if the come with one are pretty poor and being on the compressor will rattle then to bits.
cheersAny thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
Most powertools have sharp teeth.
People are made of meat.
Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.
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12th August 2012, 12:08 AM #7
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In the ideal world, you would set up an area for spray painting and put a small pressure regulator on the wall there, it allows the compressor to charge up to 100psi and then delivers even with pressure drop etc for small hoses 70 - 80 psi of pressure at your spray area, you can then regulate it here down to 30 psi for a hvlp gun.
There is a formula for pressure drop over distance for size of line carrying the air, a internet search should come up with something.
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12th August 2012, 12:26 AM #8
My HVLP guns have a regulator attached to the gun.
If you are spraying away from your compressor, you want a regulator near where you are spraying for a number of reasons.
cheersAny thing with sharp teeth eats meat.
Most powertools have sharp teeth.
People are made of meat.
Abrasives can be just as dangerous as a blade.....and 10 times more painfull.