Regulating Airflow

Mine had some fittings that fit into the compressor and the regulator was screwed into that fitting. The airline attached to the end of the regulator.

The regulator should have installation instructions with it but fittings aren't difficult to source.

Maybe I didn't understand your question properly.

It is important to insure that the maximum allowable pressure of the regulator exceeds the maximum pressure of the compressor. You don't want to connect a regulator rated at 90 psi to a compressor rated at 150 psi, for example.

Other than that, reducing the pressure is what the regulator is supposed to do. The high pressure side is always higher than the low pressure side.

Physically, the regulator is screwed into the compressor or tank. You have to choose one that has the appropriate fittings or find an adapter of some sort. I'd also recommend the use of Teflon tape over the threads to seal the connection.

Everything Scott said is VERY true, be sure and read your manual on your a/c b4 buying a regulator, I am assuming u have an electric A/C, I don't know anything 'bout those but I do sorta understand the regulators, I am sure you would get by very well with the type of regulator I have attached to mine on the far left, It is a regulator with a moisture trap, which u will probably need since you are using co2, or plain ol' air, I am using nitrogen, which is dry but I needed the extra regulator cause the main regulator doesn't have finely tuned needles in it to give me like 1psi, the only one I was able to find was one with a m/t so... So you are running air straight from the a/c? go to a GOOD art supply store and they should have a regulator w/m/t, or maybe your LHS (~shiver~, at the cost) I live in Houston, which is a kinda big town, and the only place I was able to find one was at a really good art supply store. Be sure and have the brand of ur a/c handy to get the right size fittings and get some teflon tape,u can see mine on the threads. And another tip I got was get a spray bottle of water mixed with ammonia (what I use) to spray on the fittings and hose to make sure u do not have any leaks!! If u do it will bubble up at the leak, that has saved me alot of money!
The cost of the regulator w/mt (mine) was $70 bucks.
Sry to butt in here, and if my information is useless just pretend I wasn't here.
Umm...the dial on the far right tells the amount of psi leaving the tank/entering the regulator, the one in the center tell amount "leaving" the reg., the far left one with the moisture trap tells me the amount going to my A/B, just FYI.
Also see the post "moisture when airbrushing" and see what Scott has to say, there is no one who knows more.
Be good & have Fun,
Bill

Most regulators on the market should handle air pressures in the inlet side up to 250 psi with out any problems - most compressors are factory set between 125 psi to 175 psi. And the guage isn't really a guide to the max pressure the regulator will handle. For example, I replaced the guage on the regulator I use because it went up to 150 psi in 5 lb increments. I replaced it with a guage which only went to 100 psi but the markings are in 2 lb increments, which allows me to be more accurate in pressure adjustment. The only thing I have to see is that I don't crank the pressure up above the limit on the guage - that would cause the tube in the guage to fracture which in turn would shatter the glass on the front of the guage, blowing it every where.