[AT] Air compressor

[Steve W.]

I have my main compressor mounted up on the second floor of the barn in 
the unheated area (upstate NY so we do get COLD weather) In order to 
keep it from having problems I made up a box out of insulating foam. 
Glued it together around the compressor with the front panel held on 
with dowel rods. To keep it warm I put a 60 watt bulb inside with a 
thermostat switch set to turn on if it gets cold. No problems in 5 years.

Steve W.

Greg Hass wrote:
> 
> Someone mentioned putting your compressor outside because of noise. A 
> good idea; however sounds good for a warm climate. The instructions for 
> my compressor say not to run it below 40 degrees, and if you must, heat 
> the drain valve and the pressure switch. I live in Michigan and we get 
> at least 5 months of below freezing temps.  My old shop was only heated 
> when I used it for several hours. Many times the compressor would freeze 
> the switch where ever I stopped it. I learned to shut off the breaker 
> with the compressor running or it would freeze in the stopped position 
> and would not start if I needed air. The down side was that if I didn't 
> watch it the pressure would build up and the frozen switch wouldn't stop 
> it and the relief valve would pop. Buy the way, this was my old 
> compressor. I have a friend who has two compressors hooked together in 
> the unheated part of his shop and he seems to get away with it, although 
> I don't know how often he uses them in the winter. He put them there, as 
> was said, for noise considerations. My brother has a 3 hp. oilless 
> compressor in his shop and when it starts you may as well have a 747 fly 
> through. It supplies a lot of air, but the noise level is out of this 
> world.  My new shop, well 10 years old now, I have the thermostat set at 
> 42 degrees and only raise it  if I am going to be working for quite a 
> while. I have my compressor in the shop. Just a few random thoughts.
> Greg Hass
> 
> _______________________________________________