"Michael Horowitz" wrote in message
news
Hello Jim - Craftsman 5 HP, 20 gal tank capable of 150 psi but I've
only been able to get it to 125.
Do you think I'm fooling myself? I know SB takes a lot of air - Mike


Mike,

Crapsman is kidding about the 5 HP. A true 5 HP compressor would pull 5000
watts. One horsepower is 746 watts,
and the conversion is never 100%! We always figured about a kilowatt of
input to get one horsepower output. My
5 HP compressor requires at least a 220 volt circuit and pulls 25 amps at
220 volts. To get 5 HP on 110 volts would
require about 50 amps. They measure the current with the motor stalled to
get their horsepower numbers. You can't
run them that way, they would burn up in minutes! Besides, the breaker
will blow. But for a few seconds there, you
were pulling 5000 watts in that little compressor! :-)

Highflyer
Highflight Aviation Services
Pinckneyville Airport ( PJY )