Big compressor without 240v?

[Voi]

This looks like a good compromise though.

If that's the same pump/motor on the BelAire 26 gallon compressor (and the Chicago Pneumatic & others) I can tell you it gets very good reviews. Said to be very quiet.

For $66 more and free shipping the extra 34 gallons of storage seems worth it.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

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...

I'm pretty sure it is a 19 amp motor, but I e-mailed my contact at BelAire/Chicago Pneumatic and will update.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

If that's the same pump/motor on the BelAire 26 gallon compressor (and the Chicago Pneumatic & others) I can tell you it gets very good reviews. Said to be very quiet.

For $66 more and free shipping the extra 34 gallons of storage seems worth it.

It is definitely the same motor, but they use a slightly bigger pump,so it would be turning a little slower

 

[Ditch]

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.

I'm not assuming anything.
You are.
I've nudged more than a few into home ownership and they all have thanked me.

 

[6768rogues]

Use a compressor that will fit with your electrical supply and get a spare storage tank. You can have enough air in storage to work for a while till you have to take a break and let it recharge.

 

[Viper98912]

I'm going to second the previously negatively received comment.

If you're currently renting, you shouldn't be thinking of re-building your "shop" in the rental. ESPECIALLY with that large of a compressor. There isn't anything in your shop (as a car guy myself) that would require THAT MUCH air that you should be doing in a rental anyway.

This is why I bought my 3 gal little 120V. Does it ****? Of course it does. But it's what I have because of my current limitations. The new house I'm building? I put a 220V plug in the garage when it was being framed.

Houses are very expensive? Then move farther away. But I assume it's expensive because you want to be close to work.

Sorry man, but you made a life decision to be where you are. You need to extract the most you can out of it, but you need to be somewhat reasonable as well. This is coming from someone who went from a large nice place to a tiny place, knowing what my "reality limitations" were going to be. At least in my case, I own the place so I have a little bit more freedom, whereas you are in someone else's place.

Just my 2 cents, not trying to be negative.

 

[skelrad]

I'm going to second the previously negatively received comment.

If you're currently renting, you shouldn't be thinking of re-building your "shop" in the rental. ESPECIALLY with that large of a compressor. There isn't anything in your shop (as a car guy myself) that would require THAT MUCH air that you should be doing in a rental anyway.

This is why I bought my 3 gal little 120V. Does it ****? Of course it does. But it's what I have because of my current limitations. The new house I'm building? I put a 220V plug in the garage when it was being framed.

Houses are very expensive? Then move farther away. But I assume it's expensive because you want to be close to work.

Sorry man, but you made a life decision to be where you are. You need to extract the most you can out of it, but you need to be somewhat reasonable as well. This is coming from someone who went from a large nice place to a tiny place, knowing what my "reality limitations" were going to be. At least in my case, I own the place so I have a little bit more freedom, whereas you are in someone else's place.

Just my 2 cents, not trying to be negative.

I think somehow my wanting a bigger compressor got twisted into the assumption by some folks that I'm not at all happy living where I live, or that I'm somehow "stuck" with no options and don't know what owning a home is like. A guy can be perfectly happy and still WANT to see if it's possible to get something as trivial as a different compressor. I have owned houses before, and I don't live where I live because of work (self employed and work as a consultant from home). We all have our reasons for where we are, and some are far more important than a job, inconvenience of not having a real shop, crappy real estate markets, etc.

All I was curious about was if it was possible to find a larger compressor given my lack of 240v. I was trying to figure out if I could get a big enough compressor to prime and paint a large project piece by piece. A smaller compressor will work, but a bigger one would obviously be nicer.

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

 

[Citation]

I'm going to throw up one more suggestion. Get a "2hp" California Air Tools 10 gallon compressor and a 50' 3/8" hose. The CAT compressor is quiet and could be put somewhere in the house. Now it will be on a separate AC line from the garage compressor. Run the air hose to the garage and plumb it into your current larger compressor. Not ideal but it will give you a good bit of extra flow and be quiet enough to tolerate it being someplace other than in the garage.

 

[Barnabas]

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 .

I think Cobbler meant to ask if there are two outlets on "separate" breakers. If there are, then measure the voltage between the two hot wires. If you have 240V, then there is your solution. Make a cable that connects these two outlets to your 240V compressor. That gives you 20A at 240V, for a total of 40A. Plenty for a nice compressor.

 

[skelrad]

I think Cobbler meant to ask if there are two outlets on "separate" breakers. If there are, then measure the voltage between the two hot wires. If you have 240V, then there is your solution. Make a cable that connects these two outlets to your 240V compressor. That gives you 20A at 240V, for a total of 40A. Plenty for a nice compressor.

I'll check it out and see!

 

[EOC_Jason]

I think Cobbler meant to ask if there are two outlets on "separate" breakers. If there are, then measure the voltage between the two hot wires. If you have 240V, then there is your solution. Make a cable that connects these two outlets to your 240V compressor. That gives you 20A at 240V, for a total of 40A. Plenty for a nice compressor.

Except if either circuit (like in the garage) is on a GFCI it will trip in a heartbeat...

It would still be 20A @ 240V with that patchwork (not 40A)...

 

[bwringer]

Painting in a rental with a picky landlord might not be such a great idea. Even if you make a booth, the paint always seems to find a way out...

I did all kinds of work with a 120V compressor for years. As long as you're patient when needed, it's no big deal. And you definitely want to avoid the oilless **** -- get something quiet so it doesn't annoy you or your neighbors.

 

[Ad13]

As someone mentioned earlier, 6-7 cfm is the most you will get with 120V. If you are willing to spend the money, IR makes a nice 30? gallon unit. Unfortunately it costs nearly as much as a cheaper, higher output 60 gallon.

 

[CompressorPros.com]

If that is the IR vertical portable, I believe that is actually made by Puma in China.

I did confirm that the motor on the 2061V is 19 amps at 115V and 9.5 amps at 230V

 

[metalmagpie]

Buy a small compressor. When you need a big one, rent one on a trailer.

To me, a "big compressor" means at least 5 real horsepower. At 117V, a 5hp single phase motor would draw 56 amps full load current. Remember, when it's starting it can draw nearly that much.

Do you have an open slot for a 60 amp 117VAC breaker in your box? Didn't think so.

So .. buy a small compressor e.g. a true 1.5hp, the largest compressor you can run on a 15 amp circuit. When you need - really need - a bigger one, rent one on a trailer.

When you own your own shop things won't look so bleak.

metalmagpie

 

[1redTA]

how about finding a SCBA or scuba bottle with a pressure regulator that will run air tools and bringing the local FD cookies to fill it for you

 

[jubilee]

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

Yeah, I didn't go into detail. That's two 120 volt compressors on two circuits going into one 20 gal tank. They are stickered at 4.9 and 4.7 cfm @ 90 psi. I think these rating are high.They are mounted one atop of the other on a frame I fabbed with lifting eye. They are mounted in attic of garage. Tank is mounted underneath ceiling in corner. (I have a small garage and lots of equipment at this location) Compressors are hammer union/hose mounted to tank with check valves and pressure switches. Compressors can be lowered if need be via small chain hoist. I can run one or both compressors via conveniently located switches. I do have 3 240 volt outlets for welders, plasmas cutters, and ect. I won't go into why I rigged the compressors the way I did, it just evolved.

 

[stsmytherie]

FWIW I have the 20 gallon Porter Cable linked earlier. I wouldn't paint with it, but with some attention to air cooling and filtration it will do blasting... though the pump will run a lot. Pretty happy with it for the $ invested. It gets the job done until something bigger and better is possible.

 

[stsmytherie]

Regarding "attention to cooling" I just built a simple copper pipe serpentine. It has quick connects on each end so easy to add or remove from the air path. The whole thing is mounted to the garage wall with some stand offs. Pretty easy to build, doesn't take up much space, I could take it with me if I moved.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Given the situation, I would look into as many corded/cordless tools as possible, to cover your impact wrench, grinding, spraying, sanding, etc. needs, and if needed just get a small 120v compressor for nail guns, filling tires, blowing dust.

 

[SteveWB]

Older thread, but I have some insight on the topic.

I just got done dismantling 40 foot of brick chimney, using air hammers. Ended up using a Harbor Freight Chief long barrel, almost constantly.

I have a salvaged Campbell Hausfield 20 gallon tank with two salvaged Powermate compressors mounted on it. Each delivers 4CFM, each is 15 amps, 125V with their own cord and plug. Total of 8CFM. Each needs a 15amp circuit to itself.

That worked OK, but my final and most productive system included a third compressor, on 10 gallon tank, 15 amps, 125 volts, 4CFM. Just before the whip for the air hammer I installed a five gallon portable tank, normally for inflation of tires. And there's a FRL. There's 50 foot of 1/2inch hose between the compressors, and check valves are in the circuit to allow the third compressor to be disconnected from the pair.

Anyway... that's 12 CFM, running an air hammer almost constantly. I have learned that:
Each compressor is easy to wrestle around, and while there are three 125v circuits involved, any consumer good (except a Revlon 1850W hair dryer) could use those outlets.

I suggest:

Go buy three identical 125v 4CFM compressors, each with a small tank. You'll get 12 cfm, about 25 gallons of storage, and one fits on the passenger seat, the other two come home with you on the back seat. You won't need a buddy to help, or special wiring, or much more money (maybe less) than a 30 gallon 240 volt compressor. Buy some of those Harbor Freight air hose remnants and the quick coupler system of your choice.

If one fails, you still have a respectable CFM of delivery. And you could loan out one to a buddy in need and be sorta OK.

I could address "but I'm not sure if I have three 15 amp circuits", but others have given good advice, and uh, electricity can burn the building down, or kill you, or both. I do agree with adapting a range or dryer outlet. You could cobble up a box with 10awg dryer cordset with 3 duplex receptacles. That would allow three of the suggested compressors to run, while charging three phones. Not exactly code compliant, but it's an attended situation not buried in a wall, or in attic or basement. Should be fine.

 

[dougf]

In a rental I once took off the breaker panel cover, ran 10/2 into into the same breaker the oven was on (not code sharing a breaker) and let the cord hang and placed the cover back on to hold the cord. This gave me 220 in the garage and I removed it when we moved.

It's not code, could potentially be unsafe, etc... but it worked. And since my wife rarely used the oven I never tripped a breaker.

EDIT: Just noticed this was an OLD thread revived, but i'll leave my post in case anyone in a similar situation searches.