Select and Customize the Perfect Portable Air Compressor for Your Needs

A portable air compressor offers crews a powerful addition on the jobsite — with the ability to produce air that can run tools, winterize irrigation lines and more. If you’re in the market for one, it’s important to spec out the right unit so it provides adequate power to help you get the job done. Here are three pointers for selecting the right portable air compressor.

Know Your Application: Potential customers should hit the equipment lot knowing what jobs they plan to complete, as well as what tools will be used with the compressor. This will help determine what type of output is needed.

“It’s important that you size your compressor appropriately so you’re not wasting fuel or risking that the machine isn’t working to its full potential,” says Cody Blythe, product manager for Doosan Bobcat. “I would say by far the most popular models in the market are 185-cfm compressors.”

Transport Options: When selecting a portable air compressor, it’s important to consider transport options to ensure you can get the unit from point A to point B. According to Jerel Cole, senior product manager of portable air compressors for Hitachi Global Air Power, the drive-away or towing method of compressor transport is the most common.

“Be sure your vehicle is rated for the added weight and ensure all electrical connections are operable before hitting the road,” he says. “You want to confirm that your truck is outfitted to accept the product that you’re towing. A 3-in. lunette ring or a ball hitch — the heavy metal component installed on the front of a trailer — is typically used to secure the compressor to the truck.”

Customization: Sometimes air compressor owners and operators need to customize their equipment to suit certain application needs. Luckily, manufacturers offer a wide variety of options so customers can get the most out of their air compressors.

Curious about what’s available? We spoke to Doosan Bobcat, Sullair and Atlas Copco about popular models, technologies and ways to customize your air compressor. Here’s what they had to say…

Doosan Bobcat

Digging into Bobcat’s air compressor line, Blythe says the PA185V is a customer favorite. Not only does the model fit the popular 185-cfm range, but it also features the company’s FlexAir System. This allows operators to keep full control of both air pressure and airflow with just one button. With the FlexAir System, operators can adjust the compressor’s pressure from 100 to 150 psi as needed. That way they can complete a variety of tasks — from powering hand-held air tools, performing irrigation blowouts and more — with just one machine.

“The FlexAir System provides users with a larger range of air pressure and flow, so they can use one compressor across multiple applications on the same jobsite,” says Blythe. “We’re seeing the trend of customers needing a compressor that can accommodate multiple applications, so this technology makes it possible to no longer have to buy or rent separate units.”

Some popular customization options for Doosan Bobcat’s small air products (in the 185- to 250-cfm range) include roof-mounted safety strobes, telematics systems and centralized drains. Blythe says the Doosan IQ System is by far the most popular option on the company’s 425-cfm-and-up products. He adds this option removes oil/water vapor from the air and also cools the air to produce instrument quality air at discharge.

“In most cases, this removes the need for external components like aftercoolers and dryers required in applications such as applying coatings and paints, as well as sandblasting in humid environments,” Blythe says.

Doosan Bobcat also manufactures hose reels for its 185- to 425-cfm machines. Blythe mentions that hose reels are a convenient option for customers.

“Having a hose reel installed from the factory takes the guesswork out of how many feet of hose the customer will need when renting the machine and where to store it,” he says. “These convenient reels can be provided in various configurations, single or double, and with or without a hose pre-installed.”

Sullair

While discussing Sullair compressors, Cole says the company’s 185- and 375-cfm portable air compressors continue to be a sweet spot for most customers. He says both can be utilized in most rental and construction applications to power pneumatic tools, sprinkler blowouts and other general use apps.
Cole adds, “Customers are looking for a portable air compressor that is reliable — runs when it needs to, durable — works in dirty or harsh environments, provides great performance and has the air power needed to get the job done.”

As for customization options, Cole says there’s been an uptick in Sullair’s cold weather packages. These packages can be added to machines for improved start-ability in extreme conditions down to -20F.

“Anytime you operate a diesel compressor at lower temperatures or below freezing, it requires some type of aid,” he says. “That could include using a block heater or a battery wrap heater. On some of the larger compressors, you can install an automatic ether system to keep that start-ability up in cold climates.”

There has also been a push for an aftercooled and filtered air option. This gives operators a higher quality of air out of their compressor.

“For specialty applications that require improved air quality, aftercooling and filtration options can be added to remove aerosols, moisture and particulates when needed,” says Cole. “One example is when dry ice is used for abrasive blasting. A lot of times that application can’t accept carryover from the air compressor, so they prefer to use instrument quality air so that it doesn’t leave a residue.”
Single or dual hose reels are also available on some of Sullair’s smaller models and are a popular choice among municipal customers.

Atlas Copco

When looking at Atlas Copco’s lineup, product marketing manager Will Mazurek says the E-Air H450 has been a popular choice for customers looking to invest in an electric unit. He says customers appreciate the E-Air H450’s reduced footprint, energy savings, the performance range of pressures and flows and operational savings.

“With the demand for 400-cfm class compressors, many in the market are highly utilized with their diesel 400s,” says Mazurek. “The H450 can be used to replace diesel compressors at an appropriate site [like an industrial facility], which allows the equipment supplier to service and return their diesel unit to an application requiring diesel. Since the controller is the same between the Atlas Copco diesel 400 class units and the E-Air H450 VSD, the user operation is uninterrupted.”

Customization options from Atlas Copco include external toolboxes and hose reels mounted to the compressor, skids or support frames for mounting the compressors on trucks, trailers or offshore skids and more. Mazurek highlights some standard features that also enhance productivity, such as PACE — or Pressure Adjusted through Cognitive Electronics — and Eco mode.

“PACE is an electronic regulating system that offers the widest operating pressure range within a single compressor, allowing multiple pressure and flow combinations,” he says. “Beyond the simple operation benefits, this also offers dealers and operators the chance to limit the number of different models in their fleet, increase utilization and save on training and parts through being able to address fewer unique models. This is managed through the controller and gives the operator the versatility of multiple machines in one package.”

Eco mode greatly improves fuel economy during unload, no-load operation and allows for auto-start/auto-stop control without additional hardware. Mazurek explains that both PACE and Eco mode can be managed through the unit’s controller. This allows operators to customize time and pressure set points for start/stop functionalities based on an application’s needs.

Pam Kleineke is managing editor of Compact Equipment.