There is a wide selection of various types of air compressors in the market and choosing one that would be perfect and fitting for your job requirements all depends on your needs. If you are someone who owns a bicycle or a car, then it’s necessary for you to have an air compressor right in your home.
Inflator or Air Compressor?
These 12-volt air compressors can be divided into two specific categories: air compressors and inflators, and it is necessary to know the difference between the two. With the 12-volt tire inflators or 12-volt inflator pumps, these are built to be inserted into power sockets for inflating balls, mattresses, or tires of smaller bikes and cars.
On the other hand, 12-volt air compressors are much more powerful compared to inflators and are capable of easily powering 35-inch tractor tires or small wrenches. Most of these compressors in the market have a maximum psi of 125, enough CFM, and duty cycle present.
How to Inflate Tires
- Check your pressure
⇒Pick up a tire pressure gauge
– pressure gauges can easily be found and purchased at any auto parts shop.
– Types of pressure gauges:
a. Pencil types
b. Dial Gauges
c. Digital Gauges
⇒Identify the recommended pressure
– this can easily be found in the user’s manual that is included with your machine or tool. For tires, the recommended pressure may be similar for all four tires, or at times, the front and rear tires may be different depending on the model of your vehicle.
Normally, the required pressure for your tires will be within the range of 28 to 36psi, or 195 to 250 kPA (kilopascals). You can also find the maximum tire pressure on the tires themselves, yet it is only suggestible to find it on the tires themselves when it’s impossible for you to locate the vehicle’s recommended numbers.
Remember, “Maximum” does not always equal to “best”.
⇒Check tires when cool
– warm air easily expands so when trying to get your tire’s pressure when it’s warm or hot, will only result to false readings of greater pressure.
⇒Remove the screw-on cap located on the valve
– the screw cap is the little black stem that pokes out of your vehicle’s wheels. Remove the cap but make sure to store it in a place where you won’t lose it.
⇒Attach the gauge
– set the gauge’s plug onto the valve system then press it down firmly. If you hear a ‘hissing’ sound due to air escaping, simply press harder until the hissing stops.
If pressure matches recommended number, replace the cap and move onto the next tire.
- Add air to your tires
⇒First find your source of air
– if you need air for your tires but don’t have a compressor available, find the nearest gas station, bring some money with you and have your tires inflated there.
– it’s best to have a portable tire inflator available in your home for inflating needs. These are available in places where tire gauges are sold.
⇒Remove the valve cap
– this is the same valve and cap used to check the pressure
⇒Turn on the compressor
– once the compressor is running, place the hose nozzle on the valve system. Press down firmly like how you did previously with the pressure gauge then squeeze the valve trigger.
⇒Replace cap
– when each tire has been inflated, replace the cap then repeat for all four tires, and the spare.
- Bicycles
⇒Buy a bicycle tire pressure gauge
– this accurately detects your bicycles tire pressure, unlike automobile tire pressure gauges.
⇒Use a hand pump
– follow the steps stated, including checking the pressure at the right time, and following the manual’s guidelines.
⇒Before riding your bicycle, always inspect the tire’s pressure
⇒Don’t over inflate
How to inflate balls
- Using a bicycle pump, screw the needle onto its hose before pushing this gently through the ball’s air hole. Drive the pump down then pull it back up, doing this continuously until the ball becomes firm.
- Use an air compressor as another option. Insert the compressor’s sports needle into the hose, plug the device into an outlet then switch on the machine. Inject the needle into the ball before pressing the right switch to pump air into it. Fill it until the ball is full.
NOTE:
Test your ball after inflating it. Make it bounce on a flat surface then observe how high it rebounds. If the ball is inflated properly, it should bounce up at about 60% of its distance from which it was dropped.
