dual compressors

[jblueridge]

I have recently found an abandoned 5hp two-stage Ingersoll Rand compressor. It is very much like the one I am using now but its tank looks pretty bad.
How difficult might it be to plumb both pumps into the one good tank?

 

[northumbrian]

Any pics???
I'd be temped to fit the Ingersoll Rand compressor to the good tank.

Now if you had two good tanks and one dodgy compressor that would be far more useful in my mind.
But that's me

 

[PAToyota]

I’ve considered adding a second compressor to my system with the idea that I’d set the pressure switch on the main one to a higher pressure than the lower one so that if I’m doing something using a lot of air - like sandblasting - the second compressor would run when the first one couldn’t keep up.

For example, say the main compressor comes on at 100 psi and the secondary compressor comes on at 80 psi. As long as the main compressor can keep it above 80 psi, the secondary compressor will only come on when starting up from zero. But if I’m using more volume than the main can keep up with, the secondary compressor will come on as a booster.

 

[northumbrian]

I’ve considered adding a second compressor to my system with the idea that I’d set the pressure switch on the main one to a higher pressure than the lower one so that if I’m doing something using a lot of air - like sandblasting - the second compressor would run when the first one couldn’t keep up.

For example, say the main compressor comes on at 100 psi and the secondary compressor comes on at 80 psi. As long as the main compressor can keep it above 80 psi, the secondary compressor will only come on when starting up from zero. But if I’m using more volume than the main can keep up with, the secondary compressor will come on as a booster.

That's a cracking idea.
Hope you don't mind if I steal it

 

[jblueridge]

That is exactly the situation I have.
Using my blasting cabinet the original compressor works very hard.

The compressor I found is an IR T30. I need to check the stamped plate to find which model exactly.

 

[northumbrian]

I acquired a second compressor, slightly smaller than the one I have.
Setting up like that may help with the Plasma cutter, as I cut, I drain the compressor, when the compressor kicks in I have to stop cutting.
As running both the compressor & plasma cutter together trips the electrics.
Hopefully having to will increase the time I get to cut.

But as I am moving houses, the new shop will have better electrics.

 

[KLF]

Get really complicated and get a pump controller for a sewage lift station, use pressure switches instead of floats. The controller will automatically alternate the "lead" compressor, and turn on the "lag" compressor if the demand gets too high for one to keep up. You could even add a third switch that will trip the alarm if the pressure gets too low.