Noise solution

SHOW ME !!!

p38jl

 

p38jl:

 

i think your easiest solution is a about a 5-10$ valve inline on your first set up with the compressor in the differant location..

buy a shut off valve, place it inline in the house. leave the compressor on in the garage.. ( if it has a high pressure shut off switch).. turn the valve on when u need the air.. off when your not using it.. as long as theres no leaks, the compressor in the garage will shut down when it reachs the high setting.. and stay off untill you use it..

cheap.. easy. save hassle.. and no Detaunt will be needed for the Egg Carton/ Foam Egg war...

 

 

 

oops.. PS..

depending on how your set up.. add a regulator after the shut off valve,, then you have high pressure in the garage for tires and such.. and lower pressure for airbrushing in the house..

This is how my personal setup works. I have a manifold at the compressor so I can still access the full power of my "garage" style compressor, and a regulator mounted in my spray booth so I can easily adjust the pressure. I even wired it so I can remotely start and stop the compressor without leaving the man cave. Quiet, dependable and lazy!

p38jl

i think your easiest solution is a about a 5-10$ valve inline on your first set up with the compressor in the differant location..

buy a shut off valve, place it inline in the house. leave the compressor on in the garage.. ( if it has a high pressure shut off switch).. turn the valve on when u need the air.. off when your not using it.. as long as theres no leaks, the compressor in the garage will shut down when it reachs the high setting.. and stay off untill you use it..

cheap.. easy. save hassle.. and no Detaunt will be needed for the Egg Carton/ Foam Egg war...

oops.. PS..

depending on how your set up.. add a regulator after the shut off valve,, then you have high pressure in the garage for tires and such.. and lower pressure for airbrushing in the house..

i think your easiest solution is a about a 5-10$ valve inline on your first set up with the compressor in the differant location..

buy a shut off valve, place it inline in the house. leave the compressor on in the garage.. ( if it has a high pressure shut off switch).. turn the valve on when u need the air.. off when your not using it.. as long as theres no leaks, the compressor in the garage will shut down when it reachs the high setting.. and stay off untill you use it..

cheap.. easy. save hassle.. and no Detaunt will be needed for the Egg Carton/ Foam Egg war...

keilau

I am not convinced that you can mute or reduce noise without absorbing some of the acoustic energy. Bouncing the energy around will do nothing to reduce noise as your quote web site said. It is basic physics and common sense. Try it and see how you like it. I have no incentive to try because I believe it will not work.

The direct quote from Collin Fitzsimmons is:

Egg cartons attached to the wall do not absorb much sound---after all, they are simply recycled cardboard and soak up about as much sound as putting a cardboard box on the wall.

 

keilau

I am the sole judge of this reward. The rules can be modified anytime as I see fit. The offer is good through the end of May, 2010. The test result must be posted on this forum before May 31, 2010 to claim the price.

I will post my acceptance or rejection of the test posting and the reason behind my decision so that all forum reader can be the judge of the logic of the decision.

In other words, "no matter what you fools present to me, I'm gonna change the rules to keep my $50 in my pocket....  Oh, and uh, by the way the rest of the forum can have an opinion, but because my logic is infallible, their opinion will not matter since I am the only judge."

By the way, Keilau - I have a foam pad that I drape over my compressor (a couple inches above - no actually touching) that roughly closes it in on three sides.  I use it when I am spraying late at night and worry the noise will wake the kids.  It significantly dampens the noise the emits from my compressor.  How much?  I have no idea, but the difference is easily discernable to the naked ear.  I know, I know, your going to tell me - "Don't matter.... that ain't an egg-crate!!!  Show me!  SHOW me!!  SHOW MEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!"

So, no answer on how noise canceling headphones work, eh? I can tell you, but you probably won't believe me.

You are set on ignoring that echo reduction can work to reduce noise levels, which is partially how anechoic chambers work. From Wikipedia:

An anechoic chamber is a shielded room designed to attenuate sound or electromagnetic energy. Anechoic chambers were originally used in the context of acoustics (sound waves) to minimise the reflections of a room, but more recently, they have also been used to provide a shielded environment for radio frequency (RF) and microwaves.

These chambers are designed to provide (a) echo suppression features, and (b) isolation from the noise present in the external environment.

Echo suppression will work only so far, so in order to damp out more of the sound energy, absorption methods are also used, mostly to damp out outside energy, not the energy being tested. These methods include the use of foam.

However, common materials for anechoic wedges are metal and fiberglass, not materials well known for their absorbing qualities. From the Eckal Noise Control Technologies website (Eckal holds the Guinness Book of Records record for quietest place on Earth):

Eckel supply, design and install hemi (semi) and anechoic chambers. Anechoic chamber are used in the research and development of products or conformation of noise emitted to comply with new legislation. Eckel chambers can be fitted with either metallic, fibreglass, foam, e-element or compact anechoic wedges/absorbers.

Please note that they refer to both wedges and absorbers. It takes both echo suppression and energy absorption to reduce sound levels to a record -9.4 dBA.

I think I'll pass on buying another compressor ($100+), a sound meter ($50+) and construct a sound barrier to fit your narrow (and potentially changing) set of rules, with the chance of getting back $50. A fool's errand if I ever saw one.

So, I will admit defeat and drop this silly argument. Not because I'm wrong and you're right, but because it only serves to waste time and effort.

Good day.

Bgrigg

Keilau,

You keep putting the burden of proof on others, yet offer none yourself. I'm not being mean spirited about that.

I admitted all along that egg cartons didn't absorb sound, but they bounce the noise back, and that in itself cancels some of the acoustic energy.

If noise reduction must absorb some of the acoustic energy, perhaps you can explain how noise canceling headphones work towards noise absorption?

Bill, DoC and all,

I will put my money where my mouth is.

I offer a $50 US price award, paid by paypal, to the first person who proves at this forum that egg cartons can lower compressor noise. Here are the rules:

(1) The compressor must be a 1-HP tools compressor that can supply 1 SCFM at 90 psi or higher. The noise level should be measured at 3 feet from the unprotected compressor and compared to the manufacturer's spec.

(2) No precision instrument is needed. A $49 general purpose sound meter like this Radio Shack one is fine.

(3) The egg carton could be foam or paper, but must be typical of those found in the grocery stores.

(4) The arrangement of the egg carton should be practical in a general workbench setting.

(5) The egg carton can be used as lining to another structure. In that case, the noise must be measured twice, with and without the egg carton lining. And the net effect of the egg carton can be calculated by substraction.

(6) The noise level is to be measure at 3 feet from the compressor at 3 different angles.

(7) Alternatively, the price can be claimed by citing a published article on the noise reduction effect of egg carton at the spectral frequency relevant to a compressor motor.

(8) The quietest tools compressor I have seen has a noise level of 71 dB. A typical hobby type airbrush compressor has a noise level of 59 dB (+/- some dB). Half of this difference, 6 dB in noise reduction will claim the full price. Lesser effect will claim partial reward.

I am the sole judge of this reward. The rules can be modified anytime as I see fit. The offer is good through the end of May, 2010. The test result must be posted on this forum before May 31, 2010 to claim the price.

I will post my acceptance or rejection of the test posting and the reason behind my decision so that all forum reader can be the judge of the logic of the decision.

Peace.

keilau

 

No, I am not an acoustic engineer, but an engineer in profession. I just use my engineering common sense. Knowing that the compressor noise has its energy content mostly in the lower frequency, I just cannot see how the egg cartons can act as a trapping chamber the way you described it. A stiffer material at the higher frequency end MAY have some effect.

The trick is to understand exactly what problem one tries to solve: 'Noise' is the sound that hits the ears at the working position. You can improve the noise scenario by doing something to prevent the noise to reach those ears. Making the sound go somewhere else than to the ears is a perfectly valid solution.

As for materials - your intuition is wrong. The best absorbents are the soft, porous materials like the foams already mentioned. There are several reasons for this, like the vibrations in air moving the soft surface, fibers of the absorbent material, thus soaking up energy from the sound field. The stiff materials are less sensitive to fibrations, which is why the energy is reflected back as sound. If you ever were inside a concrete bunker you will know what I mean. When you put carpets and curtains into otherwise empty rooms, you introduce soft reflecting surfaces, which significantly reduce reflections from the floors and walls.

There are also other effects, like air moving inside the pores of the foams, which happen to cause a lot of friction (look for the works by Maurice Biot if you want to look at the details). Which in turn increases the absorbing properties of the foam by orders of magnitude.   

keilau

The problem is right in your domain. If you can show some power spectrum of a typical motor noise and the stiffness of the damping chamber that can dissipate it at its frequency, it would be very useful information. With the egg cartons, I suspect that the motor noise will emerge unattenuated on the other side of the carton wall.

If think you might be surprised if you try and experiment with the egg cartons as I indicated. Depending on exactly what kind of compressor you have, the compressor might be too noisy to see any significant effects. However, if you try the experiment with shelding, say, a mixmaster or electric drill, or some other moderately noisy motorized household device, you ought to hear the effects quite easily.

DoC

Keilau,

You keep putting the burden of proof on others, yet offer none yourself. I'm not being mean spirited about that.

I admitted all along that egg cartons didn't absorb sound, but they bounce the noise back, and that in itself cancels some of the acoustic energy.

If noise reduction must absorb some of the acoustic energy, perhaps you can explain how noise canceling headphones work towards noise absorption?

Dr. Coffee

 

 

 

Yep. I'm a professional scientist - acoustics happens to be my profession.

Now the cautious provisos: Whether the difference is significant - it brings noise down to tolerable levels - is a different question. Which is why I say 'might'.

As for how to show you how to do things, Missouri is a bit too far away for a personal visit, so you'll have to settle for a sketch. I don't know how to adjust fonts in post here, so you will need to copy the below (including the x'es, which are there to align the rest of the drawing)  into notepad or word, and select a fixed-width font (e.g. Courier) to see the idea:

|   |   |   |   |   |
\_  \_  \_  \_  \_  \_
xx\   \   \   \   \   \
xxx|   |   |   |   |   |
xxx\_  \_  \_  \_  \_  \_
xxxxx\   \   \   \   \   \

The sketch shows the egg cartons seen from above. Each carton section could be 12-15cm wide (along the line indicated), full height. Put that screen between a noise source and you: The carboards should be at some angle wrt the axis between the soure and you (e.g. 45 degrees), and there should be some space between the plates. Make sure there is space (say, 2-4cm) between adjacent screen sections. Play with distances, angles and alignments, and you will hear the difference.

The sound that enters the slits between screen sections will hit the carboard, and bounce away in some other directions than it entered. After it reflects the first time, it very soon hits another wall, and reflects again. Every reflection makes the sound go in a different, random, direction, so less sound leaves the screen in the original direction. Each reflection also causes a small loss - sound energy is lost and converted to heat. Any single reflection loss is too small to make a difference, but since the sound is trappend inside a 'bouncing chamber', it will experience a large number of reflections, which in turn cause a large number of losses, which yet in turn makes a difference on the measurements.

This is how those perforated sound-reducing roof plates work: The sound energy that hit the holes enter a tunnel where it experiences a large number of bounces off the walls inside the cavity. Some of that sound is channeled out at the other side of the plate, and some of the sound energy is converted to heat at the reflections off the walls inside the holes.  Both mechanisms reduce the total sound level in the room, thus quieting the room.

DoC

No, I am not an acoustic engineer, but an engineer in profession. I just use my engineering common sense. Knowing that the compressor noise has its energy content mostly in the lower frequency, I just cannot see how the egg cartons can act as a trapping chamber the way you described it. A stiffer material at the higher frequency end MAY have some effect.

The problem is right in your domain. If you can show some power spectrum of a typical motor noise and the stiffness of the damping chamber that can dissipate it at its frequency, it would be very useful information. With the egg cartons, I suspect that the motor noise will emerge unattenuated on the other side of the carton wall.

Yes, I could be completely wrong.

Bgrigg

DoC,

Keilau is arguing absorption, while we're talking reduction. Big difference and one he isn't acknowledging, so I'm giving up. Funny thing about Keilau is he always pulls out the Show Me State BS, yet the burden of proving anything was on him. Proper debate isn't saying "you're wrong, and have to prove it",  its "you're wrong and here's my proof".

Bill

Bill, you can call me BS or whatever you want.

I am not convinced that you can mute or reduce noise without absorbing some of the acoustic energy. Bouncing the energy around will do nothing to reduce noise as your quote web site said. It is basic physics and common sense. Try it and see how you like it. I have no incentive to try because I believe it will not work.

The direct quote from Collin Fitzsimmons is:

Egg cartons attached to the wall do not absorb much sound---after all, they are simply recycled cardboard and soak up about as much sound as putting a cardboard box on the wall.

We can disagree and still have a gentleman's conversation. No need to get mean spirited.

DoC,

Keilau is arguing absorption, while we're talking reduction. Big difference and one he isn't acknowledging, so I'm giving up. Funny thing about Keilau is he always pulls out the Show Me State BS, yet the burden of proving anything was on him. Proper debate isn't saying "you're wrong, and have to prove it",  its "you're wrong and here's my proof".

Bill

keilau

Dr. Coffee:

Again, a few egg carton boards (A dollar's worth? Two?) carefully placed around the compressor might make a significant difference. It will not silence the compressor, but it might bring the noise down to tolerable levels, which is the first priority. If one for dust reasons can accept these foam mats on the walls closest to the compressor, then even better.

DoC

 

It MIGHT??????

Yep. I'm a professional scientist - acoustics happens to be my profession. As such, it is very stupid to make definitive statements. The sure sign of an amteur or wannabee engineer or scientist, is that they come up with very definitive statements. The skilled people know there is a possibility of flaws, errors or blunders, and allow for that. As you will see immediately below.

keilau

It is one thing that you believe that it might. It is entirely another that it does.

Two of my very rare definitive statements: That kind of thing will make a difference. It will bring noise levels down.

Now the cautious provisos: Whether the difference is significant - it brings noise down to tolerable levels - is a different question. Which is why I say 'might'.

As for how to show you how to do things, Missouri is a bit too far away for a personal visit, so you'll have to settle for a sketch. I don't know how to adjust fonts in post here, so you will need to copy the below (including the x'es, which are there to align the rest of the drawing)  into notepad or word, and select a fixed-width font (e.g. Courier) to see the idea:

|   |   |   |   |   |
\_  \_  \_  \_  \_  \_
xx\   \   \   \   \   \
xxx|   |   |   |   |   |
xxx\_  \_  \_  \_  \_  \_
xxxxx\   \   \   \   \   \

The sketch shows the egg cartons seen from above. Each carton section could be 12-15cm wide (along the line indicated), full height. Put that screen between a noise source and you: The carboards should be at some angle wrt the axis between the soure and you (e.g. 45 degrees), and there should be some space between the plates. Make sure there is space (say, 2-4cm) between adjacent screen sections. Play with distances, angles and alignments, and you will hear the difference.

The sound that enters the slits between screen sections will hit the carboard, and bounce away in some other directions than it entered. After it reflects the first time, it very soon hits another wall, and reflects again. Every reflection makes the sound go in a different, random, direction, so less sound leaves the screen in the original direction. Each reflection also causes a small loss - sound energy is lost and converted to heat. Any single reflection loss is too small to make a difference, but since the sound is trappend inside a 'bouncing chamber', it will experience a large number of reflections, which in turn cause a large number of losses, which yet in turn makes a difference on the measurements.

This is how those perforated sound-reducing roof plates work: The sound energy that hit the holes enter a tunnel where it experiences a large number of bounces off the walls inside the cavity. Some of that sound is channeled out at the other side of the plate, and some of the sound energy is converted to heat at the reflections off the walls inside the holes.  Both mechanisms reduce the total sound level in the room, thus quieting the room.

DoC

Bgrigg

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5143262_do-egg-cartons-absorb-sound.html

Do they absorb much, no.

Do they help scatter noise. Yes.

Quoted Collin Fitzsimmons from above:

Egg cartons attached to the wall do not absorb much sound---after all, they are simply recycled cardboard and soak up about as much sound as putting a cardboard box on the wall. Foam materials such as carpets, mattresses and specific sound absorption equipment mute noise much better than egg cartons do, but the point of the egg carton on the wall is not sound absorption---it is echo reduction.

So, all quoted source agree, my opinion included, that egg cartons do nothing to dampen noise.

Bgrigg

Rather than come along and argue with everything, why don't you go and build a model?

Since you already quote a source that supports my argument, isn't this done already? I really fail to understand what you try to argue. The whole purpose of a sound barrier is to reduce the amount of acoustic energy in the form of compressor noise that reaches the airbrush user. Egg cartons will not do that according to the link above.

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5143262_do-egg-cartons-absorb-sound.html

Do they absorb much, no.

Do they help scatter noise. Yes.

Rather than come along and argue with everything, why don't you go and build a model?

Dr. Coffee

Again, a few egg carton boards (A dollar's worth? Two?) carefully placed around the compressor might make a significant difference. It will not silence the compressor, but it might bring the noise down to tolerable levels, which is the first priority. If one for dust reasons can accept these foam mats on the walls closest to the compressor, then even better.

DoC

It MIGHT??????

It is one thing that you believe that it might. It is entirely another that it does.

I am in Missouri. SHOW ME. For "a few egg carton boards (A dollar's worth? Two?)", would you try it and let us know what subjective difference it makes. More importantly, does it "bring the noise down to tolerable levels"?

Mother nature has a nasty habit of making things happen differently than what we wish.

keilau

Bgrigg:

Egg cartons make excellent sound bouncing surfaces, especially if you can source the large square paper fiber kinds that hold 36 eggs.

Bill, I am sorry to tell you that the paper or styrofoam egg cartons may look a little like the "egg crate style sound absorbing foam", it does nothing to absorb or deflect noise.

Egg carton boards will not absorb noise, but they will deflect noise. Again, rough surfaces are very efficient scatterers of sound. The sound does not go away in the sense that energy is dissipated to heat, but it is redistributed in space. If done poprly, one can have less sound hits a particular location with the rough boards, than without it.

keilau

Sound barrier material was originally developed for submarine applications. Most of them use the structure of long chain molecule in polymer to absorb the sound energy. The mechanism of sound absorbing is quiet well known. I am not a chemist and will not try to explain it. 3M Company is a leader in this field. Thank you to the friends in the audiophile community, sound absorbing foam are available at reasonable cost. The cheaper commercial sound panel materials use polyurethane and polyester open cell foams to trap sound waves.

I am sorry if I offend someone by bringing up some inconvenient engineering facts.

Again, there is a difference between totally removing noise energy from the scenario, as submariners would like, and redistributing the noise present. This thread started with somebody who still heard the compressor when working at his workstation. In this case it is not about quieting the compressor, but make the sound energy go somewhere else than to the person's ears. This is a far simpler task.

keilau

Bill, you are right in saying "Once you add up the cost of a noisy compressor, plus the time, effort and materials to build a box, it may be simpler to just pony up some more money and buy a quieter compressor."

Again, a few egg carton boards (A dollar's worth? Two?) carefully placed around the compressor might make a significant difference. It will not silence the compressor, but it might bring the noise down to tolerable levels, which is the first priority. If one for dust reasons can accept these foam mats on the walls closest to the compressor, then even better.

DoC

Bgrigg

Pardon me, but please note I say sound "bouncing" not absorbing. Anything that allows sound waves to deflect from their path will reduce the ambient sound level.

I am from Missouri, Show Me.  Put a wooden box over a tools compressor and note the noise. Line the box inside with egg cartons and cover the compressor again. Let me know if you can hear or measure any difference in noise.

The compressor generate mostly low frequency noises. The power spectrum is completely different from the white noise ambient and very troublesome to isolate or cancel. The compressor noise needs to be dissipated, bouncing it around will not do any good. Using the mechanism of noise canceling headphone to compare is not a fair comparison.

Kei,

Pardon me, but please note I say sound "bouncing" not absorbing. Anything that allows sound waves to deflect from their path will reduce the ambient sound level. This is why every theater you go to has curtains hanging along the walls. It reduces the ambient noise level. It's not enough to just hang cloth along the walls, you need the flowing drapery to deflect the sound waves.

This is how the sound canceling headphones work. They don't stop outside sound, they cancel it out with white noise. Imagine dropping a rock in a still pond, the ripples will last a long time if they don't encounter an obstacle. Now drop two rocks 4' away from each other and note how the ripples between the drops interact and cancel each other out.

If you go back to the very early days of recording studios, they used to hang egg crates to reduce the ambient noise level. Bell Lab engineers took that idea and created the wedge shaped baffles for use in their Murray Hill Anechoic Chamber back in the 40's. The foam you mention was patterned on those same egg crates.

Do egg crates work as well as sound absorbing foam? No, of course not, but they do certainly help reduce noise levels.

Bgrigg

Egg cartons make excellent sound bouncing surfaces, especially if you can source the large square paper fiber kinds that hold 36 eggs.

However, one of the issues with noise canceling boxes is that not only do they trap noise, but also heat, which is detrimental to compressor longevity. Once you add up the cost of a noisy compressor, plus the time, effort and materials to build a box, it may be simpler to just pony up some more money and buy a quieter compressor.

Bill, I am sorry to tell you that the paper or styrofoam egg cartons may look a little like the "egg crate style sound absorbing foam", it does nothing to absorb or deflect noise.

Sound barrier material was originally developed for submarine applications. Most of them use the structure of long chain molecule in polymer to absorb the sound energy. The mechanism of sound absorbing is quiet well known. I am not a chemist and will not try to explain it. 3M Company is a leader in this field. Thank you to the friends in the audiophile community, sound absorbing foam are available at reasonable cost. The cheaper commercial sound panel materials use polyurethane and polyester open cell foams to trap sound waves.

I am sorry if I offend someone by bringing up some inconvenient engineering facts.

Bill, you are right in saying "Once you add up the cost of a noisy compressor, plus the time, effort and materials to build a box, it may be simpler to just pony up some more money and buy a quieter compressor."

Bgrigg

Egg cartons make excellent sound bouncing surfaces, especially if you can source the large square paper fiber kinds that hold 36 eggs.

Exc... huh... eggcellent idea.

Bgrigg

However, one of the issues with noise canceling boxes is that not only do they trap noise, but also heat, which is detrimental to compressor longevity. Once you add up the cost of a noisy compressor, plus the time, effort and materials to build a box, it may be simpler to just pony up some more money and buy a quieter compressor.

Sure, heat is a problem. Which is why there is no need to make a box, but merely surround the compressor with these kinds of walls. Try and just surround the compressor with sheets of egg carton carboard. Try and leave open slits between sheets to ensure ventilation - no roof. Or at least leave ventilating space between the roof of the 'box' and walls. It will take a bit of space, but might help on the noise.

DoC

Dr. Coffee,

Mind if I call you Joe?

Egg cartons make excellent sound bouncing surfaces, especially if you can source the large square paper fiber kinds that hold 36 eggs.

However, one of the issues with noise canceling boxes is that not only do they trap noise, but also heat, which is detrimental to compressor longevity. Once you add up the cost of a noisy compressor, plus the time, effort and materials to build a box, it may be simpler to just pony up some more money and buy a quieter compressor.

Don Stauffer

I used to use a compressor out in the garage, with a pipe into my shop (regulator and filter on the end).  Got tired of having to go upstairs (shop in basement) every time I wanted to airbrush, to turn compressor on.  Local building supply store had a sale on one of those little one gallon portable compressors (fifty bucks) so I bought one.  Convenient except for the noise.

It is not very hard to build a noise-reducing box or cabinet, as long as one knows the principles. Sound bounces easily off plane hard walls or surfaces. I am sure you have noted the effect if you ever emptied a room completely of furnitures, carpets and curtains. The sound changes completely, and becomes hard, loud, unpleasant. Just put a carpet back in, and hang up some curtains, and the sound changes instantly to something a lot softer and more pleasant.

So the trick to reduce the noise from your compressor is to make some sort of shields  that 

1. Are irregular in surface structure like e.g. some of those perforated wall panels. The key is that the surface is not plane. The rougher the better.
2. Are soft. Mattress foam, textiles, anything porous and shaggy would work from the noise suppression POV. You might be carful to use something that does not trap a lot of dust near the paint booth or compressor air intake. Maybe some styrofoam-coated walls is sufficient to get some effect.

The more soft, rough surfaces the sound has to bounce off between the source and your ears, the more efficient the noise suppression.

DoC

Don Stauffer

Local building supply store had a sale on one of those little one gallon portable compressors (fifty bucks) so I bought one.  Convenient except for the noise.

Now, before I turn on the compressor I plug phones in. I can still hear the compressor but it is not objectionable any more.

Don, you must have an extremely understanding family. Your trick may not work for the rest of us.

BTW, I switch to "on-the-ear" headphone with noise cancelling years ago. They are much more comfortable to wear any extended period of time. But it cannot isolate the compressor noise even with the noise cancelling circuit.

I have the remote switch for my compressor, but I have to admit mine doesn't play music!

You could have installed a remote switch...even a wireless one. The compressor would still be outside and the power switch conveniently placed in the workshop. I am considering doing the same thing again when I install a sizable shop compressor out in the garage to replace my portable one. I don't do field service work anymore, and the old portable one is on its last breath. I used to us it in the modeling workshop, but it rattles, bangs and screams too much to be in the same room with it. Now it gets used to air up tires and run my air tools out in the garage.