D500 Compressor: Do need the bleeder valve with a regulator?

Keep the bleeder.

Near as I can tell, this is a diaphragm type compressor and has no storage tank.  When it's running, the air has to go somewhere.

Unless it's specifically designed for a diaphragm compressor all the regulator does is control the air flowing through it - it won't vent the excess air, which means that without the bleeder, you may rupture the diaphragm.

I see.  That's actually a little disheartening...that would mean that I've been running at full psi, and I've not been happy with the atomization.  I thought that the valve was regulating in some fashion.  Perhaps I just need to thin my paints more.

Do you think that the regulator would connect to the valve then? So: Compressor>bleeder>regulator? Or Compressor>regulator>valve?

Btw, yes, the D500 is a tankless diaphragm compressor

pseudodigm wrote:

Do you think that the regulator would connect to the valve then? So: Compressor>bleeder>regulator? Or Compressor>regulator>valve?

Compressor>bleeder>regulator - Yes, you could try it this way. With the bleeder on the "input" side of the reg,  whatever setting you have on the regulator should be accurate.
Compressor>regulator>valve     - This may work, but as the bleeder would be on the "output" side of the regulator, whatever pressure you have dialled into the regulator, you would lose some of it through the bleeder, so the actual pressure at the brush would be a bit lower.

You know, now that I look at it because of the parts I have and the shape of the compressor, there only seems to be one way to hook it up, which is compressor>nipple adapter>regulator>bleeder>...

I've tried asking Paasche, but I can't get them to return my email. I don't want to damage the thing, but no where is it saying that the order matters. And the pictures that I've seen of the D500 that comes with the regulator already attached isn't showing a bleeder on it.

Does anyone have one of these compressors that can help?