AIR COMPRESSOR

Sherry · Member

AIR COMPRESSOR

iana · Guru

I brought an ARB compressor kit, with the knowledge that it was quality, and if it did break down, there was an ARB agency in most large towns where it could be repaired. It may pay to put down what air pressure your tires needs to be, if the pressure is high, then the el-cheapo compressors may not make the grade.

Desert Dweller · Guru

We bought ours 6 years ago from Supercheap Auto. They have a range of them. Ours is not the most expensive or the cheapest.

It works well on our car & caravan tyres up to pressures of 50psi. It's reliable & doesn't take up too much room or weigh too much.

Sherry · Member

Thanks for the info. Tyres run at 75 PSI

Mike Harding · Guru

Air compressors, especially 12V ones, are one of those products where you really don't get what you don't pay for - spend at least $100 preferably $150.

Keep in mind you will need to power it directly from the battery (cig. lighter socket won't work) so ensure its 12V cable and/or air line is long enough to reach all wheels.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
Air compressors, especially 12V ones, are one of those products where you really don't get what you don't pay for - spend at least $100 preferably $150.
Keep in mind you will need to power it directly from the battery (cig. lighter socket won't work) so ensure its 12V cable and/or air line is long enough to reach all wheels.

We use a separate 40ah 12v battery to power ours, it's charged by folding solar panels. No long leads required just a cigarette socket & two small alligator clips to POS. & NEG separated by a 30cm lead.

We also use it to charge mobile phone & camera batteries (8 of them). Good for powering our shower pump in our folding shower tent too.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Hello Sherry,
Welcome to the forum - it's good to see another Townsvillean "on air".
There was a query similar to yours last week (found on page two) - using the "Search" button can be useful.

I'd suggest you go to any of the tyre companies or the likes of Supercheap, Repco or Autobarn around town to see if they can assist with the extensions. In the current Supercheap catalogue, they have four compressors for sale (25% off). Like most other members, I've had cheapies in the past - some worked ok over a period of years but others failed on the first use. To get quality, you do have to spend some of your hard earned cash - the minimum sized one I would look at is the SC Hurricane - would go for one of the others.

The most important point with any compressor is to let it cool down between tyres.

Mike Harding · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
We use a separate 40ah 12v battery to power ours

Agreed. I have an independent 60Ah AGM battery the main use of which is to power my HF Amateur radio but it has a convenient rope handle and is very useful to lug around for other uses.

Sherry · Member

Thanks Warren yep I went to supercheap yesterday and specials till 15 th of this month. I did look at the hurricane for $89.99 but also seen the SCA50 LPM for $93.74. I have just found another one on the nett Thumper Max dual for $114.00 from 4 WD supercentre now I am totally confused ð. I am hoping it is something I don't have to use all the time but just handy to have in case.

Desert Dweller · Guru

Sherry wrote:
Thanks Warren yep I went to supercheap yesterday and specials till 15 th of this month. I did look at the hurricane for $89.99 but also seen the SCA50 LPM for $93.74. I have just found another one on the nett Thumper Max dual for $114.00 from 4 WD supercentre now I am totally confused ð. I am hoping it is something I don't have to use all the time but just handy to have in case.

That's exactly why we bought ours from Supercheap Auto 6 years ago for around $60. Haven't looked back.

woofta and precious · Senior Member

I have a 12 volt twin cylinder compressor as well, which is great, but I also have some Ryobi One+ power tools and they make a compressor that uses a 18 volt battery.
It takes a bit longer to air up 4wd tires if you have deflated them for sand driving etc., but I have found that I haven't used the big compressor for ages!
You can set the psi you want, and it will stop automatically. It is more economical if you already have some of the Ryobi range already...

STRETCH ARMSTRONG · Senior Member

hey all, I brought a super crap unit about 4 years ago that put out 150 lpm. forget the price but so far it it has been good as pumping up tractor tyres, 4x4 and caravan. I think one thing to look at is how many litres per minute output the compressor has otherwise it may be very slow to inflate.

HandyWalter · Senior Member

The things to look at and which a lot of the cheaper units do not tell you is their rating. LPM ratings are usually at no back pressure ie out put with no air in the tyre. As the tyre get pressure in them the cheap units cannot pump at 150lpm as tyre pressure increases, then they take longer to pump up the tyre. That leads to the duty cycle. Ie how long they can pump for and then how long they need to rest to recovour. 50/50 at say 4 minutes, means 4 minutes of pumping and 4 minutes rest. Cheap units do not have high duty cycles. As some say here cheap units may/will get the job done at the expense of time. I have a VLAIR rated at 150psi and 100% duty cycle. I have had it for over 10 years, and it leaves every other one that members in my 4WD club have for dead. That includes ARB with mini tanks, twin cylinder units, DR Air, Mean mother etc. The only thing that beats it is the Continious Air unit which is basically a air conditioner compressor running off a pulley/belt on the cars belt/fan etc systems. They are expensive, but very quick.