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Portable tire inflator?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by PriusRos, Aug 13, 2006.

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  1. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Aug 14 2006, 08:32 AM) [snapback]302988[/snapback]</div>
    I recently got an Accutire MS-4000B for about $9. The 4000 was top rated by Consumers Reports back in 2002. It has a large backlit display (1/2-pound increments), plus it activates by pressing it to the tire, but the problem is making sure you have a good seal. Accutire also makes a "racing" version for $29 which is accurate to 1/10 pound, has a more secure attachment to the valve and has a bleeder for letting out excess air.
     
    #21 aaf709, Aug 14, 2006
  2. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Thanks for all the feedback.

    I'd still like to get some idea of how long these mini compressors take to top off the air pressure in your tires.

    Is ease of use about the same as the gas station machines?

    Are larger ones (more PSI) faster?

    Anybody got a cordless rechargeable one that plugs into AC or the 12V outlet?

    Sorry for all the questions. Since I have never seen one being used, I have no idea how long it takes, how noisy it is, etc. :unsure:
     
    #22 PriusRos, Aug 15, 2006
  3. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    Mine goes to 250 PSI and it runs pretty quick. It really doesn't take any time to run up a pound or two. They say you can't run it more than 20 minutes at a time, but you'd have to do a lot so tires to reach that. :)

    I managed to persuade my father to get a compressor so I tend to use that more often, but it's good to have the portable when I want to do the tires when cold.
     
    #23 aaf709, Aug 15, 2006
  4. JasonQG

    JasonQG New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 13 2006, 04:19 PM) [snapback]302710[/snapback]</div>
    I've only used it once so far. It didn't take long (maybe 20 seconds per tire?) and was about as easy as possible. Just plug in the power, screw the nozzle on, and flip the switch.
     
    #24 JasonQG, Aug 15, 2006
  5. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Aug 14 2006, 12:50 PM) [snapback]303036[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Aug 15 2006, 01:35 PM) [snapback]303587[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JasonQG @ Aug 15 2006, 11:27 PM) [snapback]303888[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks for the replies. I visited several stores again last night and saw prices from $10 for the small CH model and $40 for 12V/120V rechargeable cordless models and automatic shutoff and was getting very confused.

    I had heard that the screw-on connectors on some of them were a bit tricky to use because air bleeds out while trying to disconnect. One of you had said that the automatic shutoff doesn't work that well because it isn't accurately gauging the tire pressure while it's filling. In the end, I decided I didn't want to spend too much money on features I'm not sure would work and didn't need any extra weight, so I went with a $15 Durabrand (?) ** 300 PSI model that is compact but still looked fairly sturdy. It also said that it had an "easy snap-on" valve connector, which is I think is what I want.

    I've read the instructions but haven't tried it out yet. The next thing I need to ask is how do you actually adjust the pressure to get it on target? It didn't say anything about that in the instructions. How do you "bleed off" any extra air? An analog gauge comes with the unit, but should I get an additional digital gauge with a bleeder valve?

    One more question (you are probably wondering whether I'll ever run out of questions :eek: ). I assume it's not going to take too much power to top off my tires (add a PSI or two), so should I just press the Power button on the Prius without the brake for accessory power, or should I turn on the full power?

    ** I mean, "Durabuilt"
     
    #25 PriusRos, Aug 16, 2006
  6. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 16 2006, 08:05 AM) [snapback]304072[/snapback]</div>
    If your gauge has a bleeder valve, great. Many gauges have at least some sort of peg that's used to bleed the excess air off tires.

    When I use the inflator, I run on full power. The ICE will come on as needed. If it's just to do a little bit, then I suppose having it in ACC will be fine.
     
    #26 aaf709, Aug 16, 2006
  7. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

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    I just went and bought this one from Sears. I was going to get the rechargable version, but realized that it weighed over double the first. Why add unnecessary weight? Yes, yes, only about an additional 8.25 pounds, but after all the weight saving work Toyota did, why not help out. More importantly, the 12v cord on the rechargeable is only 6 feet long; if you need the unit and it happens to be discharged, you're screwed.

    I compared its measurements to this one, and the readings were within no more than 1/2 pound of each other.
     
    #27 Scott_R, Aug 16, 2006
  8. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(aaf709 @ Aug 16 2006, 11:17 AM) [snapback]304080[/snapback]</div>
    The gauge that's on the unit does not have a bleeder valve so I don't know how I would bleed off extra air unless I get a gauge that has one.
     
    #28 PriusRos, Aug 16, 2006
  9. aaf709

    aaf709 Ravenpaw of ThunderClan

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 16 2006, 07:54 PM) [snapback]304453[/snapback]</div>
    Most separate valves have a pin of some sort. All you need to bleed off are is to push that little pin in the middle of the valve. Even a nail will do.
     
    #29 aaf709, Aug 16, 2006
  10. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    Update --
    I returned my $15 Durabuilt tire inflator. It does pump air, but the problem was that the gauge on it is so inaccurate and non-discrete that you have to keep guessing how much air you've pumped. The other thing is the stupid switch, which is one of those lamp-type switches that has a little wheel that turns -- I don't know what they are called. You can't tell whether the thing is on or off. When I first plugged it into the 12V outlet, it came on -- I didn't realize the switch was on. And that reminds me of the third problem, which was the biggie. It was really hard getting the connector into the outlet, and even harder pulling it back out. I was afraid I was going to break my outlet because I had to pull so hard. (I have a cell phone charger and it isn't anywhere near as difficult to plug in or disconnect from the outlet.)

    I had first measured the tire pressures with my trusty pen-type gauge, and it was around 35 in the front and 33 in the back. I had wanted to pump the tires up to 39/37. When I connectod the inflator, the gauge jumped to around 40. But it was really hard to tell because I think it only showed like 5-1b increments. As I was pumping, the gauge was going up beyond 40, but when I remeasured it, it was still only around 36 or so. I kept having to pump, disconnect, measure, then pump again. I didn't ever get them up to 39/37!
     
    #30 PriusRos, Aug 22, 2006
  11. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Aug 16 2006, 11:44 AM) [snapback]304111[/snapback]</div>
    How do you like it so far?
     
    #31 PriusRos, Aug 22, 2006
  12. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 22 2006, 07:18 PM) [snapback]307873[/snapback]</div>
    Two frustrations:
    1) the gauge is tricky to use while pumping--i.e. as an auto shutoff. Once the pump shut down after reaching the reading you set, the system "adjusts" and the measured PSI drops by 1 or more. That means you have to set it at least 1 PSI higher than what you want to actually get close to your desired reading.
    2) it's just the wrong size to fit into the storage compartment in the left of the trunk. The only way it'll fit at all is with the left or right side pointed down (left or right as measured from this view), and then it's about an inch too high for the cover to fit over it. I'm not sure if a different Sears model would fit there. I popped it into the cargo space where the spare is, but it slides around in there.

    Otherwise, it seems accurate enough. What are the odds that two different brands of tire guages would agree? I didn't try pumping up a very low tire, but my pressure seemed down a few below OEM, and I wanted them a couple PSI higher, and inflation was satisfactorily quick. Just wish it stashed away more neatly.
     
    #32 Scott_R, Aug 22, 2006
  13. dutton

    dutton New Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 13 2006, 07:50 AM) [snapback]302524[/snapback]</div>
    I bought a Michelin 12V inflator for around $25 at Pep Boys Auto. It allows you to set PSI digitally and will shut off once it has reached the set PSI. Checking with my digital air pressure gauge it seems accurate to within 0.5PSI. The unit is very small, somewhat noisy and slow (around 4-5PSI/minute: ie. shouldn't be a problem for just topping up air), but gets the job done. I chose it mostly because I wanted to pre-set the PSI with some precision. A lot of the larger tire inflators I saw had analog gauges that went well over 100 PSI, making it hard to get a precise inflation to 42/40.
     
    #33 dutton, Aug 23, 2006
  14. brandon

    brandon Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 22 2006, 06:18 PM) [snapback]307873[/snapback]</div>
    If you're interested, I own one of those, too, and gave some thoughts in an earlier post in this thread.
     
    #34 brandon, Aug 23, 2006
  15. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Aug 22 2006, 09:17 PM) [snapback]307940[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Aug 23 2006, 12:24 AM) [snapback]308067[/snapback]</div>
    Thanks for the feedback on this model.

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SEAPrius @ Aug 23 2006, 12:18 AM) [snapback]308058[/snapback]</div>
    The accuracy on this one sounds pretty impressive. I think I might have seen this model at Pep Boys, or something like it and had considered buying it. Is it yellow? Anyway, after I had returned the Durabuilt to Target, I went back to Pep Boys to look for the one I saw before, but alas, they didn't have it anymore. So I'm still looking for the perfect little tire inflator!
     
    #35 PriusRos, Aug 24, 2006
  16. DaWeav

    DaWeav Junior Member

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    I purchased a Craftsman 12 volt Air Compressor/Inflator with Digital Tire Pressure Gauge. It's normally $29.99, but I got it on sale for $19.99. And, the Digital Tire Pressure Gauge is even removable so you don't have to carry the compressor around to check the tire pressures. However, the main reason I got this one was because it is very slim and fits inside the Prius trunk. How many air compressor's can do that??? :D
     
    #36 DaWeav, Aug 27, 2006
  17. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaWeav @ Aug 27 2006, 10:04 PM) [snapback]310363[/snapback]</div>
    It's the one I was talking about, above.
     
    #37 Scott_R, Aug 27, 2006
  18. StuartS

    StuartS New Member

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    Use a foot operated tyre pump. It wastes no energy, either domestic or from the car battery and helps in a small way to keep you fitter.

    StuartS
     
    #38 StuartS, Aug 28, 2006
  19. PriusRos

    PriusRos A Fairly Senior Member - 2016 Prius Owner

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon @ Aug 14 2006, 06:09 AM) [snapback]302926[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottR @ Aug 16 2006, 11:44 AM) [snapback]304111[/snapback]</div>

    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaWeav @ Aug 27 2006, 10:04 PM) [snapback]310363[/snapback]</div>
    I finally went and got the Sears model that you all talked about (thanks for the input). Actually, it was the only one I could find that had the digital gauge. I had seen one at Pep Boys a couple of weeks ago, but it was gone when I went back last week, and I haven't been able to locate another one at any other Pep Boys or other auto store. I also bought a little analog gauge with a pressure release valve. I guess between the digital gauge on the pump, the dial gauge, and my old pencil gauge, I should be able to get some approximately accurate readings! :p

    By the way, this is kind of a silly question, but how "cold" do tires need to be to get an accurate reading? i.e., how long after driving do you need to wait before you attempt to read the tire pressure?



    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StuartS @ Aug 28 2006, 04:38 AM) [snapback]310462[/snapback]</div>
    You're so right. I would have gotten one but none came with a digital gauge or automatic shutoff. ;)
     
    #39 PriusRos, Aug 28, 2006
  20. Scott_R

    Scott_R Member

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(PriusRos @ Aug 28 2006, 06:18 PM) [snapback]310766[/snapback]</div>
    Ironically enough, I returned mine. Why? I wanted something that could fit in the side storage thingy in the trunk (at far left). Problem is, I can't find an adequate replacement. Damn.


    I saw one at Pepboys which I'm certain is the exact same model that Sears carries, but in bright yellow. Othewise, each of the four Pepboys I went to was almost completely out of stock with 12v inflators (except for a couple of cheap jobbies).
     
    #40 Scott_R, Aug 28, 2006
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