looking to buy a air compressor

[tims78camaro]

looking to buy a air compressor. see alot i like but the problem is you got to have 220 outlet. is there a good one that wont run alot when using air tools doing body work that not a 220

 

[Twisted_Metal]

I was in the same situation several years ago.
If your breaker box is in your garage, it's a very simple job for an electrician to add a 220 outlet next to the box.
Cost me around $100 to have it done.

 

[CorkyE]

Agree with Terry, I ran my own circuit when I plumed in my compressor.

 

[70lt1z28]

looking to buy a air compressor. see alot i like but the problem is you got to have 220 outlet. is there a good one that wont run alot when using air tools doing body work that not a 220

Depends on what you want to run with the compressor. Basic air tools like an impact wrench or to pump up tires you can get away with a 110V compressor with a 60 gallon tank. Wait for thew tank to pump up and then use the impact. For other things like a HVLP paint gun or a DA or a blast box or just about anything else you need 220V. Even then not a small 220V or it will run constantly Look at the amperage draw. A true 5HP will draw about 22-24AMPS at 220V. I run mine on a dedicated 30 amp circuit. Wire size will depend on distance from the breaker.

I have heard of a "work around" that is if you have 2 110V outlets in close proximity that are on different phases you can make a cord that combines them for 220V. US households have 2 phase power. From the transformer, there are 2 110V lines coming in. Each one goes to the two columns in the breaker panel. A 220V breaker just combines these 2 in the panel to get the 220V. If you have 2 outlets in your garage with each one on a different side (or phase) of the panel (you can check by switching off the breakers) then you can make a cord up that combines these along with the neutrals to get the 220V power. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT TO CODE! If your house burns down you are probably on your own. The real problem starts if one of the breakers trips and the other for some reason doesn't.

 

[Ricks72Z28]

We use these in the field when we don't have access to 220V .. Dave is right you need two separate 110V circuits to make it work.

http://www.quick220.com/blog/quick-220-a-convenient-and-safe-110v-to-220v-converter/

 

[70lt1z28]

Didn't know that cord existed. Kind if surprised it is approved but fundamentally it should be OK. We made one up here at the shop years ago with its own 20 amp breaker. Really helps in a pinch but to do it right run a dedicated outlet. I made one up for my brother in law as he was renting and the garage had the individual phases out there, but no 220V outlet and he didn't want to go to the LL to get one run.

 

[Ricks72Z28]

It is actually a nice setup, will not power up if you are on the same circuit and has indicator lights to let you know all is safe.

 

[AK99]

Once the 220 is figured out, I highly recommend a Quincy compressor. Yes they are a lot more expensive than the store brand units, but they are reliable, very quiet, and the CFM specs are very good at high pressure. I have the QT-54 and it does an excellent job with bodywork.

 

[70lt1z28]

I got one of these:
https://www.eatoncompressor.com/pis...ingle-phase-80-gallon-vertical-air-compressor

Works quite well. Quiet and reliable. They are local to me and I visited there plant and was fairly impressed. Seem to be good value for the money so far.

 

[Lowend]

There's a steep cost-curve with Air Compressors. I just dealt with some shops compressors and ended up going with Champion HP Advantage series 5HP 80 Gallon. Built like tanks, but require a 40 Amp breaker and need to be hard-wired
This is a smaller version
https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/...ssor/ccsrva03/2626375?q=Air+Compressors&pos=0