How to choose the right compressor for the car

Even Germany is the only country for which there is no speed limit on the autobahn. Automobile tires almost constantly experience variable loads, lose air and must be monitored for sufficient pressure. Do not forget about the lovers of off-road. Therefore, we can safely say that a car compressor is a desirable part of the equipment of any vehicle, regardless of how often troubles occur in the form of a puncture wheel.

Types of pump-compressor for the car

Simplest mechanical compressor - This is a foot pump for pumping tires, so to speak, with your own hands. Today you can purchase a model of such a device with almost any characteristics. Single-cylinder and two-cylinder pumps are manufactured, with a working pressure of 4 to 10 atmospheres, with different capacities, one-way and pumping air in two directions of piston movement.

However, the mechanical compressor is inconvenient. Especially when it comes to pumping the wheels of a heavy SUV, or if the unit has to use a fragile girl.

In addition, devices of this class are designed exclusively for tire inflation and Do not offer any additional features. They do not have automatic pressure control, instrument lighting, reverse, or changes in air supply volumes. Therefore, an electric compressor for cars is very popular.

What a mistake does the average novice motorist,wanting to buy such a useful device for a car? That's right, it does not go into the subtleties of an engineering solution and buys the first compressor for passenger cars. In order not to be disappointed in the acquisition, you should know a little about the basic principles of building such devices. Types of automotive compressors differ not only in terms of power, performance, but also in terms of their basic reliability, repair capability, and operating conditions.

Reciprocating Compressors

Piston models - widest product segmentfrom which it is proposed to choose a compressor for the car. The principle of operation of such an apparatus is quite simple and similar to the mechanics of an internal combustion engine.

1. The electric motor through the gearbox or directly rotates the crankshaft.
2. The drive lever located on the shaft moves the piston.
3. Moving inside the cylinder, equipped with sealing rings, the piston compresses the air and delivers it with excess external pressure to the outlet.

During operation, the air piston compressor uses two valves. One opens to release air at the main stroke stroke.With the help of the second air is fed into the cylinder during the reverse movement of the pusher.

Already on the concept of the device can be seen its advantages and disadvantages. The first are as follows.

1. You can choose a compressor for the car with any desired performance. Air supply depends on the volume of the cylinder, engine speed and the number of strokes.
2. The device can show high efficiency, especially in terms of time use. A two-piston compressor, in particular, delivers air almost continuously, since the two cylinders have a mirror-like character of the stroke of the pushers. A similar feature has a device with a bidirectional stroke.
3. It is easy to choose a motor power that will allow optimal use of the compressor when connected to 220V (directly or through an inverter), and when powered from the cigarette lighter.

Disadvantages of piston models are rarely visible to owners who do not use the device in intensive mode. But they say a lot about the overall functional convenience and limited stability, reliability.

1. It is difficult to pump up the wheel of a car with a piston-type compressor from one attempt, if we are talking about a large SUV or truck. Device overheats, it needs to work only a certain time, with long interruptions for cooling.
2. The higher the performance and power of the piston model - the more massive and overall it is.
3. O-rings are erased over time., the compressor stops showing maximum pressure, performance characteristics.
4. The cost of repairing the device for pumping the wheels when the crankshaft fails can be comparable to buying a new model.
5. Damage to the cylinder or piston - absolutely non repair case.
6. The overall reliability of a piston compressor is considered low because many moving and rubbing parts. To maintain stable operating parameters, periodic maintenance and replacement of wearing parts is necessary.

The popularity of piston models, despite their ambiguity in the balance of pros and cons, is quite simply explained. This class of compressors is one of the first invented, it is constantly being improved, produced for many years, it exists in a huge number of models and can offer the perfect balance of cost and functionality for a particular consumer.In addition, piston compressors offer a maximum of existing operating modes and control systems.

Membrane Compressors

Membrane models are the perfect choice for a girl driver, they are light enough, quiet, productive. This class of devices is a more modern engineering solution than the classical piston design.

The principle of operation of the membrane compressor is simple. With the help of a cam mechanism, the working rod during movement deforms the rubber plate of a complex shape. The air inside the closed cavity, to which it is adjacent, is compressed and supplied under excess pressure to the outlet. During the return stroke of the rod, the outlet valve closes, gas is sucked through the inlet.

According to the membrane compressor scheme, its undoubted advantages are immediately visible. First, the device has a lot fewer moving and wearing parts, the construction and kinematics of which is much simpler in comparison with piston models. Secondly, the main working body, the membrane, is easy to replace if it is worn or damaged. And the cost of such a consumable item is quite low.

Diaphragm pump has disadvantages. However, they will be invisible for those who will use the compressor for tires of a car or pumping a rubber boat for fishing. For example, an electric diaphragm pump does not show such a high maximum pressure, as do piston models, comparable at cost. Also, the device of the class under consideration is characterized by a rather modest performance and cannot operate at negative temperatures.

However, all the disadvantages of membrane models in the eyes of the average consumer are easily compensated by the enormous reliability of these devices, small weight and size indicators and low noise during operation. The compressor pump of this class is ideal when powered from a battery, allows you to swing the tires of a passenger car, it can work continuously and is available with both battery power and 220V mains.

Rotary compressor

The last type of compressor offered by the retail market is rotary. These are models that will be extremely useful. truck owners or huge SUVs. The principle of operation of the rotary compressor is relatively simple.

1. In the turbine is the rotor impeller.
2. The plates of the wheel during rotation extend from the grooves and pressed against the surface of the turbine unit.
3. As it moves from the inlet to the outlet, the volume bounded by the plates decreases.
4. The air is compressed and released into the outlet.

Rotary compressors are characterized by top performance, much higher than the performance of piston models.

The difference may be in order. If for a piston model 50-60 liters is considered a normal indicator, then the performance of rotary compressors starts from 200-300 liters per minute.

Disadvantages of the rotor model in the form of a significant mass, low reliability and low time between failures, as well as the need for periodic maintenance and replacement of wearing parts led to the fact that compressors of this type did not become very popular among average motorists.

What to look for when choosing

According to the above, the basic features of various types of devices are visible, and it becomes clear how to make the right choice of automotive compressor of a particular design.Paying attention to small details, you can get a device with very attractive characteristics of reliability and stability.

Choosing piston compressor for tire inflation - It is, above all, focus on the materials used. The walls of the cylinder must be thick enough, it is made of stainless steel. Also worth paying attention to the crankshaft, piston. Plastic means quick and unavoidable failure, and tool or wear-resistant stainless steel will guarantee long-lasting performance.

For membrane pump the first place is the availability of spare parts. When leaving the standing membrane, you need to be able to quickly and inexpensively buy the part you need for repair. It is also important to pay attention to the availability of the manufacturer’s service network, and if you make sure that the cam mechanism is made of high-grade steel, you can purchase a truly durable device.

For rotary modelwhich has record-breaking indicators of the wear of structural elements during operation, both production materials and the availability of spare parts and service points play an important role. Choosing this type of compressor, you need to pay attention to everything.

Characteristics for selection

The main part of the design of a compressor, directly working with air, is far from being the main one in terms of the usability and functional suitability of the device model. Control and support systems also play an important role. Therefore, in the store, choosing a unit to pump tires or inflate your favorite boat, you should pay attention to all the structural elements.

Manometer

The pressure gauge is the main instrument controlling the operation of the compressor. It is important to assess how small the price of its division. This will allow:

• properly inflate tires, precisely following the manufacturer’s recommendations for optimal pressure indicators;
• accurately track the process while you work.

On the last point it is worth stopping in more detail During operation of the compressor, especially productive and powerful, the gauge needle varies widely.Therefore, the lower the division price, the more accurately the pressure can be met.

It is worth paying attention to another characteristic of the pressure gauge. Those car enthusiasts who buy a compressor model with a high maximum pressure rating may be limited in pressure control options. The fact is that the arrow on the scale of the instrument is finite, the higher the measurement limit, the lower the division price.

A useful feature that a pump compressor manometer can have is that it is possible to measure pressure only in tires, when the device is isolated from the main circuit of the air exchange of the delivery device. Excellent convenience features are different. models with digital gaugesshowing the value of pressure during operation with smoothing vibrations.

Cable and power system

Most compressors designed for one power supply. This may be a single-phase network of 220 volts or 12 volts from the battery. When purchasing a model of this type, you should pay attention to the length of the power cable. It should be convenient for the average conditions of use.

Compressors with a voltage conversion system are most convenient. Such a device can be powered by a car battery as well as a 220V network. In this case, the compressor may have two power cables.

Performance

Choosing a compressor of one type or another, you should not save on performance. This is especially concerns piston models.

The amount of air the compressor delivers depends on the time it takes to tire the car. This immediately affects the usability. The closer the performance is to the optimal value, the less the battery will put the battery in the battery compressor, the less the piston model will heat up. For membrane blowers, everything is easier.The lower their performance, the longer it takes to wait for the pump to finish.

Hose

The proposed complete hose for pumping should be chosen according to the usual methods of using the compressor. For example, if you plan to install the pump in the garage or do not want to get it out of the trunk - it is recommended to purchase long lead model. And if we are talking about a compact membrane compressor, which does not seem heavy even to a woman, you should minimize the hose for compact placement.

Safety and automatic control devices

It is recommended not to buy a compressor whose power supply system does not offer. protection against overload and short circuit. Such a device can cause a fire, which is especially scary in a car. Each car compressor must have a protection system, fuses and load control circuits.

For piston models, the presence of an automatic overheating shutdown system is desirable. Designed for a limited operating time, a compressor used in the heat without such protection can easily fail.

To the most useful automated control system for a motorist is auto shut-off when the set pressure is reached. This functionality is extremely convenient. The compressor needs to be adjusted once for optimum pressure values ​​for tires, and then minimally monitor pumping parameters. The device will turn itself off when it reaches the configured value.

Additional nozzles and fixtures

How annoying most people are the numerous advertising phrases of consultants about the presence of numerous attachments, adapters, even a flashlight in the compressor package. However, these bulging things marketers can be extremely useful.

1. Collet Connections and Valve Deflatorsmounted on a hose for an automotive compressor, provide ease of fixation and do not allow temperature rise (deformation and clamping) in the joint zone. These same elements will protect your hands from burns and other troubles.
2. Adapters for different valve systems (nipple, valve) will make the compressor quite versatile. It can be used for the wheels of a car, children's bike, strollers, boats, even to swing footballs.
3. Power adapters or voltage conversion units will allow to power the compressor from almost any source of energy, starting from the cigarette lighter, ending with non-standard sockets.
4. Lighting system allows you to distinguish the readings of the gauge and find the desired switch at any time of the day. The same convenience is provided by the inscriptions of the scales, made by glowing in the dark paints.
5. Flashlight on remote cable allows you to easily find the point of attachment of the air supply hose to the tire, assess the condition of the wheel, if necessary, carry out operational repair of the valve.

Additional functionality

All the additional features that the compressor is able to offer should be evaluated in terms of their utility. For example, the average motorist does not need gauge with switchable scalesin ATM and PSI.Also, most buyers are not interested in a pressure release valve with an adjustable limit, they can do this operation with manual control. But, for example, for lovers of fishing will be useful reverse mode, with which the compressor can be extremely quickly blow off the rubber boat.

Important! Since all the additional features, chips and modes are often greatly overestimate the cost of the compressor - they should all be evaluated in terms of utility and selected with special attention.

How to use the compressor for tire inflation

As a conclusion, it’s worth telling how easy it is to keep the tires of a car in perfect condition with the help of a compressor. This will ensure not only their declared service life, but also ensures traffic safety. Recommended tire pressure parameters are specified by the manufacturer of a particular car model. They can be found in the technical passport or directly on the wheel. In order to always strictly observe the parametric, you must adhere to the following rules.

1. Do not swing tires in a heated garage, parking lot, after a long drive. The machine must stand in the open air. not less than 30 minutes.
2. To measure pressure, you can use a compressor or a separate pressure gauge. Useful so-called automatic caps with color indication.
3. Before connecting the compressor hose, the valve must be cleaned.
4. After the hose is attached and the pressure gauge indicates pressure, some air can be released if the reading exceeds the recommended value.
5. Connecting the power and starting the compressor, you should achieve an optimal indicator of pressure.
6. The operation is repeated for each tire.

The compressor allows you to quickly and correctly pump all the tires of the car. At the same time, if you do this in the open air after sludge, the parametric of all the wheels will be the same.

Important! It is not necessary to exceed the tire pressure recommended by the car manufacturer (especially in winter). After the car gets into a warmer room, the air in the chambers expands, which can cause various unpleasant consequences. For example, a tire inflated to 2 atm in the street in a warm garage shows a pressure of 2.5 atm.