Question Rix SA-3 duty cycle?

[JohnN]

It takes over an hour to top up two HP 120 tanks.

I open the condensate valves every 10-15 minutes, are there any duty cycle worries I should have?

FWIW the electric motor is rated for continuous duty

 

[rob.mwpropane]

It takes over an hour to top up two HP 120 tanks.

I open the condensate valves every 10-15 minutes, are there any duty cycle worries I should have?

FWIW the electric motor is rated for continuous duty

From my understanding from different sources the Rix is rated continuous duty to 3600 psi.

 

[rjack321]

The 10min dump cycle is killing your overall fill rate

Pump its cooler out
Don't dump condensate anymore than you have to

 

[rob.mwpropane]

@JohnN have you timed it to see what fill rate you're getting?

I believe the most I've seen posted an SA3 gets is ~ 3.2cfm?

120x2/3.2 = 75 min. An hr sounds about right. (Its not 100% accurate math but it's close enough for me).

Even if say your 120's were at 500 psi each you're still looking at over 60 min to top them up. At 1000 psi 54 min total.

Do you have interstage gauges installed on the 2nd and 3rd to make sure it's running in spec?

 

[JohnN]

@JohnN have you timed it to see what fill rate you're getting?

I believe the most I've seen posted an SA3 gets is ~ 3.2cfm?

120x2/3.2 = 75 min. An hr sounds about right. (Its not 100% accurate math but it's close enough for me).

Even if say your 120's were at 500 psi each you're still looking at over 60 min to top them up. At 1000 psi 54 min total.

Do you have interstage gauges installed on the 2nd and 3rd to make sure it's running in spec?

Nice setup, but no I do not (at least yet). My back-of-the envelope guesses about fill times matches up with what I'm seeing, so I'm going to leave things alone (at least for now)

I will increase the intervals I'm using for dumping the condensate, based on @rjack321's comments

 

[rjack321]

Nice setup, but no I do not (at least yet). My back-of-the envelope guesses about fill times matches up with what I'm seeing, so I'm going to leave things alone (at least for now)

I will increase the intervals I'm using for dumping the condensate, based on @rjack321's comments

I mean don't go too long are really bad things happen if liquid water fills the condenser and "backs up" into the previous cylinder or sprays ahead to the next. I personally go 20 mins with my unit (not an SA3). I use a kitchen timer since I don't have an autodump. Shorter intervals just means you're spending proportionally more and more time repressurizing the whole system.

 

[tbone1004]

It takes over an hour to top up two HP 120 tanks.

I open the condensate valves every 10-15 minutes, are there any duty cycle worries I should have?

FWIW the electric motor is rated for continuous duty

At scuba tank pressures it is effectively continuous duty. Condensate valve intervals are based on ambient conditions so 10-15mins may be right, the key is fast purges so they aren't draining the towers all the way down. 2-3secs is all they need.