Regards,
Glen
Woodworking: It's a joinery.
That's got to be a nice setup Glen!
Trotec Speedy 400 120w, Trotec Speedy 300 80w
Thunderlaser Mars-130 with EFR 130w tube
Signature Rotary Engravers (2)
Epson F6070 Large Format Printer, Geo Knight Air Heat Presses (2)
I haven't depressurized my compressor since last August when it was shut off during our annual family vacation and dropped pressure over time by itself. The IR automatic drain valve keeps the moisture out of the drain sump very nicely...to this day I'm thankful that I found it at a "very attractive price" a number of years ago when I acquired it.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
I leave my tank full for two reasons. First, at 7.5HP it consumes a significant amount of electricity and I don't want to incur any additional expense on a daily basis (or the additional wear on the compressor).
Second, the longer the compressor runs, the hotter the air. If you fill the compressor totally each morning, the air inside it will be pretty warm, and as a result will carry more moisture in it to your tools in the morning. If the compressor sits full overnight, the air cools and the moisture condenses out of it into the tank where it can be drained either manually or automatically. Since the compressed air has less moisture in it, there is less moisture conveyed to your tools.
I've got just a ball valve on a length of hose at the bottom of my compressor. I usually crack it in the morning when I get to the shop and open the valve on the tank, and again at night when I close the valve. The morning there isn't much at all, but it only takes a few seconds to reach down and crack it open briefly.
I've had one of the HF valves for years. Maybe I was lucky. it worked every time. The only problem was the crappy hose that went to the unloader circuit. That hose got hot and kept coming off. I finally replaced it with some better plastic and don't have the problem anymore. I still shut down the compressor when I leave town.