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Air power not horsepower
What to look for before making your next purchase
Compressor buyers should not be fooled by horsepower ratings. More horsepower does not always mean a bigger and better air compressor. This is because some compressors are rated at the ‘peak horsepower’ of the electric motor and others are rated at the ‘running horsepower’ of the motor. Peak horsepower, or developed horsepower, is the highest horsepower the compressor’s electric motor will achieve right before locking up, also known as the breakdown torque.
Running horsepower is the true horsepower rating of the electric motor. This is the horsepower that will be maintained during normal use. Air compressors rated at the running horsepower deliver more CFM than a comparable rated air compressor. Compressors rated using the peak horsepower want you to compare horsepower, not air power.
Remember, you buy a compressor to produce air, not horsepower. Air tools require a volume of compressed air (CFM) at a specific pressure (psi) to operate, they do not require a specific horsepower. Remember, air power determines the size of the compressor you need, not horsepower.
Choosing the right air compressor
Factors to consider when choosing your compressor include:
- Type: stationary, wheeled portable, hand carry, truck mount, bare compressor, single stage or two stage.
- Volume of air: cubic feet per minute (CFM) and pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure required.
- Power/drive: electric or gas driven engines.
Some helpful descriptions of various terms to help you choose the proper compressor are:
- CFM: cubic feet per minute. It can be listed as CFM displacement or CFM delivered air to perform your job.
- Displacement: this is the volume of air swept through the first stage of piston or pistons and is usually expressed in cubic feet per minute (bore x stroke x compressor rpm).
- CFM delivered air: this is the vital rating. It is the CFM displacement x the efficiency of the compressor. This rating varies widely depending on the quality, design and manufacturing tolerances of the compressor.
- Delivered air: do not be fooled by incomplete ratings. Air pressure alone does not operate your sander, air wrenches, paint gun or drive a fastener. You need CFM delivered air at a given pressure. While a unit rated by CFM displacement only, or even by CFM delivered air at a lower pressure may appear to be larger, it may be inadequate for your needs.
- Horsepower: air runs your tools, not horsepower. Efficient air compressors consistently produce greater volumes of delivered air. This makes the user more efficient and saves money. Horsepower can be noted many different ways. The motor or gas engine horsepower rating should not be the deciding factor in the choice of compressor.
- Tank size: the tank stores reserve air. It does not help the compressor make more air. A larger tank cannot help if the pump is inefficient or too small. You will run out of air when the stored air has been used.
In order to determine total air requirements:
- Find the CFM required by the air tools you will be operating.
- Find the psi required by the air tools you will be operating.
- Compare these requirements to the CFM and psi performance of the air compressor.
- For best air tool performance, purchase a compressor with at least one and a half times more CFM than the air tool requires.
For example, if a ½” impact wrench requires 4.0 CFM at 90 psi, then the air compressor used to operate the ½” wrench should deliver 6.0 CFM at 90 psi. If you plan to run more than one tool at the same time, you must add the CFM of each tool together to determine your needs.
Air tools are rated on an intermittent (start/stop) usage factor. Keep in mind that air tools such as grinders, sanders and sandblasters are considered continuous running tools and require a larger air compressor, which provides higher CFM. Applying these tips before your next purchase will ensure you pick the right air compressor for your rental operation.
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