Compressor Advice

[Cyberprog]

I'm wondering how to get the best out of my Clarke SE16C150 compressor.

It's currently got a 1/4" ball valve on the outlet, but the fitting looks like it has a reducer from 1/2" fitted. So presumably I could fit a 1/2" valve? At that point what flexible hose should I look at using and what ID?

I'm going to be installing some plastic pipe, with outlets for 1/4" PCL fittings, and one 1/2" fitting for an impact gun, this would probably be T'd off the front of the compressor, but what size plastic pipe would people recommend?

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[MattF]

Personally, I wouldn't use plastic. Copper, iron or whatever else takes your fancy, but certain types of plastic are downright dangerous if they pop.

 

[steviec_lj]

Why not "plastic"? A number of the ring mains marketed and sold these days are made of such materials.

Although, copper aids heat dissipation.

PVC is pushfit, so can be commissioned immediately.

Iron needs threading, and takes a number of hours to install something half useable. Even then it'll leak.

Ali can be pushfit, and works well too.

Have a look at the John Guest stuff.

 

[Rig Pig]

Why not "plastic"? A number of the ring mains marketed and sold these days are made of such materials.

Although, copper aids heat dissipation.

PVC is pushfit, so can be commissioned immediately.

Iron needs threading, and takes a number of hours to install something half useable. Even then it'll leak.

Ali can be pushfit, and works well too.

Have a look at the John Guest stuff.

Properly installed steel pipe work won't leak!

 

[Rig Pig]

The larger the outlet pipework the lower the restriction to the tools, however your still limited by pump output, if possible run a 1" line with the outlets off that, put a big water separator after the compressor outlet valve. Also make certain that your replacement valve is full bore - some valves step down internally and are quite restrictive.

 

[steviec_lj]

Properly installed steel pipe work won't leak!

Sarcasm dear, sarcasm.

A steel ring main, size dependant can take the best part of a day to install. The same with copper due to joint preparation.

 

[armalites]

I'm wondering how to get the best out of my Clarke SE16C150 compressor.

It's currently got a 1/4" ball valve on the outlet, but the fitting looks like it has a reducer from 1/2" fitted. So presumably I could fit a 1/2" valve? At that point what flexible hose should I look at using and what ID?

I'm going to be installing some plastic pipe, with outlets for 1/4" PCL fittings, and one 1/2" fitting for an impact gun, this would probably be T'd off the front of the compressor, but what size plastic pipe would people recommend?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Personally I would get a roll of reinforced PVC hose and plastic fittings. No issues with corrosion,less condensation and cheap as chips. Use double eared clips on the fittings.

I have 1/2 pipe running as main, goes out through 2 sheds into an open barn with a couple of drops to PCL fittings. Been like that for years with no issues.

 

[brightspark]

Personally I would get a roll of reinforced PVC hose and plastic fittings. No issues with corrosion,less condensation and cheap as chips. Use double eared clips on the fittings.

I have 1/2 pipe running as main, goes out through 2 sheds into an open barn with a couple of drops to PCL fittings. Been like that for years with no issues.

less condensation on the hose sounds bad thats the idea of copper pipe to cool and help condense the air to water before it reaches the filter at the end not just travel and pass the filter as warm moist air it allso apears that most folk put the airlines high up round the workshop where the pipes are quite hot in summer i just use 15mm bore rubber hose across the concrete floor kept quite strait with a filter near the end and have no problems with condensation

 

[Cyberprog]

That said, my workshop is only 6mx6m roughly, it probably wouldn't take that long!

 

[MattF]

Why not "plastic"? A number of the ring mains marketed and sold these days are made of such materials.

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

Sarcasm dear, sarcasm.

My sarcasm filter must be on the blink somewhat. The comment about iron pipework merely struck me as bunkum.

A steel ring main, size dependant can take the best part of a day to install. The same with copper due to joint preparation.

Any decent installation worth its salt takes time.

 

[Mr shiney]

It's a dinky little Clarke unit. 14cfm input which is about 6-8 fm FAD on a 150l receiver. 8mm push fit fittings on plastic hose is as much as it needs! 8mm will deliver 43cfm FAD......

Cheap, easy to install and does not leak.

 

[Cyberprog]

Yep, it's relatively small, 95% of it's work will be blowing up tyres, blowing dust out of computers & servers, and running the odd air tool.