Dealing with Napa on air compressor...???
 

Looking for opinions or your thoughts on air compressor's. Mine is down for the count and I'm looking to replace it. I'm looking at one from Napa (free shipping). I included the stat's incase the link doesn't load up. I tried it last night and it wouldn't load, site or server might have been down. Anyways, the one below is the one I'm thinking about getting. One thing Napa said, it takes a 60 amp double pole breaker to run. Which means I'll have to use #8 wire (by local code). Thats the only thing holding me back, cause thats allot of juice to run on (peak amps that is).

What have you got and are you happy with it? Have you dealt with Napa before? Like buy things of this nature before?

http://www.napaonline.com/cgi-bin/nc...&usrcommgrpid=

Attributes:
Attributes: Air Compressor
Gas or Electric: Electric
Stage Type: Dual Stage
Horsepower: 5 HP
SCFM Rating: 16
Maximum Pressure: 175 psi
Pump RPM: 800
Phase & Voltage: 1Phase, 230v
Motor Type: Baldor
# of Cylinders: 2
Pump Material: Cast Iron
Type: Reciprocating
Series: Professional
Magnetic Starter Included: No (Napa said it's included)
Magnetic Starter Required: Yes
Lubrication System Type: Splash
Tank Type: Horizontal
Tank Capacity: 80 gal
Height: 53''
Length: 71''
Width: 31''
Weight: 580 lbs
CFM Pump Displacement: 21.7

well if you arent licenced to hookit up then you have to figure that into the price. i have a 5 hp 20 gal craftsman oilless 110 amp portable for now ,got it on sale .most compressor are manufacutered by the same co. an oil one will last longer and you can run synthetic oil after it breaks in anyway nice unit
good luck w/ it
sr66 :thumbup:

Looks like a good one, it has a good motor on it, and the pump is cast iron. CFM looks good also.

Vince

Cliff,

There have already been a number of very good discussions comparing various compressors here on HR.Com which you can access by using the "search" function. You can see how your's stacks up vs. others. Your stats look pretty good so I'd say it boils down to a price comparison.

I've found two models that are just like the one I'm looking for at local shops around town. One at a body shop and one at a service center. One concern I've found is the pressure switch contacts. This unit uses a cheap one made in china. The contacts are thin and I don't think they will last very long. I also found out the tank is made by Douglas which is based in California. Reading there site, they seem to have a high standard in quality. That was another concern. Also, the wiring for this compressor is way over kill. The company that makes this compressor say you have to use #8 wire for zero ft up to 50 ft. If you go past 50 ft, you have to go to the next size which is #6 wire. Don't know if any of you have done any residential wiring, but #6 wiring is big. I plan on building a room on the side of my shop for a compressor, but for know, I'll be mounting it inside. Another concern is the amps it take to run this unit. I found out it runs between 23-25 amps. But, the unit will spike up when starting. So, they requirer you to use a 60 amp breaker or fuse. In my case, my sub panel uses breakers. A 60 amp double pole breaker is not cheap. I'm not being cheap, just trying to watch the electric consumption. My monthly electric bill is not cheap. Another concern, or I should say is my biggest concern is dealing with Napa. Just wondering if any of you have had any good or bad deals with buying anything of this nature from Napa. I've already searched the boards threads about air compressors. Guess I should have stated that in my first post about concerns about buying from Napa. Anyways, if any of you have any pointers, they would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Cliff

P.S My local Napa price is cheaper than what the website states. They said they would sell it to me for $1517.00 plus 6% sales taxes, which comes up to $1608.02.

According to my handy dandy Square D motor calculator the below are the specifics for a 5hp single phase 230v motor.

Full load current 28 amps
Minimum copper wire size #8 awg
Thermal magnetic breaker 60 amp

#8 wire is good for 50 amps
#6 wire is good for 65 amps
#4 wire is good for 85 amps

Normally wire is sized at 125% of max load. 28 X 125% = 35 amps.

Wire it properly, you will sleep better.

Vince

Ordered the compressor yesterday, hopefully it will be here tomorrow or Friday. I also went down to the local electricial store and purchased 70 ft of #6 awg wire along with a 60 amp double pole breaker. I wired it up this morning. So, I'm ready. Now, I just need to know who my friends are. Unloading this almost 600 pound beast off the trailor is going to be a challenge for myself. I put a 10,000 pound rotary lift in my shop last year and couldn't get a soul to help me. But, they keep coming by and asking to use it. One of these days I going to come out and say "where were you when I needed your help unloading and setting it up". I called three of my friends and they all supposedly had something they were doing. One of these day when they ask to use it, I going to say "NO" and tell them insurance wont cover them or there vehicle if there is an accident. Guess that will determine who my true friends are. Anyways, thanks for the tips on wiring.

I unloaded my Porter Cable 2 stage (560 lbs) with just myself and my wife. I slid it toward the read of the pickup bed and onto the tailgate. I then leaned 2x8s on the back of the cab extending down to the base of the compressor tank and we then leaned the tank back against those 2x8s so it was at an angle. I then put 2 2x10s from the top of the bumper down to the ground. I then unhooked the tailgate so it would fold all the way down to those 2x10s. Then we started a very slow and careful process of sliding toward the rear (with some 2x4 levers), down the tail gate, and then down the 2x10s. Actually, there is quite a bit of friction created so I never felt the thing was in any real danger of getting away from us. Also, ours came with this heavy cardboard structure at the corners which did actually help. I thought it would just collapse but it held the weight pretty well. I was like you, however...really sweating how I was going to get the thing off the truck. Just take your time and let the physics of the levers and inclined planes do the work for you.