In a bit of a bind

[silverdot1211]

I bought a Puma PK6060V air compressor last year. I bought it with the mind set that I would be using it for air tools light sand blasting and of course filling tires and balls and that sort of stuff. Well fast forward to now and I use it quite a bit for sand blasting and in general it gets used more then I expected. I have used the air compressor so hard at one point the plastic line used to shut the compressor off partially melted and blew off. I know the compressor has a 50% duty cycle. To avoid some of the issues I saw I installed an after cooler (after the pump before the tank) and added a box fan. At this point it is just a band aid.

So my question is. I saw a duplex IR type 30 with I believe an 80 gallon tank at the junk yard the other day. I spun the wheel and it was smooth but didn't do anything beyond that. I was thinking of robbing the pump (not sure on the model or size I think it was a 5hp) and replacing what I have.....thoughts?

My concern is that my tank is rated for like 150PSI can I put a large pump on a smallish tank? would the pump head wear prematurely because it doesn't get time to warm up before it shuts off?

At this point I have two things working against me. one funds are tight and two the wife/check book doesn't understand the issue I am at and she refuses to let get another bigger air compressor. As a side story when I bought this one I told her the one I am looking at was bigger then she was. at the point she said "sure what ever." Well when I got it home and she saw how big it was and she got legitimately mad and my tail slept on the couch for 3 days (I seriously slept on the couch!)

I know I am rambling but I have so many questions and don't know where to start. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[plinker]

If the motor you have will have enough power to pull it, the pump off the IR will be fine, but a 3hp motor wont be enough if the IR had a 5hp (just an example).

As for the 150 psi tank, the pump does not control that, the pressure switch does. Likely the IR tank was 175psi rated.

 

[silverdot1211]

If needed I think I can find a 5hp motor but was hoping maybe different size pulleys would help address this

 

[scw1991]

You could use a 3hp motor. You'd just need to slow the compressor speed down by going to a smaller motor pulley diameter. yes you can put a larger compressor on a smaller tank. Motors are rated with a certain starting code which designates a certain number of starts/stops per hour. If you find you are exceeding this value, you could always install an unloader valve. Same configuration as a gasoline engine driven compressor which allows the motor to run continuously

 

[silverdot1211]

So the duty cycle on the compressor isn't for the pump but for the motor starting and stopping? lately when I am blasting the compressor will run almost continuously for like 20 min or better.