Which 12V car compressor/tire inflator to get?

[RealBlackStuff]

I'm fed up paying $0.75 every time I need some air in the car tires.
Can anyone recommend a reliable portable unit that works off the car's 12V cigarette lighter (or other car outlet)?

[rkawakami]

I've had a cheap unit that I bought over 15 years ago which still works fine. It's quite noisy though... Made by Interdynamics and was purchased from a local auto parts outlet (Kragen, I think). The same model does not appear to be made any more but here's the web page:

http://www.id-usa.com/catalog.asp?CID=15

Similar to the model NU-260 in function (air compressor, gauge, emergency light), mine's rated for 250psi. Don't think that it will ever deliver that much pressure in any reasonable length of time.

[hausman]

I've had a cheap unit that I bought over 15 years ago which still works fine. It's quite noisy though... Made by Interdynamics and was purchased from a local auto parts outlet...

Ditto.

[Harryc]

RBS, I've had a Sears unit for years that works great.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... +Inflators

[GomJabbar]

I have had the 12-volt models before, but I prefer a 120-volt model. The 120-volt models last longer and pump air faster. I own an older version of the one in the link below.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02875117000P

[rkawakami]

So, carry an DC-AC inverter in your vehicle, along with the compressor? I hadn't thought of that before but if the AC powered compressor is faster and quieter than the buzzing 12V models, that would be worth it.

[RealBlackStuff]

That may be the best of both worlds.
Although I guess such a converter/compressor combination is not cheap.
I'll look into that, good idea.

[GomJabbar]

So, carry an DC-AC inverter in your vehicle, along with the compressor?

Well, I don't. I don't own any inverters. I am not sure an inverter could handle the current draw of a compressor or not. One would have to check the specs.

I just inflate the tires at my home using a long extension cord. I guess this could be problematic though if you lived in an Apartment, Condo, or Townhouse.

[rkawakami]

Or on the road... RBS' request is for a "portable" unit which I read to be one that's usable when you're not at home. And no, I've only used my unit away from the house a couple of times... to inflate some air mattresses, fill up some tires (autocrossing) or as insurance on a long road trip, so most of the time I could have used an AC powered compressor. But it's nice to not have to deal with a long extension cord from the garage to the street.

[RealBlackStuff]

After careful consideration I bought this Bon-Aire 12-Volt HD Direct Drive Inflator
http://www.bon-aireindustries.com/produ ... ?prodID=28

$34.84 with free shipping, on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0339886996

Thanks for all your input.

[Rob Mayercik]

LIghter socket models are easy to use, but they're slow - I keep a Tsunami MF-1050 in my Jeep, and love it.

It's 12V, but clamps directly onto the battery terminals because it's rated to draw up to 30A. Comes in a nice little carrier bag, too. A little more money, but well worth it.

On the other hand, it's also capable of 1.75lpm (around 2.5cfm), which makes it much faster than any lighter socket-powered 12V model - when airing up after a trial run, I can take my 30x9.50x15s from 12-35psi in about 1-1.5 minutes each.

Several off-road sites have pitted this compressor against brand-names such as Viair, and this thing has held its own every time.

http://www.amazon.com/Master-Flow-MF-10 ... B000L9AD2U

[RealBlackStuff]

'My' specs say:
[bragging]Heavy-Duty with fast air delivery ... 30 liters per minute (= 30 lpm) [/bragging]

[Harryc]

That Tsunami MF-1050 looks like an excellent piece of kit.

[rkawakami]

Strange... my Master Converter program says that 30 liters per minute (lpm) is equal to 1.06 cubic feet per minute (cfm) and that 1.75lpm is 0.06cfm.

edit: Of course one needs to know at what pressures these flow rates are measured at....

[Rob Mayercik]

That Tsunami MF-1050 looks like an excellent piece of kit.

IMHO, it certainly is - check out this comparison where it was stacked up against about 10 other compressors/inflators: http://www.parksoffroad.com/prodreview/ ... ormain.htm (the "Master Flow MV-50" is the same compressor as the Tsunami, just one naming generation prior. Functionally and visually it's the same thing). Quite an eye-opener.

Strange... my Master Converter program says that 30 liters per minute (lpm) is equal to 1.06 cubic feet per minute (cfm) and that 1.75lpm is 0.06cfm.

edit: Of course one needs to know at what pressures these flow rates are measured at....

Well, I see you caught my mistake on the lpm number. It's actually 72lpm (which should be about 2.5cfm). Don't know offhand what the flow rate used for that number is, though. Have a look at the comparison I linked to earlier in this message for some real-world performance data on it. Also, each compressor has its own details page - click on "Master Flow" as I mentioned above.

[RealBlackStuff]

If anyone is interested, one brand new MV-50 on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Q-Industries-MV50-S ... 0323388337
and probably the same under a different heading:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SuperFlo ... 0279661915