A potential backup air compressor & for portable use choice?

[mjwalsh]

Anybody try the below medium duty compressor as a backup choice for our ERs? It looks like it could be a better choice than some that this forum has discussed previously &/or lowering the RPM on one our existing compressors for less noise. The link was posted by a very reputable DCO laundromat owner in the New York City Area on the trusty CLA laundry forum that I am very much a part of. I thought I would pass it along because it could be even more pertinent to some of us car wash operators.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-20-Gal-175-psi-Quiet-Portable-Air-Compressor-C201H/206189626

Even though it is oil-less it is extra quiet & never needs an oil separator like the oil air compressors. With us having had invested in a very expensive plasma cutter (stainless steel cutting) a portable oil-less compressor that can keep up makes sense.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-u...nt-overlook-clean-air-for-plasma-cutting.aspx

mike walsh www.kingkoin.com

 

[MEP001]

I would never use an oilless compressor for a car wash, or for any heavy use. They aren't made for commercial use and they won't warranty it for that.

For the same money you can get a single-stage belt drive compressor about the same size that's much quieter. BTW, 83 dB is NOT quiet.

This is what I chose for a backup compressor at the wash (and it's 85dB):

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-80...Stage-Electric-Air-Compressor-C801H/203187346

 

[Jim L.]

Mike

The oil-less compressor you linked to is the same one I've been using as a backup for the last 3 years. I plumbed it into my system to kick in if the primary compressor fails.

It is definitely NOT quiet. Also you will need a heavy duty extension cord if you use it away form a 110 outlet. I can't remember what it was doing but it would not work with a light duty cord.

 

[Kevin James]

Husky air compressors are “$hit” for the most part. Read the reviews on the 80 gallon model, not very good. If you’re looking for something to put air in your tires at home a cheap oil less air compressor might be OK, we’d never buy one for any reason.

 

[Waxman]

I can't imagine ever needing a backup for my car wash compressor. It's one of the best things I bought when my wash was built 10 years ago. I have a Champion Centurion II. Awesome.

My detail shop compressor is a Husky. New last Summer and already have had a few problems. Never again will I buy an $800 machine when what I need is a $2000 machine.

Live and learn.

 

[Jim L.]

Both belts on the compressor break 5 min. after you lock your equipment room door about 4 PM. Electric motor runs all night till you get to the wash the next morning. Find 2 notes shoved in the front door complaining the brush doesn't have any soap and the automatic is not working like it usually does. Spend most of the morning finding and replacing broken belts.

This happened just before I bought my backup compressor.

 

[Earl Weiss]

I can't imagine ever needing a backup for my car wash compressor. It's one of the best things I bought when my wash was built 10 years ago. I have a Champion Centurion II. Awesome.

My detail shop compressor is a Husky. New last Summer and already have had a few problems. Never again will I buy an $800 machine when what I need is a $2000 machine.

Live and learn.

After a while i had so much back up stuff i jsut built a back up wash next door

 

[Randy]

In 35 years I’ve never needed a backup air compressor. My air compressor is 25 years old, never changed a belt, I did have to replace the start switch in the motor once and replaced the pressure switch once, they both went out on a rainy Monday. Husky products are pretty much junk from what I’ve heard.

 

[mjwalsh]

Thanks for the valuable input everyone ... I definitely will not run out & buy that bad boy. I agree 83 decibel is still too loud. Thanks for reminding me.

So our couple years' old 200 PSI oilless PowerMate (90+ db ?) has been OK with ear protection ... but only has been used for a few days a couple of times while our 2 Stage Ingersol Rand needed a non local part etc. We were lucky to only use the oilless with our expensive plasma cutter by wheeling it around & did not need the oil separator. For less than $200 from Menards ... & does not take up too much space the 200 PSI Powermate 15 Gallon is a good fit for us ... but probably not for the most others without the portable need.

I will have to pin down my New York friend as to if he just put a link out there or if he actually owned that specific air compressor long enough to recommend it? So much advertising is misleading like the words "quiet". Luckily, you guys definitely made me want to steer away from that specific Husky ... I might have been dumb enough to buy it in case the Powermate broke down beyond repair. I read somewhere that with decibel levels the sound itself goes up exponentially so there might have a gain there ... about the same decibel level as our skidsteer used mostly for snow removal.

 

[Earl Weiss]

In 35 years I’ve never needed a backup air compressor. My air compressor is 25 years old, never changed a belt, I did have to replace the start switch in the motor once and replaced the pressure switch once, they both went out on a rainy Monday. Husky products are pretty much junk from what I’ve heard.

And what pray tell is the make and model of this wonderful animal? Sometimes stuff from 25 years ago was built better than stuff today.

 

[copperglobe]

I do have a backup compressor at the wash, a Husky that I've never used, thankfully. But it's nice to look at it sitting there on a Holiday when everything is closed.

I do know that you should never buy this product from Dewalt:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-15-Gal-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-D55168/100497924

Biggest piece of junk equipment I've ever purchased. Leaks air from the fittings and hoses and is so loud I can't be in my garage at home when it's on. I should have read the reviews on the Dewalt on Amazon before I purchased.

 

[Randy]

And what pray tell is the make and model of this wonderful animal? Sometimes stuff from 25 years ago was built better than stuff today.

Earl, It's a Sanborn. They were bought out by Coleman Powermate in about 1995 and they discontinued the Sanborn line. We have 2 of them and they are both going strong. I do have a spare IR air compressor in my garage that I could use at the wash in a pinch, I've never had to use it.

 

[loewem]

Mike

The oil-less compressor you linked to is the same one I've been using as a backup for the last 3 years. I plumbed it into my system to kick in if the primary compressor fails.

It is definitely NOT quiet. Also you will need a heavy duty extension cord if you use it away form a 110 outlet. I can't remember what it was doing but it would not work with a light duty cord.

Can you share how you plumbed your backup to kick in if your primary compressor fails? I'm out of town every other week from Tuesday thru Friday and would like to have the piece of mind when I'm gone.

 

[Jim L.]

I connected both of the compressor’s discharge lines together using a “T”, female quick connect and a hose with male quick connect fittings on both ends. The pressure switch on the primary is set to kick in at 100 psi and kick out at 150 psi. I set the operating pressure on the backup pressure regulator to 80 psi (red knob in Husky website picture from the first post). All the equipment that requires air has individual regulators set to 60 psi or less.

If the primary is operating properly, the backup never kicks in. The female quick connects allow me to disconnect the backup without having to plug holes.

 

[2Biz]

I have read where others say they put CV's inline on both compressors. Helps to keep one from back-feeding into the other. I can think of one reason this is a good idea, there maybe more. If the switch on the main compressor fails and sticks closed, it will over pressure and trip the pop-off...In this case, it can't keep up and drops below needed system pressure. It will then drain the smaller backup compressor because it can't keep up either...A CV on each outlet before the TEE will keep this from happening.

 

[MEP001]

I do have a backup compressor at the wash, a Husky that I've never used, thankfully. But it's nice to look at it sitting there on a Holiday when everything is closed.

I do know that you should never buy this product from Dewalt:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-15-Gal-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-D55168/100497924

Biggest piece of junk equipment I've ever purchased. Leaks air from the fittings and hoses and is so loud I can't be in my garage at home when it's on. I should have read the reviews on the Dewalt on Amazon before I purchased.

I've seen many of those compressors used at car washes. They rarely last more than a year.

 

[MEP001]

I connected both of the compressor’s discharge lines together using a “T”, female quick connect and a hose with male quick connect fittings on both ends. The pressure switch on the primary is set to kick in at 100 psi and kick out at 150 psi. I set the operating pressure on the backup pressure regulator to 80 psi (red knob in Husky website picture from the first post). All the equipment that requires air has individual regulators set to 60 psi or less.

If the primary is operating properly, the backup never kicks in. The female quick connects allow me to disconnect the backup without having to plug holes.

I do basically the same thing, but with a ball valve on each tank to isolate them. I like having them tee'd together because when the main compressor runs it runs twice as long each startup and saves wear on the motor and starter components.