There are alternatives instead of buying one air compressor. I have two medium sized air compressors connected together with an air valve. When I have a small job such as airing a tire or such, I turn on one compressor. When I'm doing bigger jobs or have multiple air lines going I turn on both compressors.
definition of medium size?
I pretty much convinced myself that the [FONT="]30gal 1.6hp 5.5cfm at 90psi 6.5 @ 40 psi[/FONT] is what will suit my needs, and that I can get a small pancake one in the future but probably won't be necessary.
Don't see why you would not want a 220V unit. If you need to run AC power out to your garage, it is not much extra work to make it capable of 220V .. Most homes have this voltage already in the main circuit breaker panel. Just pop in a double pole breaker after calculating what size and what size wire to run to the garage. Easy job for an electrician.
Don't see why you would not want a 220V unit. If you need to run AC power out to your garage, it is not much extra work to make it capable of 220V .. Most homes have this voltage already in the main circuit breaker panel. Just pop in a double pole breaker after calculating what size and what size wire to run to the garage. Easy job for an electrician.
FWIW, we use 240v for split phase systems. If there is already a dedicated circuit in the garage, it can actually be quite a bit of work to run a new wire from the main panel to the garage to get 240 out there. If you are just running from a sub in the garage, I see your point there. If it comes down to just plugging something into the wall compared to having an electrician show up to install a 240v receptacle, and having to pull a home run to the panel, it can be a HUGE difference depending on how hard the pull is.
There are very minimal gains from going to 240v over 120v, except that the installer can use smaller wire to get the same power. It is 3 phase motors which are excellent at minimizing eddy currents and none of this matters in a residential setting, which do not have 3 phase power.
i'll be needing to use an impact
edit: pretty much convinced myself that the [FONT="]30gal 1.6hp 5.5cfm at 90psi 6.5 @ 40 psi[/FONT] is what will suit my needs, and that I can get a small pancake one in the future but probably won't be necessary.
For am impact wrench, I would want at least 2 hp, personally. 5.5 scfm at 90 psi is on the lower end for a good impact wrench, but ought to be passable.
Of note, the regulator and hose can play a big role in things. If you just have one of those cheap 1/4" coiled hoses it's not going to work well. You'll definitely want at least a 3/8" hose, with good fittings.
All that said, these days I mostly just use a cheap Harbor Freight electric impact wrench unless I need big power. It's less hassle since I don't need to have an air line and it's expendable.
ZV
So pretty much any air compressor that runs on a standard outlet is on the low end for impact wrench then? i can't find any that have much higher cfm at 90 psi. than 5.5 @ 90
So pretty much any air compressor that runs on a standard outlet is on the low end for impact wrench then? i can't find any that have much higher cfm at 90 psi. than 5.5 @ 90
So pretty much any air compressor that runs on a standard outlet is on the low end for impact wrench then? i can't find any that have much higher cfm at 90 psi. than 5.5 @ 90
Yeah, most manufacturers that put a standard 15 amp plug shoot for the 80% safe loading, which is 1500 watts, or just a hair under 2 horsepower. Kitchen appliances venture a bit higher than that, because 20 amp small appliance branch circuits have been required in kitchens for quite a while.
It simply takes a lot of power to provide that much flow. There are 120v 20 amp options, but just going to 240v is the more common option. The 240v motor will produce roughly twice the power of the 120v motor at the same amperage.
For the most part in 240v applications, we go right to 20 amp twist lock receptacles and 2 pole breakers. 3 conductor wire is much more common in 12 gauge as well. Going with that 80% "safe" loading, you get 3,840 watts of power, or just over 5 HP.
Much easier to get higher flows with that much power.
If the only other thing you were thinking of doing with compressed air was blow out sprinkler lines, and are mainly thinking of this for impact gun use, I would look into cordless impacts. The brushless models are putting out some serious power and have the advantage of not having to deal with air hoses, oiling, and compressor noise. That said, the motors and impact mechanisms on the cordless ones I have used are not exactly quiet...
Speaking as someone who does far more automotive work than the average person, I really don't think going to 240v is necessary for the OP's intended purposes. A 30 gallon tank will provide enough buffer that, unless he's painting or using a grinder (I use a corded grinder/cutoff instead of air), he'll be OK with a 120v compressor.