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Odie's crazy idea #4

odie

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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
 

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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.
 
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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

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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.
 

odie

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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.......:D

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! :rolleyes:

-----odie-----
keep on turnin'.jpg
 
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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.
 
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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". :D 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!
 
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"Leak" might be too crass a term for what is actually a poor man's automatic drain system. :D
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.
 
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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

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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! :eek:
 
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I have a timer on mine so it shuts down at night, but for many years ran without one. One of the secrets to air leaks is what you use to seal all the joints and how many joints you have. One of the trade secrets is to have the air receiver tied into your timer, this way you maintain pressure with the most minimal number of joints
 
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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
Dang I have the same problem! That’s awesome!
 
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Amazing that this 16 year old tip thread keeps being resurrected. I went back in time and reviewed all the other tips, learned a lot. 2007 was a productive time for Odie.
 
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buy a timer from the UK, Australia or New Zealand they run 240v
The lamp timers if that is what you are suggesting would never hold up to switching a motor however the industrial 240 volt timer that Odie used will likely have the switching capacity to work with the compressor power load.
 

odie

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I bought one of these 220v industrial timers.
buy a timer from the UK, Australia or New Zealand they run 240v
The lamp timers if that is what you are suggesting would never hold up to switching a motor however the industrial 240 volt timer that Odie used will likely have the switching capacity to work with the compressor power load.

Whereas I cannot speak for the timers Hughie speaks of, I can say that I'm still using the exact same timer I spoke of back in 2007 on a daily basis. The motor is the same 4hp rated Husky compressor motor, too. It continues to start and stop everyday while I'm out in the shop.....no problems at all.

-o-


compressor-timer-2-jpg.1113
IMG_2395.JPG IMG_2395 (2).JPG
 

odie

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@Karl Loeblein

It's an Intermatic T-104 timer. I bought it at Home Depot. Here's a link to what they have now. It looks like this exact timer may no longer be available, but there are others available that serve the same purpose, so one of these ought to work for you:


-o-
 
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