Champion pump choices

[shamrock12]

I've been checking out Champion air compressor but am confused by several of their pump choices. There are "RV" series pump in their "Centurion II" line, "VP" series pump in their "Value Plus" line, "R" and "PL" series pumps in their "R-series" and "PL-series" lines.

From what I have seen, it appear that "PL" pump is top of the line as it is pressure lubricated. Next to that would be the "R" pump which I believe is very similar to PL pump but instead is splash lubricated.

Then there are "RV" and "VP" pumps that I assume are lower values but seriously, I couldn't tell the difference from the above. Can anyone pitch in and explain those pumps?

Also, I see that two different "R" pumps are offered for their 7.5hp R-series unit, with one being R-15B and the other R-30D. The latter appears to have higher CFM rating but does that mean the motor would be working harder than the earlier one? I assume that both pumps would be using the same motor on their 7.5hp units?

 

[Grounded Ken]

You are correct with the R and R-PL series.

VP are Schulz compressors, repackaged for Champion (much less expensive when bought as a Schulz). Splash lube cast iron units.

RV are the less expensive R series with a common valve plate instead of individual valves.
Splash lube only.

The R pumps sharing a common horsepower. R15 @ 7.5 is stressed, R30 @ 7.5 is understressed.

All these can be had as Gardner Denver units also.

Don't forget the A series, if you have the money, you can never go wrong with that one.

 

[shamrock12]

Thanks Ken. I just looked at the "A" series and it appears they are for really heavy industrial with 15hp being the smallest compressor for that series. So it sounds like the "R" series is what I should get, correct?

I'm not sure I understand how a pump could be used on several different sized horsepower units. I thought each pump is sized accordingly to the motor driving it? According to Champion specifications, their R-30 pump can be used on motor as large as 15hp. So if the 15hp motor can drive that pump, then wouldn't it be too big for the 7.5hp to drive it (straining the motor)? Please enlighten me, thanks!

 

[tonym]

VR5-8 is a great pump...

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Compressor pumps can be used on different sized motors by spinning the pump at different RPMs. For example a given pump might be rated for 1000 rpm@ 15hp and 500 rpm@ 7.5hp.

 

[Grounded Ken]

It all boils down to the getting the most amps out of the motor. The higher the amps the more rpm the more cfm. The higher the rpm the higher the wear. It is a balance game. In the past, there was a machine for each horsepower. What mfg. can afford to do that now? One machine, 3 different horsepower motors. Modern manufacturing efficiency! Saylor Beall, Curtis Masterline does this also. Schulz seems to have a machine for each horsepower. A 1750 rpm motor and a low pump rpm = a long life combination.

 

[shamrock12]

Thanks everyone. Here's the part that is confusing ... while I was looking at Champion R & PL series brochure ... for example it says that the R-15B pump for model VR5-8 will spin 805 RPM at 125 PSI but it also says 734 RPM at 175 PSI. I thought the pump speed is supposed to stay consistent regardless of the pressure in the tank? I mean, the motor would be spinning at a single speed with only one set of pulley so shouldn't the pump speed remain the same? If so, why are the numbers different for this same motor/pump combination?

 

[TwoInch]

Thanks everyone. Here's the part that is confusing ... while I was looking at Champion R & PL series brochure ... for example it says that the R-15B pump for model VR5-8 will spin 805 RPM at 125 PSI but it also says 734 RPM at 175 PSI. I thought the pump speed is supposed to stay consistent regardless of the pressure in the tank? I mean, the motor would be spinning at a single speed with only one set of pulley so shouldn't the pump speed remain the same? If so, why are the numbers different for this same motor/pump combination?

load. an electric motor will slow down as the load increases.

 

[shamrock12]

load. an electric motor will slow down as the load increases.

That is incorrect. An electric motor is to maintain constant speed as long as it is within its rated load. If the load is causing the motor to slow down then it is overloaded and thus will likely damage the motor.

Under normal condition, the motor RPM will stay constant and therefore the pump RPM should remain constant too since there is only one set of pulleys.

Shortly after posting the previous question, I was able to find a way to contact Champion directly, and I was told that it depends on the pulley size. They said that their customers can specify the compressor to come with a maximum PSI of 125 or 175 or even 250 (pressure lubricated only). So if someone were to specify a maximum pressure of 125 PSI, then the compressor would come with a different pulley size (smaller) and therefore increase the pump RPM. This would allow the compressor to fill the tank quicker since the load would not be as great as with a 175 PSI unit.

 

[Trey T]

Get the r15 pump model. They're the most popular compressor truck-mounted service trucks. It's been around for a long time and its the lightest pump of any brand.

 

[Grounded Ken]

load. an electric motor will slow down as the load increases.

If this is going on, you have a bad check valve, a weak motor or you're over-pressurizing your system.

I had a customer that insisted on running his single stage, two cylinder compressor at 185 psi, and I was selling him a motor every couple of years.

The compressor will keep running till the pressure switch tells it to turn off, or something fails. Just depends on how you want to run your machine.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I found the vrv5-8 on Craigslist for 625 bucks. I replaced a few parts on it to get it to stop leaking air (pressure switch, check valve, and pop off valve ). It was used in a shop from 1996 to 2012. That's a hard life. The entire valve plate assembly was replaced last summer. That is a huge win. I have all the receipts and extra gaskets. I may put a new set of rings in it at some point. I have the extra gaskets, so it would be 50bucks for rings. Assuming no other issues, I am good to go. I have the 3450 rpm motor that was replaced in 2010 I believe. The pulley is just 2x the size to compensate. I think my pump is RV15B. It came with a big goofy intake muffler so it's pretty damn quiet. I imagine a 1725 motor would be less noise than the 3450 by just not spinning as fast? I think the CFM is 18.9 or so. It is probably more compressor than I will ever need for a 2 car garage.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Get the r15 pump model. They're the most popular compressor truck-mounted service trucks. It's been around for a long time and its the lightest pump of any brand.

I have a very hard time thinking an R15 is the lightest pump around. They are very heavy duty units and not what I would call light. Why would you want a compressor pump light unless you were carrying it.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[bsmith405]

Anybody know what the difference between a R15A and a R15B pump is? Do R15 pumps have disc valves or reed valves? Just curious as I'm looking at new Advantage and Centurion II compressors.

 

[Todd.Brock]

I can speak for my RV 15 pump, and it has reed valves.

 

[shamrock12]

Anybody know what the difference between a R15A and a R15B pump is? Do R15 pumps have disc valves or reed valves? Just curious as I'm looking at new Advantage and Centurion II compressors.

Centurion II uses reed valves while the R, PL and Advantage series use disc valves.

 

[Trey T]

Its an overall engineering design, not that you want to lug it around; although service truck wouldnt mind the 100lbs less on thier gas guzzling engine.

Compare it with any disc valve type pumps (Kellogg, Curtis, saylor, quincy, etc....)

It's one of top reason why I praise Champion pump over any other American made brand.

I have a very hard time thinking an R15 is the lightest pump around. They are very heavy duty units and not what I would call light. Why would you want a compressor pump light unless you were carrying it.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk 2

 

[md21722]

This is an old thread that came in in a search.

I wanted to add that the Champion R15 pump weighs about 125 pounds which is about 80-100 pounds lighter than the Saylor Beall 705 which weighs about 222 pounds. The difference is that the Champion R15 has an aluminum head with steel liners. There is no cylinder head to blow as its all one integral unit. No special tools are required to change or service the disc valves. They are accessed by removing the LP/HP intake/exhuast manifolds which take 9/16" wrenches. They have been making pumps this way since at least the 1940's. I have an old RE-7 to compare against. The Saylor Beall is 100% cast iron, has a separate valve plate and head, and requires a special tool to remove the valves. They are both very good compressor pumps that take a different approach.

 

[md21722]

Anybody know what the difference between a R15A and a R15B pump is? Do R15 pumps have disc valves or reed valves? Just curious as I'm looking at new Advantage and Centurion II compressors.

Both R15 pumps have disc valves. They changed the valve sizes a bit but otherwise they are the same.

That is incorrect. An electric motor is to maintain constant speed as long as it is within its rated load. If the load is causing the motor to slow down then it is overloaded and thus will likely damage the motor.

Under normal condition, the motor RPM will stay constant and therefore the pump RPM should remain constant too since there is only one set of pulleys.

Shortly after posting the previous question, I was able to find a way to contact Champion directly, and I was told that it depends on the pulley size. They said that their customers can specify the compressor to come with a maximum PSI of 125 or 175 or even 250 (pressure lubricated only). So if someone were to specify a maximum pressure of 125 PSI, then the compressor would come with a different pulley size (smaller) and therefore increase the pump RPM. This would allow the compressor to fill the tank quicker since the load would not be as great as with a 175 PSI unit.

This is a great information. Champion is saying that you can increase CFM by turning the pump faster if you can live with a lower maximum discharge pressure.

 

[metalmagpie]

Anybody know what the difference between a R15A and a R15B pump is? Do R15 pumps have disc valves or reed valves? Just curious as I'm looking at new Advantage and Centurion II compressors.

The R15A has a rounded cylinder head shape while the R15B is more square. Mostly the fins. The valves are the same. Later R15s have some different valves.

I know this thread is old, I'm just appending information for future searches.