The current datasheet from the current manufacturer webpage for the Thomas 405ADC38/12 shows maximum continuous and maximum intermittent pressure ratings of 100 psi. The pressure-flow curves in the same datasheet only include pressures up to 100 psi.
The Thomas 215ADC38/12 is not shown any longer on the official Thomas webpage for the WOB-L compressors. A search on the website does not find it under any other category either. Currently available models are referred to as RideTech Thomas Model 215 compressors at places like Summit Racing, Lethal Performance, and Amazon. These latest ones differ visually from older ones with a black cylinder cap. At any of these sellers, the specification for “maximum pressure” is listed as 120 psi. Even if you look at a circa 2013 datasheet from when these were part of the Thomas portfolio, the maximum intermittent pressure was still listed as 120 psi.
I can’t find a source that shows any manufacturer pressure rating (“intermittent”, “maximum”, “ultimate”, “for a millisecond” or anything) of 125 psi or greater for these compressors. I also can’t find anything like that for the Viair 90C, but at least that model is called out as legal in the most recent rules (2023 R806).
I would say that the maximum pressure rating rules them out.
You’re working with the correct rules and notes: R806 for compressor specs, and R802 for pressure ratings. For R802, any rating will work–if you have no pressure rating at or over 125psi, the compressor is not legal. Where the pressure rating is listed is not particularly relevant as long as it comes from the manufacturer (i.e., you could email the manufacturer, ask if these are rated to 125 psi, and if they say yes bring the email to competition.
It sounds like R806 isn’t a concern (that is, the specifications match the rule); however, the blue box does provide a little bit of clarity as you noted.
I would not pull CRI on CD from 9 seasons prior as an official source.
Your best bet is to contact Thomas support via email/(phone?) and see if they can release a intermittent, burst, or other pressure rating equal or greater than 125psi for you, but it sounds like they detuned the entire product line for cost savings.
I believe that there are terms that are not universal for all so check again with the manufacturer. The max pressure spec may be the guaranteed operating pressure developed by the compressor rather than the max pressure it can handle. The data sheet (2008) I have on the 405 ADC is the same as what is currently on the website. At any rate as Eric pointed out above, R806 is the rule for compressor and it is unlikely to change for next season.
It seems like the compressor rules actually do need to be updated for next season, right?
Otherwise it seems like:
Both of those Thomas compressors (one of which was a KoP item for many years) would be suddenly illegal. It seems like it actually has been illegal for several years but nobody caught it.
The Viair 90C would also be illegal per the datasheet, only legal via explicit call-out in the rules, but not based on anything listed publicly.
Seems like either the “max pressure” spec needs to be adjusted for compressors, or HQ needs to manually create an allow-list of common compressors that teams have used in competition for many years.
If not, this could get very messy if only some events end up enforcing the rule based on this thread. Would be a major and unprecedented rule change to make those Thomas compressors illegal after years and years of competition use.
Bumping this again, it looks like R806/R802 were not updated - are the Thomas 405 (previous KoP) and/or 215 (widely and extensively used by teams for 10+ years) now illegal?
If The Viair C-series gets an explicit callout ruling it legal despite only being rated for 120PSI in the datasheet, seems like the Thomas 405 and 215 should get the same treatment.
I can try to submit a Q&A to try and clarify, but I don’t want poor wording on my part to result in a bad rule change.
We discussed this while reviewing the rules. The max pressure in the spec sheet is the guaranteed max pressure that the compressor can achieve. We all know that the compressor can develop much more than that especially when new. The design of the wob-l piston system will develop bypass leaks when worn. That is why the manufacturer sells rebuild kits for the piston to bring it back to like new performance. Most teams are choosing to use smaller compressors as a way to trade off weight and size for other robot mechanisms. I rarely see one of these compressors during inspections.