General Chat
Q:
Well, undergoing more intensive training this week, and was informed the old "rule of thumb" for tank sizing (1-2 gallons per CFM of compressor) is now NOT the way the energy efficiency algorithms work best any longer.
Now the new "Rule of Thumb" is 8-10 gallons per CFM of compressor.
How does this affect us? Search the archives about tank sizing, and my past comments for more in-depth commentary, but suffice to say it has always been "bigger is better".
For the typical 5HP machine making say 20-25cfm, what USED to be the suggested tank size was 40-50 Gallons---minimum. That fits nicely with the typical 60 or 80 gallon tank.
But for energy efficiency now more important, the tank recomended for storage for the same unit would be closer to 160 - 250 gallons!!!
BIG tank, guys.
this would relate directly in a different pressure switch setting as well, meaning you would reset it to take advantage of the bigger tank size. instead of kick in at 80 psi and kick out at 120, the differential would be decreased to maybe 10psi, and you would operate between 110 and 120.
What does all this mean? For painting it means you have less drift of pressure (even though you are regulated down), and for air tools your compressor will work the same, but the air pressure you get will be more consistently higher.
It's a significant increase in recomended size, so my suggestion of keeping that old 80 gallon tank around for when you buy the new one with an 80 gallon tank.... Well, you will be at the minimum recomended tank size for a 20cfm compressor now!
Just though with as much as this comes up, it was worth posting. And for those who know the capacity of their compressor in CFM, it gives you a direct rule of thumb (both old and new) for the tank size.
3HP 8-12CFM? 16-30 gallon tank by old method, 60-100 gallon tank by new method. So if you are considering the smaller 3HP units, this means you will probably be MUCH happier with it's performance if you can get it on a 60 gallon tank, as opposed to the 30 gallon tank they probably will mount on...
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"
A:
and wheres the screw compressor again?
Currently own:
1990 2+2(For sale soon)
1991 TT(parts for sale)
1993 NA(parts for sale)
1993 Convertible(Converted TT)
1996 TT(with 9,124 miles on it)
"When you do things right people cant really tell that you've done anything at all."
l
A:
Great info! Thanks!
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A:
That's awesome T. I was looking into getting another tank to attach to my current 80 Gallon/5hp setup, now I know it's well worth it.
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77 280Z - TEC3 Engine Management, Coil Packs, 3.1 Stroker, 550CC injectors, tripple throttle body FI intake, MSA Stage II Cam, etc...etc...
79 Fairlady - Rusty
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Tanks for the info.
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Don't forget to drain the water out of them once in a while too.
Dave
12/70 240Z, L-28, flat-tops, N-42 head, N-33 intake, MSA 10-2002 cam, ZX ignition, early 5-speed, R-180,4:11 gears, 903 Blue paint.
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Anyone sourced inexpensive tanks?
Anyone can drive a new car.
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I knew I should have grabbed an extra tank... I saw someone throwing away 3 old industrial compressors(2 80gal and a really big one!) I've got a60gal, and thought about opting for the 80 gal as my compressor puts out 18cfm @90 psi. I don't know what the actual pump produces without the tank. I coulda grabbed one of those old tanks and installed it on my line and that probably would have worked. Oh well I'll keep an eye out.
Thanks Tony!
"I reject your reality and substitute my own"
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"You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant, excepting Alice"
A:
The guy handling the conversions in the U.K. totally flaked after we met in Singapore.
I got him against the wall when I ran across him in Manchester in March, and basically he said, the product was dropped from corporate lists because it was competitive aginst their line of equipment, and he wouldn't cough up the contact that was making them.
It sucks.
In the meanwhile, Atlas Cpoco has started selling their GX full feature units on E-Bay for around $4K. Nice screw compressor, with an intgrated refrige dryer and oil separator, mounted on a 120 gallon tank (3, 5 & 7 HP Units)...
Just go to E-Bay, search on "Atlas Copco", it's a nice unit. And FINALLY those di*kheads realized that people who buy 3,5, & 7 HP units actually usually have only SINGLE PHASE power available, and have converted the unit accordingly. Beside cutting the price by about a half from what it was in 1999...
People Are Idiots, Just look around here and you will see!
Tony D: "Knowledgeable but Caustic"... rationull
My brother from another mother calls himself "Willie D"