California Air Tools 4 Hp compressors?

[Bill Graham]

I've searched the site, found a few posts on their smaller compressors that are overall favorable. They seem quiet and reliable and both are important to me. Portability isn't a concern, it has a dedicated home in the basement.

I have a Rolair VT20TB and it meets the quiet requirement well, it just doesn't put out enough air to run my nailguns and small HVLP conversion guns so I have to use a 15-gal tank from an old compressor as a reservoir. Even with that, the framing and trim guns run out of pressure most of the time I'm using them.

So I ordered the CAT 20040C with the auto-drain. It's a little quieter from published specs than the Rolair(75 Db vs 79 Db) but I'll wait to hear on that. I'm just looking forward to having a compressor that has enough capacity to do what I need it to do.

So does anyone have the 4Hp version of the compressor? Thoughts and impressions would be welcome.

Thanks,
Bill

[Jim Becker]

You'll appreciate having that auto-drain...that was one of the best things I added to my compressor right from the start! Congrats on the new compressor.

[Brian Lamb]

I have the 2hp 10 gallon version and it's a nice compressor... think mine is coming up on two years now and still going strong, and it gets quite a bit of use. When my big 80 gallon Ingersol goes belly up I'll probably just buy another 2hp unit and run them both into the 80 gallon tank as a reservoir.

[Tom Blank]

Brian,

What's the specific model number?

Thanks,

Tom

[Prashun Patel]

I have the 20040CAD. I think that's your model number.

I'm using mine in a 24x7 situation, and I'm finding it cycles a little more than I wish it did.

I've used ours for about 4 months. For my application it's a little too small. I think it would operate fine @ 90psi, but we require about 100psi. For this, the 20gal tank seems to empty pretty quickly.

It has worked fine, but I do notice that it is a little louder even after a short 4 months in.

We are replacing this (in fact today) with a twin screw rotary compressor, but we'll keep the 20040CAD as a back up.

If you are planning to use this fairly extensively at > 90 psi, I would consider getting the 10gallon auxiliary tank (bringing you to 30 gallons). The support guys @ CAT (very very helpful, BTW) advised that the compressor is designed to run about 50% of the time. You might consider getting a maintenance kit (direct from CAT). For light usage, they say to replace these parts annually. For heavy, every 6 months.

(dryer)
AMONIA DESSICANT 1LB INDUSTRIAL DESICCANT (2)
SYQ63U-1020 DESICCANT WATER TRAP (2)
SYQ37 REGULATOR W/ WATER TRAP (1)
SYQ40-4620 AIR FILTER (2)

(motor parts)
AIR INFLOW VALVE (2)
AIR GASSING VALVE (2)
CYLINDER OBT RING (2)
CYL. HEAD OBT RING (2)
CYLINDER (2)
PISTON RING (2)

[Brian Lamb]

Got mine from Home Depot on the "Black Friday Sale" a couple years ago, normally they run about $350-$370 and it was on sale for $297 (20% off). Model number is 10020C. Here is a link to the specific unit: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Californ...020C/206644539

Mine looks slightly different as it appears they have changed pressure switch brand/model, but I suspect that happens a lot.