Independent comparisons. We may earn from shop links. More info

How to use a 50 litre air compressor

Updated: October 2026

You have an upright 50 litre air compressor in the garage and you want the first session to end with the pump stopping on its own, the tool on the regulator, and the water out of the tank. The shared rules are a closed drain, a first fill with no tool, regulator pressure for the tool, and no compressed air on clothing. Switch direction is in that model's manual, not here. Which of the five you bought is on the [vertical air compressor 50 L comparison](/hub/compressors/vertical-air-compressor-50l). Listings were read on 15 October 2026. This is not a repair guide. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You have an upright 50 litre air compressor in the garage and you want the first session to end with the pump stopping on its own, the tool on the regulator, and the water out of the tank.

Our top picks

SIP SIP Airmate 50 L

Best overall

SIP SIP Airmate 50 L
3.6/10about £263.98
View offer
Einhell Einhell TC-AC 240/50/10 OF

Rank 2

Einhell Einhell TC-AC 240/50/10 OF
5.2/10about £212.95
View offer
Stanley Stanley DST 150/8/50V

Alternative

Stanley Stanley DST 150/8/50V
4.7/10about £268.52
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Before the first plug
  2. 2.First fill and the regulator
  3. 3.Drain the water
  4. 4.What not to blow, and when to stop

Before the first plug

UK mains are 230 V. Only the SIP states a fitted 13 A plug on a 1.3 m cable. The ABAC includes a Type G adaptor and a manual, which is not a plug already on the lead. A domestic BS 1363 socket expects a standard plug or a conversion plug with a BS 1362 fuse. That rule does not certify the adaptor in the box. The DST bullet says UK Plug and the voltage cell says 50 V. Do not correct the cell. Read the data plate. If the plate and the listing disagree, stop. The ABAC, the SIP, the Einhell, and the D230 state oil-free or oilless, so you do not add an oil bath. The DST table does not state lubrication, so this page does not tell you to add oil and does not call the pump oil-free. If you are still choosing, use the 50 litre air compressor buying guide.

First fill and the regulator

Close the drain. Run the first charge with no tool, and watch until the pump stops at the maximum on the plate. Ceilings here are 8 or 10 bar. The Einhell's 10 bar is in the title, not a pressure row, so the plate outranks the title. A stop on its own is a normal first run. The regulator is the tool pressure. The tank maximum is not. The SIP states two couplers. The others do not all state a second full-pressure outlet. One unrelated handbook says pull up to start. Do not copy that gesture. Use your manual.
SIP SIP Airmate 50 L

Testsieger

SIP SIP Airmate 50 L
3.6/10about £263.98
View offer

Drain the water

Oil-free means there is no oil bath. Moisture still condenses in the receiver, and a steel tank rusts from the inside if that water stays put. Air Supply's practical line is to drain after every use, or daily when the compressor is in regular work. Do not prescribe one drain pressure for all five machines. The Einhell reviews call the draining instructions vague, so find the cock before the first weekend. These receivers stand about 83–101 cm. Do not tip one to hurry the water out. Open the cock the manual names, keep your face clear of the discharge, and let it finish.

What not to blow, and when to stop

Do not clean clothing with compressed air. HSE guidance names a vacuum with a brush head instead. For a blow gun with no safety nozzle, BCAS cites 2 bar. That figure is blow-gun pressure, not the 8 or 10 bar tank maximum, and not a drain setting. If the pump does not stop at the stated maximum, treat that as a failed first run. If the machine switch still works, switch off, unplug, and do not keep using it. A normal stop is the pressure switch. This page does not tell you how to repair a switch. At work, including if you are self-employed, hand this to a competent person. A shared wall is the quiet 50 litre air compressor garage page.

Common questions

What should you do the first time you switch on a 50 litre compressor?
Read the manual and the data plate, close the drain, and confirm the plug the listing actually states. Run the first charge with no tool until the pump stops at the maximum on the plate. Then set the regulator for the tool. Do not copy a pull-up switch from a different handbook onto these five.
How often should you drain the tank?
Drain after every use so condensate does not sit in the receiver. Oil-free does not cancel the drain. The ABAC, SIP, Einhell, and D230 state no oil bath, and water still condenses. The DST does not state a lubrication method. Follow your manual for how pressurised the tank should be while the cock is open.
What pressure do you set for a tool, the tank maximum or the regulator?
Set the regulator to the tool. The tank maximum, 8 bar or 10 bar on these listings, is the cut-out ceiling. A common manual line of about 6 bar is a general figure, not a measurement of your nailer. The BCAS 2 bar line is for an unguarded blow gun, which is a third number again.
What if the compressor does not stop when the tank is full?
Treat it as a failed first run. If the switch still works, switch off and unplug, then leave it unused. A cut-out that never opens shows up in ABAC reviews. A healthy stop is the pressure switch, not pulling the plug every time. Do not start a repair from this page.
When do you stop and call a competent person?
Stop when the compressor is for work, including self-employed work. A 50 litre receiver at 8 or 10 bar is over the 250 bar-litre line, and the written scheme is for a competent person. Also stop if the pump will not cut out, if the plate disagrees with the listing, or if you see exposed wiring. None of these five is certified here.

Related pages

Best 50 litre vertical air compressor

50 l vertical air compressor

50 litre air compressor buying guide for UK buyers

Quiet 50 litre air compressor for a shared garage wall

Vertical vs horizontal air compressor for a UK garage

Sources

Public UK sources and the SIP product page for the split noise figures. Listing prices, stars, and review counts are from amazon.co.uk on 15 October 2026.

  1. HSE INDG178 — Written schemes of examination (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, Schedule 1 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. HSE — Pressure systems and the PSSR (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, regulation 4 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. HSE HSG39 — Compressed air safety (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, regulation 35 (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. BCAS — Working safely with compressed air (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. SIP Airmate 50 L 2 hp low-noise vertical compressor, 05483 (retrieved 15 October 2026)