Portable tire inflator?

Read this post.

 

I assume you are looking for an air pump, not a tire gauge...

I have two options which I use.

First, I have a small portable compressor which I use for various household chores such as cleaning vents. With this compressor I fill my portable air tank which will last me more than an entire day at the track where I need to adjust tire pressure frequently.

Secondly, I have el-cheapo air pumps that plug into the cigarette lighter receptacles in each car. I just bought cheap ones for less than twenty dollars on sale at a local discount parts store and although they are slow and noisy, they are perfectly acceptable for filling small tires and basketballs. They came with two nozzles to blw out things, one needle, and by default they fit over car and bicycle tires. They will put out up to 150 pounds of pressure which is more than you will ever need to fill a car tire that is low on air. The other day I blew up my nephew's football with it.

The convenience of this type of device is that more often than not it seems low tire pressure is seen in a motel parking lot instead of a gas station. Plus these thinsg are quite small and will even fit in a standard shaving kit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 13 2006, 12:26 PM) [snapback]302556[/snapback]</div>

I bought an emergency road kit from Costco for $20-$30 or so, that comes with the cigarette lighter mini compressor, fix a flat, and other goodies. It is really awesome! About the duck thing....you're on your own there! :lol:

 

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?sku=7625
.
So many people have this misimpression that they need electric
assistance when pumping up car tires...
.
_H*

 

A tire pump will also work but I did purchase a small one from CH that is loud and it does take a while but is better than rolling up to one of those gas station things.

It almost cost more to ship it. I've had mine for better than 6 monts and I love it.

http://www.jackssmallengines.com/ch_tire_inflators.cfm

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 13 2006, 02:46 PM) [snapback]302671[/snapback]</div>

Costco offers the following models online. If you don't like the product, it can be returned for a full refund, shipping included, to any warehouse location.

Coleman Inflat-all® 12volt Electric Air Pump

Vector Airpro Compressor/Inflator Combo

 

xxx

 

I was considering getting this from Sears.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 13 2006, 02:46 PM) [snapback]302671[/snapback]</div>

I have the Typhoon. Seems to work okay. I don't have much to compare it to, though. Previously, I had received a cheap inflator as a gift, which had a built-in gauge that claimed my tires were inflated to 60 psi or something crazy like that and sounded like it was going to explode when I used it. I'm satisfied with the Typhoon, though.

 

I want something automatic (or programmable.)

I want to set the tire pressure I want, turn it on and it shuts itself off when the preset tire pressure is reached.

Is that too much to ask for?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 13 2006, 07:02 PM) [snapback]302719[/snapback]</div>

Well, Sears/Craftsman got close. I own a portable 12-volt inflator that lets you set the desired pressure, turn it on, and it will turn itself off when the attached digital gauge thinks the desired pressure has been reached. The problem is that it seems to measure the pressure while inflating, which gives it (no pun intended) inflated numbers. Maybe I've not figured out how to use it correctly yet, but it seems like it is easier to just inflate, check the pressure, then adjust.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Godiva @ Aug 13 2006, 08:02 PM) [snapback]302719[/snapback]</div>

There is another thread dealing with the accuracy/consistency of air gauges and the impact they have on proper inflation levels and resulting safety/efficiency of the tires.

Basically most gauges are not accurate, but the better ones will likely be consistent. It is usually better to rely on a decent gauge with good readout (I prefer digital, backlit, and 1/2 pound increments), and onloy use that gauge all the time to determine proper tire pressure.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tnthub @ Aug 14 2006, 08:56 AM) [snapback]302942[/snapback]</div>

Any brands/models you've found to be more consistently acccurate?

 

<_< Shortly after I got my Prius, I purchased a high-grade, accurate tire gauge from Racer Parts Wholesale (online) and a 12v Campbell-Haufeld copressor from Wall-Mart. The cheap gauges (both digital and pencil types) are notoriously inaccurate. As I recall, I Paid ~$25.00 for the gauge (large analog dial) and about $20 for the compressor. They "live" in the left storage bin of the luggage area. The pressure gauge also has a bleed valve to adjust to exact pressures.[attachmentid=4484][attachmentid=4485][attachmentid=4485][attachmentid=4484][attachmentid=4486][attachmentid=4486][attachmentid=4486][attachmentid=4486][attachmentid=4488][attachmentid=4489][attachmentid=4488]