The Woodpecker EP 311 - Automatic valve to empty the water from a compressor 

Thank you and on top of it all it's useful

I totally understand, If my old motor wouldn't had die on me, this would still be on my bucket list. I have a tendency to procrastinate some time.... But don't do like I do and try to do it on your compressor. I wish I did it sooner....

@@LgosseuxDbois-TheWoodpecker In a moment of enthusiasm this morning (generated by your video) I went to my workshop determined to start work on an automatic drain valve for my compressor too. But I was greeted by half-a-dozen other jobs that required emergency attention -- and so had to work on those instead. Sigh. An automatic drain valve may still be a looong way in my future...

I think it's the same for everyone. I spent several days inside the shop with a friend form the US and it's only there that I realized that I have several things to fix before I can continue what I want to do. One thing I realized was how hard it is to speak English all day. Listening or writing it is WAY simpler than speaking it. He went back home a couple of minutes ago, so I can take care of the broken stuff. But I'm sure you will manage to do something, Peter also said that he will check his compressor. It's one of the tool that we take for granted up until something goes wrong with it....

@@LgosseuxDbois-TheWoodpeckerThank you for the encouraging words, Alain! I've been doing a lot of sand-blasting these last few days, and it turns out that my compressor is struggling a bit. So I'm now giving myself the excuse that I need to find a bigger compressor before I work on the automatic drain valve. BTW I lived in Germany for a wee while, and I well know the feeling of exhaustion that comes from protracted interactions in a second language. Really bizarre how tiring it is -- I've always assumed that one's brain must be working overtime in such situations, and sucking up much more energy than usual (disclaimer: no neuroscience qualifications, so my opinion entirely worthless on such matters).

It's fun having a big compressor that can handle everything that you can throw at it. When my motor was giving me trouble, I checked for a new similar compressor, and after seeing the price of a brand new one with a 275l (60gallons) tank and a 5hp motor, I realized that just replacing the motor would be much cheaper.... I heard that german is even more complicated than french, so I can imagine how exhausted you can be after a full day. But I know first hand that if you're immerse all days and don't speak your mother tongue for a while you will lose it... I can see that from some member of my family who just moved 200Km away in Ontario and now struggle to speak french. And my wife had some distant cousin that moved to Toronto and now they can't speak any word of french even to save their own life....

I have an instant water heater so I don't have to empty it.

The water was not rusty but more oily. The tank is quite thick compared to modern tanks, it takes 4 men to only lift the tank after removing the motor and the pump. OK maybe we were four wimpy men...

@@LgosseuxDbois-TheWoodpecker Yes, most the new tanks are horribly thin.

I don't have enough water dripping to be forced to empty the container. By emptying it 30 seconds every hour, I end up only evacuating a small amount of water that evaporate by itself. I checked the margarine container the other day when I took a picture for the thumbnail and I estimate the water to be les than a half tea spoon for over two monts. I'm sure more water than that was emptied but I guess it evaporated by itself.

@@LgosseuxDbois-TheWoodpecker ahhh, I missed the 30 seconds every hour bit! that makes sense, it can act more like an evaporation tray than a drain!

Yes. I had no clue either how much water would be evacuated before I tried it in real life.

I have one but it doesn't stop water to form inside the tank, and as you saw neither stop water from forming inside the pipes and hoses. It's easier to assume that water is in the tank and open a valve to empty it. I open my valve 30 seconds every hour. Since this is in place, about a month ago, I only can see drops of water in my margarine container under the valve

@@LgosseuxDbois-TheWoodpecker Yeah moisture traps are not perfect. I don’t have air tools, but I do have a compressor for airbrushing that has a moisture trap off the output, and I still needed to add another in-line trap just before the end of the hose. I am glad your automated solution is working so well.