Today you rarely see a motorist pumping tires with a hand or foot pump; the leading place was firmly occupied by automobile compressors. The correct choice of this device is a guarantee of the absence of problems on the road, at home when pumping the wheels.
A car compressor is a compact electrical device that allows you to inflate a wheel in a short time without physical effort. Today the market offers several types of units that differ in technical parameters.
Compressor types
Absolute leadership belongs to piston devices, in which air is compressed by means of a piston that triggers a connecting rod mechanism that reciprocates. The entire system is controlled by an electric motor connected through a gearbox. If you like a reciprocating compressor, then the best ones are those with a high-alloy steel cylinder and a Teflon ring on the piston. In this case, there should be no plastic parts inside the device.
The next type of autocompressors is diaphragm. Here, the air is compressed by the reciprocating motion of a rubber membrane secured between the compressor cover and the cylinder. Such a device has not become widespread due to the lack of performance at low temperatures: the membrane hardens and collapses under load. There are also rotary compressors, differing in size and high performance - up to 300 l / min. Such units are convenient for pumping large-sized items, for example, a rubber boat.
Technical specifications
One of the main characteristics is the productivity, measured in l / min. If the wheels of your car are no more than 17 inches, then you can safely buy a compressor with a capacity of up to 40 l / min. A similar device is connected to the cigarette lighter. When buying a more powerful compressor, you will have to connect to the battery directly through the clamps; otherwise, the wiring may overheat and even catch fire. When choosing a compressor, pay attention to the presence of an overheating protection function. If it is absent, then it must be remembered that the time of continuous operation of such a device should not exceed 10-15 minutes (enough to pump up a pair of wheels).
The pressure gauge is an integral part of the compressor. It is desirable that the scale on the device is graduated in bar (bars) or kg / sq. cm, familiar to the Russian motorist. A number of models have additional functions, including a blinking red light that signals an emergency stop, a backlight that allows you to swing the wheels in the dark, a programming device. The latter option automatically turns off the compressor after reaching the programmed pressure in the tire.
