How To Adjust A Pressure Switch On An Air Compressor
How To Adjust A Pressure Switch On An Air Compressor
Instructions
1.
o 1
Remove the air compressor's pressure switch cover. The pressure switch
cover is a black plastic cover on top of the air compressor. It is removed by
turning the screw on top of the cover counterclockwise with a Phillips
screwdriver. Set the cover aside.
o 2
Plug in the air compressor and turn the on/off switch to the on or automatic
position. The air compressor will start immediately. Let the air compressor
run until it shuts off. Observe the compressor's pressure gauge while it is
running and take note of the pressure reading when it stops running. This is
the cut-out pressure setting.
Bleed the air out of the air compressor. First, attach the hose by pulling
back on the air fitting and sliding the fitting onto the air compressor nozzle,
then releasing the hose nozzle. Attach a blowgun air tool to the opposite
end of the air hose in the same manner.
o 4
Press the handle down on the blowgun to release air from the air
compressor while watching the air pressure gauge. The air pressure gauge
will show a decrease as air evacuates the tank. Take note of the pressure
reading when the air compressor restarts. This is the cut-in pressure. Wait
until the air compressor stops.
o 5
Use a small flat screwdriver to turn the compressor's main calibration screw
to the right to increase the cut-in pressure. Turn the screw to the left to
decrease the cut-in pressure. Test the pressures by bleeding air out of the
air compressor and repeating these procedures until reaching the correct
cut-in pressure.
o 6
Adjust the cut-out pressure of the air compressor by turning the differential
pressure screw with a small flat screwdriver. Turn the screw clockwise to
increase the differential or counterclockwise to decrease the differential
pressure. Bleed air out of the air compressor as in the first adjustment and
notice the pressure reading on the air pressure gauge. Continue bleeding
and adjustments until reaching the correct cut-out pressure.
Tips & Warnings
The main calibration screw is either above the differential adjustment screw, to the left
of it or is the only metallic screw. Refer to the air compressor owner's manual to
identify each adjustment screw correctly.
Set compressor adjustment screws in the order specified. Reversing the order results
in the main calibration pressure moving with each adjustment to the differential. This
process will change both the cut-in and cut-out pressures at once and make them hard
to calibrate.
Differential pressure is the difference between the cut-in and cut-out pressure rates.
Refer to the owner's manual for the minimum differential pressure the manufacturer
recommends. If the differential is lower than the suggested minimum, the air
compressor will turn on and off too quickly and the motor will not cool properly
between cycles.
Centrifugal Compressors
Centrifugal compressors use a spinning rotor to drive gases to the outside of
the rotor and expel or store the gases at higher pressures than before they
entered the compressor. This rotor in the compressor is known as an impeller.
It is basically a fan blade stored inside a housing with two open ends. The fan
blade is spun by a motor. The impeller sucks in air through one opening and
practically spins the air to the outside of the housing. This spinning actions
causes the air's volume to decrease as the air is forced to the outside of the
impeller. The air is then expelled, just as in a normal fan, out the other end of
the impeller. This released air must be contained or used immediately to
maintain its pressurized state.
Reciprocating Compressors
A reciprocating compressor uses a crankshaft to turn pistons used to compress
air. These compressors look a lot like car engines and operate in a similar
manner except for the fact that the compressed air does not explode. The
compressors can use multiple pistons and can generate air compressed at
extremely high pressures. These compressors are the most commonly found
compressors on portable air compression units.