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How do you control the pressure on a compressor?

Here at Jaguar Air Compressors, we value safety, and because air compressor pressure switches can be dangerous to use if not operated properly. It is for this reason that we recommend always operating your compressor according to the user manual and consulting with a certified technician for services and any issues.

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In terms of controlling the pressure on your air compressor, the unit has a regulator that will control the amount of air flowing out of your machine and into your tools. The regulator has its own pressure gauge that measures the pressure output. The air compressor itself has a set of internal pressure settings whose function it is to control the pressure of the tank. This is done by setting the pressure at the ideal point where it will turn the motor on or off. Under normal circumstances, you will not ever need to adjust these internal pressure settings, and they can be left at factory settings. You will only ever need to change these settings if you are changing the switch.

The point at which your air compressor stops is known as the cut-out pressure point. Conversely, the air compressor will start at its cut-in pressure point. In the majority of air compressors, the distance between the cut-out and cut-in point is more or less the same. However, you can adjust the pressure either up or down, meaning that if you want additional pressure to your air compressor, you are able to adjust this accordingly. This will, in turn, increase the threshold where your machine will switch on.

Obviously, safety is of paramount importance when operating your air compressor. If you have an older model or your compressor is not well-maintained, setting the pressure incorrectly can result in an explosion. When you require more operational efficiency, sometimes it can help to adjust your pressure. For example, if you have a certain application for which you don’t need as much pressure (especially with a large compressor that is being used for a small job), it could help to decrease the pressure. This has the added benefit of decreasing the unit’s maintenance and other costs.

In terms of increasing the pressure in your compressor, this can be done by changing the settings. Oftentimes, people will increase the pressure in their machine if they need to use it for jobs involving hardwood or a lot of torque. In such instances, increasing the pressure in the compressor will give you extra power. With this in mind, always follow your machine’s safety instructions as increasing the pressure too much can increase your consumption costs as well as potentially destroying the pump in your compressor. If you do decide to adjust the pressure, always ensure that your compressor’s regulator has been adjusted properly. In an ideal world, you should always use the correct size compressor for your application, but if your compressor is too large or too small for the job, always make sure that you exercise the utmost caution.