Where's the Unloader?

[PastorPaul]

The CH tank with controls that I just bought is supposed to have an automatic unloader. You just hook up your compressor pump and you're ready to go.

I did a test hook-up of my compressor pump to the tank today, but I can't see that the line from the compressor to the tank is unloading. I know it doesn't use an electrical unloader like the big boys do, but I'd like to identify the unloader and see if it is indeed working. The manual from CH doesn't tell me anything, and I am waiting for a reply from the seller.

There is a tee going into the tank, with what I believe is the check valve. That's where I would expect the unloader to be. One side of the tee receives the output of the compressor pump. the other side of the tee has a fitting that has a small ball in the end. On the inside of that fitting I can't see any hole to allow for pressure relief.

Any thoughts on how to determine if that is indeed the unloader, and how to tell if it is working? The only thing I can think of is to put my extra pressure gauge in the line from the pump to the check valve. If that pressure drops when I turn off the pump, that shoudl mean the unloader is working and I just can't hear it. Am I right on that?

Well, it's off to St. Louis to pick up Mary's dad. We had a call about the freezer we had for sale, so I didn't get out early to check out the woodworking stores like I wanted to. Then the prospective buyer called back and said his dad gave him his old freezer. At least the afternoon wasn't wasted. I did a bit more mowing, worked on the compressor, and did a bit of clean-up in the shop.

Pastor Paul
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"If they don't have woodworking in heaven, I ain't going!!!"

[PastorPaul]

I received an e-mail from the seller. The little fitting is indeed the unloader. I'm still going to put a pressure gauge in the supply line to test it out before piping up the compressor, just to make sure it is operational. Then - in between fixing my weedeater and trimming the lawn, getting that rewiring in the basement started, taking Mary in for today's blood work, painting the bird bath, installing the electrical panel, R & R the garage soffit, finishing some work in the attic, cleaning off the table saw and the workbench and the tool chest, making my cut-off sled, checking further into the grants for the new laptop computer and emergency generator, and who knows what all else - I'm going to put my compressor together. Oh, and I forgot three pieces of furniture. One I have to repair. One I have to rebuild a perfectly good piece to make a clone that is longer and has a plate slot. One needs to be stripped, repaired, and refinished.

The fellow interested in buying our old freezer called about two hours or so later and said he wasn't coming. When he told his dad that they were driving 85 miles to look at a freezer (he also had something else he wanted to see in St. James), his dad said, "Heck, why don't you just take mine. I don't use it any more." One sale and a portion of the new freezer getting paid off out the window.

Oh, I got to the St. Louis Airport Hilton to pick up Mary's dad. I even got there 45 minutes early; a combination of making the trip (with required stop at Ponderosa for a meal of mostly chicken wings) earlier than I needed to, and wanting to be there early in case Dad's flight was ahead of schedule.

I figured that for an 8:47 arrival time, I should figure that by te time Dad got off the plane (a fancy term for disembarking :P), got his luggage, found the shuttle pick-up point and made the ride to the hotel, it could be as late as 9:15. At 9:45, I was getting worried and asked one of the shuttle drivers to watch for him.

By 10:15, I finally had to have Mary call her sister and get back with me if she knew anything about Dad's late arrival. The hotel front desk staff also started contacting the airline and airport to see if where he was. He came in on time, but his plane didn't land until 9:15, and at 10:30 he had been waiting for two hours. ?????? He called the house to find out where we were, but Mary was at our daughter's so she wouldn't be along when she is supposed be resting and recovering (not that she would overdo it at home if left alone :)). He was going get a cab to St. James, but the $200 price changed his mind. At 10:30 the hotel clerk had located him at the airport, waiting for me to pick him at.

At almost the same time, Mary called. She had reached her sister and learned that she forgot to tell dad to take the hotel shuttle and I would be waiting for him at the hotel. It was supposed to make it easier for Dad to get out of the airport, keep me from having to drive that crazy airport traffic, parking problems, and additional parking costs. It ended up with a confused mess and a very embarrassed sister-in-law. Oh, well! I wanted more time to sit and read my Reader's Digest. :)

Pastor Paul
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"If they don't have woodworking in heaven, I ain't going!!!"