Since your price range seems to exclude top-notch compressors such as Bauer and Alkin, I'd have to say skip those four and go with a GX-CS4 or CS4-I. You won't be disappointed.
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WHICH COMPRESSOR?
- Thread starter bat54action
- Start date
Since your price range seems to exclude top-notch compressors such as Bauer and Alkin, I'd have to say skip those four and go with a GX-CS4 or CS4-I. You won't be disappointed.
Coltri, rebranded as Daystate, is from Italy. The others from China. The above GIF shared only for comedic purposes and is not a political statement of any kind either veiled or overt.
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If I were you I’d strongly consider getting a bigger tank and just having it filled at a shop. There might be a decent option that you’d have good luck with at that price rang, but once you start making sure your air is good and dry with filters molecular sieves etc you’ll be in that another 2-500.
Don't get me wrong, being able to fill at home is incredibly convenient. Right now I’m using two yong heng units, and I don’t think I’d advise that route unless you like working on things. My second pressure guage went out within an hour of use, I have one pump that’s down because one of the steel line compression fittings failed.
Some folks have great luck with them, but I’m skeptical that it’s worth the hassle unless you get one with a solid brand name behind it, and personally I‘d buy the extended warranty. That kind of blows your budget out of the water.
Just one guy‘s perspective. Then again I have one great white sized tank and two 30 minute scba tanks I’m dealing with, so maybe I’m just asking too much from the pump I have. Even with 10 minute cycle times I’m sure my pump hours add up. (An hour meter is on the way too)
if you’re willing to go a bit more expensive I’d look at the Hill EC3000, a UK made product is probably a better overall unit than most of the Chinese offerings.
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Same as my Android — Celebrate the technology monoliths!your iPhone (if you have one) where is it made?
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They are all made in China! No, you don't have to purchase a separate power supply, the CS4 comes with the external power supply. The only difference is the CS4I has the power supply mounted inside the case. I have the CS4 and just mounted the power supply under my work bench, that way it's out of the way. I don't take it anywhere, so the CS4 just stays on my bench. To me, the price difference isn't really worth it just to have the power supply inside the case, it makes the whole compressor a bit larger and heavier.
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Agreed. I prefer the external power supply. It gets warm and I prefer to keep that heat outside of the compressor box. It may not make a difference but that is my way of thinking anyway.
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My 3 year old YH does a good job filling my 45 minute SCBA bottle (looks like it is 6.75 liters). It will do it in less than half an hour and only barely exceed 60 degrees C. It is rated to go to 70 or 75 C (can't remember which). It would not do this without additional cooling, however. I added a small radiator intended for a computer with a couple small fans on it. I also use water wetter in the water (get if from an automotive supply or online). I further added a small 8 inch fan blowing on the motor. I have a second water filter on it filled with color changing dessicant beads. They don't change color very fast. I get at least 6 bottle fills before they are significantly (but not totally) changed color and I swap them out. I have used Nuvair oil since day one. I change it yearly. I don't get 10 hours a year on it. I have a one way valve on the outlet side of the extra filter. I added it after the O-rings failed on one of the filters a couple times. It's hard not to waste the air in the bottle when this happens unless you put a valve on it. It also makes starting up the compressor a breeze. Just start the cooling, make sure the bleed valve on the YH is open and flip the switch and then go open the valve on the bottle.
Another thing I do that I strongly recommend is I vent the YH every five minutes of run time and slope my filters back towards the vent. I may not get much water the first time but by the end it is obvious I am blowing a lot of water out. That helps to minimize the water the filters deal with. I just open the valve and then close it almost immediately. With the one way I do not loose the air in the bottle or line from the second filter. Only what is in the line to that point. So the bottle goes back to filling quickly.
If I was to buy another compressor right now it would probably be the GX CS4 (hope I got that right). The small, portable, 12V or 120V compressors seem to have a role even with a considerably more powerful compressor for bottles. The YH with it's water cooling and significant electrical demand is not easily portable. The little 250W-400W motors on the dual voltage types and their integral cooling makes them much better suited to running away from home. The robust cooling of the CS4 lets it run for long enough to fill a bottle.
I am definitely not in the "buy once cry once" camp. I am not trying to argue that logic is bad, necessarily, it just is not the way I deal with most purchases. I look for the least expensive way to do the job considering longevity as well as functionality when I can. In PCPs and related gear that has led to a lot of purchase of Chinese made items. There have been duds I wish I had not purchased but there have been many more reliable items. I would also be leery buying a non-Chinese compressor without being absolutely sure it is not a re-branded Chinese compressor (although if the price is OK, that would be OK too).
Another thing I do that I strongly recommend is I vent the YH every five minutes of run time and slope my filters back towards the vent. I may not get much water the first time but by the end it is obvious I am blowing a lot of water out. That helps to minimize the water the filters deal with. I just open the valve and then close it almost immediately. With the one way I do not loose the air in the bottle or line from the second filter. Only what is in the line to that point. So the bottle goes back to filling quickly.
If I was to buy another compressor right now it would probably be the GX CS4 (hope I got that right). The small, portable, 12V or 120V compressors seem to have a role even with a considerably more powerful compressor for bottles. The YH with it's water cooling and significant electrical demand is not easily portable. The little 250W-400W motors on the dual voltage types and their integral cooling makes them much better suited to running away from home. The robust cooling of the CS4 lets it run for long enough to fill a bottle.
I am definitely not in the "buy once cry once" camp. I am not trying to argue that logic is bad, necessarily, it just is not the way I deal with most purchases. I look for the least expensive way to do the job considering longevity as well as functionality when I can. In PCPs and related gear that has led to a lot of purchase of Chinese made items. There have been duds I wish I had not purchased but there have been many more reliable items. I would also be leery buying a non-Chinese compressor without being absolutely sure it is not a re-branded Chinese compressor (although if the price is OK, that would be OK too).
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Alkin and Bauer are top line units They start at apx $5000, 5000psi . Coltri 3,4,6 top out at about 4300-4500 psi around $3000-3500 apx.
GX has a unit above the cs4 series ek5 . Both rated for 5000psi , the 5 has a 10hr working at $1700
The other part of the equation is the output volumes between all these.
GX has a unit above the cs4 series ek5 . Both rated for 5000psi , the 5 has a 10hr working at $1700
The other part of the equation is the output volumes between all these.
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I think I have decided on purchasing the CS4, seeing that I believe I will be able to fill my carbon fiber tank. I can't seem to find just how big my carbon tank is. Its external dimensions are approx. 22" by 7" diameter. I believe it is an 88 cu.ft. tank. It is an Airhog tank, but they may be out of business seeing the number I called put me through to Medicare.
Can someone help me out?
Thanks!
Also, I noticed that on the outside of the tank is marked 146.2cc
Can someone help me out?
Thanks!
Also, I noticed that on the outside of the tank is marked 146.2cc
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Just keep in mind that the CS-4 is not a speed demon but it is slow and steady. I usually top off my 3 Liter tank from 3000psi to 4500psi in about 20 min or so.
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@bat54action, that is an 88cf Airhog tank. It would take 4 hours and 15 minutes to fill from empty with one continuous run from a CS4 compressor. If you were topping it off from 3K to 4.5K psi it would take about 1 hour and 30 minutes in one continuous fill session.
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Just received my CS4 yesterday. I will take my time and read the manual. Now that I know I have the 88 Cu.Ft. tank I am wondering how many fills I can get from it if my maximum fill pressure is 3600 PSI and I have my bottle topped off at 4500PSI ?
I'm sure there is a formula that you shooters use to determine this.
Thanks!
I'm sure there is a formula that you shooters use to determine this.
Thanks!
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