Dust Collector Question

[ragswl4]

I recently replaced both 30 micron bags with 1 micron bags on my 2hp dust collector. With the 30 micron bags, both inflated about the same. After replacement the lower bag inflates about like the old one, but the upper bag barely inflates at all. Any ideas? Is this normal? I have looked for leaks, found none evident. Not hooked up to any machine, just sucking from one 4" inlet.

[JSCOOK]

I'm not sure this is the cause .... but I've seen it commented that the finer rated bag actually flow more air thru, hence less air pressure inside ... but I've never seen this happen

Arfe you sure nothing is blocking the center port to the top section?

[mikel]

sounds like it might be clogged with fine dust...

...mikel

[TheRic]

sounds like it might be clogged with fine dust...

...mikel

If that was the case I would think it would bellow out from all the air trying to get out.

Have heard the comment before about less air pressure. But I have no clue, my DC is still in it's box.

[LCHIEN]

If there were less restriction to flow it would not be as tight as when there was more restriction. You want the bag to be leaky to air but not to dust.

Still you'd expect some "puffing up". Both bags should be about the same. Are you running the same conditions, e.g. is the inlet open to air? Blocking off the inlet would starve the DC for air and not have the bags inflate so much.

If you have a AMP meter you can measure the draw. When the DC is pumping more CFMs, the amp draw is higher.

[ragswl4]

The inlet is wide open, no machines connected. The bottom bag is puffed out pretty good, but the top bag appears to have hardly any flow going to it. I don't have an amp meter so can't try that. I am running exactly the same conditions as with the original bags. Its got me stumped. I think I will put the standard bags back on the check if it operates as before. Thanks for the comments and suggestions and keep em coming.

[cgallery]

Can you reverse top and bottom bags (are they the same size)? Then you can see if the problem is specific to one bag (like a bad seam or something)?

[Ken Massingale]

Don't worry about it. Mine did the same when the bags were new. When the 1 micron bags get a nice cake on the inside both will inflate. Not as much as the 30's, but they will get big.
HTH
ken

[ragswl4]

Seems to be working

I did some more testing (old bags,new bags, swapped top/bottom) and same results. I think Ken is right, this is normal. Hooked up to TS and BS and no dust anywhere except inside the bags (both). Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Ken Massingale]

You 'think' Ken is correct??!!! Geeze! ;-D
kidding rags, I seldom am, just ask my wife.

[ragswl4]

I carry a small, nearly invisible tape recorder on the chance that someday my wife will say "you are right". Got it on ebay when "I Spy" went off the air. Still haven't had a chance to use it.

PS: Loved fishing in Lake Marion and Moultrie about 30 years ago when stationed in Charleston with the Navy. Loved that place!