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Personally, I have been in shops run with 1/2 galv steel and when you get a high cfm tool, you notice a serious loss of flow and pressure. Personally, I would run at least 1" NPT galv. for the main line, in a continuous loop back to the compressor. Slight pitch upward going away from the tank to the mid-point of the loop then donward pitch on the return side back to the tank. Drop are best done with a full size tee and drop line, such as if you use 1" for the main, use 1" for the drop. Extend the drop line at least 12" below the outlet level and reduce it to 1/4" npt installing a drain cock at the lowest point of the drop. This will help catch any water or crud before it can enter the hose, fittings, tools, ect. For the outlet, use a either a full size tee fitting on the drop line with a bushing reducer or a reducing branch tee to the quick coupler size you choose. Installing a valve in the drop line above the outlet allows you to shut down only that outlet should you need to change a quick coupler or whatever eliminating the need to drain the whole system. At the compressor tank, do not hard pipe to the tank itself. Spend a couple extra bucks and get yourself a good high quality, high pressure stainless steel braided flex hose at least 36" long and 1.5 times the diameter of the main line. Install this between the tank and main line so that you do not put vibration stress from the compressor into the main hard pipe, also helps reduce noise transmission through the system. At the tank, install a valve then a union then the flex line. On the compressor end of the main line, install a tee with the branch going to the compressor, this is where you will complete the return loop of the main line. For the drop line from the main loop to the flex line, also use 1.5 times diameter pipe. As with the outlet drop legs, extend the pipe below the connection for the flex line and install a drain cock at the very bottom. Rule of thumb for drain extention length is 20 times the pipe diameter used. Connect the flex line to the hard pipe with a union, adding an extra valve between the main line and flex line is also a good idea. Installing an extra tee just above or below the flex connection to the main line putting a valve on the branch allows for easy addition of a second compressor unit or storage tank without having to disturb the existing hard piping. If you plan on installing a second compressor to run in tandem with the main one, install a flow check valve on the main compressor now. Best placement is between the tank and main shut off valve before the flex line. This will prevent flow from the second compressor from being able to go back into the main compressor. This is especially important if you add a higher pressure compressor as the secondary. The check valve will prevent overpressure condition in the lower pressure unit. When installing a second compressor unit, also use a flow check valve in the same manner as above. If you add a secondary storage tank, be absolutely sure to install the correct size and pressure safety relief valve on the tank.
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