Most RVers understand the importance of maintaining proper tire inflation pressure. The problem is that if you wait until the tire pressure is checked on the road, the tire will overheat and cannot be evaluated correctly. It doesn’t make sense to check the inflation pressure when you stop refueling; you will get a higher pressure reading, and if you empty the tire, the tire will be underinflated in the cold. Another problem is that when you are on a campsite and want to check the tire pressure, there is no air support available.
That’s why you might want to consider buying a portable air compressor. However, air compressors can be difficult to understand, especially if you are trying to find a compressor that can increase the inflation pressure of a large motorhome tire. Let’s start with some basic knowledge of air compressors.
Air compressors have three main ratings: horsepower (HP), cubic feet per minute (CFM), and pounds per square inch (PSI). Understanding these three features of an air compressor can help us choose the right portable air compressor.
We will start with horsepower. Unfortunately, when it comes to air compressors, manufacturers haven’t done a great job explaining to consumers, almost to the point where some people would consider false advertising. Manufacturers tend to exaggerate HP ratings. Assuming consumers see 6 HP (not 2 HP) as shown in the advertisement, they are more inclined to buy compressors with higher HP ratings. This is true in many cases. If you are a fan of muscle cars, you will definitely consider the HP level of the car before buying, right? But if we take a closer look at the horsepower associated with air compressors, we will find out the truth.
Watts are used as a measure of electrical and mechanical power. When we apply power to HP, one HP is equal to 746 watts. So if you buy an air compressor with a rated power of 6 HP and its operating voltage is 120 volts, it is a wrong rating in a sense. If the compressor is plugged into a standard 15 amp, 120 volt circuit, it will only produce about 2HP (voltage X amp = watt). The advertised higher HP rating is often referred to as the peak HP, similar to the HP rating of a vehicle engine. The peak HP rating of an on-board engine is accurate only in the higher RPM range (typically 5000 to 6,000 RPM), but you rarely drive at 5,500 RPM. For air compressors, 240 volt circuits are required to provide more amps to produce peak HP ratings.
For portable air compressors, cubic feet per minute (CFM) is an important grade. CFM is basically a measure of the rate at which a compressor can deliver large amounts of air. CFM varies with atmospheric pressure. It also changes with the temperature and humidity of the air. Air compressor manufacturers calculate standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) as CFM at a sea level of 36% relative humidity and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Note: The CFM rating may also be distorted by the manufacturer.
Let’s talk about our third grade, pounds per square inch (PSI). For air compressors, CFM ratings are given in specific PSI. In other words, an air compressor rated at 3 CFM 90 PSI should be able to provide 3 CFM at 90 PSI. The problem is that air compressor manufacturers can advertise higher CFMs at specific pressures because air compressors can provide rated CFMs from 0 to 90 PSI, but what is a true CFM at 90 PSI. If your pneumatic tool or RV tire requires a specific CFM rating of 90 PSI, you may not be able to get that value based on the advert CFM specific pressure. This also means that if the compressor can actually inflate the tires, it will take longer to inflate some of the larger RV tires.
When buying a portable air compressor, the key is to try to find a compressor that can provide about 4 REAL CFM at an actual HP rated pressure of 90 to 100 PSI.
If you have a storage room available and you can use electricity, you can find some reliable pancake-type portable compressors that are good at inflating tires and performing other small home work. If you prefer a battery-powered portable air compressor, I came across a model that looked like it could do the job while researching the subject. It was designed by VIAIR specifically for RV and other large tire inflation jobs.
Linsheng is a professional Air compressor Manufacturers and Air compressor Suppliers in China. If you want to know more about portable air compressor, please click here: https://www.linsheng.com/product/air-compressor-product/
That’s why you might want to consider buying a portable air compressor. However, air compressors can be difficult to understand, especially if you are trying to find a compressor that can increase the inflation pressure of a large motorhome tire. Let’s start with some basic knowledge of air compressors.
Air compressors have three main ratings: horsepower (HP), cubic feet per minute (CFM), and pounds per square inch (PSI). Understanding these three features of an air compressor can help us choose the right portable air compressor.
We will start with horsepower. Unfortunately, when it comes to air compressors, manufacturers haven’t done a great job explaining to consumers, almost to the point where some people would consider false advertising. Manufacturers tend to exaggerate HP ratings. Assuming consumers see 6 HP (not 2 HP) as shown in the advertisement, they are more inclined to buy compressors with higher HP ratings. This is true in many cases. If you are a fan of muscle cars, you will definitely consider the HP level of the car before buying, right? But if we take a closer look at the horsepower associated with air compressors, we will find out the truth.
Watts are used as a measure of electrical and mechanical power. When we apply power to HP, one HP is equal to 746 watts. So if you buy an air compressor with a rated power of 6 HP and its operating voltage is 120 volts, it is a wrong rating in a sense. If the compressor is plugged into a standard 15 amp, 120 volt circuit, it will only produce about 2HP (voltage X amp = watt). The advertised higher HP rating is often referred to as the peak HP, similar to the HP rating of a vehicle engine. The peak HP rating of an on-board engine is accurate only in the higher RPM range (typically 5000 to 6,000 RPM), but you rarely drive at 5,500 RPM. For air compressors, 240 volt circuits are required to provide more amps to produce peak HP ratings.
For portable air compressors, cubic feet per minute (CFM) is an important grade. CFM is basically a measure of the rate at which a compressor can deliver large amounts of air. CFM varies with atmospheric pressure. It also changes with the temperature and humidity of the air. Air compressor manufacturers calculate standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM) as CFM at a sea level of 36% relative humidity and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Note: The CFM rating may also be distorted by the manufacturer.
Let’s talk about our third grade, pounds per square inch (PSI). For air compressors, CFM ratings are given in specific PSI. In other words, an air compressor rated at 3 CFM 90 PSI should be able to provide 3 CFM at 90 PSI. The problem is that air compressor manufacturers can advertise higher CFMs at specific pressures because air compressors can provide rated CFMs from 0 to 90 PSI, but what is a true CFM at 90 PSI. If your pneumatic tool or RV tire requires a specific CFM rating of 90 PSI, you may not be able to get that value based on the advert CFM specific pressure. This also means that if the compressor can actually inflate the tires, it will take longer to inflate some of the larger RV tires.
When buying a portable air compressor, the key is to try to find a compressor that can provide about 4 REAL CFM at an actual HP rated pressure of 90 to 100 PSI.
If you have a storage room available and you can use electricity, you can find some reliable pancake-type portable compressors that are good at inflating tires and performing other small home work. If you prefer a battery-powered portable air compressor, I came across a model that looked like it could do the job while researching the subject. It was designed by VIAIR specifically for RV and other large tire inflation jobs.
Linsheng is a professional Air compressor Manufacturers and Air compressor Suppliers in China. If you want to know more about portable air compressor, please click here: https://www.linsheng.com/product/air-compressor-product/
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