Compressor Accessories

What's out there in terms of accessories for a new compressor?

These pages help you determine if a particular feature or gadget is what you need to add when you are looking to buy a new air compressor.

There's quite a selection. Some manufacturers show as standard items what other firms list as accessories. Some of these add-ons you really must have, some you might not need for your particular compressor.

Accessories are listed in alphabetical order.



Access Ports

Access points to your compressor's innards aren't necessarily an accessory, but if the compressor you have selected is an enclosed unit, ensure that you've access to all the components that require regular maintenance for ease of change out.

It doesn't hurt to have the compressor dealer demonstrate the process as well.

By the same token, if you are building an enclosure for your air compressor to reduce sound levels and unauthorized access to it, make sure you install adequately sized access doors for your regular and emergency maintenance.



Aftercooler

The compressor will generate heat, and lots of it. An aftercooler, integrated with the compressor, will solve some of those heat issues by cooling the hot compressed air (and ridding it of much of the water load) before that air gets to your tools and equipment.

Here is more info on heat related water problems.

Aftercoolers can be electrically operated, or water driven. Here is more information on aftercoolers.



Auto Drain

An auto drain is a compressor tank accessory that is, in my opinion, a "must have" for air compressors that are used regularly.

Here is complete information on auto drains.



Automatic Tensioner

For belt driven air compressors, a slipping drive belt will cost you considerably in lost energy to drive the compressor motor, as much of the energy used to cycle the belt will be lost as the belt slides through rather than turns the compressor drive sheave.

An automatic belt tensioner will help alleviate that concern and improve the overall efficiency of your unit. This will save you money!



"Beefed Up" Air Ends

Air ends are the drive parts of the compressor that contain bushings for bearings to allow component rotation.

In doing your research before you buy, you'll note that there's a real concern about the longevity of the bearings at the air-end of rotary screw compressors.

The issue of "air end reliability" is referred to so frequently in compressor literature and on compressor manufacturer's websites, that you want to be sure to discuss air-end feature of their units with each manufacturer. How do they address the air end reliability of their compressors?



Belt Guard

It is hard to believe that a company would sell a compressor with a belt drive, and not ensure that there were enough belt guards to meet reasonable safety requirements.

Do yourself a favor and make sure that if the compressor you select is belt driven, that the belt drive is shielded. If you can get to the belt while it's moving, you can expect that sometime, someone else will, with potentially serious results.



Control Panels

A pretty broad topic, compressor control panels. If there is a control panel with your new compressor, you'll want to know what is controlled.

Some control issues (but by no means all) are:

• Is the compressor variable speed to react to downstream demand?
• Can the panel control more than one compressor so that a back-up unit only fires up on demand?
• Does the panel display operating temperature, with alarms if there's a condition on the compressor that's a cause for concern?
• Will it 'flag' regular maintenance?
• Is there control logic in the panel, and if so, what PLC is used?
• Is the PLC language one that you can learn, have a technician modify or correct, or is it unique to the vendor?

I can't possibly list every item a compressor control panel could oversee. You need to spend time with your compressor vendor to be sure you understand the details of any control panel on your compressor.



Dryers

Some compressor manufacturers offer "packages" with air compressor, aftercooler and air dryers.

To better understand why dryers are needed, here is information on what causes water, and if you follow the links, information on various dryers for compressed air.

It's often worthwhile getting "a whole package" from a specific vendor (compressor and dryer) as a single source for a system, and a single source for warranty and maintenance can simplify getting solutions to problems later on.

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Drive Type

You may not have a choice when it comes to the compressor you have selected, as a variety of drives may not be available in your compressor size.

Consider that the compressor might have a 'V' belt drive, a variable speed drive, or be direct driven. Consider the up front cost of each drive type as compared to the long term maintenance costs.



Enclosures

Ask your manufacturer what they offer for compressor enclosures, for purposes of noise attenuation, security, appearance, safety, running in adverse environments, etc.



Filters

There are a variety of filters used in air compressing and compressors.

There is a filter to clean the air entering the compressor intake.

There should be a filter at the receiver discharge line to the plant.

The oil used in the compression of air will need to be filtered, as will the air that's leaving the compressor and flowing into the air tank. That air needs the oil filtered out of it.

What types of filters comes with your compressor, how do you change the filters, what is the length of time between changes, where do you purchase replacement filters, and the skill level with changing each filter or filter element all have to be considered.

Most of the regularly scheduled maintenance on your compressor must be performed after a certain run time.

An hour meter is very useful for monitoring that run time, and having one is key to helping ensure that maintenance is carried out at the appropriate intervals.



Lubricant

Not all compressor oils are created equally, and using the poorer quality oil may have nasty effects on your compressor maintenance and costs in time to come.

Ask the vendor what options you have for lubrication, what their recommendations are, and how stepping outside of their recommendation (perhaps you're convinced that another synthetic oil will work better for you) will affect your warranty.



Oil Level Indicator

Can you drive your car very far without oil in the engine?

Well you can't expect your compressor to last if it runs low on oil either. Whether it's a simple sight glass, right up to a pressure and temperature oil sensor with alarm function, if your compressor contains oil, you'd best make sure you can check it.



Oil Separation

If the compressor you are selecting uses oil in the process of compressing the air (not just for lubrication of moving parts) what system does the manufacturer have to ensure good air / oil separation for the compressed air leaving the compressor.

Compressor oil is not good for downstream components including degrading rubber seals and polycarbonate air components.

Ask about percentage of oil carryover, how time affects the air / oil separation efficiency, and how to keep compressor oil out of your air lines.



Portability Options

If your need is for a portable compressor, think about how you'll move it around.

Carrying is OK for a small HP unit, as they might only weigh 40-50 pounds.

As your CFM needs increase, so does the HP, and larger HP means more weight.

Consider a "wheelbarrow" type construction, certainly wheels of some sort would be useful, or even a 'fork insert' area whereby you could lift the unit with a hand or powered fork truck.



Vibration monitor

A vibration monitor guards your compressor twenty-four hours a day to send an alarm should the compressor vibrate excessively.

Excessive vibration is a symptom of major failure in the system.



Warranty

Reputable compressor manufacturers aren't afraid to back up their products with good, reliable warranties. You should check with each potential vendor to determine what length their warranties are, what all is covered, what is excluded, and what conditions would render the warranty void.

If there are too many reasons why a particular compressor manufacturer's warranty wouldn't be honored by them, wll, it's like having no warranty at all.

Compressors are electro-mechanical devices. Some will fail within their warranty period due to unsatisfactory manufacturing, others will fail after many months or years of use. When is the question. That they will fail is not a question...every compressor will fail eventually. When yours does, who fixes it?