Air Compressor Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Stop/Start vs. Constant-Run Air Compressors: What's the Difference?
There are air compressors that run continuously and ones that stop/start. Which is best for your power needs?
A Stop/Start air compressor has a pressure switch that automatically turns on and off the compressor at designated low and high-pressure levels. When switched on, the pressure in the tank builds to a certain psi and then automatically turns off. When the air is used, the psi in the tank is reduced. Once it reaches the low setting, the pressure switch automatically turns back on to build psi back to the high point. A good rule of thumb is if the compressor stops and starts more than 20 times per hour, you should use a constant run compressor as to not risk overheating the compressor’s motor.
A Constant-Run air compressor runs 100% of the time and simply adjusts the air output as the tank reaches the high-pressure setting.
There are also dual-control air compressors that have the option of switching back and forth between stop/start operation and constant-run.
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