Big compressor without 240v?

[skelrad]

I'm in a rental and can't run more power to the garage, so I'm stuck with just a couple of 120v outlets. I sold most of my tools a few years ago due to a cross country move and need to outfit my "shop" again.

So the question is how do I get a compressor that is bigger than 30 gallons and has decent CFM, but doesn't require 240v? Unicorn, or does it exist? I know I could roll my own and get a larger tank, but is a decent motor/pump a non-starter at 120v anyway? Anybody know of a 120v compressor that fits the bill?

 

[Bobf]

How close is the panel to the garage? Outside? Wouldn't have to be permanent.

 

[jubilee]

In the house we have in town, I have a gasoline powered 30.gallon 27 cfm in a shed behind garage. It's plumbed into a 20 gal 120 volt 9.6cfm that's in garage. If I need extra air, I just fire up gas powered unit. Honda engine, remote start.

 

[skelrad]

How close is the panel to the garage? Outside? Wouldn't have to be permanent.

The panel is in the garage, but it's completely full. The landlord won't allow me to change anything unfortunately.

 

[skelrad]

In the house we have in town, I have a gasoline powered 30.gallon 27 cfm in a shed behind garage. It's plumbed into a 20 gal 120 volt 9.6cfm that's in garage. If I need extra air, I just fire up gas powered unit. Honda engine, remote start.

The house is on a postage stamp lot about 8 feet from my neighbor, so not sure where I'd fit a second compressor. Good idea to consider though.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Where's the washer/dryer? I made up a cable to plug mine into the dryer outlet just inside the house. I charge the compressor up from time to time when I need it.....temporary til I get my garage subpanel in.

 

[skelrad]

Where's the washer/dryer? I made up a cable to plug mine into the dryer outlet just inside the house. I charge the compressor up from time to time when I need it.....temporary til I get my garage subpanel in.

Dryer is 2 stories up. I've tried to come up with a 240 solution, but hands are tied since it's a rental. Probably just need to find the best compressor I can.

 

[bczygan]

The panel is in the garage, but it's completely full. The landlord won't allow me to change anything unfortunately.

How would he even know?

 

[skelrad]

How would he even know?

In this case, I'd have to put in a sub-panel, which isn't exactly easy to do under the radar. She has a knack for coming around to check the place out with regularity. Rewiring just isn't an option.

 

[Boomer343]

I've run two compressors that were plumbed together. Trick is to have them on separate electrical circuits.

I have also switched over to electric impacts, either 120 volt or 12/18 volt Milwaukee. Unless you are bead blasting or painting .... the landlady might not like either... do you really need a large air supply?

 

[skelrad]

I've run two compressors that were plumbed together. Trick is to have them on separate electrical circuits.

I have also switched over to electric impacts, either 120 volt or 12/18 volt Milwaukee. Unless you are bead blasting or painting .... the landlady might not like either... do you really need a large air supply?

You're right, I can probably get away with a smaller compressor for now. At some point I'll be moving and need a larger one though (painting), and was just trying to see if there was a way to get around having to buy another compressor down the road. Probably not I guess.

 

[RWorth]

What are you trying to do with the air? If you stay away from rotary tools you can get away with a 110v emglow or similar, I used one as a portable compressor for years and I could change 4 tires if I did them one at a time and wasn't rushing. just couldn't sand or grind with it, and the 3/8" air ratchet was out. They just run too long. But the 1/2" and 3/8" impacts were fine.

 

[Ditch]

Stop renting

 

[finn]

I'd got a 60 gallon Campbell Hausfield 120v compressor in by lawn / chainsaw shed. It's repurposed from my garage.

It provide enough air for air tools, etc, but it's a noisy direct drive unit, an I wouldn't recommend it, or any large direct drive compressor because of the noise.

I've seen similar sized units at Sears and the other big box and department stores, but they aren't as common as they once were.

 

[bsaint]

Yea most 60 gallon single stage compressors are 115v/230v. Look for a real 1-1/2 hp.

 

[G-ManBart]

Stop renting

Why bother even posting this? The guy asks for advice on compressors and you want to belittle his housing situation?

 

[lostmymanual]

Build a beefy drop cord and run it from the Kitchen Stove, Washer or other 240V outlet as needed if you're in a real bind. I see someone already posted this similar response.

I can attest that I welded like that when I was pinching penny's while in Navy housing. It really opened up my options.

I will warn you that the actual cabling per ft won't be dirt cheap based on the AWG you figure out for the load vs Amps but making your own should save you a significant amount of money and a heavy duty drop cord like that can be considered an investment.

We'll safely assume since you're on here that you plan to own a shop of some sort in the future. That drop cord will continue to be very handy if you ever decide to run a welder or generator. If you haven't built one for 240V, learning the ins and outs of that will be very handy in your future as well.

 

[ItsNemo]

Buy a large tank, they always come up for sale used...get a pair of decent oil lubed 120v pumps, run both on the same tank, call it a day.

 

[ard]

How would he even know?

Bingo

In this case, I'd have to put in a sub-panel, which isn't exactly easy to do under the radar. She has a knack for coming around to check the place out with regularity. Rewiring just isn't an option.

No, you could pop a tandem in, wire a cable to a 240 outlet from a new breaker. You prolly don't NEED a subpanel, even if doing a permanent install, and surely a temp hookup that could be totally reverse is doable.

Landlords should not be snooping around a rental without a good (legal) reason...

 

[Falcon67]

Landlords should not be snooping around a rental without a good (legal) reason...

As a former landlord, BS. Screw with my property. get an eviction notice stapled to your head. Big fire in LA that killed a bunch of people - landlord didn't snoop and jackleg hipster "fixed" some electrical stuff. Don't go there.

As above - what do you need with the air. I have a nice older 1 1/2 HP 25 gallon Porter-Cable belt driven compressor. It's quiet and a work horse. Built two shops with it, remodeled a house, painted two cars.

 

[American Locomotive]

If you have an electric dryer or stove, I second the making a big cord idea. I've done it.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Yep, as others have said for 120v you are going to be stuck around 1-1/2 HP (~20A)...

Honestly, look for those little 20/30 Gallon Sanborn's with the wheels on CL. Some are 240V only, but most are 120/240V. Hopefully can pick one up for around $100... They are great little air compressors... Then when you do move you can probably sell it for what you paid...

 

[skelrad]

Yep, as others have said for 120v you are going to be stuck around 1-1/2 HP (~20A)...

Honestly, look for those little 20/30 Gallon Sanborn's with the wheels on CL. Some are 240V only, but most are 120/240V. Hopefully can pick one up for around $100... They are great little air compressors... Then when you do move you can probably sell it for what you paid...

Yeah, sounds like that's the way to go. I'll be able to do 90% of what I want with a 30 gallon. Was just hoping there was a 60 gallon out there that I could make to work, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose!

 

[Ditch]

Why bother even posting this? The guy asks for advice on compressors and you want to belittle his housing situation?

Because this is the REAL solution

 

[PCMusicGuy]

...20 gal 120 volt 9.6cfm...

Details desired. Don't see how that could exist unless you are quoting like 20 PSI numbers.

 

[sberry]

There is only so much one can wring out of a 20A circuit, the best is 5 or 6 cfm.

 

[D45]

First off, what do you plan on using the compressor for?

 

[Abeo]

Because this is the REAL solution

Do you really think someone on a garage board who is asking about compressors and is living in a rental hasn't thought of that? Are you really saying that the "real solution" to wanting a compressor is for someone to make the largest financial commitment of their life? Give your head a shake.

OP: Just be realistic with what you want to do with the compressor. If you want to paint cars and sandblast things, you probably don't want to do that in a rental anyways. If it's for mechanical air tools, a 30 gal/120v should do ok. 20 amp/120v will top out around 6 CFM@90 psi.

Whatever you do....
Don't get oil-less, try to get belt driven, and lower pump speeds would mean quieter. The 120/240v setups that are belt driven leave some room in the future for pump or motor replacements.

 

[skelrad]

Because this is the REAL solution

I'd be more than happy to move if you want to pitch in! Just FYI, my friends down the street from me bought an absolute tear down 3 years ago for $800k just to get a lot to build on, and prices have sky rocketed since then. So until I move from the area, renting it is. Spending over $1M for a tiny house on a tiny lot just isn't in the cards.

 

[skelrad]

OP: Just be realistic with what you want to do with the compressor. If you want to paint cars and sandblast things, you probably don't want to do that in a rental anyways. If it's for mechanical air tools, a 30 gal/120v should do ok. 20 amp/120v will top out around 6 CFM@90 psi.

Whatever you do....
Don't get oil-less, try to get belt driven, and lower pump speeds would mean quieter. The 120/240v setups that are belt driven leave some room in the future for pump or motor replacements.

You're right. I'll find an oiled 120 and just make it work. I did have plans for a project that I was going to build a very temporary (pvc and plastic) paint booth for, but I could push that off. Or, I may just paint in very small batches and see how it goes.

 

[Abeo]

Falcon67 (and others) have done paint projects using the smaller compressors, so it's doable. But speaking from experience, it's the smell and mess from spraying a car in a place close to neighbors isn't ideal. My garage stunk for weeks afterwards.... renting a booth might have been a better idea.

You can try smaller batches and see how it goes. I'm using the $30 HF purple gun (and getting great results), so you don't have to get too deep into it to see if it works for you

 

[Citation]

If you have access to a second 120v outlet add a second compressor. You could even use a hose to put the second compressor a way from the first.

 

[The Cobbler]

are the two outlets in your garage on the same breaker?
if by chance they are wired on separate phases you can rig up a patch cord to get 240 by using the hots from each outlet & 1 neutral .

 

[strutaeng]

At my old house I "tapped" into my clothes dryer 220V, 30A outlet with a disconnect. I connected several plugs for my welder and air compressor. So long as my wife was not doing laundry it worked fine. I got rid of the extra outlets when I left and patched some holes.

I think the OP is going to be limited to some long extension cords for running anything over 6 CFM.

Maybe a sweet 60 horizontal duplex (2 - 1 1/2 motors) compressor used for HVAC controls will be available on craigslist... I've seen some used units like this that produce 8-10 CFM for about $500.

 

[Eslader]

As a former landlord, BS. Screw with my property. get an eviction notice stapled to your head.

Yeah, I agree in principle, but in some states that attitude will get you sued. In my state you have to have a reasonable business reason to enter the rental - and "I want to snoop" is not one of the reasons you can use. You also have to give sufficient notice, which means the tenant could unhook his electrical monkeying before you got there.

Not saying it's wrong to want to make sure your tenants aren't wrecking the place, but you can't just make a blanket statement that landlords not being able to snoop is BS.

 

[sberry]

Convince the landlord that it is a free capitol improvement to add in another circuit.
Safer too.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

BelAire makes a 60 gallon 115 Volt compressor. Model 2061V. Unfortunately, you just aren't going to get more than 6-7 CFM on 115V.

 

[skelrad]

BelAire makes a 60 gallon 115 Volt compressor. Model 2061V. Unfortunately, you just aren't going to get more than 6-7 CFM on 115V.

Thanks! I can survive with a lower CFM if I have to. This looks like a good compromise though.

 

[EOC_Jason]

A real 2 HP motor should pull a max of 24 Amps? I can't find any motor specs on the BelAire... Must be one of those "SPL" motors... I would contact them first just to make sure they don't expect you to put it on like a 120v/30A circuit or something...

 

[bdbecker]

Yeah, sounds like that's the way to go. I'll be able to do 90% of what I want with a 30 gallon. Was just hoping there was a 60 gallon out there that I could make to work, but beggars can't be choosers I suppose!

FWIW, that 20 gallon Sanborn compressor is made under a few names including Porter Cable and Magna Force. I have them bookmarked and check them on occasion waiting for a good sale. Not sure where you are located so the stores I'm watching might not help you much, but the here are the links for part numbers if you are interested.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...horizontal-air-compressor/p-1444439610633.htm

https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/magna-force-20-gal-horizontal-portable-air-compressor/0000000069125

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...rtable-belt-drive-air-compressor?cm_vc=-10005

EDIT:
I just noticed you were leaning towards the 30 gallon compressor. Looks like the multiple brand names still holds true though...

https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...c-vertical-air-compressor/p-1444439608275.htm

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Porter-C...rtable-Air-Compressor-PXCMLC1683066/203653364