Picking a compressor

[Airgun-hobbyist]

Pure Peak, or mixed with water?

EG is much more toxic than PG (food-safe). Since we're not using our compressors around food, that's not really relevant. (Becomes relevant when dealing with changing the fluid, obviously)

While a 50/50 mix will get around the best anti freeze properties for water, and considering that AF isn't as efficient at transferring heat when used full strength as is water, or a 50/50 mix, I guess it boils down to (SWIDT?)... how hot does the water get when pumping? Water cools the best, but is susceptible to microbes. Glycol alone cools less efficiently. But is superior heat transfer the most desirable trait, or is preventing water contamination? If the latter, I'd say pure glycol (either EG or PG) would fit the bill. Not knowing how warm or hot the reservoir gets during a SCBA tank fill, I don't have the ability to make other than a guess.

The Peak Global Lifetime I get is a premixed antifreeze. I have studied the heat transfer and use of different types of coolants for racing and use strait water and WaterWetter there because as you know water has a better transfer of heat. Track rules prohibit antifreeze because it is slick like oil when put down. The WaterWetter additive is used for the super hot spots created in an internal combustion engine under extreme conditions, keeping the water attached to these hot spots to take away the heat (instead of allowing a steam pocket to form, getting hotter and hotter and possibly wrecking the engine or bobbing power). In high pressure air pumps we use, while they do run seemingly hot there are not usually these super heated hot spots boiling off water. If there is one created that hot then the compressor is doing a death dance already, with metal on metal glowing and welding together, getting ready to seize.

 

[Solo1]

I bought the hill ec 3000 when it first came out. Put 15 hrs on it with no trouble till I started to fill a 100 cubic inch bottle and then had to replace the last stage o ring that was a bit worn out. Looking for something a bit more durable I bought a omega air charger and though I can’t speak for long term as of now it looks like a winner as it spins at a lower rpm but pumps nearly the same amount of air as the hill and is liquid cooled. Personally I think either is better than any of the cheapies

 

[JimD]

With respect to an extra filter for a small 12V capable pump I would get one but not the big gold one. I have a smaller black one I use on my YH and with my arrangement, the color change dessicant does not see much water and rarely needs to be changed. I think letting the water drain back towards the compressor as it condenses and venting it every 5 minutes is important to this result. I have the big gold one too but haven't installed it because there seems to be no need. But for any compressor with a relatively small fiber filter, a little extra protection against putting water into your gun or bottle makes sense to me. I think some of the small compressors have better filtration already, however.

 

[F6Hawk]

With respect to an extra filter for a small 12V capable pump I would get one but not the big gold one. I have a smaller black one I use on my YH and with my arrangement, the color change dessicant does not see much water and rarely needs to be changed. I think letting the water drain back towards the compressor as it condenses and venting it every 5 minutes is important to this result. I have the big gold one too but haven't installed it because there seems to be no need. But for any compressor with a relatively small fiber filter, a little extra protection against putting water into your gun or bottle makes sense to me. I think some of the small compressors have better filtration already, however.

Got a model # or link to your "black filter"?