Bubbles Galore
Active member
I am in the market for a new compressor. What are the benefits to having a compressor that is dual stage vs. single stage as far as car washes are concerned? Thanks!
air compressors
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raisetheprice
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Don't know a whole lot about the electrical differences, but I've got Rol-Air compressors. One is 10 years old and the other 8. I've had to change 1 motor and a few pressure switches along the way. They are workhorses, just change the oil. Don't buy a Tractor Supply or NAPA air compressor...spend the money and get a good one that will last.
Waxman
Super Moderator
I've got a Champion Centurion II that is just amazing!
In 1993 on a Friday night as I was getting ready to go out of town for a week when my air compressor went down. The only store open was a Builders Square (they are no longer in business) The only Air Compressor they had was a Sanborn 20 gallon Megaforce 3 hp air compressor. I bought the Sanborn thinking it would only last a couple of months. It?s been in use now 15 years and it?s still going strong. The only thing I?ve done to it in 15 years is drain the tank periodicity. A couple of tips on buying an air compressor. Correctly size the air compressor for the application. Don?t even consider buying a direct drive oilless air compressor or any direct drive air compressor, they run to fast. The slower they run the longer they will last, its heat that destroys an air compressor pump head. Saylor Beall makes a excellent air compressor www.saylor-beall.com/home I?ve also heard good things about Eaton air compressors www.eatoncompressor.com
Bubbles Galore
Active member
I am not sure but I don't think the differences are electrical. I am just curious about the actual compressor being dual or single stage.
A two-stage air compressor is normally used in industrial, commercial applications where a reliable air source is critical. A two-stage air compressor compresses to a higher pressure than single stage air compressor. This allows the air compressor to store more air for future usage. The efficiency in a two-stage air compressor is much higher that in a single stage air compressor. A two-stage air compressor produces more cubic feet of air per horsepower that a single stage air compressor which results in lower operating costs. Also with a two-stage air compressor less heat is generated which reduces the wear and results in a longer life of the air compressor.
Twodose
Active member
Check out the eaton compressors. I purchased one last year and they are really well built.
Personally I wouldn't waste the money on a two-stage unless you need it.
If your SS only, Single stage would be fine.
Personally I wouldn't waste the money on a two-stage unless you need it.
If your SS only, Single stage would be fine.
GoBuckeyes
Self-Serve and Automatics
I would like to give my 2cents and reccomend against buying a compressor from EatonCompressors. We had always bought Ingersoll-Rand compressors from Grainger and decided to go with Eaton based on a reccomendation from this forum. The Ingersoll compressors were guaranteed to have a head gasket leak within a few months; Ingersoll customer service reps agreed. So for roughly the same price, we bought an Eaton Compressor (http://www.eatoncompressor.com/catalog/item/504747/172983.htm) that is supposed to be built like a brick shiphouse according their product description. Unfortunately, we have spent more time fixing this single compressor than all of our other 10 + compressors combined. This includes rebuilding the compressor head at least 5 or 6 times, changing the motor pulley which was sized incorrectly from the factory, replacing the motor, replacing capacitors, and adding the saftey pop-off which wasn't installed at the factory! Ironically, it is down again as I type. It keeps tripping a 30 amp double pole breaker, even though the motor protector has never tripped and is set at 20 amps. This compresor was put in service last November and needed several of these repairs after only re-filling for the thrid time! Maybe we got one built on a leap year Friday, either way, they don't get our approval.
WOW!! That really sucks!!! How they are with there warranty? Are they like most of the other typical businesses that seem to forget about you after the sale or are they repairing the problems with there 5 year ?Full Bumper to Bumper? warranty. What brand of motor does it have installed? We tried the Ingersoll Rand air compressors years ago and had a lot of problems with them
MEP001
Well-known member
Ours is an Ingersoll-Rand 2-stage, which has been very reliable. The motor and the check valve in the tank have been replaced, and other than regular oil changes nothing else has been touched in 7 years. We installed quite a few when I was a tech, and the only problems with them have been the cheap motor they use. When ours failed I went with a Baldor replacement which was not only $200 cheaper, it starts and runs much, much better.
It's true that a 2-stage is more for "industrial" applications, and as a rule it will be more reliable. For a plain self-serve, there's really nothing wrong with something like a big Husky from Home Depot, as long as it's properly broken in. When I started having motor issues with the I/R, I got a weird 3-piston Campbell-Hausfeld compressor from Home Depot to have as a back-up. It runs cool and quiet and has no trouble at all supplying air to the 6/1 with all air pumps and Vector which by itself requires 10 CFM.
It's true that a 2-stage is more for "industrial" applications, and as a rule it will be more reliable. For a plain self-serve, there's really nothing wrong with something like a big Husky from Home Depot, as long as it's properly broken in. When I started having motor issues with the I/R, I got a weird 3-piston Campbell-Hausfeld compressor from Home Depot to have as a back-up. It runs cool and quiet and has no trouble at all supplying air to the 6/1 with all air pumps and Vector which by itself requires 10 CFM.
Twodose
Active member
This is the same compressor I purchased from them, absolutely 0 problems since installing over a year ago.
Thats allot of problems, I am wondering how is there customer service, did they help you resolve all these issues at no charge?
I would think if you pushed it they would let you return it for a new one.
Sorry to hear you had all those problems, should never happen.
Reds
Member
I had a Rol Air 2 stage installed in 2005 as per my equipment suppliers recomendation. In 2007 it started spitting oil out the crankcase breather. Within a couple months it shot a piece of crankcase bearing right thru the compressor housing and punched a nice hole in my restroom door. I put a whole new compressor on it. Have had no problems with little things like belts, switches, etc. I bought an Ingersoll Rand for my workshop that can be moved to the wash if the Rol Air dies again.
GoBuckeyes
Self-Serve and Automatics
As far as warranty, Eaton has been alright. Of course they can't believe it and this is the 'first time' they have had these kind of problems. They send us all the parts at no charge, however, if we did not have a portable oilless compressor our wash would be SOL. Several times they promised to have the parts delivered the next day when in fact they didn't even get the part shipped for two days! It's also a good thing that we're mechanically inclined and can do the work ourselves. If we had to pay a service guy to do these repairs the compressor would be in the garbage already. Funny thing is, when the Eaton goes down, we use a portable IR which does OK running the wash. That tells you what kind of 'load' we're are putting on the Eaton! Ideally, I would like an entirely new unit but this is installed on a mezzanine and it's not light.
Dirtychuck
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The main difference between a single stage and a two stage compressor is the maximum pressure. A single stage can typically put out about 120-130 psi while a two stage can go up to 175 psi.
If you don't need the higher pressure, I would go with single stage machine.
It takes a little more energy to compress air to the higher pressure, so should cost a less to operate the single stage.
If you don't need the higher pressure, I would go with single stage machine.
It takes a little more energy to compress air to the higher pressure, so should cost a less to operate the single stage.
Rudy
Active member
I've had the same Eaton Compressor for over 8 years and it goes and goes. I've only had one or two service questions, and I found them to be honest and beyond accommodating....... Based on MY experience, I would not hesitate to recommend them again.
I wish you luck resolving your problem.
I wish you luck resolving your problem.
MEP001
Well-known member
That's actually not true. Since it's two stage, each piston does half the compression work to 175 PSI, whereas a single-stage is compressing fully to 125 with each stroke of each piston. There is the ability to achieve a greater pressure, but one of the main functional differences is that a 2-stage compressor can supply the same CFM regardless of the pressure.Dirtychuck said:
Bubbles Galore
Active member
So.....a two stage 60 gallon compressor would be plenty for my 8 bay SS and will still be fine when I add an IBA in the future. Correct?
MEP001
Well-known member
It should be enough, as long as the CFM is sufficient for the demand when you add an auto. We're running an I/R 80 gallon, 24 CFM unit for a 6/1. The bigger tank means a longer run-time for the compressor, which should extend the life of the motor and starter components. As I mentioned, I have an 80 and a 60 tee'd together and adjusted the switches so the 60 will kick in a few PSI under the 80 if it fails. The 80 runs almost twice as long now on each start-up.
