The 3 types · side-by-side
Distributor-facing reading. Each row gives best-for, key trade-off, capacity, price band, and how many of SPC's tier slots carry an option at that product type.
Product type
Best for
Key trade-off
Typical capacity
Price band
Brands SPC carries
Electronic / Timer Drain Fixed-schedule solenoid · vents air with every cycle
Lowest cost to buy, simple to wire.Small-system installs where upfront cost is the binding constraint, or low-condensate points (small particulate-filter sumps) where the air-loss math doesn't justify upgrading. Most factory-shipped compressor packages include one at the receiver.
Wastes paid-for compressed airSolenoid opens on schedule whether liquid is present or not. A 5-second/ 5-minute setting on a 50 HP compressor bleeds roughly 1-3 SCFM continuously — $500-2,000/year per drain at typical electricity rates. Field-tunable, but customers always set them long to avoid under-draining.
Sized to compressor HP + ambient humidity
24V DC · 115V AC
24V DC · 115V AC
$
2 / 5 · Beko + JORC
Zero-Air-Loss Electronic level-sensed or magnetic-float · no air loss
Every high-volume point in the system.Refrigerated dryer outlets (highest condensate volume), aftercooler discharges, large receivers. Electronic level-sensed (BEKOMAT, JORC) where power is available; magnetic-float (JORC MAG-11, KELTEC) where there's no electrical service or the install is outdoor/remote.
Higher upfront · pays back in 12-24 months$400-800 vs. $80-200 for a timer drain. Electronic gets an alarm output for failure detection; magnetic-float runs on zero power but gives no alarm. Both eliminate the per-cycle air-loss bleed entirely. Both can freeze — outdoor installs need heated housings.
Sized to compressor HP + ambient humidity
electronic · magnetic-float
electronic · magnetic-float
$$
3 / 5 · good
Oil-Water Separator Pressure-relief + gravity + coalescing + carbon adsorption
Mandatory on every oil-injected compressor install.Single unit sized to combined compressor HP with all condensate drains manifolded to one inlet. Brings outlet water to under 10 ppm oil — well below the 40 ppm federal benchmark and most local POTW limits. Captures waste oil as a discrete handleable volume for standard used-oil recycling.
Media replacement on a 6-12 month cycleAdsorption media (activated carbon or oil-binding polymer) is a consumable — loads with oil over months and must be replaced before breakthrough. Stock the first replacement at install. Oversize one model step for humid climates and seasonal swing.
Sized to total compressor HP + 1.5x climate de-rating
cartridge media · loose media
cartridge media · loose media
$$ – $$$
4 / 5 · solid
Reading the brand bench column — the bar shows how many of SPC's tier slots (Industry Leader · Emerging · Economical · adjacent) carry an option at that product type. A deep bench means a price-driven and a spec-driven option both close cleanly; a narrow bench means the available brands map closely to the technical requirements and the comparison stops being a tier choice.