After some info about running a compressor off my jenny

[alex76]

Hey folks bit of a question ... now i have finished the welding i am thinking of adding a compressor to my tool box but my workshop has no power so i run a clarke 5.5 kva genny but im worried i will damage my genset as it cost a heavy packet and like all my kit its my pride and joy.
Now i dont want a massive machine mostly spraying (in parts not the whole car in a one go) so any advise or links to which compressor is best and wont harm my jenny will be appreciated guys.

 

[brightspark]

using a 3hp motor they run at 12 amps but the staring current will reach 55 amps for a few seconds. not good for a genny

 

[alex76]

Cheers buddy what if i use a lower hp? dont think i will risk it though or save up for a self running machine

 

[Spark plug]

Either a mutch bigger generator or a petrol compressor will be your options. A petrol compressor probably will be the cheapest option but a bigger generator will be useful for other things.

 

[alex76]

Either a mutch bigger generator or a petrol compressor will be your options. A petrol compressor probably will be the cheapest option but a bigger generator will be useful for other things.

cheers for the advise spark plug

 

[captain-destructo]

why not go for a petrol engine on the compressor?



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AIR-COMPR...hash=item58f3bf95b9:m:mYZMCaPGdBjvE_-5BhIEnPQ

 

[dannyp]

i've plugged a 3hp compressor into my small genny enough times, dosent really like it but puts up with it

 

[brightspark]

i've plugged a 3hp compressor into my small genny enough times, dosent really like it but puts up with it

what output genny /??

 

[WorkshopChris]

i've plugged a 3hp compressor into my small genny enough times, dosent really like it but puts up with it

Your definition of small must be a little on the big side.
Compressor motors are one of the harder loads to run on a generator, in my experience.

 

[brightspark]

i plugged a kettle in to my Honda generator its possibly a 2.5kw gen and it stalled the engine in 2 seconds

 

[Spark plug]

i plugged a kettle in to my Honda generator its possibly a 2.5kw gen and it stalled the engine in 2 seconds

I've only ever used one generator that would happily play with everything I threw at it but that was a 1200KVA Cummings set.

I looked into getting a generator to run a workshop a while back and for a generator to run the same kit as a 20kva mains supply you needed a generator in the region of 30Kva. This was to cope with switching of motors, welders etc.

 

[normspanners]

The way I do it when rallying and running off a genny is to modify the compressor so that it does not stop the motor, it UNLOADS the pump that then unloads the motor and it drops back to 2-3 amps and basically idles , so when the tank is calling for air the motor is already running and its flywheel effect allows it to start with no major issues but you have initially to start with a totally empty tank, I run a 11.5 amp 10 cfm compressor off a 3kva genny because that is still portable and one man can lift it quite happily and could even boil a travel kettle at the same time as the compressor is running (that is pushing it but it does work).

 

[dannyp]

what output genny /??

i plugged a kettle in to my Honda generator its possibly a 2.5kw gen and it stalled the engine in 2 seconds

it's not a very big genny it's a chonda says gasoline 2800 on the side and it was red but faded to pink in about a year. but to be fair to it for what it didnt cost its done very well.
so i'll call it a skinny 3kw more like 2.5kw. i never said it likes the compressor it knocks it right back and makes it cough and chug and the output volts crash, but it gets over it and drags itself back upto speed and the compressor comes upto speed with it. its a bit odd for a littel genny in that it won't actualy stall just bog right down and chug at it. most of what its ever used for is running a 9" grinder, drill , kettel, small compressor, battery chargers, to be fair apart from welders there isnt much on a 13A plug it dosent run

 

[knighty]

get a small compressor and connect it to a big air tank

it'll take a long time to fill the tank the first time... but the tank acts as a buffer so as you spray/wherever and use air pressure drops, but every time you stop spraying/whatever the compressor keeps running and (slowly) catches up


actually.... for something like spraying a small compressor should keep up no problem anyway ?