Explain air compressors....
Discussion
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/sc50h-50-litre-hig...
Looking at the above for the sole purpose of airing up my mtb and motorbike tyres - How do they work? I assume they make a noise to get the tank up to pressure.....after that, do they just sit quiet till the tank needs refilling? Or do they run all the time you are using it?
Just wondering how sensible they are for a home garage - I have the space, and often work on my own tyres - but not keen on something that needs to be "running" at 9pm when I finally get a moment free to sort out my bike that day.
Looking at the above for the sole purpose of airing up my mtb and motorbike tyres - How do they work? I assume they make a noise to get the tank up to pressure.....after that, do they just sit quiet till the tank needs refilling? Or do they run all the time you are using it?
Just wondering how sensible they are for a home garage - I have the space, and often work on my own tyres - but not keen on something that needs to be "running" at 9pm when I finally get a moment free to sort out my bike that day.
If it's only for tyres you could get away with the small one SGS do. It'll only take a minute to fill and would probably kick back in if you were doing 2-3 car tyres. As said you're best switching it off and draining the tank when you're done, helps to keep moisture out of the steel tank.
It wouldn't be worth leaving it powered. If you turn it on it'll be ready to use by the time you have your hose connected up to the tyre.
Edit: the little one only produces 80dB compared to 97dB for the 2.5hp one!
It wouldn't be worth leaving it powered. If you turn it on it'll be ready to use by the time you have your hose connected up to the tyre.
Edit: the little one only produces 80dB compared to 97dB for the 2.5hp one!
Edited by SamR380 on Tuesday 1st May 13:00
An air compressor -
The noisy bit is the pump, that pumps away and charges the receiver, which is the large 'tank' like thing.
You can get a tyre compressor that has no receiver just a pure compressor that when powered up pumps air and will blow up a tyre.
this is like those dinky little things that you keep in your boot and use to blow up soft tyres from time to time.
Then you can have the behemoths that are a V16 diesel engine strapped to a compressor that charges up an air receiver that can then supply a load of compressed air to an industrial process.
Some processes need a specific pressure that is fixed and doesn't change, this is achieved by pumping and maintaining a pressure in the receiver that is greater than the pressure required by some margin. The motor then starts and stops to maintain the pressure at a set point while the air taken of the receiver is passed through a pressure regulator to maintain the pressure at the required set point.
A workshop air compressor can be useful if you do work with air operated tools or do a lot of spraying. The pressure is kept stable and this is used to ensure that you can spray away at a fixed rate. This is the one you see with a compressor attached to a vessel called the receiver.
handy in a workshop so they are. I see you mentioned drained, what of air ? or of water ? A compressor can produce water when operating due to condensation of the water in the air. this can gather in the receiver if its not drained away from time to time.
The noisy bit is the pump, that pumps away and charges the receiver, which is the large 'tank' like thing.
You can get a tyre compressor that has no receiver just a pure compressor that when powered up pumps air and will blow up a tyre.
this is like those dinky little things that you keep in your boot and use to blow up soft tyres from time to time.
Then you can have the behemoths that are a V16 diesel engine strapped to a compressor that charges up an air receiver that can then supply a load of compressed air to an industrial process.
Some processes need a specific pressure that is fixed and doesn't change, this is achieved by pumping and maintaining a pressure in the receiver that is greater than the pressure required by some margin. The motor then starts and stops to maintain the pressure at a set point while the air taken of the receiver is passed through a pressure regulator to maintain the pressure at the required set point.
A workshop air compressor can be useful if you do work with air operated tools or do a lot of spraying. The pressure is kept stable and this is used to ensure that you can spray away at a fixed rate. This is the one you see with a compressor attached to a vessel called the receiver.
handy in a workshop so they are. I see you mentioned drained, what of air ? or of water ? A compressor can produce water when operating due to condensation of the water in the air. this can gather in the receiver if its not drained away from time to time.
I've recently bought a compressor from Aldi when they were on a bargain - after the first few tankfuls I discharged the tank and found no moisture condensed out at all, so I tend to leave it charged now, with occasional drain-downs and emptying.
I only use it for relatively light-duty things so far, so it might be different once running an impact gun etc.
I only use it for relatively light-duty things so far, so it might be different once running an impact gun etc.
Tiggsy said:
https://www.sgs-engineering.com/sc50h-50-litre-hig...
Looking at the above for the sole purpose of airing up my mtb and motorbike tyres - How do they work? I assume they make a noise to get the tank up to pressure.....after that, do they just sit quiet till the tank needs refilling? Or do they run all the time you are using it?
Just wondering how sensible they are for a home garage - I have the space, and often work on my own tyres - but not keen on something that needs to be "running" at 9pm when I finally get a moment free to sort out my bike that day.
I have a handy portable jump start/ air compressor. It's been used to jump start a mates Audi, but mostly to put air in the car and bike tyres. Cost about £75 but lasted me years. Only thing I do it put it on charge once a month. Looking at the above for the sole purpose of airing up my mtb and motorbike tyres - How do they work? I assume they make a noise to get the tank up to pressure.....after that, do they just sit quiet till the tank needs refilling? Or do they run all the time you are using it?
Just wondering how sensible they are for a home garage - I have the space, and often work on my own tyres - but not keen on something that needs to be "running" at 9pm when I finally get a moment free to sort out my bike that day.
I have a air compressor but as said I don't keep it charged and use for spraying and power tools when needed for a long day
RemaL said:
I have a handy portable jump start/ air compressor. It's been used to jump start a mates Audi, but mostly to put air in the car and bike tyres. Cost about £75 but lasted me years. Only thing I do it put it on charge once a month.
I have a air compressor but as said I don't keep it charged and use for spraying and power tools when needed for a long day
Mind if I ask which make portable one you have Remal? I have a Clarke one but the compressor has given up the ghost -- after about 5-6 years I admit I have a air compressor but as said I don't keep it charged and use for spraying and power tools when needed for a long day
sprinter1050 said:
RemaL said:
I have a handy portable jump start/ air compressor. It's been used to jump start a mates Audi, but mostly to put air in the car and bike tyres. Cost about £75 but lasted me years. Only thing I do it put it on charge once a month.
I have a air compressor but as said I don't keep it charged and use for spraying and power tools when needed for a long day
Mind if I ask which make portable one you have Remal? I have a Clarke one but the compressor has given up the ghost -- after about 5-6 years I admit I have a air compressor but as said I don't keep it charged and use for spraying and power tools when needed for a long day
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PowerStation-12-Volt-Port...
If its just for topping up tyres is a compressor not a bit overkill?
I had a Maplin battery booster pack with a built in air compressor that did the just fine for me.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PORTABLE-STARTER-COMPRESS...
I have never used the above but just linked as an example of the type of thing I'm on about.
I had a Maplin battery booster pack with a built in air compressor that did the just fine for me.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/PORTABLE-STARTER-COMPRESS...
I have never used the above but just linked as an example of the type of thing I'm on about.
The tank only nees to have the moisture drained periodically. Moisture will only accumulate there if the air it's compressing is damp and even in very damp conditions it won't have much water in there after pumping up a couple of bike tyres, different if your using it on a impact gun or blowing wand. There's no need to leave the tank empty, but at the same time if you leave it at idle the compressor will cycle when you don' need it, so in that situation I'd just switch it when it's not in use.
I just use a joe blow max track pump for cycle, bike, car ...fine for top ups, 30secs and done. £23
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-joe-blow-max-ii-tra...
I guess if you have regular need to inflate tyres from flat (changing your own tyres) then a compressor is the way to go, or if you have a workshop requirement to power a load of air tools
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-joe-blow-max-ii-tra...
I guess if you have regular need to inflate tyres from flat (changing your own tyres) then a compressor is the way to go, or if you have a workshop requirement to power a load of air tools
If you do a fair amount of work on bikes in your garage, they are berluddy handy things to have. I've got a 50tlr 2.2kw Aldi one which gets a lot of use. It's quite easy to plumb in with one of their extension reels and filters / regulators. All in less than a couple of hundred and installed under a small table, so out of the way.
Just having an airline to clean out jets, engine cases when back from blasting, removing brake pistons etc etc, is well worth it. I've used mine for spraying (works great with the right guns), clutch / brake bleeding cleaning with a paraffin gun etc etc. Also the mini DA works well.
It stays pressurized and so it's always ready to go to inflate car tyres, use with tools etc. A lot of the time without having to kick in the pump itself. No problems with water in the tank so far.
It's not powerful enough for a good windy gun etc though, I have a dewalt 18/20v jobbie for that.
Just having an airline to clean out jets, engine cases when back from blasting, removing brake pistons etc etc, is well worth it. I've used mine for spraying (works great with the right guns), clutch / brake bleeding cleaning with a paraffin gun etc etc. Also the mini DA works well.
It stays pressurized and so it's always ready to go to inflate car tyres, use with tools etc. A lot of the time without having to kick in the pump itself. No problems with water in the tank so far.
It's not powerful enough for a good windy gun etc though, I have a dewalt 18/20v jobbie for that.
I've got a 150l upright compressor which can run impact wrenches and the like. Wouldn't want to leave it pressured just in case someone knocks it over and knocks the motor seal or the outputs, would make a hell of a mess.
The pump itself is quite noisy and takes a few minutes to fill but the relief of the pressure is the ear splitting thing.
If you do leave it pressurised don't inadvertently leave it switched on as the pump might kick in in the middle of the night if it leaks down slowly.
The pump itself is quite noisy and takes a few minutes to fill but the relief of the pressure is the ear splitting thing.
If you do leave it pressurised don't inadvertently leave it switched on as the pump might kick in in the middle of the night if it leaks down slowly.
I've got two compressors. I use mine for inflating tyres, Waxoyling the cars, spray painting, blowing water off the bike after it's had a wash, Ronsealing the sheds and fence panels, and blowing crap out of carb jets etc.
I don't use them for running air tools, as it's not generally worth the trouble.
One has an electric pump, which takes a couple of minutes to put enough air in the receiver to inflate tyres and the like. It is incredibly useful and I would be lost without it. It probably gets used every couple of weeks.
The other has a small Honda petrol engine. To be honest, the petrol engined compressor is just too much hassle and never gets used.
The safety valves leak ever so slightly, so the receivers tend to empty themselves over a couple of days if left pressurised.
I don't use them for running air tools, as it's not generally worth the trouble.
One has an electric pump, which takes a couple of minutes to put enough air in the receiver to inflate tyres and the like. It is incredibly useful and I would be lost without it. It probably gets used every couple of weeks.
The other has a small Honda petrol engine. To be honest, the petrol engined compressor is just too much hassle and never gets used.
The safety valves leak ever so slightly, so the receivers tend to empty themselves over a couple of days if left pressurised.
There are different types of compressors.
Typical a piston machine (recip) kind of old tech.
Is Noisey, used in some harsh-ish environments and in some small garages etc..
Budget versions for home users and slightly more heavy duty ones for commercial use.
Big Piston Machines, were Broomwade VM (V majors)
used by many companies... Carlsb, AirFlo,Alumas... < all replaced with scews.
Some piston machines, pump on up and down stroke (double acting), some have more than one piston, some are two stage or more. low pressure, big piston, and high pressure small piston.
Even some of the domestic ones use more than one piston.
Typically a heavy compressor that pumps slowly (old fashioned) will last a long time but out put maybe lower.
The factor effecting most people for home use is power supply. Some will run off a 13amp plug, some need a bigger supply.
Most common in commercial is 3 phase.
Most modern piston compressors make plenty of noise, and when used continuously get hot.... efficiency.
Not an issue for home use, but if they are used commercially and don't get adequate time on standby that can effect long term reliability. Often it is not cost effective to rebuild a modern alloy pump of the smaller capacity professionally due to labor cost, and replacement pumps are cheap compared and relative to commercial downtime costs.
Then you've got oil lubricated, and oil free options.
A more quiet machine that bridges a gap, is a Hydrovane.
These were used on concrete sites but you can get a small one that runs of a single phase supply.
If your only airbrushing etc, a quiet machine is something like a Bambi as used by some dentists.
These the neighbor won't hear.
The more common machines, now are screw compressors... like a supercharger. A bit more complex but good bit of kit.
Most product brands you know, this is probably what they use, from cereals to beer, to luxury car builders... A bit extreme for home use, very limited options for single phase 240v.
Then you've got filtration or dryers. < bit extereme again for home use, most commercial users have these.
It's more the back street outfits that don't & I've seen some good paint jobs without them...
I have a little piston machine, for my garage. It's a bit anti social so use is rarely.
I had a little 12 volt one, I used when racing... attached to battery on a trolley < this would pump up 10x13" slicks just fine.
I also had a fuel pump on the same rig.... to pump 20ltr fuel cans into the tank < bit off topic, but good bit of kit.
I did have a bambi, hydrovance combo..... very quiet, ran off 13amp. But took up to much room.
With a big tank, I could paint small sections of body work but it was a bit small output for constant use.
Typical a piston machine (recip) kind of old tech.
Is Noisey, used in some harsh-ish environments and in some small garages etc..
Budget versions for home users and slightly more heavy duty ones for commercial use.
Big Piston Machines, were Broomwade VM (V majors)
used by many companies... Carlsb, AirFlo,Alumas... < all replaced with scews.
Some piston machines, pump on up and down stroke (double acting), some have more than one piston, some are two stage or more. low pressure, big piston, and high pressure small piston.
Even some of the domestic ones use more than one piston.
Typically a heavy compressor that pumps slowly (old fashioned) will last a long time but out put maybe lower.
The factor effecting most people for home use is power supply. Some will run off a 13amp plug, some need a bigger supply.
Most common in commercial is 3 phase.
Most modern piston compressors make plenty of noise, and when used continuously get hot.... efficiency.
Not an issue for home use, but if they are used commercially and don't get adequate time on standby that can effect long term reliability. Often it is not cost effective to rebuild a modern alloy pump of the smaller capacity professionally due to labor cost, and replacement pumps are cheap compared and relative to commercial downtime costs.
Then you've got oil lubricated, and oil free options.
A more quiet machine that bridges a gap, is a Hydrovane.
These were used on concrete sites but you can get a small one that runs of a single phase supply.
If your only airbrushing etc, a quiet machine is something like a Bambi as used by some dentists.
These the neighbor won't hear.
The more common machines, now are screw compressors... like a supercharger. A bit more complex but good bit of kit.
Most product brands you know, this is probably what they use, from cereals to beer, to luxury car builders... A bit extreme for home use, very limited options for single phase 240v.
Then you've got filtration or dryers. < bit extereme again for home use, most commercial users have these.
It's more the back street outfits that don't & I've seen some good paint jobs without them...
I have a little piston machine, for my garage. It's a bit anti social so use is rarely.
I had a little 12 volt one, I used when racing... attached to battery on a trolley < this would pump up 10x13" slicks just fine.
I also had a fuel pump on the same rig.... to pump 20ltr fuel cans into the tank < bit off topic, but good bit of kit.
I did have a bambi, hydrovance combo..... very quiet, ran off 13amp. But took up to much room.
With a big tank, I could paint small sections of body work but it was a bit small output for constant use.
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