On Sat, 25 Mar 2006 22:29:20 -0800, "ted harris"
wrote:

Hello,
I just purchased a Harbor Freight auto drain kit here;
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42221
Anyone got any pictures of their installation job or any tips on installing
it?

Thanks,


Hey Ted,

Maybe it won't apply directly to your application, but if you want a
REALLY GOOD tank drain, I suggest items from a company called Burkert,
or from a Burkert local dealer/distributor

http://www.burkert.com/

or

http://www.buerkert.com/

Specifically a solenoid valve:

http://www.buerkert.com/COM/buerkert_products.php?type=6013A&sk_id=30&show_as= 6013

for the voltage you need, AND PLUS

.....the modular timer control for it, for which I have a zillion
numbers on the invoice, but can't locate it on the web page using
them, so ask the dealer for assistance.

Mine is on an 80 gallon vertical DeVilbiss Tradesman model garage
style unit. The drain is simple enough, and I have mine on the
existing bottom-of-tank drain, outboard of the manual drain valve and
fitted with an el-cheapo (Harbor Freight??) quick disconnect, and set
to drain the tank for 10 seconds every 6 hours, and it is set up so
that works on a 10 seconds on, 5 hour 59 minute and 50 seconds off,
which means that anytime the power to the compressor controls (and
this timer) is removed and re-applied (ie...the breaker tuned off and
on) it "blows-down" at actuation and then starts the six hour cycle.
This way, condensation created during compressor operation has time to
"run" to the bottom of the tank, rather than only as the tank unloader
works. The timer is easy to set in many ways and over a huge timing
range. The convenience of the quik-connect is that if I want to
"check it" or reset the timing, I don't have to do it on my knees or
bent over upside down...I just disconnect it and bring it to work
height.

Take care.

Brian Lawson,
Bothwell, Ontario.

ps.... for the winter months, it just blows-down into a zorb-all
snake, and in the summer (when it is actually doing something!!) it
blows out a plastic tube under the garage door. It is quite
surprising to me that there is so little blown-down on this cycle, but
prior to adding this unit it used to have quite a fair quantity of
moisture/crap discharge, when and if I was lucky and remembered to do
it manually once a week. Quite a difference! I'm not into painting,
so I can't say how much this affects "dry air supply", but I imagine
it helps a lot. I think if it mattered more to me, I'd set it to a 5
seconds every hour time.