Author Topic: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet  (Read 6512 times)

econberkeley

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Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« on: December 15, 2016, 11:13:20 AM »
I have been using a car tire inflator that uses the cigarette outlet, but my car battery died and had to be jump started recently. I was told to keep the engine running while I am putting air in the tire, but it would be such a waste. When I searched online the cheapest one I found that I can plug to the wall was at least $40. Do you have any recommendations for air inflator with a wall plug?

Spork

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Re: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2016, 11:29:41 AM »
The first consideration I'd ask myself here is:  Is there a chance you would want to use pneumatic tools?  (Nail guns, ratchets, wall texture guns, impact wrench, etc)  If so, you might pay a little more and buy a nice-ish compressor.

tonysemail

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dcheesi

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Re: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2016, 11:35:13 AM »
I use an external battery/jump-starter with a built-in inflator. Of course you have to remember to recharge it after use, and just in general charge it every month or so to keep the battery inside happy.

I'll be honest, I've never successfully jumped my modern vehicle with one; not sure if that's due to insufficient capacity, pilot error, or if they just don't work well for modern cars? But they're still very handy for other purposes, including charging/powering smaller devices while the car is turned off.

econberkeley

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Re: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2016, 11:40:59 AM »
Spork

I will mainly use it to put air in a car tire and occasionally bike tire. I don't use any pneumatic tools.

nobody123

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Re: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2016, 12:04:36 PM »
What beast of a car do you have that you're concerned about the 4 minutes of idling fuel usage while you're topping off the tires?

NextTime

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Re: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« Reply #6 on: December 15, 2016, 12:33:38 PM »
I go to the gas station up the street that has free air.

Davids

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Re: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« Reply #7 on: December 15, 2016, 12:45:52 PM »
Whenever the light comes on I never take chances and just go to my local mechanic. He checks the tires for free. Most local body shops will check for free. Last thing I want to do is to keep putting air in my tire when it turns out it is actually a slow leak that needs to be patched.

Spork

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Re: Car tire inflator that I can plug to the electric outlet
« Reply #8 on: December 15, 2016, 01:18:25 PM »
Whenever the light comes on I never take chances and just go to my local mechanic. He checks the tires for free. Most local body shops will check for free. Last thing I want to do is to keep putting air in my tire when it turns out it is actually a slow leak that needs to be patched.

No offense... but lighten up.  Tire pressure can absolutely be done DIY.  A cheap tire gauge will cost you a couple of bucks.  And... if you are checking on a regular basis, that little light won't ever come on.... you're probably down 10+ lbs by the time the low pressure light comes on.

How do you know it's a slow leak?  When you have to keep adding air once a week.  Easy.