Altaros compressor booster mini review

[KnifeMaker]

It's made it through customs😀. Now, if it just gets here in one piece🙏🏻

Fingers Crossed!

Knife

[zoominx55]

I got my Altaros booster on Saturday. Let's just say the USPS tracking system needs some tweaks.  It finally showed up on my doorstep after 5 PM.

I didn't have a compressor and tried to find what I thought would work, but still be 120v and fairly quiet.  I ended up with the 30 Gal Husky http://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-30-Gal-155-psi-Ultra-Quiet-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-C302H/206695048 which has a stated 5.3 SCFM at 90 PSI. It's quiet enough to run in the garage without bothering us in the house.

I left it at factory settings to start off which has a cut off at 155 psi.  When I started everything up with the Altaros, I had the output regulator set at 100 psi, and the compressor was not able to fill the tank back up to 155 psi.  I found about where it stopped being able to fill (around 130 psi) and tweaked the cut out to that spot.   I also dropped the output setting down to the 5 bar (75 psi) minimum for the Altaros. 

Now the compressor is able to fill the tank and hit the cutoff in 10 min. However, it blows through the reserve in about 2 minutes. Not the 60/40 desired. Not sure I can do much more with it at this point. I have been running it since about 1 PM today with a couple of breaks to let the compressor cool down.

I have it filling a Tiger Shark tank and it's over 150 bar so far.  Seems to do about 10 bar every 15 minutes, so 40 bar per hour. To go from 0 - 300 bar that's going to be about 8 hours run time.  After that if I refill at 3000 - 4500 it should only be 2.5 hours. If the same fill rate holds with the increased pressure.

I have already used up one desiccant pack and put in a second.  Getting a bit of moisture in the low side filters, but not a ton.   I don't have a high-side filter, but the Tiger Shark valve doesn't have a tube so I 'should' be able to invert the tank and blow any water out before using the air. Right? 

So looking forward to not pumping. 

[DocMortal]

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Husky-30-Gal-175-psi-High-Performance-Quiet-Portable-Electric-Air-Compressor-C303H/206532808

Close to the compressor I have .

You can adjust to any pressure on the compressor itself the higher the better depending in the pressure rating of your dessicant filters.

The little flow control adjustment in the Altaros will determine how much your compressor will turn off and on. I got mine to 50/50 7min on 7 min off.

[zoominx55]

Is that flow control you speak of the little knob just past the filter under the lid? 

[zoominx55]

Looked up the instructions. Now I understand. I still have 100 bar to go to fill my tank. I'll increase the output pressure back up to 90 psi and set my cut in back to normal and play with that flow adjustment to get me closer to 60/40 desired run time. Thanks for the tip and I'm glad I was missing something.

[DocMortal]

No problem bud glad to help. Yeah that little knob is critical to the whole setup 

[zoominx55]

I did some playing around while getting to 300 bar last night. I set everything back to factory on the compressor and set the output regulator to 90psi. Then I adjusted the flow control until I got close to 60/40 run time. Boy the altaros was moving slow.

So I went back to 75 psi output and reduced my cut out pressure back to 130 from the stock 155. Then I was able to open up the flow valve more to get to 60/40. The altaros was moving faster so I'm leaving it like that.  It seems to be doing 10 bar every 20 min now. 

I have a full tiger tank now and clear but cold weather settling in the area. I've got to shoot down the gun soon just so I can use the tank to fill it up. I really need a pcp pistol I can shoot in the garage. Maybe after Christmas if there is a sale.

[Scubajeeper]

Happy, Happy, Happy; Well, it got here today, and I have to report the same boring &^^& everybody else has been reporting, the "dang" thing works as advertised, don't buy this thing if you want to be disappointed, it ain't going to happen. It arrived very well boxed and unharmed, I hooked it up and it filled my 45 minute-66 cf, scba bottle from 3500 to a little over 4500 in 56 minutes. It stopped at 4300 so I cranked the screw out few turns and brought it out to 4500. The desiccant filter that I have turned from blue to pink almost to the top, it was still blue at the very top but I'm guessing I may need to add another one to insure no moisture gets to the Altaros. There was no sign of water anywhere after my final input, I just want to make sure. Anyone thinking about getting one of these needs to consider the fact that moisture removal is going to be an issue. Get that covered, and you will have a real winner. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, I live in the Deep South and we had an enormously humid day today.

[KnifeMaker]

Yep! Boring is the perfect description all right!

No Fuss, No Muss. It just works, and works, and works. 

Do use at least one water separator, (I have three before mine). One at the main compressor, one mixed with an oil/water separator from HF, and finally a cheap one next to a  large Wilkerson Desiccant filter using the High Grade Orange beads that turn to green when needing changing. (They do not put out the acid that attacks alu. the way the typical ones do).

Found them on Amazon. They are the same as Altaros filled the included filter in the Altaros box with.

Using this setup, the beads finally turned green in the Wilkerson after around 15 fills in mostly rainy days here in Texas. I opened the Filter in the Altaros, and they were as new. The Wilderson really does a fine job.

A bit of over kill I guess, but I received a High Pressure Side Filter from Dman over on the TAG. Man is it ever a heavy duty unit, with impeccable machining and finish. It uses the same Cartridge Filter as the J.B.  The replacement units for it are 29 usd, but with the efficiency of the setup I have, I don't think the cartridge with need replacing often at all. Hopefully, Annually or no more than twice a year. (Keep in mind, that I am shooting a .257 that is an airhog, and I shot around 150 to 200 rounds a day). So I normally fill daily. Far more than most here. So I am really giving the Altaros a "Workout".

Knife 

[WildKata]

I'm disappointed.  Was told mine should be finished yesterday, ready to ship today and I have not heard back from them yet.

[Scubajeeper]

I know the waiting is tough, I've been there, just hang on and you'll be rewarded. They bumped the price up $10 but they included a male to male foster fitting. I'm sure glad they did, it made it possible for me to hook up my hp filter without having to change the ends of my hose. These things are selling petty fast and I haven't read any negatives yet, I think they have a really good product, time will tell.

[drewciferpike]

Hmm... We have an old Kellogg-American 321 TVA at the farm shop, and it's powered with a 1.5hp motor. No specs stamped anywhere, so not sure of the cfm, though I can tell it's two-stage, just by looking at it. Anyone with experience know if it's good for the Altaros?

If not, I'm going to buy a shoebox...

[JTB530]

I got the shipping info for mine early this a.m. I'm chomping at the bit to try it out!

[Scubajeeper]

Hmm... We have an old Kellogg-American 321 TVA at the farm shop, and it's powered with a 1.5hp motor. No specs stamped anywhere, so not sure of the cfm, though I can tell it's two-stage, just by looking at it. Anyone with experience know if it's good for the Altaros?

If not, I'm going to buy a shoebox...

1 1/2 Hp on a two stage sounds kind of small. But you never know with old equipment like that, someone could have replaced the motor. Is it 240 or 120? Either way, it's probably adequate, all you have to do adjust the inlet control valve.

[drewciferpike]

It's a 240, and I found some specs, but because I don't know the RPMs of the motor, I don't know if it's on the low end (5cfm) or the high end (9cfm) of what that pump can do.

Maybe I'll just need to get a really good compressor for the new Huller... Haha.

Hmm... We have an old Kellogg-American 321 TVA at the farm shop, and it's powered with a 1.5hp motor. No specs stamped anywhere, so not sure of the cfm, though I can tell it's two-stage, just by looking at it. Anyone with experience know if it's good for the Altaros?

If not, I'm going to buy a shoebox...

1 1/2 Hp on a two stage sounds kind of small. But you never know with old equipment like that, someone could have replaced the motor. Is it 240 or 120? Either way, it's probably adequate, all you have to do adjust the inlet control valve.

[KnifeMaker]

If it is a 240 two stage, It should be fine. I would assume it would be the 9 cfm on the 240.

I would use a good oil separator  on an older unit. Heck, even on a New Unit!

also remember, electric motors are rated differently in the past as to how they are now. Older motors were larger for the hp rating.  and they seem to be Much stronger than today's. (Same in lawn mowers these days). Takes a 5 hp to do what a 2 hp did 20 years ago on a mower.

Now, they are rated at non stress load. In days past, the rating was at full stress. Huge difference!!!

I'll bet it will be just fine.  A new 1.5 horse would nto run a two stage compressor in most cases. So if it works-----

knife

[Wayne52]

How many U.S. dollars are the Altaros boosters going for now?

[drewciferpike]

This is why I like perspective!

That old compressor runs the biggest air wrench that we use on the trailers and tractors, but I wanted to be sure.

Tell me if my thinking is wrong: I want to have my separators, filters and booster as far down the line, as possible, in order to facilitate the precipitation of everything I don't want. We've probably got close to 200 feet of pipe running around the shop, so I can plug in just about anywhere.

If it is a 240 two stage, It should be fine. I would assume it would be the 9 cfm on the 240.

I would use a good oil separator  on an older unit. Heck, even on a New Unit!

also remember, electric motors are rated differently in the past as to how they are now. Older motors were larger for the hp rating.  and they seem to be Much stronger than today's. (Same in lawn mowers these days). Takes a 5 hp to do what a 2 hp did 20 years ago on a mower.

Now, they are rated at non stress load. In days past, the rating was at full stress. Huge difference!!!

I'll bet it will be just fine.  A new 1.5 horse would nto run a two stage compressor in most cases. So if it works-----

knife

[customcutter]

This is why I like perspective!

That old compressor runs the biggest air wrench that we use on the trailers and tractors, but I wanted to be sure.

Tell me if my thinking is wrong: I want to have my separators, filters and booster as far down the line, as possible, in order to facilitate the precipitation of everything I don't want. We've probably got close to 200 feet of pipe running around the shop, so I can plug in just about anywhere.

If it is a 240 two stage, It should be fine. I would assume it would be the 9 cfm on the 240.

I would use a good oil separator  on an older unit. Heck, even on a New Unit!

also remember, electric motors are rated differently in the past as to how they are now. Older motors were larger for the hp rating.  and they seem to be Much stronger than today's. (Same in lawn mowers these days). Takes a 5 hp to do what a 2 hp did 20 years ago on a mower.

Now, they are rated at non stress load. In days past, the rating was at full stress. Huge difference!!!

I'll bet it will be just fine.  A new 1.5 horse would nto run a two stage compressor in most cases. So if it works-----

knife

Like WildKata said earlier, unless one cylinder is larger than the other it's just a twin cylinder, not a 2 stage. 

Also you are correct, I looked up a piping diagram on line a few weeks back and they suggested plumbing the air line so that it left the compressor went down, then horizontal, and back up before your quick connects.  That way you have a built in "water collector", in the system.  Just make sure you plumb it with a "T" so that you can drain it.

[n2omike]

If it is a 240 two stage, It should be fine. I would assume it would be the 9 cfm on the 240.

I would use a good oil separator  on an older unit. Heck, even on a New Unit!

also remember, electric motors are rated differently in the past as to how they are now. Older motors were larger for the hp rating.  and they seem to be Much stronger than today's. (Same in lawn mowers these days). Takes a 5 hp to do what a 2 hp did 20 years ago on a mower.

Now, they are rated at non stress load. In days past, the rating was at full stress. Huge difference!!!

I'll bet it will be just fine.  A new 1.5 horse would nto run a two stage compressor in most cases. So if it works-----

knife

Exactly.

Electric motors, winches...  pretty much ANYTHING mechanical like this was rated FAR differently back then, than it is today.
The existing compressor should do a GREAT job of running the booster.  Plus, those old compressors were built to last forever.  They run at a lower RPM, and produce less heat and moisture than the newer stuff does.