Compressor safety question

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My beautiful Bride cleans up houses and apartments for rent. She cleaned out one house and there was a small Cam Haus compressor left behind. She brought it home for me.I had to put a new filter on it and I installed a small ball valve on the tank drain. I started it up and it runs fine.My question: I'm a bit leery of the high pressure cut-off mechanism. I haven't run it long enough to get it up around 125 psi. How should I proceed to see if the high pressure cut-off functions properly without standing directly over it in case it makes a very loud noise and I turn into pieces?Thanks for your ideas!*Rick*Having just enough knowledge to be dangerous!
Reply:The compressor should have an overpressure relief valve on the tank or in the line. Usually this has a ring on it to allow it to be activated manually. I would get some pressure in the tank say 60-80 psi and then pull the ring. The air in the tank should rush out. It will make a loud noise so be ready. If it releases the pressure it should function properly. Usually if they do not work, they will either be stuck and not let the air out, or the spring has become weak and it will just leak air. This should give you an idea if the OPV works most likely. Then I'd just plug it, in stand away, and let it fill till the comp shuts off or the OPV pops. If you can safely stand somewhere and see the gauge, you could always unplug the cord if it goes over 130. A pressure gauge on a hose would be nice to check it but I doubt it will be necessary.Nice score, good luck.
Reply:ALL air tanks have a 100% safety factor. If it has a working pressure of 150PSI...you can safely go to 300PSI without turning yourself into pieces....  For a first time run-up to pressure, I would put it on the other side of a block wall and use a mirror to check the gauge(just to be on the safe side)
Reply:Step One: visual inspection of tank and mechanism(s).  All look OK? Then go to Step Two.Step Two : Do like DSW suggested.  Like he said, the sudden venting (by design or accident or manually on purpose) of pressurised gas/air can be LOUD.  Ear muffs would not be out of the question, and would be recommended.  As well as eye protection (blowing air sends things like dust and grit flying all over the place).Small?  Like in 1-gallon hot dog compressor, or 5-hp 240V 80 gallon compressor (that might be small to an industrial user!)?