People frequently get confused concerning choosing the right air compressor to operate their equipment. Quite simply, there are numerous aspects that you need to look at when choosing an air compressor for your garage or shop.
Let's check out these aspects:
1. Hp rating
Many people are of the opinion that the higher the hp, the more effective is the air compressor. But, all horse power ratings aren't equal and can even be misrepresented. For example, when you go to a hardware store to buy a 6 horse power air compressor, you find one that is priced really cheap. So, why is 6 hp commercial model so pricey? Well, 6 hp is 6 horse power, right? Not necessarily, because when picking an air compressor, you have to see the power that the air compressor draws. If if needs 15 amps from a 110 volts circuit, you are actually getting about 2 horse power. So, the 6 hp rating on the compressor is inflated.
If you want to generate 6 hp, you'll require at least 24 amps from a 220 volts circuit. Therefore, if you're interested in a 6 horse power electric compressor, you should purchase an industrial compressor, rather than purchasing a cheaper unit from a hardware store.
2. How much PSI will you need?
For all newbies, PSI means "pounds per square inch" and a lot of the compressors in the United States are rated in this way. In the European Union, they are measured in bar. When picking an air compressor, you may want to settle for 90 PSI for correct operation. Even so, still you would need an air compressor that has greater shut-off pressure. Air compressors in hardware stores are "single-stage" and have a shut off at around 126-135 PSI. Just about all light duty air compressors shut off at around 100 PSI and so are acceptable for light duty garage use. However, if you're going to use power tools, then more is certainly better. The majority of the commercial air compressors are "two-stage", which is they build up the shut-off pressure in two separate stages. The first stage builds up at about 90 PSI and the second state builds it to 175 PSI.
3. CFM
CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute), is a measurement of volume, that is the amount of air that is being moved. Air tools need specific volume of air to operate effectively. Though every manufacturer tries to impress that his product gives higher CRM ratings at different pressures, your true concern when picking an air compressor should be on how much you'd get at 90 PSI as this is what many of the air tools require for efficient operation.
4. Tank size
The tank size of air compressor is stated in US gallons. Lots of people get confused about the right tank size when picking an air compressor. Firstly, you shouldn't mistake a large tank with more run time for your air tools. If tools are used intermittently, then a large tank is useful. However, if you would need to use your tools constantly, you would do better with a small tank and large enough motor and pump. This would make sure that you won't run out of air.
Now you can effectively select an air compressor equipped with this helpful information. Finally, you need to decide on what you're going to use your air compressor for and select an appropriate model.
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