I have a 5hp 80 gallon compressor in my basement, but my garage is 30 feet from the house. I have 35 feet of 3/4" pipe running around the basement to cool the air, and an outlet on the side of my house that I plug a rubber 1/4" air line into. The rubber line goes out to the garage and connects to 30 feet of 1/2" pipe in the garage. I cant run metal lines out to the garage due to a massive concrete patio on my back porch. Is the 1/4" air line going from the house to the garage restricting my air flow? Can I pull 15 cfm through that line?
I have a 5hp 80 gallon compressor in my basement, but my garage is 30 feet from the house. I have 35 feet of 3/4" pipe running around the basement to cool the air, and an outlet on the side of my house that I plug a rubber 1/4" air line into. The rubber line goes out to the garage and connects to 30 feet of 1/2" pipe in the garage. I cant run metal lines out to the garage due to a massive concrete patio on my back porch. Is the 1/4" air line going from the house to the garage restricting my air flow? Can I pull 15 cfm through that line?
From my experience, that 1/4" line is too small for even short runs. Replace even the hose to your air tools with 3/8" and you will be amazed how much better they run. I say go to a minimum of 3/8" line. Using the pi R squared formula, you will see that 3/8" will handle twice the volume of 1/4" . For that run, you may want to get some 1/2" air line. Not sure where to get it from in your area, but I know it is available. Maybe check with a heavy equipment dealership to find out where they get theirs. 1/2" air line is used to power all heavy air tools, such as 1" impacts. Possibly your local NAPA auto parts store will be able to help you out.
Get rid of the line in the basement, I really don't think you need that with a good dryer installed. Run a larger line to the garage, 3/8 minimum. Depending on what you use the air for, 3/8 should suffice for everything but the largest tools and your compressor likely won't run those well. The more air hose you run, the more volume you will using. I don't remember the formula, but for every foot of hose, you lose a little pressure. Try this:http://www.gates.com/industrial/pressure/airFlow.cfm?location_id=3043#calculator
The 3/4 line is fine, so is the 1/2 .
the problem is the 1/4.
No matter how big the pipe is on the receiving end the most air you can get is what the 1/4 will flow.
replace it with a 3/4 hose .
Here is the calculation using the Gates calculator
Showing 100 psi at the compressor and 15 cfm output with a 30 foot run you will have a pressure loss of 27.97 psi with 1/4" hose, 3.32 psi with 3/8" hose and .73 psi with 1/2" diameter hose. Thanks to DINGER for the link to the calculator. :thumbup: So the choice is yours. How much pressure loss can you live with ?
u can put in a 3" pipe all the way... and in the middle u put in a 1/4" pipe.... the max flow is what u get through the 1/4" only.. the bigger pipe is storage of air, not flow...if u change to a 1/2" pipe all the way u'll be fine... keep the elbows to a min too..
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