Pro-8 question

[JDeMoss]

I've got a question for anyone that knows how well a pro-8 and the compressor should work.

It seems like the air compressor runs way more than it should. It is pretty much always on, even when I'm running the lynx part of the Mirage. I figure there has to be a leak somewhere? Or does the compressor just need to run all the time? Any thoughts?

Thanks

[Greymatter Glass]

Keep in mind that you're only using a fraction of the air being pumped by the compressor. Air is only 21% oxygen to start with, and concentrators are far from 100% efficient, you're probably drawing less than half the oxygen from the air pumped through the concentrator, so figure 10% or less of the air you pump in is actually sent to the torch as oxygen.

You can get a bigger compressor, with a larger storage tank, and it would probably kick on less often, but you're still pushing a lot of air for a small amount of oxygen, so either way you're using the electricity, so no financial gains really. Personally I prefer a muffled compressor running all the time to the on-and-off of a big loud compressor...I can tune out the drone of a muffled compressor, but I get startled easily when a loud machine kicks on - even when I expect it.

-Doug

[kbinkster]

Hmmm, the Pro-8 has a storage tank and is arranged in such a way that the air compressor should only kick on to fill up the tank. If you are running a large enough torch, you might empty the storage tank and run straight off the concentrator, not giving it a chance to fill up the tank. Running just a Lynx should not be enough to empty the storage tank without letting it refill, at least I don't think so. Maybe Smutboy can chime in here.

[n3rd]

I'm sure many of us look forward to hearing Smutboy's input; I'm also curious to hear how often these high powered air compressors run, relative to hours working.

I'm sure it all depends on the torch and the compressor feeding the pro 8 but surely the estimates from a few pro 8 users would help those of us interested in these systems gain a better understanding (at least roughly) of the energy consumption. If the compressor needs to run 100% of the time the torch is run, that sure seems like a drawback to the pro 8, at least to me.

[Natedizzle]

you bought the compressor that they sell with the pro-8 didn't you... That one won't really stop running... ever. Maybe for a few minutes every other month but that's about it.

Nathan

[smutboy420]

you bought the compressor that they sell with the pro-8 didn't you... That one won't really stop running


Yep thats most likly your problem right there.
The air compressors that onsite matches up to the pro8 is not big enought of a compressor to run the pro8 at full efficency. It will run a pro4 like no bodys bixness tho.,
So the compressor will hardly ever be off when the gen is drawing air. and You may also notice when the holding tank gets almost full that the gen just keeps going and going and not really fininshing filling up the tank. The last part gets hard because the higher the pressure in the tank the longer it takes to get the sive beds up to pressure before the timer switches over to the other bed. The pro8 needs a compressor that can supply a full 24 cubic feet of air every minet(CFM) at about 80psi. The compressor onsite sells just barly puts out 21CFM ( I think the real #'s are more like 18-19 CFM)


Theres only realy 2 things you can do. One is to get a bigger compressor.
not too good of an option if you already spent the $ on the one you already have.
or you can turn down the turn on and turn off pressure of the pro8. esp if its doing what I said about it filling up the fisrt portion of the holding tank easier then it does the last portion. Then your compressor will have an eaier time pushing the sir threw the gen. To turn down the on/off pressure you need to go inside the top of the gen inside the big blue box on top. Inside there right on top of the holding tank were the o2 enters the holding tank there should be a ball cock with a pressure switch on top of it. (you should notice it has wires coming out of it. on the presure switch is a knurled nut that pushes on pin. If you turn that knurled nut it will change the pressure setting. If you turn it clock wise it should turn your turn on and turn off pressure down. Try turning it down so it shuts off at like 55 or 60psi instead of like 70 psi. then it will also turn on at a lower pressure then before. I think its got a 20psi band on it. so if the turn on pressure was set to turn on at 50psi it will shut off at 70psi. But if you breing it down to be like say on at 40 and off at 60psi the compressor will not have as hard of a time filling up the last few pound of air in the tank.

The other soultions rather then getting a bigger compressor is to get a bigger compressor head for it that makes more CFM of air. or to put a larger motor and bigger fly wheel on the compressor to increase its rpm's so it pumps the air faster and increases your cfm output.

I try to allways let any one know that if they plan on getting a pr8 to NOT get the air comprssor thats offered with it. Because it's under powered for the pro8 and about more expensive then if you went out and bought it on your own with out them adding a middle man tax on it.

I recommend a full 7.5 horse power eaton air compressor or equivlant to run the pro8. Eaton unlike other co.s rates there compressors based on what CFM they realy output at under pressure. Most Co.s inflate the #'s for the cfm there compressors can produce under load. instead they list the cfm as free air pressure witch is basicly how many feet it will produce at no pressure. So it can be deceptive when they list the cfm as free air displacment.


But I got to say its JUST wacked that onsite even allows some one to get the under rated compressors with the purches of a pro8. To me if someone gets a pro8 and the underpowered compressor don't have enought umph to run it right they tend to think they got a shitty gen rather then a shitty compressor. And in the end it makes them look bad and makes someone loose confidance that they can realy beat the air pirates. Get the right compressor for the pro8 and you will walk tall knowing its the coolest thing you could of every bought for your shop hands down bar none.


I don;t know how new your gen and compressor is But if its kind of new I would see if you can get on site to take the compressor back seeeing as acording to there very own specs its not the right size compressor to run the pro8.

Then if you can get them to take it back. Go get an eaton and be happy for the next 20+ years or so.

[smutboy420]

BTW I forgot to mention. the time it should take to fill the holding tank.

With the right compressor. It should tke no more then 45 minets to go from compleatly empty tank at 0psi to a full 70 psi and shut off. if your not drawing any o2 off. and even if you are drawing off o2 while working it should still catch up and shut off when its at full pressure. esp if you are using a smaller sized torch thats drawing off o2 slower then the gen should be making it.