View Full Version : Draining the compressor
Robert Dunaway
04-19-2008, 2:11 PM
How often should I open the drain on my compressor and let the water out?
This is specifically for my little Porter Cable pancake. But I'm interested in knowing for compressors in general. I like air on demand, but I also don't want my tank to rust.
Chris Szczygiel
04-19-2008, 3:07 PM
I always drain mine after I shut it down at the end of the day.
Even on small pancakes I've seen people thread in an elbow, a short piece of pipe and a valve. Not so much for ease of access to the drain but more for a place to allow water to collect below the tank.
Von Bickley
04-19-2008, 4:24 PM
You can't drain one too much.... and you only need to open the drain for a couple of seconds.
I have seen automatic drain plugs on large industrial compressors that open every so many hours for a few seconds.
I would try to remember to drain mine at the end of the day if I was using it.
Jon Lanier
04-19-2008, 4:32 PM
Do you run your compressor with the drain open:confused:
Joe Chritz
04-19-2008, 4:42 PM
Every time before I spray and whenever I think of it between times.
I used a 1/2 pipe, 90 and ball valve so I can open it with my foot. It generates a surprising amount of water.
A good auto drain would fix it all together. I haven't used a good one so I don't have any recommendations. Being cheap at heart I just used a pipe and valve.
Joe
Don Abele
04-19-2008, 4:43 PM
Robert, for my 4 gallon pancake, I open the valve for about a second or two at the end of the day when I'm done using it. When I put it away to store it, I completely drain the tank of air.
For my 60 gallon IR compressor in the shop, I have an auto drain valve made by Honeywell IIRC. It can be set for 1 to 45 minutes delay and 0.5 to 10 seconds duration. I have mine set to open for a 1/2 second every 45 minutes. My compressor is only energized when I'm in the shop. I open the breaker when I leave. So it only vents when I out there working. It's loud and takes a little getting used to. But it helps me keep track of time :D.
So you know, in the past I had a Cambell Hausfeld 13 gallon tank for about 6 years or so and never drained it or let the pressure out. It worked great the day I sold it. But I wouldn't recommend treating a tank that way.
Be well,
Doc
Reed Wells
04-19-2008, 7:18 PM
Ha, When ever you see that more water than air is coming out.
Rick Levine
04-19-2008, 10:38 PM
Robert,
Check out this thread:
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=81622&highlight=drain+valves
As you'll note I installed a HF valve and it is working fine for me but for a pancake it is probably overkill.
Thomas Canfield
04-19-2008, 10:51 PM
WORD OF CAUTION FOR PANCAKE DRAINS - The drain connection is not on the bottom of the tank, and you must tip the tank to get out all the liquid (water & trash). Just hooking up a pipe and valve will end up allowing quite a bit of liquid to accumulate in the bottom of the tank before reaching the drain connection. I cut some tapered 2x material and installed under the base of my Porter Cable unit so that the drain connection is then on the bottom. I requested information Porter Cable to determine if there was any detrimental factors for the compressor, but never got a response. Being an oil-less unit there should not be any oil-level problem.
The pancake drains are really a poor design on most I have seen and one should be cautious.
Robert Dunaway
04-19-2008, 11:24 PM
Thanks Thomas. I've never ever done that and, now that you mention it, it makes sense.
I'll make sure she gets all the water out tomorrow.
It is a crappy design, now that I think about it.
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