Ingersoll Rand SS3 pump

[mikeweb]

I had a few questions in regards to this pump. I have an SS3 pump on my 120v Garagemate SS3R2 which puts out 5.7cfm @ 90psi. I also see other larger units SS3L3 (60gal) with the same SS3 pump putting out 10.7cfm +.

It seems that the only difference is that the larger units are running at 240v. How is this possible? Im assuming that the pump operates at a higher rpm thus the higher output?

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/INGERSOLLRAND-Single-Stage-Replacement-Pump-1WF72?Pid=search

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Just a wild guess but could the SS3R2 pump be a second revision or a different pump all together? If you're sure the pumps are one and the same then the only possible difference would be RPM, the 220v compressor we have with a SS3 pump runs at 3450.

 

[dwm]

SS3R2 runs the pump at 580 rpm. SS3L3 runs the pump at 1200 rpm.

http://www.aire.ws/HOJA ING SS3.pdf

 

[mikeweb]

Makes sense, twice the rpm = twice the output

I guess I could technically get more "out" of my SS3 if I increased the speed with a new pully. The only negative tradeoff would be an increase in noise and pump wear.

The electric motor (Emerson) runs at 3450rpm while the pump runs at 580rpm

 

[dwm]

Makes sense, twice the rpm = twice the output

I guess I could technically get more "out" of my SS3 if I increased the speed with a new pully. The only negative tradeoff would be an increase in noise and pump wear.

The electric motor (Emerson) runs at 3450rpm while the pump runs at 580rpm

You're not going to get 10 CFM @ 90 PSI from a standard 120V outlet (15A or 20A breaker, AWG14 wire).

The rule of thumb is 4 CFM at 100 PSI per true HP for a good compressor. For most single-stage units, it's more like 3 CFM @ 100 PSI per true HP. You're asking for trouble if you go above 2 true HP on a 120V outlet. For a long time, compressor manufacturers labelled 120V compressors with their start-up HP, which is essentially meaningless other than giving you a hint at whether it'll trip the circuit breaker at start-up. Regulations changed in 2004, but my old pre-regulation Craftsman portable says 5.5 HP. Umm, there isn't a snowball's chance in hell that you can draw that much current from a 120V outlet for very long (I don't have my breaker profile charts handy, but from memory it's a fraction of a second for a typical 15A breaker).

(5.5 HP * 746 watts/HP) / 120 volts rms = 34 amps

My Crafstman portable claims 6.4 CFM @ 90 PSI (which I think is wildly optimistic), and will fairly regularly trip a 15A breaker on start-up. It's OK on a 20A breaker. It'd be OK on either after start-up, but then how do you start it without spending a lot of money?

Not all of us have the space, money or justification for it, but... I'm happy to have both a portable and a stationary with the latter being capable of higher CFM. My needs don't yet exceed the capability of the SS3L3 so I suspect I'll have it for a very long time. At $599 plus regulator and whatever else you need, I think it's a great deal. So is the SS5L5 at $899, but to me the smart bump above the SS3L3 is a Type30 (say a 2430L5) or a Quincy or an Eaton. I almost bumped up to a 2-stage, but in the end I just don't need it given my usage (weekend warrior, I don't use it every weekend, and none of my air tools gobble enough air to justify 18 CFM @ 90 PSI).

 

[Chatt69chgr]

I realize this is a very old thread but I am exploring the same as OP. You can change the elec motor to larger HP 230-vac and chg pulley to about 4-1/4" to run pump at 1200 rpm. Some posts I've read say that the SS3 pump might not last all that long at 1200 rpm. Don't know about this. But biggest problem with all of the IR compressors besides the cheap quality elec motor is operating the motor with the pressure switch. Contacts will fail. Might not on the little Garage Mate since it is 120-vac motor and low HP. But best way to deal with this is let the pressure sw operate a magnetic starter. SQ D 8536 series is good for this. On EBAY in 2020 for little over $100. Good upgrade to Garage Mate would be 230-vac elec motor. There are several 5hp units online for $300 and less. Run a 3.5" pulley to increase pump speed to maybe 950rpm. Use magnetic starter. Get rid of cheap regulator attached to press. sw., plug this outlet, and move new regulator to end of tank. Fitting there is a hex 1/2" pipe thread plug. Can reduce to 3/8" and this would be perfect for small portable unit. Personally, I like the Parker Hannefin 06e series regulators but they are kind of expensive but are as good as you can get. The about scenario is what I'm about to embark on.

 

[vanapplebomb]

1st, IR makes some pretty poor prosumer grade pumps, and I wouldn’t touch that one with a 10 foot poll... you can do way better for the same price. You pay for the name with IR prosumer grade compressors. That’s a $250 pump they pass off as $500+ Pump, and they can get away with it just because it has an IR logo on it.

2nd, to make matters worse, running that pump at a higher rpm will just exacerbate the above issue.

A more powerful motor should go with a larger pump. Period.