wearetheromans85
Member
80 gallon 5hp 220v air comp or 30 gallon 2hp 110v air comp? I'm debating on which to buy.
Which consumes more electricity?
- Thread starter wearetheromans85
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91_4x4runner
Active member
80 gallon 5hp 220V air compressor.
JohnFreeman
Well-known member
Yup! What he said! 
premierplayer
Well-known member
5 hp
don't let the amps fool ya' , it's __ amps for each 120v leg/phase when going 240v
don't let the amps fool ya' , it's __ amps for each 120v leg/phase when going 240v
sberry
Banned
Obviously the bigger unit but,,,, you don't buy a comp based on that, use is so intermittent that it is moot. Air is not very efficient anyway, you use it because it is such a huge labor saver.
Mickey O
Well-known member
The 5 hp will draw more current, but if you need the kind of output the 5hp provides the 2 hp will have to run a lot longer to produce the same amount of air and may cost the same to run or maybe even more depending on how it's used. Get an air compressor sized to your needs.
OP
wearetheromans85
Member
cool thanks. i figured the big one would but wasnt sure.
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
Power consumption should have no bearing on which air compressor you choose, unless you did not have 220V and were unable to get it.
z28snksknr
Well-known member
From an energy standpoint, your useage will require the same amount of work, regardless of the compressor motor (assuming the efficiencies of the motors are equal).
It's not how much 'electricity' a compressor uses, its how much energy out you get for energy in. What are you really asking here? Are you concerened about operating costs, circuit requirements to install, or something else? Electricity is not a measurable item. You have to think in terms of current or power.
lg
no neat sig line
lg
no neat sig line
Mickey O
Well-known member
Sure it is, voltage.
No it is not. Electricity is a common term, not scaleable. It is like saying 'Fuel', it in not a scaleable term. Voltage is a measurable component of electricity but it alone does not make up electricity. In the Op the guy asked about a 220v compressor vs a 110v compressor. But that is not the whole equation. If both compressors were the same HP would you say that 110v unit would still use less electricity?
lg
no neat sig line
Mickey O
Well-known member
No, I'd use amps, another measurement of electricity.
sberry
Banned
Amps is the measure of rate of flow, watts would = power.
Mickey O
Well-known member
Yes, all units used to measure electricity. What's a coulomb?
sberry
Banned
I don't know, I don't know anything about electricity, more than about 3 wires and I am lost.
Charles (in GA)
Well-known member
The power company uses Kilo watts per hour to measure electric consumption, so yes, it is very much "measurable".
The OP was asking about "consumption", so its readily apparent his concern was energy consumption.
Problem is, the smaller compressor probably has a motor that might not be 2 hp. Years ago their was a class action lawsuit about the compressor companies using that "fake" starting horsepower to advertise a compressor. The still do use these numbers, but they simply put in small lettering somewhere, that its "starting horsepower" and they have CYA.
Generally, I have found that 5 hp two stage compressors and up are usually described accurately by their running HP while most single stage compressors will have odd numbers that reflect the starting HP. You have to look at the actual wattage draw of the compressor, and how it is used to determine total energy consumption.
As someone already noted, it takes about the same amount of energy to make a specific amount of standard cubic feet per minute, no matter the compressor size, so its more up to what the OP plans to use the unit for, as to which he selects.
Charles
Charles
I will concede the KWH as one measurement of electricity, but it is still a power measurement. However I will not concede that the OP was asking about consumption. I don't think the OP has a good idea of what he is asking. If he is asking about consumption then he will have to investigate the cost of the pressurised air that he is using, not the power consumed by the compressor as you said. I also could assume that he is asking about the facalities requirements needed to power up the system.
Lets hope that the OP comes back here and clears up what he is really asking for so that he can receive good answer.
lg
no neat sig line
I looked about a bit and came up with this site
http://www.pneumaticsonline.com/Articles/NorgrenArticle062000.htm
It gives some good bits in pneumatics. Buried in there is some HP/scfm information that is worth reading. Understanding this information will allow one to better decide what to buy. Be aware that they are not talking about 'Sears' HP here.
lg
no neat sig line
http://www.pneumaticsonline.com/Articles/NorgrenArticle062000.htm
It gives some good bits in pneumatics. Buried in there is some HP/scfm information that is worth reading. Understanding this information will allow one to better decide what to buy. Be aware that they are not talking about 'Sears' HP here.
lg
no neat sig line
They will both use "about" the same amount of KWH to produce a given volume of air. May vary a little due to unit efficiency, but generally close.
So, just ask yourself how much air you need, will the smaller one do the job? For as long as you need it? Or would a bigger unit provide a 'cushion' for growth and be more durable?
So, just ask yourself how much air you need, will the smaller one do the job? For as long as you need it? Or would a bigger unit provide a 'cushion' for growth and be more durable?