Other legal compressors this year

[MrForbes]

Yeah, just be sure to buy a few extras as spares...notice the duty cycle

63C Compressor Kit VIAIR
Price: $35.00 Part Number: 00063
# 12-Volt
# Duty Cycle: 20% @ 100 PSI
# Max. Working Pressure: 105 PSI
# Amp Draw: 7 Amps
# Inline Check Valve
# Dimensions: 5.00� L x 3.00� W x 5.00� H
# Net Weight: 1.43 lbs

[Stephen of REX]

I'm sorry, could you explain what duty cycle means? I know that it describes how long the compressor will last, but what exactly does the 20% @ 100 PSI mean?

[martin417]

Duty cycle means the percent of time that the unit may be operated. Ifyou have 20% duty cycle, it means that in any given 10 minute period, the motor may run a total of 2 minutes. Or, out of any given hour, it may run 12 minutes. It has to do with cooling.

I wouldn't recommend running it for 12 minutes and then off for 48, it would probably overheat.

The main point is that the motor should be off about 80% of the time.

[MrForbes]

Also the duty cycle rating is a rough indicator of how well the thing is made. Usually machines that are designed for long life in industrial use have a high duty cycle rating at full power, while cheap stuff has a very low duty cycle at full power.

You don't always get what you pay for, but you hardly ever get what you don't pay for.

[Homsar66]

That little compressor even has a better fill curve than the thomson, It's superior at higher PSI. If only you could run two of them, then you'd be golden.
Anyway, we've got a very old compressor I was playing around with. It's about the same weight as the KOP comressor, but doesn't overheat nearly as quickly and seems to fill faster as well. Its a Gast 22d model, someone might want to check it out but i can only find 22D models with 25 PSI max on their website and that sure isn't the one I'm looking for.

[Stephen of REX]

Originally Posted by Homsar66

Anyway, we've got a very old compressor I was playing around with. It's about the same weight as the KOP comressor, but doesn't overheat nearly as quickly and seems to fill faster as well.

If it fills faster, then it is probably illegal unfortunately...

[Racer26]

Has anyone asked Q&A about this particular compressor? I would, but I'm not my team's Q&A contact.

[Homsar66]

Originally Posted by Stephen of REX

If it fills faster, then it is probably illegal unfortunately...

Yes, but it all depends on the fill curve. It might fill at the same rate at zero psi(.79), but fill better at higher pressures. KOP fills only around .20 at 100 PSI

[MrForbes]

That's how single stage piston compressors work, not much you can do about the laws of physics. Wonder if you could find a little, light, two stage?

[Racer26]

Any news on this? I saw a Q&A with a non-committal answer from the GDC, with a link that I can't seem to read. Anybody know anything I don't? Saving a few pounds with a lighter compressor will lighten the weight pinch significantly.

[Stephen Kowski]

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=14337

I guess the answer is to make a strong enough argument....you have 2 pages worth so far anyone want to sum it all in one strong statement?

[Racer26]

Anybody planning to have a VIAIR 63C on their robot at competition?

[Stephen Kowski]

Originally Posted by 1075guy

Anybody planning to have a VIAIR 63C on their robot at competition?

According to a woman I spoke with at viair those have not been made for several years and are not available despite what internet resellers are claiming. She said most of them are drop ship resellers that are not aware they have been discontinued.

[Racer26]

Ah... well then. Any alternatives?

[Don Wright]

Any updates on a lighter, legal replacement. I haven't had any luck finding anything.