Tyre pumps

Ian most round 12 volt sockets including lighter sockets as a rule of thumb don't like much more then 5 to 10 amps max (120w) being drawn through them.

A good real hi output compressor will draw about 30 amps on start up and about 20 to 25 amps when running some will draw a bit less and others a bit more.

They put alligator clips on them for easy of use with many vehicles and also ensures you connect straight to the battery, what I always suggest to our customers is fit a 50 amp Anderson plug in line.

The benefits of an Anderson plug over alligator clips are ease of connection, not being able to hook it up the wrong way and the Anderson plug gives a much better connection in high current applications.

Most people don't worry about pressure gauger being on the compressor as most would prefer to use a much more accurate hand held pressure gauge.

Regards Richard

You will get all sorts opinions on this but I have learned the hard way in buying a cheap super cheap jobbie years ago and yea they are perfect for pumping up the football but they take forever to pump up a 4x4 tyre or it will just fail. Buy yourself a good quality unit that’s backed by a good guarantee. I have had my ARB unit for ever and it’s still going strong, but I mainly use that for the air lockers but I do pump up the tyres with it as well after a beach trip or something. Make sure you get the ones with the crock clips or if you are going to hardwire the unit make sure you have good thick wiring the 12v socket ones are only good for pumping up the footy or the bicycle wheel.

ian and deborah,

I agree with Richard. (almost)

An advantage the alligator clips have over a high current plug/socket connection is that you can use it on multiple vehicles.
For this reason, a compressor that is contained in a "toolbox" is a practical option.

I would recommend a quality compressor that will give you years of service but obviously they cost more.

ARB have a great product recently released that is hard to beat at present.

A built-in gauge is not an important issue as they are usually highly inaccurate. A better option is a digital tyre gauge which is easy to read and use and is available for around $20 from K-mart, etc.
You turn it on and it beaps when it has a reading, displays it, then switches itself off after a few minutes. Easy as.

Bill.

Yeap I agree with Bill who sort of agreed with me........what didn't you agree to in my post Bill.

Regards Richard

G'day Ian
Forget about the cig lighter socket as others have said. The top quality ones are very expensive so it depends on how much use you think it'll get, how far off the beaten track you're going etc etc. If you can afford the $400 or so then go ahead - you'll have a bloody good unit that'll outlast the vehicle. The ARB portable is a very impressive unit.
Otherwise consider going to your local Don Kyatt (Sunshine State 4WD up here in Qld) and grab one of their twin piston jobs. It too will do the job easily and should last quite well. Only about the $130 mark. Nice and compact. Comes with plenty of hose and has a built in guage. Has battery clips. Comes in a carry bag. Whilst the guage isn't as accurate as the hand held it is consistently inaccurate so once you work out what the error is you can rely on just it. After all a pound here or there doesn't really matter:-)
Cheers from the Moose

Thanks everyone.

I will definitely go and look at the digital pressure gauge, and then further consider the options on those various pumps, taking into the accoount of getting to know the consistent inaccuraries... LOL

Cheers
ian and deborah