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.
Why you should buy the correct electric air compressor for your application?
You buy too small and either your efficiency is much lower than what it would have been with the correct unit or you cannot do the work at all.
You buy too big, you waste money and your compressor is running too cold and cause other technical problems.
You buy the wrong duty cycle quality, the machine will not last.
You buy a compressor with too low pressure and you cannot do the work you bought it for.
Our Range of Electric Air Compressors
AP3/17/150
Details
230 Volt Single phase, 50 Hz, 2.2 kW, 3 hp
Thermal overload protection on motor
150 liter air receiver
Max pressure: 10 bar, 145 psi
AP5.5/30/270
Details
380/400 Volt Three phase, 50 Hz, 4 kW, 5.5 hp
Thermal or Electronic overload protection
270 liter air receiver
Max pressure: 11 bar, 160 psi
AP20/100/500
Details
380/400 Volt Three phase, 50 Hz, 15 kW, 20 hp
Star delta starter with electronic overload
500 liter air receiver
Max pressure: 11 bar, 160 psi
AP10/2545/500
Details
380/400 Volt Three phase, 50 Hz, 7.5 kW, 10 hp
Thermal or Electronic overload protection
500 liter air receiver
Max pressure: 11 bar, 160 psi
PA550 Air Compressor
Details
380/400 Volt Three phase, 50 Hz, 3 kW, 4 hp
Thermal overload protection on pressure switch
200 liter air receiver
Max pressure: 10 bar, 145 psi
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: The 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: What 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: What 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: What 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.
What is less important when you select the correct electric air compressor:
1: The 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: How 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: It 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.
FAQs
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
Refrigerated Dryers
Refrigerated air dryers from 750 liters/min up to 17000 liter/min ex-stock. Larger ex overseas. Dew point 4°C under pressure. Automatic drain pre and manual drain after filters.
Screw Compressors
Screw compressors have no valves or other mechanical forces to cause imbalances unlike piston compressors.
Compressor Components
Airpower keeps universal spare parts for compressors. Pressure switches, non return valves and safety valves are universal to all compressors. Bottom entry filters/ regulators, electric motors and starters can be used for many makes of compressors.
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