Air Compressor Outside?

[tom86951]

I am building my garage and was planning to get a good 220v compressor (Quincey?) and putting it outside against the back wall of the garage. It would be fully covered with a porch-like ceiling, so will never get wet in rain, but it would be outside so subject to dew, etc. This is California, so climate is mild, rarely below 40 or above 90 degrees, and fairly dry. The alternative would be to put it in the rafters inside the garage, though getting it up there might be a real challenge (as in, I have no idea how I'd get it up there). What do you think? Ok or crazy to put it outside?

p.s., bonus points for compressor recommendations for a guy with a blast cabinet...

 

[md21722]

Lots of people in mild climates put compressors against the back wall of the shop with a roof of sorts over it. Some don't even bother with the roof. Most here seem to stop upgrading when they get to 7.5 HP.

 

[alexb2000]

I have an IR two stage 7.5 with after cooler outside under a little house I built. It keeps some of the sun and most of the rain off it, but it is open around the motor for airflow and cooling. Being in Texas I don't know how you could run a big compressor inside in summer, loud and hot. I am very happy with the compressor and I run a pressure pot blast cabinet off it all the time.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI9EIS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[OccupantRJ]

You need around 20 cfm for cabinet blasting in my experience. On a suction gun, the air jet determines air requirements, not the blast nozzle. I have 3/4” pipe feeding my blast cabinets. I blast a LOT. Here is my abrasive blasting resource thread in case you have not seen it.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=237844

 

[txvwnut]

Mines been outside for 15 years under a structure that has a roof and half length walls, it’s a 5 horse that’s rated at 19.5cfm at 90 psi and it keeps up with my blast cabinet easily.

 

[johnems]

I live in upstate New York. I am considering placing my compressor in a enclosed area outside the building. (Still Planning the building) I am also think of doing the same thing with my cyclone dust collector. My concerns cold and condensation when the air goes into a heated building. Also dust near the compressor. Am I over thinking this? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks John

 

[OccupantRJ]

I would stay away from dust around anything that has an air intake. Some people pipe their air compressor intake outside to reduce noise inside, but that could bring on more intake moisture issues that end up in the system.

 

[seber]

I live in upstate New York. I am considering placing my compressor in a enclosed area outside the building. (Still Planning the building) I am also think of doing the same thing with my cyclone dust collector. My concerns cold and condensation when the air goes into a heated building. Also dust near the compressor. Am I over thinking this? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks John

Heat in the air is concentrated when the air is compressed raising the temperature considerably. By the time it reaches the tank it will be above room temperature no matter how it started out. Condensation will also occur for the same reason no matter what the starting point. For that you just need to drain the tank regularly. There are automatic drains but my experience with them is you still need to check. That would be especially true if the tank is allowed to freeze.

 

[larry4406]

Freezing of the drain piping would be my concern as well (not applicable to the OP in California).