Belt Driven Air Compressors

Belt Drive vs Direct Drive Air Compressor

Both belt driven compressors and direct drive compressors have their place. The best option depends on the tools you use, how frequently you use them and how much air they require.

Which Type Should You Choose?

If you only need compressed air occasionally, a direct drive model may be perfectly adequate. There’s no prize for buying more compressor than you’ll ever use.

If your compressor will be working regularly or supplying more demanding tools, the durability and output of a belt driven model may make it the better long-term investment.

If you’re still unsure, give us a call: 01932 348777  We’d much rather help you choose correctly now than sell you something that leaves your air tools gasping halfway through a job.

Check the FAD, Not Just the Headline Figure

Some manufacturers display air displacement more prominently than Free Air Delivery, or FAD. 

Air displacement is the theoretical amount of air drawn into the compressor. FAD tells you how much usable compressed air the machine actually delivers. 

It is usually the more helpful figure when comparing a compressor with the requirements of your tools. Because, lovely as an impressive number looks in a product description, it still needs to translate into enough air to do the job. 

Three-Phase Belt Driven Air Compressors

Three-phase belt driven compressors are designed for premises with a 400V supply and are available with higher-powered motors for more demanding applications.

They can provide the increased air output needed by busy workshops, industrial equipment and pneumatic tools used for longer period. As you can see from our selection of belt compressors above, you can purchase 3 phase models in a 200 or 270 litre tank size.

If you’re unsure which electrical supply you have, or whether you need single-phase or three-phase power, speak to our team before ordering. We can help you compare the options and avoid an expensive machine arriving with nowhere suitable to plug it in.

Typical Uses for Belt Driven Compressors

Belt driven air compressors can power a wide range of pneumatic tools and equipment.

Vehicle Workshops and Garages

They can be used with impact wrenches, tyre inflators, air ratchets and other garage equipment.

Remember that different tools have very different air demands. A tyre inflator and a continuously running air tool may both connect to a compressor, but they won’t ask the same amount from it.

Spray Painting and Bodywork

Spray guns require a clean and consistent supply of compressed air. The correct compressor will depend on the gun’s CFM requirement and how long it will be used.

Additional filtration or air treatment may also be required to remove moisture and contaminants from the air supply.

Manufacturing and Woodworking

Belt drive compressors can supply pneumatic machinery, sanders, staplers, nail guns and other workshop tools.

If several people or machines will use compressed air simultaneously, their combined demand must be included when choosing the compressor.

Buy from People Who Understand Compressors

Air compressors aren’t always a simple purchase. Between CFM, FAD, horsepower, receiver sizes and electrical supplies, it’s easy to compare an awful lot of numbers without getting any closer to knowing which machine you need. 

That’s where we come in. 

Tell us which tools you use, how often you use them and what power supply you have. Our compressor experts will help you choose a belt driven air compressor that can genuinely meet the demands of your workshop. 

We won’t simply recommend the biggest or most expensive machine available. That might be good for our invoice, but it won’t do much for our reputation – and we’re rather fond of that! 

Call us: 01932 348777. | Email us: sales@metrosales.co.uk