Compressor Options - Shoebox 3000 vs 4500 -

[Bizill]

I watched their vids but not sure they mentioned what feeder compressor they used.  It sure did kick on a lot of times in the duration of the filling.  That's gonna use alot of electricity and be quite noisy.  I have a smaller 65db 6g gallon tank that does 130 psi but don't want to KILL my motor on it.  I also have a Craftsman 33 gallon oiless (LOUD) compressor that I'd have to run only during daylight hours so as not to wake the dead.  But even that will not so good up some juice.  I wonder if they were using a smaller gallon tank, hence needed constant run cycles.

[customcutter]

I watched their vids but not sure they mentioned what feeder compressor they used.  It sure did kick on a lot of times in the duration of the filling.  That's gonna use alot of electricity and be quite noisy.  I have a smaller 65db 6g gallon tank that does 130 psi but don't want to KILL my motor on it.  I also have a Craftsman 33 gallon oiless (LOUD) compressor that I'd have to run only during daylight hours so as not to wake the dead.  But even that will not so good up some juice.  I wonder if they were using a smaller gallon tank, hence needed constant run cycles.

I would guess your 33 gallon would supply enough air to fill a :60 SCBA in half the time of a Shoebox.  But that's just a guess.  I don't own  either one yet....

There are no free lunches.  I know years ago I was concerned about the power consumption of my pool pump 2HP.  I think it worked out to about $1/day running it constantly for 8 hrs a day.   Skip a coke, bottle of water, or Latte at whatever that coffee house is called.   It cost me $11 to fill a :45 SCBA from 2000PSI to 4500PSI at the local dive shop last week.  They get $16 filled from empty.  That's the going rate in my area for everyone I've contacted so far. 

[Bizill]

There may be 2 places in my city that fill to 4500psi but they are across town or have terrible parking circumstances.  When I was younger and had a Z-28 Camaro I loved driving all over town.  Now I'm 40 and hate driving 2 minutes to the Circle K around the corner from my house.  Having my own filling station sounds just my style.  Turning on my "big" compressor, not my style unless I have to.  That's the reason I spent the $200 to get my quiet 6 gallon compressor.  So it's not as much the electric bill as it is the noise factor.  Even in my garage the big compressor can be heard throughout my house.  Just something to ponder.

I almost got an industrial 80 gallon for a cnc plasma I wish I had followed through with but que sera, sera.  Of course those easily go up to 175 psi + but the Altaros has a suggested max of 150 psi inlet side so there's that.  But the amount of cycling on an 80 gallon tank would be less than my 33 gal.  Looking forward to more reviews which hopefully include opinions on inlet compressor cycle times. 

Thanks guys.

[customcutter]

I'm presently without a compressor, my 20 gallon 5.5HP oilless that is nearly 20 years old stopped working.  I replaced a marginal start condensor for $25, still doesn't run.  So it's either pull the motor and put it in the shop with a $25 quote fee, or buy another compressor.  I've been shopping for new to used from Lowes  to Craigslist from 20 to 80 gal trying to find one that "fits".  The bargains are old and worn out.  The "newer" used ones are as high as or higher than new ones in the store.  I'm thinking a good 60gal and put it outside, for about half of new price...

I'm in the boat with you, I used to love to drive.  Now I drive about 200 miles a week pulling a 20ft trailer.  I'd rather take a poke in the eye with a sharp stick than drive across Tampa in morning or evening traffic.  I don't even want to drive 10 miles to Brandon to fill my tank, so I'm looking at a compressor or booster also.  In the long run it will eventually pay for itself in fees and time saved.

[Old Corps]

I'm really fortunate in having a dive shop a half hour away that does 4500 fills. Nice people and filling my 74 cu. ft. from zero to 4500 psi cost me $8. I took the tank in the other day and they filled it from 2K to 4500 for $5. When I asked why it was only $5 he said "that's only a top off, not a fill". My concern is that although they've been in business for over 30 years if they were to close up it's a long way to find another fill source. I'd just like to be self sufficient.

Ed

[aceflier]

I watched their vids but not sure they mentioned what feeder compressor they used.  It sure did kick on a lot of times in the duration of the filling.  That's gonna use alot of electricity and be quite noisy.  I have a smaller 65db 6g gallon tank that does 130 psi but don't want to KILL my motor on it.  I also have a Craftsman 33 gallon oiless (LOUD) compressor that I'd have to run only during daylight hours so as not to wake the dead.  But even that will not so good up some juice.  I wonder if they were using a smaller gallon tank, hence needed constant run cycles.

I just got mine today. I have a craftsman 33gal hitting it with 95psi. It runs 4minutes on and 3 minutes off. I filled a 68ci tank from 3k to 4.5k in 20 minutes before I messed with the metering screw on the Altaros. It was doing 3min on 3.5min off before adjusting. It did 20bar on the air venturi 98cf tank in an hour. It was getting late so I quit there for the night. I have 2 water catches in front of the Altaros (one at the compressor and 1 just in front) they are both filled with silica gel and started to change color at the top 1/2 inch. The silica I added in the low pressure side in the Altaros itself did not change color at all. So seems I've got good enough water catches. It was also raining out so high humidity in the garage where the shop compressor is. The Altaros itself is in my basement. So far I'm very happy with the unit. Puts a smile on my face that I never have to drive or pump air again. I've named mine Vader lol.