Digital Flow Regulator
By Benjamen Johnson
Instead of adjusting the air flow at the compressor, Astro Pneumatics’ digital flow regulator screws right onto your spray gun or other air tool to precisely control the flow of air. Love it or hate it, instead of a analog gauge it uses a digital readout.
Constructed with a mirror-plated finish, the regulator’s electronics are sealed and the display is behind impact-proof glass. Unfortunately this also means the battery’s not replaceable, but the display shuts off 45 seconds after you press the button to give the battery a life expectancy of 5,000 readings.
You connect the diaphragm regulator to your supply at the 1/4″ NPT inlet, and the device regulates pressures from 2.5 to 160psi. What I don’t exactly understand is why they call it a flow regulator when it sounds like it’s actually regulating pressure?
As with most tools there’s always the Harbor Freight equivalent at about 1/3 the price. The Astro Pneumatics regulator runs about $40, while you can pick up the Central Pneumatics knock-off for $12.
Digital Flow Regulator [Astro Pneumatics]
Digital Flow Regulator [Harbor Freight]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]
October 28th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Its called a flow regulator because it is changing the flow of air. Pressure change is a side effect of this.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
I think they’re using the word “flow” in the sense of “airflow”, not in any specific scientific terms.
cl
October 28th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Maybe it was just the one I got from HF, but air leaked around the knob very profusely. But what do you want for $7? Ended up getting a $20 manual gauge version from Home Depot that works fine.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I actually carry both flow regulators and pressure regulators. We use the flow regulators for purging lines we are about to braze on, the pressure regulators are for maintaining a given downstream pressure regardless of inlet pressure. It’s a poorly named tool.
October 30th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
thanks for all admin
information is the most beautiful treasures