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Recently I was shopping around for a Coleman air compressor for my husband for Christmas, and quickly got confused! CFM and PSI, single stage and two stage compressors, different phase electric motors; the terminology was a bit over my head. I thought of asking my husband, but that would be a quick give away as to what I was thinking of purchasing. So I started doing some research to gain a bit of understanding. Some information was just over my head, it was like I pulled out an engineering text book! But I soon found the information that I needed and decided to pass it on, in an easy to understand way, to help anyone else that may find themselves in a similar situation.

PSI – this stands for Pounds per square inch, and in a Coleman air compressor this is important because it tells you how much pressure is delivered to the tool by the air compressor. So before buying an air compressor, it is important to know how much pressure your tool requires, and make sure the compressor you purchase will do the job. If you have multiple tools, cater to the one that requires the most pressure. Also, remember to look ahead to tools you plan to purchase.

CFM– this is an abbreviation for cubic feet per minute and is the volume of air that the compressor delivers to the tool. A compressor with a high CFM will last longer before recharging.

Single Stage Compressor – this type of Coleman air compressor can have either one or more air cylinders. If there is more than one cylinder, then they are both the same size. The main thing to remember about a single stage compressor is that it should not be used on tools that require more than 100 PSI to operate unless that tool is only used intermittently. These are good for the home owner who uses his compressor occasionally, or just around the home.

For tools that require greater pressure, or if you use multiple tools back to back, then you need a two stage compressor.

Two stage compressor – this type of compressor has at least two cylinders with one being smaller than the other. If multiple cylinders, the size is the main way to tell if it is a single or two stage compressor. These normally operate with a pressure around 175 PSI, so are good for heavier duty or professional use, or the serious DIY guy.

Single phase electric motor – this type of motor is 115 volt or 230 volts and has a maximum horsepower of 10. This motor can be found with either a standard duty capacitor starter or a magnetic starter. I have no idea what the difference is between these two starters, but the standard duty is typically found on a smaller, portable Coleman air compressor, or on commercial single stage compressors with a tank capacity no larger than 60 gallons. The 230 volt single phase compressors are heavy duty models, have the magnetic starter and are two-stage compressors.

Three phase electric motors – these are larger 230 or 460 volt motors with up to 25 horsepower, so obviously a real heavy duty Coleman air compressor. These compressors are more expensive, but also more efficient. They always come with a magnetic starter because it acts as a voltage booster when the compressor is started, and it also protects the motor during voltage fluctuations.

Armed with a bit of information, and knowing my husband and how he will use his compressor, I was soon on my way to purchasing the right Powermate Coleman air compressor for him for Christmas. I hope this information will help you too!