Odie's crazy idea #4

[odie]

I'm a forgetful person, and for the longest time kept forgetting to turn off my compressor. There are many fittings inline, and subsequently there are a few slow leaks. What this means, is when I'm not in my shop, the compressor automatically turns on and off to keep the online components up to pressure. I'd rather not have this happen.

Since my compressor is 220v, there isn't any of those convenient lamp timers that'll work. I use those, too, but they aren't available for 220v.

The solution? I bought one of these 220v industrial timers. Works well. I only use the shut-off feature, not the turn-on option. Everytime I enter my shop, I give it six or eight hours.....and forget about it. The electrical power to the compressor automatically shuts off.....until I return.

Now, I don't have to remember anything.....the timer does that for me!

....otis of Cologne

 

[Raif Harik]

This is especially important as it is not uncommon for fittings blow out. If you are not in the shop at the time your compressor will proceed to run at full tilt until it seizes up. Then you are out a compressor.

 

[Russell Nugent]

I haven't run into this yet luckily because I have to turn off my heater and DC to run my compressor so I never get to leave it on auto.

Good idea for sure

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

I'm a forgetful person, and for the longest time kept forgetting to turn off my compressor. There are many fittings inline, and subsequently there are a few slow leaks. What this means, is when I'm not in my shop, the compressor automatically turns on and off to keep the online components up to pressure. I'd rather not have this happen.

Since my compressor is 220v, there isn't any of those convenient lamp timers that'll work. I use those, too, but they aren't available for 220v.

The solution? I bought one of these 220v industrial timers. Works well. I only use the shut-off feature, not the turn-on option. Everytime I enter my shop, I give it six or eight hours.....and forget about it. The electrical power to the compressor automatically shuts off.....until I return.

Now, I don't have to remember anything.....the timer does that for me!

....otis of Cologne

Great idea Odie.

 

[Gerald Lawrence]

I took the cheap and made a wooden hang tag when I go into the shop the tag gets hung over the light switch, Can not cut the light without noticing the AIR tag.

 

[odie]

Great idea Odie.

2007.....it's been awhile, but that 220v timer is still ticking away, and working like it should. I have it set to turn off sometime past midnight. When I come into the shop, I manually turn on the power to the compressor, and it shuts off automatically. It just works, so no need to change anything.

I took the cheap and made a wooden hang tag when I go into the shop the tag gets hung over the light switch, Can not cut the light without noticing the AIR tag.

This is also a good way to go, and I do something similar. When I crank up the shop, I turn on some shut off valves between the compressor and the outlets. For this, I have a tag that I keep by the door to remind me that the shut off valves are still turned on. If I forget (which seldom happens because I'm using the tag), the compressor tank will still drain because of a few slow leaks in the system.......but, the power will be shut down because of the automatic timer, so there will be no on-off-on-off cycling of the compressor while I'm gone, and the tank will remain fully pressurized.......

Some additional thoughts........Since this is such an old posting, it makes me wonder just how much information I've given in the past that was valid at the time it was posted, but I have moved on to "evaluate and revise" old methods.....hmmmmmm!

-----odie-----

 

[John Torchick]

I have a wife. Problems solved.

 

[Mike Johnson]

The Clapper......Clap On, Clap Off.
You could slave the air compressor off of a occupancy sensor which would keep power on while there is someone in the shop, power would go off after 15 minutes with no motion.

 

[Dean Center]

When this popped up as a new item labelled, "Odie's Crazy Idea #4", my first thought was "Wait a minute, we're WAY past #4". Then I noticed the original post date said 2007 and harmony was restored.

Seriously, Odie, your original thinking and shared problem solving has been immensely helpful over the years. Keep it up!

 

[Robert D Evans]

My compressor is in my workshop right below the master bedroom. The wife has excellent hearing and lets me know when I forgot to turn it off. Usually about 2 a.m.

 

[John Torchick]

I always shut off my compressor and bleed the tank.

 

[Bill Boehme]

Thirteen years ... this might be a record for exhuming the oldest thread

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AFf0ysgNiM

 

[Russell Nugent]

Seems to be happening quite frequently.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

You could just fix the leaks! !@#$%^&*()_+

 

[Bill Boehme]

You could just fix the leaks! !@#$%^&*()_+

"Leak" might be too crass a term for what is actually a poor man's automatic drain system.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

"Leak" might be too crass a term for what is actually a poor man's automatic drain system.

I guess I don't understand how an air leak could be an automatic drain system since the only thing you would want to drain is the condensation that builds up in the bottom of the tank, but maybe you could enlighten me.

 

[DON FRANK]

If your compressor is 110v simply buy an attic fan timer and make a box that the compressor plugs into. When you start the day set the timer to how many hours you want and it will kill the power after that time so it doesn't kick on in the middle of the night. I had this problem when I had a basement workshop. I had my air leaks sealed up but quick couplers sometimes leak or if I left an airbrush still plugged in it could bleed the tank enough to kick it on. And, it does always seem to happen in the middle of the night when you're sleeping well. The above took care of the issue. If your compressor is 220v they make timers for those too but you'd have to get it from Grainger or online to do the same thing.

 

[Tom Gall]

I installed a ball valve at the compressor and connected my air hose to it which feeds all over my shop. This eliminates all leaking problems except at the compressor (if you have any). I like to cycle the compressor to get a full tank before turning it off at the end of the shop day. Sometimes I forget the full tank thing...and when I turn on the ball valve the damn thing kicks on and scares the $#%& out of me!