Hello All,
I have been lurking here for the past month or so. I am expecting to receive a K5LA this evening and am excited about putting something together!
I understand from a lot that the K5LA has the best sound from 135 to 150 or so psi. I am thinking about either going with a 7 to 10 gallon tank. My question is, would I get more “honk” time from running a 200psi air compressor set up system and regulate it to 150psi? Or, is it worth it? How much more am I gaining? 
Thanks,
Welcome to the forum. You will get more “honk” time with 200 in the tank and regulating down to 135 or 150. It really depends on the air compressor, how long it takes to fill or refill 7 to 10 gallons to 200 PSI, and how often you blow the horns. The horns should be loud enough even at 135.
Hello & welcome.
That’s what I’m doing. Gonna turn the regulator down as far as the horns still sound good.
My old setup was straight 200psi, 8-ish gallons, huge airline, K5. Seems like my air went super quick. Anyway, it only took a couple seconds to drop from 200 to 150. I wonder how much a regulator would have helped.
Considering the volume of air K5’s will consume, my guess is you would get one extra blast with a regulator.
Thanks Guys,
That was my thoughts. Kind of getting the most that I can out of the tank that I use.
What would a good pressure switch range be then? I’m new to all of this and not real sure how things work but, if I had a pressure switch that turned on at say 110psi, and had 115psi in the tank, if I hit the horn then I wouldn’t have much left. I would rather be ready to go when ever I wanted…also wouldn’t want to have to drain down to get the compressors on to fill the tank to be ready for the next blast either.
Am I way off base here?
Don’t fire your horns directly with 200 psi. If you want 200 psi in your tank, get a regulator for your horns to bring them down to 140 psi like in a real train.
I’m with you on that “thewoog”…just wonder what range pressure switch to go with then?
If you go with 200 in the tank and a regulator to the horns, your pressure switch will be approx 165-200.
Thanks ear2ear,
Makes since.
Anyone out there doing this now?
Basically you want to keep the start up pressure above your regulator setting.
There are a few people on here that run a regulator.
i woldnt think reg would handle teh volume needed.
i run my k5las at 200psi with viair presuure swichhes, mind you its been on for 2 days but it sounds fine to me
If you use a high flow regulator it won’t cause a volume issue.
U’d want a reg that can flow 1g/sec+ not that I’m saying u can’t get them but the ones from the hardware store might not do it.
I find in aus a lot of regs are either 150-160psi made for shop compressors. So it might not handle your tank at 200
The one I use I got online from McMaster Carr. It’s rated to 300 psi max. I run 200psi in my tank and 120 out to the horns. Works good, and did extend my honk time noticeably.
I also think my horn diaphragms are much happier now too.
I don’t like 200 psi because it causes a much longer refill time.
Mine only takes a 30seconds. But if u think about it let’s say your system at 150psi allows 5 honks till u are at 100psi the same system at 200 would allow 8 or so.
I use nitrogen, so my refill time would be different.
Thanks Guys! Good info.
Gros21, what does your system consist of? Tank size, compressor, ect…
5 gal dual 444c stock as a rock really. 165/200 psi pressure swiches.
I can get a quick beep beep in and it won’t always turn the compressors on (alot of time is just one so 2 beeps must drain tank from 200 to close to 165 psi