Iwata LPH-400 Air Cap Testing with 1/4 & 3/8 fittings

[MikeK]

We were discussing this earlier and I did this years ago and decided to share what I found Today.
Testing consisted of ,
My LPH-400-LV with a Silver air cap & 1.4 setup.
Iwata Silver Air Cap Test Gauge.
1/4" id x 8' Parker hose with standard Brass HF connectors
3/8" id x 8' Parker hose with standard Brass HF connectors
2-50' 3/8" Goodyear Black hose with 1/4 & 3/8 each respectively,My booth setup on, crank style hose reels wound up.
Devilbliss Whirlwind bulb inline air filter.
45# wall regulator psig air pressure,static.
First reading is Gun pulled to just Air.
Second reading is Fully Pulled with Everything,Fluid,Fan,Air Adjust wide open.

First is the 1/4" x 8' whip,no filter,just Air with the standard 45# initial Regulator setting and NO Further adjustments to IT throughout Testing. Loss of 23#
Second is fully pulled. Loss of 6# more.
Third is the Test Cap reading at Fully Pulled. Cap psig of 7#

3/8" x 8" whip with hvlp hi flow fittings as well. Same conditions.
Air, 26# with 19# Loss.
Fully pulled, 4# Loss.
Test Cap, 12# ohhh no, I'm out of 'compliance'....
Just the Real Difference in the 1/4" vs. 3/8" couplings with a 3/8 air hose.

Next Page..

 

[MikeK]

Now,
I added the Devilbliss Whirlwind air filter. Basically a minature version of a Motorguard 'paper' Element Filter. No Dessicant. This is actually the Same one that was on the gun from 10 years ago when I hung it up as an even more convincing test of Them.
Using the 3/8" x 8' 3/8 connectors whip.
Was really obvious that the 1/4" setup wasn't worth the extra effort.
Actually had less initial overall pressure Loss, +1.5# above the 3/8" minus the filter setup which confused me so I rechecked The Regulator and Same psig. But,
Still 12# at the Cap pressure. Maby a tad less but you see It's still at NO loss WITH the Whirlwind........

Now,
The 1/4" couplers x 3/8" x 50' Hose Test......
Still on the Reel and same Everything except removed the Whirlwind filter.

First Air, 23# loss
Second Fully pulled, 5# less.
Cap pressure is still aprox 7# which is not good but the addition of 42' of 3/8" hose netted basically the SAME readings.
That was Interesting....

 

[MikeK]

And Finally,
The 3/8" hi flow couplers x 3/8" x 50' Hose Test. Same Everything.

First,Air,19# loss
Second,Fully pulled, 6# loss
Third,Dead on the 10# @ the Cap Money.....

Conclusion,
YES going Hi Flow 3/8 on Everything is a Major WIN across the board.
The Devilbliss Whirlwind cheap air filter has virtually NO impact on you Gun psig and is the LAST Defense against ANYTHING ending up IN your Paint......From out of the gun anyway.

 

[Whitesnake]

This is about what I figured the testing would show. Thanks nice job. Kinda confirms why a DVI digital reads different from the digital gauge vs a gauge at the inlet.