"Fridgy" internal pressure relief valve
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 12:40 am
So after a good amount of time away from spudding, I decided to dig out the old brass/aluminum bearing cannon. And boy was it a good choice!
Anywhoo, I had my small compressor still working so I was set on up to 800psi, but since the duplex I am leasing at school has a nice 240v receptacle in the basement with a walkout door, I wanted to bring out my biggest compressor and get it up and running. At a mere 3.5hp and 90lbs its a tad on the large side (made in 1963 BTW). A bit of sketchy wiring and she roared to life!
A few seconds later and the pressure gauge slowed down and stopped about here
even though the motor did not slow down nor sound worked at all, it appears that deadspace in the pump head is limiting me to that pressure. So I dug out the air tank and put some pressure on the input to work it a bit more! Easily climbed past the previous pressure quickly but at 475 or so, I hear popping from the compressor and the output keeps dropping to 300 or so psi. I figured I knew the problem and after a bit of research it seems common to have a valve that opens with that kind of pressure differential inside
So has anyone else run into this kind of situation with any of your compressors? I know my small rotary compressor does not have one and I assume most standard small fridgys also lack this
Oh and here is my launcher next to it for scale, which is not the smallest
Anywhoo, I had my small compressor still working so I was set on up to 800psi, but since the duplex I am leasing at school has a nice 240v receptacle in the basement with a walkout door, I wanted to bring out my biggest compressor and get it up and running. At a mere 3.5hp and 90lbs its a tad on the large side (made in 1963 BTW). A bit of sketchy wiring and she roared to life!
A few seconds later and the pressure gauge slowed down and stopped about here
even though the motor did not slow down nor sound worked at all, it appears that deadspace in the pump head is limiting me to that pressure. So I dug out the air tank and put some pressure on the input to work it a bit more! Easily climbed past the previous pressure quickly but at 475 or so, I hear popping from the compressor and the output keeps dropping to 300 or so psi. I figured I knew the problem and after a bit of research it seems common to have a valve that opens with that kind of pressure differential inside
So has anyone else run into this kind of situation with any of your compressors? I know my small rotary compressor does not have one and I assume most standard small fridgys also lack this
Oh and here is my launcher next to it for scale, which is not the smallest