BelAire 338VLE: cast-iron cylinders, aluminium heads, stainless valves

The 338VLE's pump is a deliberate mix of materials rather than one casting. The cylinders are cast iron, which is what you want where the piston rubs and where heat and pressure are relentless. The heads are aluminium, which sheds heat far faster than iron does — and the head is exactly where a two-stage pump gets hottest. The valves are stainless steel. Each choice is made for the job that part actually does, and the result is a pump that runs cooler at the top end without giving up the wear surface at the bottom.

Around it: a 7.5 HP 3-Phase motor on 208-230V power with the magnetic starter fitted, and an 80 gallon vertical ASME tank. Every unit is 100% factory tested at full pressure before it ships.

Three-phase, and why it makes the wiring easier

This is the three-phase version of BelAire's vertical Elite compressor, and the practical benefit shows up on the electrical estimate. A three-phase motor draws less current than a single-phase motor doing identical work, so where the single-phase equivalent in this family wants a noticeably larger circuit, this unit is listed for a 40 Amp breaker. Smaller breaker, smaller conductors, less trouble on a long run from the panel.

The catch is obvious: your building has to have three-phase service. If it does, this is the model to buy. The magnetic starter is included rather than sold as an accessory, which matters more than it sounds — it provides thermal overload protection and drops out on a power failure so the motor is not slammed back on under load when the supply returns.

BelAire does not publish an amp draw for this unit and says to consult a certified electrician, so that is our advice too. A licensed electrician should verify the supply, size the circuit, confirm motor rotation and fit the disconnect. Service capacity, permits and inspection are the customer's responsibility.

Will it fit?

The tank stands vertically, which is what keeps the footprint small: 39 in. long by 24 in. wide, standing 77 in. tall, at 548 lb. That is roughly the floor area of a two-drawer filing cabinet and about the height of a doorway — so measure the door you will bring it through as carefully as you measure the space it will live in, and check any overhead door track that swings through the same air.

The floor needs to be level and solid enough to carry a filled tank. Leave clear air around the pump and belt guard so the cooling works, and leave yourself room to reach the drain and the oil sight glass, because a maintenance point you cannot reach is a maintenance point you will skip.

Air, moisture and pressure

Maximum working pressure is 175 PSI. A triple-pass pump-mounted aftercooler drops the discharge temperature before air reaches the tank, so a good share of the water condenses at the drain rather than in your lines. The tank drain is the Elite Series pressurised automatic type — it uses tank pressure to clear condensate on its own, with no timer to set and nothing electronic to fail.

On airflow, this product's own records do not fully agree, so read the note below before you size your tools.

Two ratings on file for the same pump

Airflow at a stated pressure is the number you use to decide whether a tool will run continuously, so it is not one to average or guess at. We have shown you both readings and attributed each. If your decision depends on it, message us and we will get the manufacturer's confirmation before you commit.

Perfect for

• Three-phase commercial shops that want the smaller circuit and the lower running current.
• Industrial and production environments where the compressor runs most of the working day.
• Tight floor plans — the vertical tank frees up the space a horizontal 80 gallon machine would occupy.
• Multi-user shops where several air tools may be in use at once and short-cycling is the enemy.

What is included

Shipped assembled: two-stage pump with cast-iron cylinders and aluminium heads, 7.5 HP three-phase motor with magnetic starter, 80 gallon vertical ASME tank, triple-pass pump-mounted aftercooler, Elite Series automatic (non-electronic) tank drain, oil level sight glass, stainless steel valves, start-stop pressure switch control, pressure gauge and a fully enclosed high-flow belt guard. No air dryer is supplied.

Specifications

Certification, stated plainly

The tank is ASME certified and carries ASME safety valves, and each machine is 100% factory tested at full pressure. ASME is a pressure-vessel standard — it covers the vessel that stores the air, not the electrical assembly bolted to it. BelAire's data for this model claims no third-party North American electrical safety listing, and this page will not imply one. If your insurer, a fleet policy or a local inspector requires that kind of listing on shop equipment, ask us for the documentation supplied with the unit and get the answer in writing before you order.

Shipping and delivery

Freight only, to the lower 48 states, standing on a pallet. You will need a way to get 548 lb off the truck — dock, forklift, or a pallet jack across hard, flat ground. If you have none of those, ask us about terminal pickup instead. Residential delivery addresses carry a residential fee, quoted with your shipping at checkout.

Inspect the compressor while the driver is still with you. Look at the tank, the belt guard, the gauge and the aftercooler, and note any damage on the delivery receipt before signing. Signing clear and finding damage later is the mistake that turns a routine freight claim into a dispute you will probably lose.

Warranty

This model carries a 2 Year full factory warranty with nothing extra to buy. The warranty document supplied with the machine governs, so read it when the unit arrives rather than when you need it. Whatever the fault, do not dismantle the pump, motor or electrical enclosure before a claim is opened — manufacturers routinely decline claims on components that were taken apart before anyone had the chance to inspect them.