I need more reach for my 12v compressor to get to spare tyre on van. Which would be more efficient.1- 12v cable extension suitably sized wire of 4 metre or 2- a pre -made coily compressor hose off an old compressor, approx 8 metres 3/8. Opinions or true knowledge both fine.
Bagmaker said
06:00 PM Sep 28, 2018
use the hose, it will give you more capacity. There may be flow issues if you are in a hurry (doubt it, just saying).
Extending the leads will cause voltage drop.
Tony Bev said
08:33 PM Sep 28, 2018
My 12 volt compressor (suitable for four wheel drive), says to have the engine running when in use
I made a 5 meter length of 6 mm square twin core extension lead, and it works OK, with the engine running
I have never measured the voltage drop, as the compressor works OK
Rolled up tightly, it lives in the compressor bag
Aus-Kiwi said
08:40 PM Sep 28, 2018
Double the size of the wire . Youll be fine .
PeterInSa said
08:46 PM Sep 28, 2018
I use my 1200Amp?? Jumper leads and connect the compressor clips to the ends, with a rag around the positives, and run the engine while using the compressor. From memory the compressor takes 45Amps..
Yuglamron said
09:08 AM Sep 29, 2018
Much heavier gauge cable is fine, as said less voltage drop.
However with airlines what goes in goes out. No drop. In some respects a longer airline would let the air cool a bit between compressor and tyre.
I think it would boil down to whichever is better for storage. Extra cable or the airline.
Aus-Kiwi said
09:36 AM Sep 29, 2018
Went through that with mine . Found it easier to extend the wires ., I have twin 6mm2 jumper with Anderson plugs each end. With Anderson - fuse - clips for battery connection ., Moved compressor closer to tyre . Easier to fold, store away .,
EJP said
02:46 PM Sep 29, 2018
I have both. An older Truck Air compressor with a pressure gauge incorporated in it and a very short hose and it was easier to extend the wiring so I could reach all the tyres. I used the same size cable as the original and it worked fine. The compressor was slow anyway and, as I wasn't in a hurry, 'voltage drop' didn't worry me. My current compessor is an ARB type, about 8 years old, in a plastic box. It has a short length of cable and sufficient hose to reach all the tyres. Again, no problems. The only problem was that there was no on/off switch. The cables attach to the battery with aligator clips and to stop/start the compressor the clips have to be connected/disconnected from the battery which was a pain. To make life easier I fitted an on/off switch in the compressor box which enables me to operate the compressor without disconnecting it.
Regards EJP
Craig1 said
09:12 AM Sep 30, 2018
Thanks all,
I have to make Anderson to Alligator lead anyway, so will do it both ways. There is friction in an airline, don't know if is would affect a small run like this much. I will try to advise the results.
Whenarewethere said
06:43 PM Oct 31, 2018
I have 3 ARB compressors & 4 Litre air tank as I couldn't be bothered waiting. Up to 100 amp current, mostly around 85 amps, while engine is running. As a very rough guide deduct 1% for every metre of airline hose, connector & right angle junction. Upgrade the power cable as all cables are under size to start with. Run your engine while pumping up tyres to speed things up. 3 compressors are a wisker ahead of what I can push into a tyre with 8 mm ID air hose. Most of the cheaper air compressors have a pretty poor duty cycle, even the single ARB compressor is only 50%. For example 5 minutes running each 10 minutes.
Aus-Kiwi said
08:53 PM Oct 31, 2018
Yes its a balance of weight , size for storage over efficiency. I tell ya . If you have to wait 30
Min to pump a tyre ? Much much better than no compressor at all ! My little twin piston has got myself and atleast 6 others out of trouble !
Phillipn said
10:09 PM Oct 31, 2018
Bagmaker wrote:
use the hose, it will give you more capacity. There may be flow issues if you are in a hurry (doubt it, just saying). Extending the leads will cause voltage drop.
Use larger cable, no problem.
Whenarewethere said
07:12 AM Nov 2, 2018
With daily on & off road pumping up tyres I wanted as fast as possible setup. 3 compressors it's 30 seconds per corner from 20 to 35 PSI & I run a 6awg supply straight to the battery with an Anderson plug.
A very "scientific update", used 8mm wire to extend the cable by 4 metres. It works perfectly, maybe 0.1 volt drop from vehicle anderson plug. I then tried the extra airhose and the pressure indicated on both hose gauges almost identical. I have enough length of wire without the extra hose, so will keep it for a spare.
I need more reach for my 12v compressor to get to spare tyre on van. Which would be more efficient.1- 12v cable extension suitably sized wire of 4 metre or 2- a pre -made coily compressor hose off an old compressor, approx 8 metres 3/8. Opinions or true knowledge both fine.
Extending the leads will cause voltage drop.
I made a 5 meter length of 6 mm square twin core extension lead, and it works OK, with the engine running
I have never measured the voltage drop, as the compressor works OK
Rolled up tightly, it lives in the compressor bag
Much heavier gauge cable is fine, as said less voltage drop.
However with airlines what goes in goes out. No drop. In some respects a longer airline would let the air cool a bit between compressor and tyre.
I think it would boil down to whichever is better for storage. Extra cable or the airline.
Regards EJP
I have to make Anderson to Alligator lead anyway, so will do it both ways. There is friction in an airline, don't know if is would affect a small run like this much. I will try to advise the results.
Use larger cable, no problem.
With daily on & off road pumping up tyres I wanted as fast as possible setup. 3 compressors it's 30 seconds per corner from 20 to 35 PSI & I run a 6awg supply straight to the battery with an Anderson plug.