I have a 2019 4Runner that has an auxiliary 115V 400 watt output plug for… stuff (never used it)
I also have a small compressor that has a 2hp motor that draws 14.5 amps.
Could my car at 115V 400 watts power that compressor? Just for a short time?
Long story : I just want to top off some car tires. I can run out about 100 feet of extension cord to the compressor, but it’s a bit of a pain in the ass. The compressor is portable but is also a pain in the ass to move through the snow.
I suspect the answer will be “no way”, but it would be nice to be able to do if it’s A-OK. I hate dragging that compressor around, it’s a horrible clumsy design. Lots of extension cord in the snow is also no fun.
400W/115V = ~3.5 amps
Alternatively, 1 HP = 745 W, so the compressor needs ~1500W
Does the compressor have a tank? Could you fill the tank and then use that to fill the tires?
Or just go to a gas station, most(?) have air compressors.
Yes the compressor has a 4gallon tank. But still needs power. Gas stations now have stupid compressors that you feed quarters into. I despise them. And that’s when they work, and the closest one is 20 miles away.
This is for my Wifes work car that she is keeping at home (starting yesterday) I suspect the beads are leaking a little on all 4 wheels (tires are good, or at least new). Everything is down about 4 lbs. Getting it ‘fixed’ is probably not going to happen. There is a vehicle maintenance department where my wife works, but apparently it’s a giant pain in the ass to even get a little air in the tires. (ummm. I’m not going to insert myself in a battle with my Wife’s company, I trust her judgement not to).
So… I’ll probably need to put air in the tires every week or so all winter. Oh well, back to the extension cord. Or Maybe move the compressor into my Wifes office which is our entry way. Then I only have to to do is run out the air line.
If you want to spend a little money, you can get little compressors powered via the cigarette lighter in the car. I’m seeing ones at Amazon for under forty dollars.
How about zip-tying the compressor to a cart with nice big tires to get it over rough terrain? Fill the tank near a convenient electrical outlet, then wheel it to wherever you need it.
My wife’s minivan has the outlet also and I thought “great idea” and all the things I could plug into it like my shop vac when detailing the van. Wrong, found out it couldn’t handle much more than a phone charger.
Those “cigarette lighter” pumps take forever to pump up a tire, had one.
How about a portable air tank? I got one as I have old cars stored in a building without electricity and sometimes have a low tire that needs to be inflated. Used it more than I expected.
How about a portable car jumper with a compressor? You charge it and carry it around without a need to hook it up to the car.
I’ve seen these at Costco for less than $80 and they hold a charge for quite some time until needed. I’ve known people to carry them in their trunk when they have a known battery or tire problem but don’t have the funds to get a new battery or tire right away.
I’ve tried two of those 12v cig lighter plug in over the years. Both got thrown out. Some must have better luck. If you’re lucky, it just seems like an eternity to put a few pounds in a tire. I’ve not the patience for them.
And I did zip tie the compressor to a hand truck last summer but the thing is just really oddly balanced and it just didn’t work. It has to be carried, or actually weld wheels to it or build a custom cart for it. It’s just that awkward. Good idea though.
I really messed up when I didn’t run power to my storage shed when I had an opportunity to.
I got one for $10 from a discount place like Marshalls or Burlington Coat Factory or similar. It’s a piece of crap but I was using it daily when my last car’s leaky tire was getting bad but I was still shopping for my current car.
Not a bad idea N9, but would still would have to carry it up some stairs to get to power. We will see how it goes. I do not want my Wife’s office to turn into a ‘tool’ room. But it is her (work) car. I’m really trying to just get rid of having to run an extension cord every time I need it. I’ve got to run air line either way.
I can’t just leave the extension cord out because it goes right across where I plow.
You can get 12v compressors which use little clamps to fix directly to the battery terminal…these will pump up a car tyre in no time. I use one to go from <10psi to 35psi on a 33inch 4WD tyre in less than 10min so just topping up a passenger car tyre 4 psi should only take a minute.
They also only weigh 1-2kg. Example:
That may be the difference. I spent something like $60 on a “slime” brand inflator and it works great. From 0 to 40 psi in a couple minutes on my run-flats. The main flaw is that it needs some cool-down time if doing more than one tire. It’s got the power, but it’s heat sink is still small. I keep one in my car, since there’s no spare tire.
Would those work better than the tire inflators that are powered via the cigarette lighter? Because @enipla said that he was unsatisfied with the latter type. I have no experience with either. The only thing like this that I’ve used is one of those portable car jumpers. (It was a Christmas gift from my mother several years ago and a few months ago, I had a dead car battery so I had a chance to use it and it worked. So she was pleased to hear her gift proved useful.)
Well based on the feedback from the cigarette lighter gang above, the direct clamp on seems much faster. Assume due to higher current capacity of clamp arrangement over the cigarette lighter limitations.
You could confirm by comparing two products CFM flow rates on the product listing though
I bought an external air tank which I fill from my main compressor. Then I use that tank to carry to each tire or to the in-laws. It works really well, and gives me someplace to put half the extra air left in the compressor when I’m done with it. That site says the tank is 14 lbs, but it seems lighter than that. Maybe just compared to the compressor. Anyway, it’s no big deal to carry around.
That’s the tank I got, but I think I paid about half as much. I replaced the hose attached to it with a regular pneumatic hose. The included one has a tire valve permanently attached to it, so you might not need to bother.
I have blown cigarette lighter fuses trying to run the 12V compressor. Even the 110v compressor may have higher starting current that the rated current.
My approach is to not run any electrical equipment off the car power system to avoid the pain of replacing fuses or associated problems. One time the backlight leds went bad on the cigarette lighter after running the compressor. It could have been a bad 12v compressor too, but quality control on these small compressors is really bad.
Actually, you can’t – not with normal extension cords.
For 14.5A at 100 feet, you need special ‘heavy duty’ extension cords – at least 12 gauge AWG wire. Most standard extension cords are only 14 or 16 AWG, too small for this.
Buy 100 feet of #12 AWG building wire, and attach a plug at one end and a receptacle at the other. Make it type UF (Underground Feeder) and thn when spring comes, you can bury that underground to have power to your shed.
Well, maybe it’s me or bad luck but they have never worked for me. Talking 30 minutes to put a few pounds of air in a tire.