12 Volt Air Compressors


Recreation, usually involves blowing air. 12 volt air compressors are your best friend when faced with some of the daunting tasks attached to recreational activities. Things like, off- roading with your 4x4 vehicle; inflating multiple beach floatation devices, mountain biking, camping, emergency tire repair on your vehicle, birthday party balloons are the many things that one can use a 12 volt air compressor for.

The variations and availability of these devices have become such that now 12 volt air compressors come in many forms and prices. You can purchase a 12 volt air compressor for $10 or up to more than $500. The variations in price obviously have to do with many things like, psi output, features, and types of compressor motors on the pump.

If you are purchasing a 12 volt air compressor for the sole purpose of inflating the odd beach float and maybe a bike tire and you are not in a hurry to do so. A $10 to $20 12 volt air compressor is the appropriate purchase.

Some of the more expensive models are geared towards hobbyists like off road enthusiasts, whom are constantly adjusting their tire pressures to enjoy mountain crawling and trail riding. These 12 volt air compressors are a little more powerful as they are geared to inflate large 4x4 tires in minutes, or run impact guns to remove tire lugs, and offer many accessories geared toward those engaged in that hobby. A couple of great models in this category of 12 volt air compressor are the Currie compressor and the Trail Head compressor. The Currie is specified to be military grade and offers a 100% duty cycle. This 12 volt compressor when coupled with a 2 gallon air tank is even capable of moderate tool use. It retails for about $490. The Trail Head compressor is a super fast compressor. Able to fill a 2 gallon tank in 15 seconds, this 40 lb. Unit can run air tools continuously and retails for about $600.

Pros and Cons

Here are a few pros and cons of a 12 volt compressor:

  • 12 volt compressors are inexpensive, portable, and versatile. There are many to choose from depending on the duties you need them to perform and almost all tasks except for long running and large pneumatic tool operation can be performed reasonably well.

  • Most are maintenance free.

  • Duty cycles are usually short. 12 volt air compressors tend to overheat. There is no solution for repair in most cases; if they break they are disposable.

  • Not very useful for construction or pneumatic tool operation in most cases.

  • Do not have versatile size variations; the very largest hardly exceeds 150 psi and they usually do not have the capability to reach that capacity for very long. Some can draw a lot of power if connected to an external power source.

    Regardless of your use no one can dispute the fact that a handy device to add to your collection of tools would be this type of compressor. They are very often if not always maintenance free, and oil free. They offer many uses, and great portability, as well as great green use as they are electric. At the beach or on an off road adventure a 12 volt air compressor is a necessary component of your gear to pack, and have.


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