So I'd like to add an in line dryer for my air compressor. Single inlet but could use two outlets, one for each air line. I use it mostly for the lift and bridge jacks, I have no plans on painting a car or anything.
So what do I use? Do I need a mist separator too? Can I just buy everything from Home Depot? Recommended brand/setups?
TIA!
Following along since I just upgraded to a big 220V unit to paint the ambulance.
For those advising, keep in mind the doc (and me too) are in Colorado, so a very dry climate. Does that even matter?
So I have no idea if this is "right", but it's what I did for my lift and it's been going on 6 years now and working fine, albeit in hobby/weekend use only.
I put a "pneumatic plus" filter/seperator/drain/regulator combo box on the wall next to the compressor: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OM7EBFM/
From there I ran RapidAir nylon line over to the lift, on the lift I installed a brass 4-way junction. One of them goes to a gauge (so I can look at the pressure without having to walk over to the compressor). The second goes to the safety locks and has one of these dessicant dryers in-line with it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014DEV6Q/
The third junction goes to the bridge jacks, which have big warnings in the user manual about proper lubrication. I put an inline oil lubricator in this line: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JDL1H4/
Some of those specific products appear to be out of production, but there are similar ones available on Amazon.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
Why do the inline dessicant dryers if you already have the large pneumatic plus dryer on it already?
docwyte said:Why do the inline dessicant dryers if you already have the large pneumatic plus dryer on it already?
I was told that the mechanical dryer gets it down to a certain level and that the inline dessicant gets it even lower. The air-release safety catches on my lift are a dead-end system, they need to be as dry as possible.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
What kind of lift is it?
Woody (Forum Supportum) said:In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
What kind of lift is it?
BendPak HD9 ST
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
Thank you, that's good to know. I have an HD-9 and never thought about it as a dead end system. At this point I don't have any kind of air dryer, but I have only used it as a storage lift, so it hasn't seen much air. I'll look into adding something.
In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
How do you plumb that dessicant filter in line with the air line?
In reply to docwyte :
the link broke so i cant see it, but they usually just plumb in line like any other water separator or regulator.
bold off. Sorry.
in Florida here humidity is much more of an issue. When i was having water issues with my little sand blaster i came across a few helpful tips. The longer the hose is before the water separator, the better the chance of the water mist to become a drop and get caught by the separator. Others even set up a "jockey box" like one would use to chill beer from a keg. Copper lines coiled in a cooler box. Gets the air cool quick and water condenses faster/easier and gets caught by the water separator before getting to the desiccant.
simply moving my water separator from the compressor outlet and putting it at the air inlet of the sand blaster made a nice difference.
docwyte said:In reply to codrus (Forum Supporter) :
How do you plumb that dessicant filter in line with the air line?
It has NPT threads on both ends.
The line coming down from the top is the feed from the compressor. The oiler on the right feeds the jacks, the dessicant filter is the orange thing and feeds the safety catches. The round black thing is the button to pressurize the catches, it's bolted to the post of the lift and everything else is hanging off it by the NPT joints.
I've maintained and worked on larger industrial air systems for a while. What you need are a filter and a water trap. Sometimes they are miscalled dryers but air dryers are usually heated electrically. I put a very simple regulator, filter and water trap combo on my compressor before my hose reel. The water traps have a clear bowl and you can see when you need to drain it. A good compressor will also have a drain cock on the bottom of the tank. My compressor has been moisture free since installation but I'm expecting to need to drain some water since we are moving now.
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