| One of the important parts of an air compressor is | | | | secondary side increases, it has a built-in relief valve |
| the air-regulator unit. When you purchase a brand | | | | that allows it to bleed the excess pressure until it |
| new air compressor that are commonly used in | | | | reaches the set pressure. It has a big knob on top of |
| portable pneumatic or air tools, a filter-regulator unit is | | | | it that can be turn to adjust the pressure output. A |
| already installed. Sometimes, some cheap air | | | | pressure gauge is also included to monitor the |
| compressors only install an air-regulator without the | | | | secondary pressure. Without the gauge it will be |
| filter to cut cost, but in some reputable brand like | | | | impossible to adjust the air regulator because you |
| Ingersoll-Rand Air Compressors, are equipped with | | | | have no way of telling how much pressure is present |
| modular air filter-regulator unit. All pneumatic | | | | on the secondary side. In some air compressors you |
| equipments including pneumatic actuators, valves and | | | | will see 2 sets of gauge, that's for the primary and |
| air-tools have a desired operating pressure to | | | | the secondary side. |
| operate and to function properly. Too low will make | | | | If you purchase an air regulator, you should know |
| them to malfunction or stop functioning, too high | | | | the size of the regulator you need to buy. The size is |
| pressure causes the seal to pop-up and leak. It is | | | | designated by the flow rate capacity. As the flow |
| important to set the pressure before connecting | | | | rate capacity increases the port size also increases, it |
| your favorite air-tools, if you accidentally connect an | | | | is actually directly proportional to each other. So, you |
| air tool that supposed to have 85 psi to a 200 psi air | | | | can also use the port size as the basis of the air |
| supply it could be very dangerous and might explode | | | | regulator sizing. For example if your existing air |
| or damage the tool itself. | | | | regulator has a ¼" port, then you should buy a |
| This is where the compressor regulator comes into | | | | ¼" air regulator. The air regulator are not commonly |
| action. The air regulator maintains the preset air | | | | available in most hardware, you can probably find |
| pressure before going to the system. If the pressure | | | | them in hardware stores who sells air compressors. |
| from the compressor tank increases the air regulator | | | | Some specific companies also sells them, like SMC |
| will still maintain the preset pressure. The air regulator | | | | Pneumatics who sells pneumatic valves, actuators and |
| can only prevent the air pressure from exceeding the | | | | compressor accessories like filter, regulator, air-dryer, |
| desired pressure but it cannot compensate it if the | | | | main line filter and after coolers. Other pneumatic |
| pressure from the air tank drops below the desired | | | | companies like FESTO, Bosh, CKD, Bimba also sells |
| pressure. If for some reason the pressure from the | | | | them. |