12v Air Compressor

Having fun outdoors often requires you to fill things up with air. A 12v air compressor is a handy item to have for doing just that. A 12 volt air compressor buyer guide is a great place to start to get an idea of what you want in a compressor.

Obviously the first the thing that you will need to consider is what you intend to use your air compressor for and how often. Will you just be inflating the occasional beach toy/swimming pool float? Or are you looking for something heavy duty that you can use air tools with. Maybe something in between to keep for that emergency fill up of your cars tires will suit your needs.

Having that idea in mind is the best place to start. There is no sense in purchasing a heavy duty 12v air compressor with all the bells and whistles that can run air tools only to use it for filling beach balls and air mattresses.

Obviously the opposite is also true. You can’t expect a less expensive model to fill large truck tires. It just won’t work right. But it would be great for filling up bicycle tires before you go out riding.

Less expensive models generally are slower, not able to provide higher pressures and their duty cycle (the length of time that the compressor can run before it needs to cool down) is shorter than high end compressors.

More expensive high end on board 12 volt air compressors are designed to supply much higher air pressure at a quicker rate and for a longer time. Some models are even rated for constant duty which simply means they can run for a longer time before needing to cool down. Something that would be needed for air tools.

The weight of the compressor may also be a consideration. You will most likely need to take the air pump out of your cars trunk and move it around to operate it. Lifting a 5 pound air compressor is going to be easier than a 40 pound one.

You should also consider how it gets power. Some models of 12 volt air compressors only use a power port plug in connector to get power. Some models allow you to use either a power port connector or alligator style clips that hook directly to your cars battery.

Heavier duty models tend to only have the alligator style clips because they draw more power while they are running. Power ports in cars typically provide less than 15 amps of power which is not enough for many models to run on.

What extras or accessories will it come equipped with? Some less expensive models actually have some handy features like places to store inflator tips or even lights to help you see what you are doing while filling a tire at night.

And of course we can’t forget price. As with anything,you get what you pay for. Less expensive units can start at about $10 and go up. They aren’t meant for heavy use and are disposable when they do fail. Heavy duty models can start around $100 and go as high as $400 to $500. They will last much longer and are built to take more use.

Hopefully this 12 volt air compressor buyer guide will help you in your decision of what type of 12 v air compressor to purchase.