175 PSI air compressors: two stage piston and high pressure rotary screw

175 PSI is the rating of the two stage piston compressor. The first cylinder takes air to roughly 50 PSI, an intercooler cools it, and the second cylinder finishes at 175. That extra stage is why a 5 HP two stage unit stores more usable air per gallon of tank, runs cooler and lasts longer at full load than a single stage machine, and it is the reason body shops, tire shops, fabrication shops and fleet garages standardized on 175 PSI decades ago. The high stored pressure carries a 90 PSI tool through long bursts without the pump catching up. This page also lists the 175 PSI builds of the Atlas Copco and Chicago Pneumatic rotary screws and the Quincy QGSV for plants that need 150 PSI delivered after the drop.

What is on this page

Two stage piston: Champion R-Series simplex, base mounted, Airstation and duplex packages from 2 to 30 HP, Champion RV and Advantage series, Chicago Pneumatic RCP C-Iron, RCP quiet enclosed and RCP duplex, Mark IronAir and Aluminair, ABAC AB and ABC Ironman 5 to 20 HP including the 120 and 200 gallon duplexes, and California Air Tools 20015HP two stage plus the 165 and 180 PSI oil lubricated belt drive units. Gas drive: ABAC with Honda, Kohler and Vanguard engines, Chicago Pneumatic RCP gas engine and the Atlas Copco 13 HP CR. Rotary screw: Chicago Pneumatic CPBG, CPCG and CPI, Atlas Copco GA5-18 VSDS, GA22-37 VSDS, GA15 to GA30 and G7L to G22, and Quincy QGSV, all in 175 PSI configurations.

Buying notes

Most 5 and 7.5 HP two stage units ship in 230 volt single phase and 208 to 230 or 460 volt three phase. Check the service before you order, since a 7.5 HP single phase motor draws about 40 amps. An 80 gallon vertical tank fits most bays; go to a 120 gallon horizontal when the pump is 10 HP or more or you are running a duplex. Set the pressure switch to cut in around 145 and cut out at 175 for the most stored air. Add a refrigerated air dryer when paint, plasma cutting or tire machines are on the line, and remember that a dryer rated at 100 PSI inlet has more capacity at 175, so size it to the compressor CFM. Receivers for these units are on the air compressor tanks page.

Related pages

• 150 PSI air compressors
• 200 PSI air compressors
• Piston air compressors
• Duplex two stage air compressors
• Shop by PSI and Shop by CFM