Electric or gas

[klauricella]

I was just given an old Mako compressor with out a motor. Not sure of the the specs yet originally it had a 3hp gas engine which is gone. Was wondering if I should just put another gas engine on or go electric, leaning towards gas that way it is more portable but would like to get some opinions first.
Thanks
Kevin

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[Graeme Tolton]

Its personal preference. A new 3 hp gas can be had for a few hundred. An electric will be much quieter and you dont have to worry about the exhaust from an engine.

With electric, you need to run a new circuit and lose the portability.

 

[Camerone]

I have an old Coltri MCH-6 (3.5 cfm) which came as gas. I ran it that way and then swapped it out for electric. Compressors take quite a bit of maintenance to run properly, and the additional work to keep the gas engine going properly (oil changes, air filter, new spark plugs) plus the need to a cumbersome remote intake plumbing job made me swap to electric when I moved.

Like you, I thought I'd use the portability of gas. Turns out I'd just crank up a couple of 80's and use them to transfill bottles for the rebreathers over the long weekend. Worked much better.

The electric engine runs just as fast, is a hell of a lot quieter, and is zero work to maintain. I can pump with the shed door closed, start and stop the compressor at will, and never run out of fuel halfway through filling tanks. Much happier since I did the conversion.

Either way, the cost is about the same. Harbor Freight has small gas engines on sale once in a while, and if you search online (try Surplus Center), it's about $150 for a small but suitable Chinese made electric engine. You'll need a starter for it, too, and the appropriate 240v circuit in the shop. Pulleys/belts/mounting plates are a wash between the two.

In my case, it's easy to swap back...but I would go electric if I were just starting out again.

 

[Graeme Tolton]

In my case, not impossible, but certainly impractical to change the 20hp diesel for electric. I have no 3ph service and to refit everything would be too much work and customization.

 

[NAM001]

if you are using at home go the electric route. Use a dryer plug for power
if you travel with it you need gas as you cant be sure of power at sites. Many sites will not let you bring a compressor anyway. if you have a pleace with camping (rvs) then you could tote the compressor and no one would know the difference.

Its personal preference. A new 3 hp gas can be had for a few hundred. An electric will be much quieter and you dont have to worry about the exhaust from an engine.

With electric, you need to run a new circuit and lose the portability.