More Compressor Accessories

More compressor accessories! This is page two.

Page one on compressor accessories is right here.

It is often worthwhile to get a whole package from a specific compressor vendor (compressor and dryer) as a single source for a system, and equally important in my view, a single source for warranty and maintenance as time goes on and things start to fail.

Compressor 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 or model.

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 to keep that style of air compressor running.

Compressor 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 is leaving the compressor pump 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 filter elements, and what is the skill level with changing each filter or filter element all have to be considered.

Hour Meter

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.

Lubricants

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.

How does the maintenance person check the lubrication levels on this compressor?

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 easily.

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 best, with that type of air compressor, to keep compressor lubricating 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 horse power, 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.

If your air compressor needs to be moved, how will you do it?

Vibration Monitoring

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 and you will want to know about it immediately if compressor vibration starts to occur. How will you?

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 would not be honored by them, well, it's like having no warranty at all, isn't it?

After Warranty

Compressors are electro-mechanical devices. Some will fail within their warranty period due to poor manufacturing practices or lousy quality parts. Others will not fail after years of use. That all air compressors will fail is not the question, since every compressor will fail eventually. When yours does, who fixes it?