OT Is there a decent 12V tyre inflator

In message , Andy Cap writes

I bought one from Halfords, reduced from about £45 to £30 on special offer. It works well, but the operation has to be in this order:

1. Connect to 12v socket
2. Set the cut-off pressure
3. Connect to tyre valve.

If you do 3 before 2 it can inflate to an alarming pressure, which makes it rather dangerous for anyone like me who reads the manual as a last resort!

I went through at least two of the £10 jobs from the local motorists shop before I chose this one...

My Michelin one works well. No idea of price as it was a present.

Yes, that came out well in one of the tests. The high Power 12262 ? The best price I can find in about £29.

Thanks for that. :-)

Check the reviews first though, some aren't very positive.

Haven't looked yet but that appears to be the problem with these inflators. None of them are that reliable !

Is the one you have a Halford's own or another make ?

Try this. Doesn't, er, "work" on 12V though ...

I've had a couple of Halfords ones and wouldn't complain. One was a digital one which _may_ be the type mentioned above. It remembered its previous cut-off pressure, so the above would only be problem when new. And then only if you left it unattended for a loooong time - they're pretty slow. Actually, I doubt if it would ever get to a high enough pressure to be remotely dangerous.

Anyway, I gave that one to a friend when a car I bought had an analogue type inflator in it. Probably the same motor as it's just as slow. But this one has a useful worklight on a long lead, which is a nice addition. No cut-off setting, so you have to keep an eye on the gauge.

In message , Andy Cap writes

Yes. I can't find a part code on the box but it is described as:

Rapid Digital Tyre Inflator.

There were at least two other types, one of which was not "rapid", and was dearer, due to the promotion on the one I bought.

Just to add: This "rapid" one is very much quicker than the 10 quid jobs I had.

If I suggested my sister could do that, I'd get a smack ! Pretty impressive though.

Ah. I suspect that mine _were_ just ten quid jobs. Worked fine if you weren't in a hurry or weren't trying to fill a lorry tyre.

I'm still dubious whether you'd be able to inflate to a dangerous pressure with yours though. I tried to use a forecourt airline the other day to fill some high pressure trailer tyres and it couldn't manage more than 45psi. Can't imagine a 12v portable doing much better. If you'd like to prove me wrong, make sure you film it!

The one I've had for about 25 years gets Transit tyres up to 42psi fairly easily. It was made by a company I suspect I long gone - Harry Moss.

Chris

Aren't they pressure-limited to stop them being useful for inflating push-bike tyres?

Andrew

Could be, but it seemed to run out of puff rather than cut out at a specific pressure. Took a long while to get to 40psi, even longer to reach 43 ... 45 eventually ... then I gave up.

Have you given them permission to sell it ;-)