Air compressor sizing

[OurTown]

We are planning a major remodel and want to upgrade our single phase, single stage, 60 gallon air compressor. It seems that it's hard to find out how much air things use. How do you guys determine compressor size? I'm sure a lot of you will say you have a 5 HP two stage piston with 80 gallons and it works fine for your situation. Also is a dryer a good idea to have at a car wash? For an extra $700 we can get a 30 cfm refrigerated dryer in our compressor package from Eaton. Eaton is local to us and was highly recommended by our distributor. Something like this only with a three phase motor:

https://www.eatoncompressor.com/piston-compressors/quiet-air-compressor-package-with-silencer-and-dryer?product_id=504


For $400 more we can go to a V4 7.5HP and goes from 19 (for the 5HP) to 31 cfm @100psi. It's starting to sound overkill to me but the 7.5 is what is recommended by our distributor.

 

[MEP001]

If you have the room, I would recommend two of these:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-8...Stage-Electric-Air-Compressor-C801H/203187346

They're quiet and continuous duty rated, and if one has a problem you're not down while you're working on it.

 

[OurTown]

I don't think we are comparing apples to apples but we have thought about redundancy. I'm not sure if we will have the room but if we will then we might consider keeping the old one as a backup. Eaton Compressor is right down the road so parts should be very quick to get. If you look how these are designed and built it might be a lifetime compressor. Buy once cry once.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Do you mean Polar Air with Eaton compressors I have a 2 stage 3 phase and had it 5 years and love it smooth machine. Good customer support what size is your wash or your intentions. $700 extra for a air dryer is very reasonable. A good blowdown solinod going off every 15-20mins will keep everything dry. Most washes with air dryers are operating alot of things on air like tunnel equipment. 80 gallons will easily operate a 4/1 self serve or more.

 

[OurTown]

Yes Polar. We are going to have a 65' Autec in-bay-Express and keep our three self serve bays. Also we were thinking of doing what 2biz is doing and putting the presoak and tire cleaner on a separate foam gun which might require blow down in the winter.

 

[Randy]

Eaton makes a really good air compressor. I would go with the 5HP 2 Stage 3 Phase 80 Gallon Vertical Air Compressor. I don’t think you really need the 30CFM Dryer, we’ve never had to use one. What are you planning on doing that you need that much air?

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Be plenty of air man I ain't trying to be negative but a guy in NC just did a brand new drive through autec express this summer with no conveyor you have to drive the car through each function hard to use, and I ain't trying to be negative he did a brand new build and maybe washes 10 cars a day on a 5 lane road the people hate it you can inbox me for more info and true story I swear there many other routes you could go and be way way way better off equipment wise. Said it was the worst investment he ever made.

 

[OurTown]

I would go with the 5HP 2 Stage 3 Phase 80 Gallon Vertical Air Compressor.

That's what I'm thinking but my distributor thinks we should lean toward the 7.5. Maybe because of longevity?

he did a brand new build and maybe washes 10 cars a day on a 5 lane road

That's nuts. I need to know where this is. I'm sending a PM to you.

 

[1carwash1]

Are you in a town that has an Express wash? Can your town support an Express Wash or at least a Mini Express?

 

[OurTown]

Are you in a town that has an Express wash? Can your town support an Express Wash or at least a Mini Express?

You and I talked about this on the phone. There are two EEs that popped up in the last year in the next town over (15 min drive) and one is doing great and the other was a bad idea to put it there. The guy on the other side of town (10 min drive) is modifying his 40' bay to 60' and putting in a mini express and will probably be unattended. There's no way we could support a full EE. If we wanted to be unattended then a flat belt mini express (60'?) might be okay but I think we are talking about a good bit more money.

 

[MEP001]

If you don't have room for two smaller compressors, then you might consider something like an oversized Rolair unit. They run at a lower RPM for less noise and a longer life. You can order them with an aftercooler which should reduce or eliminate your need for a refrigerated dryer.

Whichever one you get, make sure you break it in properly per the manual.

 

[OurTown]

They run at a lower RPM for less noise and a longer life.

That's how the Polar/Eaton compressors are built.

You can order them with an aftercooler which should reduce or eliminate your need for a refrigerated dryer.

That is interesting. I'm going to look into those.

 

[APW]

Ourtown I just bought the same identical compressor from then for a remodel I am doing. The one thing I have noticed is how much quieter it is then my Ingersoll Rands at my other locations. It will be a for a 3/1 with a Razor.

 

[mgmtoo]

You want to look at the amount of CFM at Rated PSI. I run a 5 bay, 1 auto on a single compressor. It's rated at 80 cfm@ 120psi. It does the job. I also run a back up.

 

[OurTown]

It's rated at 80 cfm@ 120psi

Are you sure about that?

 

[MEP001]

Must be one of these:

https://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/Schulz-934.7452-460-Air-Compressor/p13711.html

 

[Jeff_L]

Regarding the air dryer. I put the cheap ones in my washes from harbor freight ($400?), have had to replace two of them in the last 4-5 years. If you have anything which uses air to run, flojets, airlift doors, etc, I would recommend a dryer. Water kills those things and you have the chance of voiding the warranty if they find water in the air side of the equipment.

If you do go the HF route, first thing I do is remove the cheaper water separator bowl on it and install a drip leg with an automatic valve on it to dump the water every so often.

 

[wash4me]

Saylor Beal is a very good compressor. Almost without exception if you buy a compressor that has 1800 RPM motor and a standard frame like for example 184t for example it will be a good compressor. That being said overall reliability is probably better with two cheaper compressors you share the tanks and one has a pressure switch set a little lower than the other then you can switch which one the pressure switch is that’s lower every few months or whatever you want to do.

 

[Greg Pack]

I've had good luck with my Quincy 7.5. Its probably overkill for 4/2 though. Previous owner has a 15HP IR.

Just had a compressor motor bite the dust Saturday at my #2 wash. Its a Kobalt that was there when I bought the place seven years ago. The tank looks badly rusted though, so I'm going to replace it. I've used a 110V piston compressor as a backup plugged into the large tank and she keeps up fine.

 

[OurTown]

Previous owner has a 15HP IR

Now THAT'S overkill.