New PerformanceAir compressors from Umarex

[jefL]

Launched in the UK at the BSS was a new range of compressors from Umarex. Yes, not just a compressor but five different models. Those of you that noticed, they were under the perspex showcase on the main Umarex stand.
Two weeks before the show I was given the opportunity to give them the once over and share my opinion with Umarex. Now I can share it with you.
The range consists of two mains powered units, two battery powered, and one ultra quiet, powered by a 12v power brick.




I was impressed with the whole range and they are a step up from the cheap Tuxings and clones. While they are not cheap, they do offer an alternative to the cheapies and in my opinion are worth the extra cash. They are all well made and finished, small in size and easy to handle.

I was struck by the quietness of the main four. When you switch the power on to illuminate the control panel the fans start up. With all four it is possible to hold a conversation without raising your voice. Apart from the small battery unit there is very little extra noise when you switch on to start pumping, the mechanical noise is smooth and reassuring. Having gone through a Tuxing TX062 which eventually threw a big end and an Umarex ReadyAir that let go at 130 Bar when the bleed screw thread gave out, I am decidedly nervous with mechanically noisy compressors, not so with these. I’ll post individual threads about each model over the next few days. I tested each one filling a rifle from around 100 bar to 200 as a realistic duty for this type of compressor. Once they had gone back, to be ready for the show, I found out we were being given two to use at the show for topping up the range guns, this would be a real test. I selected the two larger units, rated at up to 3.0l output and capable of topping up a 3.0l dive bottle to 300 bar.

Over the course of the three days of the show each compressor ran for around 30 minutes total time, filling to 230 bar most times, 250 bar for the Notos. Run times were 1 to 2 minutes. The temperature never exceeded 30ºC and during each fill I was able to comfortably converse with visitors to the range. Note we didn’t use any additional filtration at the show although I did when filling my own guns at home and this extends the run time a little.

Anyway, I’ll flesh out the detail in subsequent posts about each model but I can recommend these as well engineered units that sit somewhere in the middle between the Tuxings etc and the Hills.

 

[Prof1974]

I've just been watching a video about these. I'm expecting my Tuxing to die sometime shortly. Battery powered one would suit me perfectly. Thanks for the write up

 

[jefL]

I watched that video the other day. Interesting that he picked the PAC400, the battery powered one, to do in detail. I was well impressed with that one too. I’ll try and get that one up later today for you @Prof1974
Like him I didn’t have long with them before they had to back for the BSS. (But I did get them first )

I'll just add here my history with compressors.
I started with a Tuxing TXET 062-2 from Amazon that cost £180ish I think. This did well for a while but even though I was diligent with the oil every five fills etc etc I still ended up having to do significant work on it:-
It needed a new relay in the control module after 1 hr 40 mins run time
The control module finally went bang at 2 hrs 27 mins, replaced with new module
I replaced piston rings at 4 hrs 30 mins when it stopped pumping up beyond 150 bar
Piston rings again and a new outlet pipe due to a leak at 6 hrs
It finally went bang, shedding its big end bearing at 6 hrs 40 mins, I have the bits to rebuild but so far lack the motivation.

I also have an Umarex ReadyAir that until recently has proved very reliable but boy is it noisy, especially when the second stage fans kick in at 30ºC. It did give me a fright early on when the bleed valve block popped its thread at about 130 bar , it has subsequently been fixed under the factory recall for that design flaw. This also packed up recently, refusing to pump beyond 35 bar, a sure sign the HP piston rings need replacing, I just have to find a maintenance kit for it.

I also have access to an early model Hills EC 3000 which has 6 hours on the clock and runs like a dream.

I rate them in that order. The Tuxing is cheap, built down to a price and it shows. The ReadyAir was overpriced but is streets ahead of the Tuxing mechanically but still very noisy, both fans and mechanically, it will be worth repairing if I can source the bits. The Hills is the bees knees, quiet, capable and with superb after sales service from the manufacturer. I have also used an Eco310 which is even better than the EC3000 with better control software and pressure gauges.

 

[jefL]

So to introduce the PAC400 battery powered compressor. This is a little gem, small and light, with a corresponding low capacity, a max of just 1.0l. Quite capable of filling just about any gun or small day bottle but not much else. The batteries weren’t available when I had this on loan but the battery fitting is the same as Makita LXT 18V power tool batteries of which I have several so I was able to test it using one of those. The picture shows it with my PPQ M2 in front for size comparison.

The switch under the battery turns the unit on, illuminating the control panel, which is common across the whole range, and starting the fans. You can still converse over the noise of the fans without difficulty and they are not too distracting while you set your desired parameters.

The SET button is used to select the displayed units. You can choose between Celsius or Fahrenheit for the temperature, and bar, MPa, or psi for the pressure, the up/down keys being used to make the selection and pressing ENT to confirm. A long press of SET allows the target set pressure to be adjusted and confirmed with ENT.

The compressor comes with a whip and Foster connector with a built-in moisture filter using mini cotton filters. For a small rifle this would possibly be sufficient but you may choose to add extra filtration for peace of mind. It also comes with a mains powered battery charger and the Umarex battery that will be supplied is 7.8Ahr. and a little bag of O rings and burst disc elements.


So to performance. The manufacturers blurb claims a weight of 6.1 kg, I weighed it at 6.7 kg with a 3.0 Ahr Makita battery and the whip fitted, easy to move around. At just 370mm long, 90mm wide and 185mm high, it is similar in size to a 3.0l dive bottle and just as portable. When the start button is pressed the motor starts up and the noise level does increase but not to an uncomfortable level, you can still converse over it. There is no banging or knocking like you get with the Tuxing, just a smooth sound of a well built machine.

Umarex claim 11 minutes to fill to 190 bar. They don’t say what but I guess the maximum capacity of 1 litre. This didn’t mean much to me so I got my Daystate X2R out that was sat at just 70 bar and ran it up to 180 bar as a more realistic test for an air gunner. This took 4 minutes 30 seconds and raised the temperature from 15ºC to 25ºC. I’m told it has a thermal cutout but so far, I have been unable to find out at what setting. Subsequent tests with a plugged whip show it quite capable of running up to 300bar. It does slow down slightly after about 250 bar but never sounds like it is struggling, just working harder. That 4 1/2 minute fill, and a couple of runs on a plugged whip used just 25% of my 3.0 Ahr Makita battery so the 7.8 Ahr one to be supplied with it should give several fills before needing a recharge.

I think this one is possibly the best of the range although it wouldn’t suit me being too slow and of limited capacity. It is ideal though for anyone who only wants to fill direct to gun and values portability. The build quality and finish are superb.

How much? Yes, I did say they weren't cheap, this one is currently priced at £425 so you could buy nearly three Tuxings for that. However this will almost certainly outlast at least two Tuxings and is much more pleasant to use, both from the noise perspective and the stress of waiting for what sounds like a bag of nails to go bang when using a Tuxing. It is also easier to move around and store than a Tuxing.
Would I buy one? Probably not. Not because of the price but because it doesn't really suit my needs.

 

[ReSyC]

Always good to have more choice and options in the market

I rather like the idea of the second tall one on test in the AAR video, slow fill at a steady rate with less heat generated and less stress on all the equipment.

Nice use case for that would be when you get back from the range/permission and want to refill for the next outing. Hook it and leave it to it, slow and steady fill before it gets put away and save the air in your cylinder for occasions where you need a quick topup.

Can't get past the straining and squeaking of it though, sounds like something may give way after a little while and I'm reminded of a video I saw some time back where somebody motorised a traditional stirrup hand pump on a reciprocating motor. I'd bet there is a similar arrangement inside that tall box and would like to see inside it.

 

[jefL]

@ReSyC , that one AAR tested is the one I reviewed and there is a definite squeak from it. It sounds like a valve squeak to me. I made a recording of the noise and that went back to Umarex in Germany so they are aware of it and hopefully any issue will be sorted on the production examples. The other unit we had at the BSS was on Carrie-Ann's table for display and demo. We did try that one a couple of times and it doesn't squeak. I was going to leave that review until last as the EcoSilent is a bit different from the rest of the range. I intend to post in the following order:-
1. PAC900 Small mains only unit.
2. PAC100, Higher output (up to 3.0L) mains and 12Volt power
3. PAC1400, As 1100 but twin battery unit with mains option. (Note that AAR in the video erroneously states it also has a 12Volt input facility; it doesn't. It would be a bit pointless on a battery powered unit anyway).
4. EcoSilent ultra-quiet low capacity unit.
....unless there is a clamour for any one in particular.

 

[Prof1974]

Brill reviews. Thanks for the effort

 

[jefL]

OK, moving on we have the small (output capacity) mains only powered PAC900 up next.

The 900 is very compact at just 230mm wide, 270mm high and 150mm deep and it weighs just under 7 kg. This makes it easy to move around and store and puts it fair and square in the Tuxing TX-ET062 territory although it is quite a bit slimmer and 2 kg lighter. The build quality however is far superior with heavier gauge metal used in the case and a much better paint finish.


Mains powered only, this one has no option for running off a car battery. It is supplied with a whip with Foster fitting both ends and incorporates the small cotton filter at one end. As with the 400 this may be adequate for filling a single rifle but I would again recommend one of the aftermarket filters available. Also included is a small bag of O rings, spare cotton filters and burst disc elements. Maximum output capacity is 1.0l so, like the 400, this is limited to direct to gun or small buddy/day bottle filling.


On powering up the fans start and the control panel illuminates. The noise is reasonable, no difficulty in holding a conversation over it and it is not distracting when applying settings. The control panel is the same as the 400 and once the pressure is set, switching on brings the pump to life and this is where the quality stands out. There is barely any increase in noise level, stated as 78dB, and the compressor runs smoothly with no banging or knocking, such a contrast to the Tuxing which sounds as if it is trying to destroy itself the moment you switch it on.
Manufacturers spec says 7 minutes to fill 0.2 l to 190 bar. This again I felt was fairly meaningless so I connected up the Daystate again, this time at 80 bar and filled to 180 bar. This took 2 mins 10 secs to cut off at 178 bar and raised the temperature from 13ºC to 25ºC. I left the fans and stopwatch running and it took just under 2 mins to cool to under 20ºC.


A competent performance and the sound is in a different league to the Tuxing or for that matter the Umarex ReadyAir. At £395 its roughly double the price of the Tuxing but, in my opinion, it is more than double the quality and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

Would I buy one? Well, knowing what I know now, and had this been around at the time I bought my Tuxing, yes, without hesitation, then. I would have waited a little longer to raise the extra finance and gone for quality over price.

 

[On_target]

Does the model PAC900 require periodic lubrication and/or other routine maintenance?

 

[GridNorth]

What are the design/build characteristics that lead you to believe that it will outlast two Tuxings?

 

[jefL]

Does the model PAC900 require periodic lubrication and/or other routine maintenance?

No maintenance is required as far as I know. There were no manuals included with the pre-production samples I was given but the introductory pdf states "Oil and water free (low maintenance)". Each model came with a little bag containing different o-rings, washers and burst disc elements and mini filters for those units supplied with the inline filter.

What are the design/build characteristics that lead you to believe that it will outlast two Tuxings?

The main thing I'm going by is the sound of the compressor when it's running. The Tuxing sounds like it's about to blow up right from the off. It shakes, rattles, knocks and bangs as soon as pressure starts to build. Not so with these, by comparison they sound almost turbine like with the note deepening when pressure gets up over 200 bar but it doesn't seem stressed at all. I also think the materials used are better, the case is slightly heavier gauge metal, paint finish much superior and the screws look better quality. I have over 6 hours experience with the Tuxing and have done a couple of rebuilds and it has never performed as well as this one or instilled much confidence in me that it won't go bang.
Whether the 900 lasts six hours or more remains to be seen but I feel it should from what I've experienced so far.

 

[jefL]

I have just discovered that the manuals for these compressors are now available on the Umarex website along with the pdf flyer giving the range overview.
The manual confirms that no oil or water is required, the only maintenance/servicing instructions given are for the replacement of the burst disc.
Interestingly they also state a maximum run time limit of 30 mins for the PAC900 and suggest letting the fans run for a 5 minute cool down period after a fill. Not something that would appeal with either the Tuxing or the ReadyAir but not so bad with this one.

 

[Ratman72]

Hello, The model with the one battery at £299 from the Umarex video looks a good deal ??, What is the Umarex warranty ??

 

[jefL]

Not sure where the £299 came from, my information shows the projected retail price at £425.
Umarex usually offer a 12 month warranty.

 

[jefL]

What are the design/build characteristics that lead you to believe that it will outlast two Tuxings?

I forgot to mention the temperature. Over the three days of the BSS the PAC1100 only reached its highest temperature of 37ºC once, with an ambient in the hall of 24ºC, the rest of the time it rarely went higher than 30ºC to 32ºC, the Tuxing on the other hand, according to my records, rarely finished under 30ºC and more often than not it would be over 40ºC, whenever it got close to 50ºC I would stop it for a rest and cool. This means the Umarex compressor is under much less thermal stress which should contribute to its longevity.

 

[nikvanorton]

The problem for me is that if spares for Umarex compressirs are anything like as hard to get as spares for Umarex guns then these may not be a good buy. At least cheap Tuxing (or clone) parts are available easily from Aliexpress.

 

[jefL]

The problem for me is that if spares for Umarex compressirs are anything like as hard to get as spares for Umarex guns then these may not be a good buy. At least cheap Tuxing (or clone) parts are available easily from Aliexpress.

Yes, I take your point although the scarcity of spares for Umarex guns tends to be for the Chinese made models, German made guns are better served. Having said that these compressors are probably also made in China so who knows. I will stress to Umarex that the type of person who would buy one of these would likely be a practical sort who will want to do his own servicing/repairs and spares availability would have a disproportionate affect on sales. I don't however hold out much hope my small voice will carry any weight whatsoever.

 

[Ratman72]

Not sure where the £299 came from, my information shows the projected retail price at £425.
Umarex usually offer a 12 month warranty.

Hello, The U tube video, i did not think it was 299 USD ?? Any way many thanks for posting ,

 

[nikvanorton]

Yes, I take your point although the scarcity of spares for Umarex guns tends to be for the Chinese made models, German made guns are better served. Having said that these compressors are probably also made in China so who knows. I will stress to Umarex that the type of person who would buy one of these would likely be a practical sort who will want to do his own servicing/repairs and spares availability would have a disproportionate affect on sales. I don't however hold out much hope my small voice will carry any weight whatsoever.

I just can’t see how they can set up a spares distribution system for one product line. It probably still means contacting the dealer, describing what you want, waiting for a price, waiting for it to arrive etc., etc. They need a website with all parts listed and direct ordering if these are to be successful.

 

[GridNorth]

I forgot to mention the temperature. Over the three days of the BSS the PAC1100 only reached its highest temperature of 37ºC once, with an ambient in the hall of 24ºC, the rest of the time it rarely went higher than 30ºC to 32ºC, the Tuxing on the other hand, according to my records, rarely finished under 30ºC and more often than not it would be over 40ºC, whenever it got close to 50ºC I would stop it for a rest and cool. This means the Umarex compressor is under much less thermal stress which should contribute to its longevity.

I had a Vevor which I believe is essentially the same as the Tuxing and it worked fine until I knocked it off a table. I don't recall it ever going above 25 degrees but it only took a few minutes to fill my S510.