Choosing the Right Air Compressor - Part 2
This is our follow-up to Part 1, where we introduced some basics concepts about air tanks, and what power source is right for you.
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Compressor Type:
Generally, air compressors fall into one of 4 categories.
Compact air compressors: (Sometimes called inflators)
These simple, inexpensive compressors usually don’t have storage tanks, and imply blow air out of a tube. A good example would be those inexpensive electric tire pumps that plug into the car’s cigarette lighter.
The pumps are very low-output and the airflow is unsteady. For this reason, you won’t be using any of these to power your air tools.
Single-Stage Compressors:
These compressors have a single piston that pushes air into the storage tank for future use. Although they’re fine for home use, they tend to only support lower pressures below 150PSI. (Pounds Per Square Inch)
Two-Stage Compressors:
A 2-stage motor uses 2 pistons to force air into the storage tank. This allows the motor to run more efficiently, and supply a higher, steadier pressure that exceeds the limitations of the single-stage compressor.
Also, this type of motor also minimizes heat generation that can cause motors to wear out.
As the name implies, this model works by compressing the air using 2 separate stages.
With a single-stage compressor, air is sucked into the unit where it might be pressurized to 4 atmospheres. This puts a lot of strain on the motor and generates a lot of heat.
With the 2 stage motor, there are 2 pistons and 2 chambers. The first piston sucks air in and compresses it to 2 atmospheres. Then, the second piston comes in on the backstroke and compresses the air again from 2 to 4 atmospheres as it gets pushed into the tank. This is much more efficient and it generates less heat that might damage the engine.
Multistage Compressors:
You can buy compressors with 3 or more stages. These types are usually intended for very high-pressure applications such as filling scuba tanks. However, for powering your air tools, these might be overkill.
Extra Tips
When it comes to the 1 and 2 stage piston compressors, operation is pretty simple and automated. The motors are usually designed to shut off automatically when a critical pressure is reached inside the storage tank, and it turns back on again when pressure drops.
If your tank runs more than usual, it could be a sign that you may have an air leak.
For beginners, I also recommend looking for an oil-free air tank model. These require less maintenance than other tanks.
[To Be Continued In Part 3]
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