We give power to you!
8 Boulevard Park, Bellville,
South Africa
Mon-Thur: 08:00 - 17:00 / Fri: 08:00 - 16:00

Electric Air Compressors

Air Compressor

AIR COMPRESSORS

Electric Air Compressors

Airpower design and build our standard electric driven air compressor models and keep it in stock, but also build units to customer requirements. We also cater for different Voltages and frequencies.

OUR RANGE OF DIESEL AIR COMPRESSORS IN CAPE TOWN

How do you select the correct air compressor?

There are four important figures you must take into account when you want to select the correct compressor:

  1. 01The first and most important criteria before you can select an electric compressor is what electricity is available. Single phase or three phase and how many amps are available for the compressor. With three phase variable speed drive units, you multiply your kW by two to determine the Amps you require. All other three phase machines the horsepower by two. Single phase machines you multiply the horsepower by five. (4 hp. = 3kW)
  2. 02What volume of air do you require? This is litre/min or Cub Feet per min (cfm) or m3/min. Without one of these figures, you are lost. You will have to get technical advice from Airpower. It is our best product and it is free.
  3. 03What pressure do you need? This is measured in kPa, Bar or psi. Your compressor has a cut in and cut out pressure. The cut in pressure must be higher than the minimum pressure you require. Take into account you still have a pressure drop from the compressor to the point of use. Go to Tools in this web site to determine your pressure drop from compressor to your point of use.
  4. 04What will your duty cycle be? Select the compressor suitable for the duty cycle. Screw or piston, variable speed drive, load unload or stop start. DIY, medium duty or heavy industrial duty.
Electric compressor

What is less important when you select the correct electric air compressor:

  1. 01The tank size is not so important. The tank size only determines the cut in and cut out cycles and will be determined by the designer of the unit. The tank size is only important if your air consumption is high for a short while and then low for a long time.
  2. 02How many pistons the unit have is not important. The output of a compressor is not determined by how many pistons it has. The pressure is determined by how many stages the compressor has and you need at least one piston per stage.
  3. 03It is not important if the pistons are in line or in a V configuration, as long as the piston pump cycles are equally spaced over the 360° turning of the flywheel. If not equally spaced, the compressor has a lower efficiency and the delivered air is much warmer than when the pistons are equally spaced.
Petrol Air Compressors

Verified Reviews

What Cape Town Thinks

Our Location

Find Our Workshop

We are fully equipped to handle major overhauls, pressure testing, and component sales directly from our Bellville headquarters.

Quick Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose the right electric air compressor for my needs?

Choosing the right compressor depends on four key factors: your available electricity (single or three-phase), required air volume (L/min or CFM), operating pressure (bar or psi), and duty cycle (DIY vs industrial). Airpower offers free expert advice to help you get this right the first time.

What’s the difference between single-phase and three-phase air compressors?

Single-phase compressors are suited for small-scale or home use, while three-phase compressors are ideal for industrial or heavy-duty applications. Three-phase units are more energy-efficient and can power higher-output machines for continuous use.

Why is duty cycle important when selecting an air compressor?

The duty cycle tells you how long a compressor can run before needing to cool down. If your compressor isn’t rated for your workload, it will overheat or wear out quickly. Airpower supplies compressors suited for light, medium, or heavy industrial duty.

Do tank size and piston configuration affect compressor performance?

Not significantly. The tank size mostly influences the start/stop cycles of the machine – not the air output. Likewise, whether pistons are inline or in a V-shape is less important than how evenly spaced they are over the 360° rotation of the flywheel.

Can Airpower customize electric air compressors for specific requirements?

Yes. In addition to standard stock models, Airpower builds electric compressors to spec – adjusting for voltage, frequency, tank size, and application type. Whether you need a compressor for a workshop or factory, we can design it to fit your needs.

Enquiries