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Tire Pump - Small internal battery type?

N_Jay

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Nov 1, 2016
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Has anyone bought one of the little emergency air pumps/compressors with an internal battery?

Wondering if they make a good choice vs the 12v corded ones. Looks easier should my wife need to use it.

I know they come with a car charger corded, but I bet they can't run on tbe cord if the battery is dead.

Costco has one at a decent price, so Wondering.
 
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bwringer

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Jan 1, 2013
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Indianapolis
I've considered this pump as well, but if you look at the reviews on Costco's website the limited battery capacity can be an issue. If you're expecting it to inflate a large flat tire from zero to 32psi, it may or may not make it. Much better than nothing, of course.

It is good for convenient adjustments; a friend of mine runs motorcycle tours and carries a combo jump starter/tire pump. It's also great for garage use in making adjustments for cars, bicycles, motorcycles, etc.

Power does not "pass through" to the pump motor if you plug it in to the car, and can take several hours to recharge.


All in all, I'd go with a good 12V inflator that can sit in the car for years but still work fine when needed. It is important to test it to make sure it's not going to pop the cigarette lighter fuse, and so that your wife knows how to use it. (And is she willing and able to plug a tire?) There are faster 12V pumps that attach directly to the battery, although that's obviously not nearly as convenient.

There's an inflator and a Nealey plug kit in my wife's car, and even though she's not the least bit interested in learning how to use them, I've coached one of her younger co-workers over the phone through plugging and re-inflating a tire. It never hurts to have the means to handle simple punctures on hand, and it's often helpful.
 
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N_Jay

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Yes, I have a corded one In the car.
Just trying to simplify things for my wife.
 

Muckin_Slusher

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Abitibi
Yes, I have a corded one In the car.
Just trying to simplify things for my wife.
Upgrade the wife instead!

Software to improve performance (such as connecting wires to car battery)
If hardware is too far gone and worn out, simply replace with newer model!
 

lolaetype

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Dec 11, 2019
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North Western Arkansas
I've carried a cigarette lighter socket plug in tire inflator for years. It's in a bag along with tire repair plugs and a jump starter. I've never had to use any of that stuff, but I have it just in case. We carry the bag in whatever car we take out of town. For several years manufacturers have been eliminating the lighters but installing an aux. power plug that is similar to the cigarette lighter plug.

BUT. . .

When we bought the 2024 Mazda 3 we discovered Mazda eliminated the aux power plug. What to do? I bought a lighter receptacle and modified and insulated it - adding two short leads with battery style clips on the ends to attach to the car's battery.

Some day, when i have nothing better to do I might see if Mazda just quit putting the aux power plug in place and left the wiring harness. If so, it should be simple to add an aux power socket.
 

RTM

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When we bought the 2024 Mazda 3 we discovered Mazda eliminated the aux power plug.
Or, like in other cars, it maybe somewhere stupid, like inside the armrest, under a sliding panel. Or in the console, so far down you can't find it without a flashlight. Or they only gave you a USB-A port.

Not saying that's your Mazda, just frustrating rental cars over the last few trips. Lots knows what I will find next week.
 

Steve_P

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I have both a small cordless Gooloo, and a larger Viair that clamps on the battery that I keep in my truck. The cordless is really nice for when I just want to add ~5 PSI to top off my tires due to airing down a bit, or due to the pressure change due to heading from high altitude to low altitude. I've never tried to fill a flat tire with either of them, just to add ~5psi. The gooloo is just powerful enough to go from 25-30 psi on four stock Tacoma tires, but it's pretty slow going relative to the Viair. Project Farm did a test on the cordless ones recently, which is why I picked one up- due to the convenience as my corded one is somewhat buried.
 

lolaetype

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Or, like in other cars, it maybe somewhere stupid, like inside the armrest, under a sliding panel. Or in the console, so far down you can't find it without a flashlight. Or they only gave you a USB-A port.

Not saying that's your Mazda, just frustrating rental cars over the last few trips. Lots knows what I will find next week.
Nope, definitely deleted. Just two USB-C ports in the console.
 

yatg

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Southern Oregon
Wife got me an "Airmoto" for Christmas last year. Tested it, it works, good for topping off a couple of tires before it needs a recharge, USB-C.
 

Shiftless

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…top off my tires due to airing down a bit, or due to the pressure change due to heading from high altitude to low altitude.
It never occurred to me to check tire pressure after going up or down mountains. How much difference is there for changing, let’s say, 5000 feet ??
 

Steve_P

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It never occurred to me to check tire pressure after going up or down mountains. How much difference is there for changing, let’s say, 5000 ft??

~2 PSI based on the atmospheric pressure change, obviously with the tires at the same temperature; so that's not worth worrying about. You have to make a big change for it to be significant. At 10k feet elevation, atmospheric pressure is only about 10 PSI vs 14.7 at sea level. This is why it's so hard to breathe; the pressure is what forces the air into your lungs, and into your vehicle's engine. So, your vehicle will be down on power ~30% at 10K ft vs the sea level rating; it's very noticeable, even with a turbocharged engine. I typically vacation in CO and am rarely below 7500 ft elevation, and generally don't go higher than 11.5k in my vehicle since I'm there to hike and climb mountains, so it kinda defeats the purpose to drive almost all the way to the top LOL. I let air out and set it a few PSI low at 8000 feet when I get there, and then overfill them 4-5 PSI before starting home depending where I'm at; I live at 1000 ft elevation, but I'll be below 5K feet in a few hours driving back. So, then they're about right once I get home

Edit- Here's a table. I've done Mt Kilimanjaro, which is about 19.3k feet, so you can see it's about 7 psi at the top. Which is like having a little less than one lung.

 
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N_Jay

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Sounds like I got my answer.

Sticking with corded.

Probably have to write some instructions as the one I have is not intuitive.

It defaults to too low a pressure fir her car, and it doesn't always stay on PSI.
 
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theoldwizard1

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The Milwaukee M12 inflator works well. Not cheap with a battery and charger. The battery stays charged for a long time, but NOT forever. Needs to be charged every 3-6 months or after each use (on 4 tires).
 

richfinn

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Jan 29, 2011
Messages
4,817
Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
I've carried a cigarette lighter socket plug in tire inflator for years. It's in a bag along with tire repair plugs and a jump starter. I've never had to use any of that stuff, but I have it just in case. We carry the bag in whatever car we take out of town. For several years manufacturers have been eliminating the lighters but installing an aux. power plug that is similar to the cigarette lighter plug.

BUT. . .

When we bought the 2024 Mazda 3 we discovered Mazda eliminated the aux power plug. What to do? I bought a lighter receptacle and modified and insulated it - adding two short leads with battery style clips on the ends to attach to the car's battery.

Some day, when i have nothing better to do I might see if Mazda just quit putting the aux power plug in place and left the wiring harness. If so, it should be simple to add an aux power socket.

Do new cars still come with a spare tire in the USA?

In Europe the vast majority now delete the spare and come with inflator kits (which must have a 12v aux plug for the pump)
 

richfinn

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Location
Leeds, Yorkshire, England
The Milwaukee M12 inflator works well. Not cheap with a battery and charger. The battery stays charged for a long time, but NOT forever. Needs to be charged every 3-6 months or after each use (on 4 tires).

I have the M18 inflator in my van, it's one of the best tools I've ever bought (I upgraded the chuck to a lock'n'flate) it makes the tasks of regular safety checks and temporary puncture repairs so easy 👍

I think the M12 would be a great compact emergency carry for anybody already invested in the M12 battery system
 
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N_Jay

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Do new cars still come with a spare tire in the USA?

In Europe the vast majority now delete the spare and come with inflator kits (which must have a 12v aux plug for the pump)
Depends on the car.
My wife's car had run flats so it didn't come with the factory pump and tire sealer kit.
That is what started my search
 

engineer2

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Dec 13, 2009
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Chicago burbs
I would just get a tire inflator that uses the same battery as your cordless power tools.
I have two Makita's. One in the shed for bicycles. One in the garage for cars or for taking on road trips.
 

Steve_P

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Sep 15, 2010
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5,186
I would just get a tire inflator that uses the same battery as your cordless power tools.
I have two Makita's. One in the shed for bicycles. One in the garage for cars or for taking on road trips.

While this is generally solid advice with respect to battery tools, the DeWalt inflator is HUGE. The Ryobi is a fraction of the size. Yet, neither will fit under a car seat for me. The Gooloo will. I'm a DeWalt 20V user, but I have the Ryobi inflator for home because it was ~$50 and I previously bought the vacuum.
 
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N_Jay

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What did I start. Not looking for a replaceable battery type.
Only was thinking because it was small, cheap, and easy to use.
 

liliysdad

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Jul 18, 2008
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5,436
While this is generally solid advice with respect to battery tools, the DeWalt inflator is HUGE. The Ryobi is a fraction of the size. Yet, neither will fit under a car seat for me. The Gooloo will. I'm a DeWalt 20V user, but I have the Ryobi inflator for home because it was ~$50 and I previously bought the vacuum.

The DeWalt is a phenomenal piece of gear. I wish i had bought one years ago.
 
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