Small Cigaratte Lighter Powered Air Compressor

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qdeezie

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I am looking to no longer have to use the coin operated air compressors at gas stations anymore in the future if I'm on the road and needing to top off my tires with air or if the air in my spare tire seeps out over time.

I'm looking for an air compressor that I can plug into my cigarette lighter and top off my tires with from time to time. I'd like something that is first and foremost reliable, small enough to fit behind the seat of a regular cab truck and won't keep me waiting forever and a day when adding air into my tire.

Any thoughts/suggestions on brands? I'm probably not going to be my usual cheap self on this because this is one gadget that needs to last.
 
Seriously, buy a good quality bicycle pump. It will be faster and wont suck electricity.
 
I think they're all the same speed wise because they don't want to blow a 15 amp or so fuse.

I've had unusual luck with the cheapo campbell hausfeld from walmart. Of course I got it ten years ago and they could have chintzed out on it by now.

It does start to get boring blowing up 235/75/15s though.
frown.gif
 
My local WM has a "slime" product specifically marketed towards "topping off" the PSI in tires, it's a neat little hand held gadget, plugs into the 12v lighter socket, and has like 3 or other other "attachments" for beach balls, balloons, air matresses, etc...but yea, it's about the size of your palm lol.....no idea how good it works.....I think it says it'll blow up a full size tire in 9 minutes or something :P

But yea, I personally opted for the "heavy duty" hand pump. It's rated at 90-150 PSI - somewhere in that range....lol. Plenty enough for my little 36 psi tires. Get the one in the auto department though! NOT the Toy Department....the Toy dept ones like "cooler" but they are very cheaply made....the one in the auto department is really durable, steel/aluminum or something I'm guessing, and the air hose is like a braided sort of nylon, it's real durable. And it has a metal chuck, not a plastic chuck like the toy department pumps lol.
 
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In the last dozen years, I have been through a dozen of these 12 volt air compressors. They all will overheat in about 20 minutes, and it would take 20 minutes for them to get my 235 75 15's from 32 to 45 psi.

The Ciggy plug is another weak point as it can only pass so many amps.

A better solution is the compressors with alligator clips which attach to the battery.

I currently have a masterflow mv50 I got at PB for around 60$, that is a knock off of a more quality unit, Viair.

I can get 4 235 75 15's from 32 to 45 psi in 20 minutes with this compressor, but it does get hot, and is not really compact.
 
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Seriously, buy a good quality bicycle pump. It will be faster and wont suck electricity.

I agree. Small, cheap, reliable and good exercise to boost. I had been using bicycle pump to add some air in my tires for a while now, never need to drive anywhere to add few lbs of air.
 
I bought a cheapo CH compressor at Walmart for under $10. I took it apart and zip-tied the wires to the motor so they wouldn't break off. I put insulation between the wire and motor so the heat wouldn't melt them. It was very compact and I kept it under my motor cycle seat. You would have to hold the unit off the ground or other surface so it doesn't vibrate all over the place. You could wrap the cord around your bumper.

I have a large size one for my truck. like this: http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-100-psi-high-volume-air-compressor-96068.html
 
I was given one at Christmas some years ago.

It didn't last pumping up a single 7.50 R16, but did get me enough to get to a station to get it pumped enough to get to a tyre place.

A T handled bike pump isn't a bad suggestion.
 
Originally Posted By: sciphi
My neighbor lent me this one day, and I was impressed enough to pick one up for myself. It's fairly fast, is decently constructed, and is quite compact. It also comes with a digital tire gauge.

Kobalt 12v air compressor
I bought this last Thanksgiving, for about $10 less, so if the OP can wait, I'd wait and see what the holiday prices will be.

As for the unit, my impression is neutral. It's nice to not have to run to the gas station to top off the tires, but the air-chuck is a bit of a pain to use. Maybe that'll get better with use as it's broken-in. Also, the gauge isn't as accurate in the unit as it is when you're using it as just a pressure gauge. My experience shows that there's a 2lb difference, so if you want to pump the tires up to 35PSI, you need to set it to 37PSI, the unit will probably shut off at 36.5, drop to 36 as soon as the compressor is off, so you'll have to pump it a bit more to hit 37 on the unit, then when you take the gauge off of the unit and do a reading, it'll show the 35 you want.
 
Intermac (sp) has one available that has a continueous duty cycle, believe it or not its available at kmart. I needed a couple of them for aerating fish. they run for hours on end, no problems.
 
I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I bought a HF compressor and its been used about a half dozen times. Compared to a few others I have had, it is quieter, doesn't dance away, and was faster than the others. I want to say it was around $25 on sale (guessing, been awhile). And I'm actually happy with it.
They had a cheaper plastic one, but I got the metal body one. Comes in a pouch with quick-disconnect coiled air hose, built n gauge.
Last time I used it was for a co-worker. His [censored] out trying to air up his tire that was found flat getting off work. I hooked mine up, and I could see doubt all over his face. Well his couldn't hack the job. A couple weeks later he told me he ordered one like mine, on sale. I still can't believe I said it - lol
 
Originally Posted By: Errtt
I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I bought a HF compressor and its been used about a half dozen times. Compared to a few others I have had, it is quieter, doesn't dance away, and was faster than the others. I want to say it was around $25 on sale (guessing, been awhile). And I'm actually happy with it.
They had a cheaper plastic one, but I got the metal body one. Comes in a pouch with quick-disconnect coiled air hose, built n gauge.
Last time I used it was for a co-worker. His [censored] out trying to air up his tire that was found flat getting off work. I hooked mine up, and I could see doubt all over his face. Well his couldn't hack the job. A couple weeks later he told me he ordered one like mine, on sale. I still can't believe I said it - lol
is it this one?
 
I quit using hand pumps several years ago when my son had 90# pressure bicycle tires. Usually you're topping off the tires and that doesn't take long and my compressor never over heats. Use a good tire guage, only use the one on the compressor as an approximation.
 
Originally Posted By: opus1
Originally Posted By: Errtt
I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I bought a HF compressor and its been used about a half dozen times. Compared to a few others I have had, it is quieter, doesn't dance away, and was faster than the others. I want to say it was around $25 on sale (guessing, been awhile). And I'm actually happy with it.
They had a cheaper plastic one, but I got the metal body one. Comes in a pouch with quick-disconnect coiled air hose, built n gauge.
Last time I used it was for a co-worker. His [censored] out trying to air up his tire that was found flat getting off work. I hooked mine up, and I could see doubt all over his face. Well his couldn't hack the job. A couple weeks later he told me he ordered one like mine, on sale. I still can't believe I said it - lol
is it this one?


Yeah that looks like the one. Now that I read the reviews, seems not bad for the money.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
I've had unusual luck with the cheapo campbell hausfeld from walmart. Of course I got it ten years ago and they could have chintzed out on it by now.

It does start to get boring blowing up 235/75/15s though.
frown.gif



I got one of these as a gift 10 years ago or so--it is rectangular with a compartment at one end where the hose and cord are stowed.

It works to top off with a few psi 2-3 times a year. I have never used it to inflate a flat tire--that would probably take forever. This may be my imagination, but it seems faster if I use it while the vehicle is idling.
 
THE CH from WalMart is my standby. Got another one from Sears on sale for about 25 bucks-fancy-- removeable digital tire pressure gauge. Works a lot faster than the 10 dollar CH
 
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