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So what's my limits to using my new 3gal, 1.5 hp air compressor?

ondarkness

ondarkness

Platinum Member
I'm wondering besides filling up my tires, blowing air, and filling up rubber rafts- what other ventures are there out there for me? 😀
 
Why not run some basic air tools like grinders? Granted, it will get loud and hot fairly quickly.

Why did you buy it in the first place?
 
HP ratings today are baloney anyways. A 3 gal receiver is pretty small. What counts is SCFM at 40 and 90 PSIG. What's it do?

Most real 1 1/2 horse open type pumps will push about 11 SCFM at 40 PSIG and 7 SCFM at 90PSIG. Enough power to run air tools like impact wrenches, drills, small sanders (intermittently), etc. This is good for spraying with a Binks gun but you better use a good air dryer to keep the oil out.

Of course the new recips are oil-less design but not as powerful.
 
Originally posted by: iluvtruenos
Why not run some basic air tools like grinders? Granted, it will get loud and hot fairly quickly.

Why did you buy it in the first place?
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It's main function is blow dust and junk out of machine parts on a daily basis.
 
Originally posted by: ondarkness

It's main function is blow dust and junk out of machine parts on a daily basis.
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Yes small units are fine for that purpose. They are loud though.

Thank goodness for central air!

 
Originally posted by: jagec
potato launcher.
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ftw. i have an air hose nipple on the tank of my potato launcher.... fire the tater... close the valve and reload... by the time you have another tater loaded, the tank is full. AWESOME.
 
Originally posted by: ondarkness
Is there anything that I should avoid doing with it to not make it blow up?
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Follow the duty cycle recommendation and if you need to use an extension cord make sure it's of sufficient gauge to avoid excessive voltage drop. (this will overheat the motor windings.)

Other than that, it will never "blow up". The welds even on non ASME stamped vessels can take stress from overpressure of at least 150% of what the max limit is on the pressure switch. Additionally, if the switch contacts get welded together from a power surge and the unit runs forever there is a relief valve that will open. So the chance of vessel rupture is remote at best.

Now using such an appliance in an area where explosive fumes or gases are present is another thing altogether. The spark when the unit shuts off can easily ignite natural gas or accumulated organic vapors say from solvent welding a drain line. If this happens you could very well get the new look or at the very least the windows will be promptly removed from the room.
 
Depends on it's SCFM output.

1.5HP and 3 gallons, I'd bet around 2.5SCFM at 90PSI and 4SCFM at 40psi.
 
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
HP ratings today are baloney anyways. A 3 gal receiver is pretty small. What counts is SCFM at 40 and 90 PSIG. What's it do?

Most real 1 1/2 horse open type pumps will push about 11 SCFM at 40 PSIG and 7 SCFM at 90PSIG. Enough power to run air tools like impact wrenches, drills, small sanders (intermittently), etc. This is good for spraying with a Binks gun but you better use a good air dryer to keep the oil out.

Of course the new recips are oil-less design but not as powerful.
Click to expand...
:Q

What kind've small air compressors have you been hanging around? I have never seen such a low HP unit that will produce numbers like that.
 
Drain the condensation ut of it monthly.
keep the air filter clean.
I added an "intercooler" in the line from pump to tank, was real easy to do, and it helps build the pressure higher (air when compresed heats up, and lowers pressure when cools. So cooling it before the tank keeps tank pressure up). Was rated 115 psi origimally, with cooler and efficient filter maintains 125, uses 6hp oilless pump, 40 gal tank.
 
Originally posted by: Eli

What kind've small air compressors have you been hanging around? I have never seen such a low HP unit that will produce numbers like that.
Click to expand...

Quite a few of the older splash lubricated twin cylinder pumps (single stage) will do this off a 1 1/2 hp 56H frame motor. The new stuff - like speakers - is all over rated crap. Thus said, a 1 1/2 HP craftsman or monkey wards brand (actually made by the original cambell hausfeld company if memory serves me correctly) put out as much air continuously as one of these new oil less models approaching 5 hp. Also bear in mind that no way can a motor over 1 1/2 true HP be expected to run on a 15A, 120V circuit. Just not going to happen.



 
Originally posted by: MS Dawn
Originally posted by: Eli

What kind've small air compressors have you been hanging around? I have never seen such a low HP unit that will produce numbers like that.
Click to expand...

Quite a few of the older splash lubricated twin cylinder pumps (single stage) will do this off a 1 1/2 hp 56H frame motor. The new stuff - like speakers - is all over rated crap. Thus said, a 1 1/2 HP craftsman or monkey wards brand (actually made by the original cambell hausfeld company if memory serves me correctly) put out as much air continuously as one of these new oil less models approaching 5 hp. Also bear in mind that no way can a motor over 1 1/2 true HP be expected to run on a 15A, 120V circuit. Just not going to happen.
Click to expand...
Ah, twin cylinder.. that explains it. 🙂

And yeah, most new oilless compressors are garbage.
 
So it says I'm to drain the air tank daily. that sounds like a drag to do it so often.
Can I drain it safely bi-weekly or monthly without shortning the life span??
 
Originally posted by: ondarkness
So it says I'm to drain the air tank daily. that sounds like a drag to do it so often.
Can I drain it safely bi-weekly or monthly without shortning the life span??
Click to expand...


Yes the condensate won't be that big of an issue. Depends on the climate where it's used too. Some even ship with a small quantity of silica gel (dessicant) in the receiver to scavange moisture. Of course it gets saturated quickly BUT can lose the moisture "charge" just from heat and drier air surrounding it. Secondary hygroscopoids are fascinating particularly the inert ones. 🙂
 
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