Portable 12v electric air pump for tires... Any gems out there under $50?

…and a perfect stoichiometric air/fuel mix in your tires. :laughing:

I received my 2nd air pump (the first was sent back, because the display was unreadable in moderate daylight). It’s actually just a little wider and heavier than the first one.

The LCD display is READABLE. This was a major deficit with the previous one. The menu is a little more intuitive, although “R” for turning on the light makes me think of the “R” sound in place of “L”, common with Chinese folks not fluent in English. Oddly, when you plug in to charge the pump, there’s no light indication on it at all. It’s on the cable USB-A plug! The LED illuminates as red while charging, then turns green when done. The 6000mAh battery showed 3 bars out of 4 out of the box… but charging took about 6 hours. I hope that’s not much longer when charging from one power bar indication.

The pump motor seems to be stronger. It’s definitely louder, perhaps by about 50%. It seems to work just slightly faster than the other pump.

A couple of key advantages in addition to the LED and menu: The air hose is more than twice as long and it also stows in the bottom. The pump can operate from internal battery or 12V cord, also stowed below. The switch has 3 positions 12V-OFF-BATTERY. The built-in light is brighter, and the strobe is faster. It has a soft plastic handle for easy carry.

What I don’t like: The bottom storage area rather sucks. It’s just an open socket, no guidance flanges for cords or items. If you don’t use the 12V cord, it’s fairly easy to manage. But if the 12V cord must be used, you have to roll it up tightly. While there’s no dedicated hatch for the accessories, the ziplock bag can stow inside, tucked partly under the 12V cord so it won’t fall out. The valve attach point is not a screw-type. It’s a clamp. And unfortunately, the clamp feels cheap. I don’t know how long it’s going to hold up. The braided air hose runs inside the casing—no exposed detachment point, as with the other pump. I really would have preferred a screw type adapter instead of a clamp type.

The build quality is OK. Not super rugged. I suspect the plastic casing will get scuffed/scratched easily falling onto pavement. But the boxy design makes it very stable. It’s a small enough size to stow away fairly easily. Anyway, I’ll report back after putting it to the test.

> The pump can operate from internal battery or 12V cord

that is a good dual power option
thanks for your comments

I was under the impression that most 12v pumps under $50 run hot and take a long time to pump up the tire after reading a few reviews? I too am looking for one but it seems that one has to live with these pitfalls from a 12v pump. I can wait but seems to be a necessary evil from these 12v pumps.

I try to not spend over 20bux for a pump, and they always lasted quite a long time. No frills, no gauges, etc., and they just work when I need them, thankfully rarely.

The pænultimate one I got does have a built-in gauge which is pretty accurate (within 1psi or so, per my nifty GHMeiser gauge), can inflate even a flat tire in one shot (and top off the rest). I tend to keep that at home, though, as a backup.

The one in the car is https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078YS9VG9/ which is a combo vacuum/inflator that I viponned for 17-18bux or so. Works nicely for both functions.

Zero complaints for either.

I had one ages ago that I got at Pep Boys, mightta been a Red Devil or some name like that, which was by all accounts a junk inflator that looked like a car2n motorcycle engine, but you couldn’t kill that thing. It’d run ’til it was scorching hot and never failed. Even the braided hose would get too hot to touch. Got it for 10bux back then. Shouldda gotten 3-4 at that price. I’d still only be on #2 or maybe #3 at that rate.

Don’t recall what finally killed it, think something with the power cord, as it just went dead for no reason, and I never bothered to open it up to try to fix it.

The two Harbor Freight stores local to me have the 100psi pump that was in the video, in stock.

My ViAir 88P is a little more money than your price limit, but it is a fast pumping workhorse. It’s head and shoulders above any pump I’d previously had, and I carry it in the back of the SUV 24/7/365. Bought it 4 years ago, added an extra length of hose so I can reach the trailer tires, and it’s been rock solid dependable. My DS (a mechanical engineer) was impressed by it when I bailed him out of a flat tire one time, so I bought him one as a gift, too.

You’re welcome, Jonathan.

I bought a rather inexpensive 12v corded pump around 1999. I think it was something like $19, from Pep Boys. That thing was a champ. It was LOUD, but it worked. I’d lost attached feet on it a few times and had to glue on replacements. The original label fell off so I’ve no clue of the brand (not stamped anywhere). It got very gouged and scratched over time, but it kept pumping. About 10 PSI would take about 8~10 mins for a car tire (faster for a bicycle tire). And yeah, it could get hot. The only thing that failed is the clamp socket. It just won’t hold any longer. And I figured it was time to upgrade. NONE of these small pumps are designed to inflate a car tire from flat in one shot. But, in stages, it can be done. They’re really meant for topping off. Sometimes you end up with a slow leak tire. Or wild temperature swings that can cause air to compress and lose pressure. These are ideal for that, instead of paying $1~$2 for 2 minutes of air at the gas station air pump.

I would not go with battery only for emergency car use. That’s why I like this other one I got, with dual power sources. I plan to run it through its paces this weekend and see how it fares. But so far I’m liking it over the first portable one I’d bought (and then returned).

Incidentally, Amazon is showing a $10 off coupon that you click on in the detail page before adding to cart, so it can be had for $29.99 shipped in USA (that’s $6 cheaper than when I bought it).

Hilarious. I think that’s the one I bought at Pep Boys too. “Red Devil.” Long discontinued (Pep Boys deals with “Slime” brand pumps now). Yep, sounded like a 2 stroke motorcycle engine. I remember nearly burning my fingers on the braided hose metal ring. I thought it was close to $20. Mine still runs—just can’t keep it clamped on the valve any longer. If I could crimp on a replacement hose with a screw end, that would do the trick… but for the parts price & hassle… likely not worth it.

Actually I like the Ryobi one also, this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Function-Inflator-P747-Non-Retail-Packaging/dp/B081GBXWYT

…although I actually got mine at Home Depot on sale for a similar price. I have an entire ONE+ series of tools so I just move batteries around. It does screw on as someone mentioned further up.

Whatever you do, don’t bother with this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Ryobi-P737-Portable-Cordless-Inflator/dp/B017JIWT9U
it works, but it’s slow and gets hot as a mofo.

That does look like a pretty solid and well designed pump. I’ll keep that in mind if the present one I just got doesn’t work out—Thanks.

If it’s the one that had 2 “legs” that would slide out from tucked-in to straight-out, that’s probably the one.

Damned thing would vibrate so hard it’d “walk” around the tire if you’d let it off its leash.

I’m pretty sure I got mine for 10bux as I even debated back then whether/not I should get more.

Might’ve already been discontinued or just on a slash-sale or whatever. Been forever.

Ahh… Yes, In the time of fuel injection…
The pump had a lower intake pressure than the cylinder so it pulled in outside air in from a series of openings on the pump.
In the time before all the cheap electric pumps, this, some fix a flat cans, and one of those tire plug kits saved me some grief.
I had a spare tire, but if I had the time and ability to patch the main tire - I always did that.
I often used to camp alone off in the wild yonder. Always kept a good set of tools and spares.

All the Best,
Jeff

I actually have one of those slow leaks at one car tire. It’s a 1-1/2 week kinda slow leak. :smiley: I also have one of the E-Scooter tires that I need to pump up every week or so. I already patched it twice now. Anyways, a 12v compressor is using maybe 0.5A so it’s not gonna go super fast. Therefore I can live with the fact that it takes a little longer.

Another air pump tested, purchased with a Vipon coupon for $22
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZN9KJ92/

I aired up two tires from 32psi to 40 psi. This resulted in a pressure of 38 psi.

Pros
small, compact
the clamp on air hose works well
The buttons have good click feedback.
The unit has auto shut off at a set pressure
The unit displays accurate tire pressure when the pump is stopped.
The PSI indication is accurate when the unit is off.

Cons
Air line is very short, I had to hold the pump in my hand to keep it from rattling against the wheel.
There is no battery level indicator.
The unit will not stand up on its own, there is no flat bottom.
The buttons are black and the markings on them are hard to see.
Seems a bit louder than the previous pump I tested.
No option to power the unit from the car lighter socket.
Though indicated PSI is accurate when off, the unit undershoots the shutoff pressure by 2psi.

defect:
One of the LED numeric indicators does not light up, so a 9 looks like a 7.

Conclusion.
works well for topping off a few psi and to make the tire pressures equal on all four wheels.

I am returning the unit because

  1. there is no battery level indicator,
  2. will not stand on its own, the design is intended to be handheld while pumping.
  3. not dual power, battery only, no car lighter socket option.
  4. a defective display LED

I agree Viair makes great pumps. I have the 300P model. It is big, heavy, powerful, and I have to run the motor of the car to use it.

It was for use when I had a 4WD vehicle with 31” tires, that went offroad and after offroading, needed to air up each tire by 20psi.

For me, these small, inexpensive pumps with Internal Battery, are meant to replace my Viair, so I have the Option Not to run the car motor to air up a tire. This is for a Subaru Car, not an offroad 4WD vehicle. At most it would be used to air up each tire by 10psi.

That is still a tall order, and may create enough heat in the pump, that it will thermal shut down before the total of 40psi is delivered. Will report back when the pump I just ordered arrives. I chose the one xevious says works both on battery and on cig lighter socket if needed:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XW3PT8T
.

OK, my update on this pump:

JOY!

It works well! And reasonably fast. My “50% louder” claim above was exaggerated. It’s really only slightly louder than the previous pump. I deflated one tire to 10 psi low, then refilled it. Did it in just about 90 seconds. Pump body was barely warm, and the air hose only moderately warm. Color me pleasantly surprised.

I double-checked the PSI detection compared to my SLIME air gauge. Reading is only 0.1 ~ 0.2 PSI over actual, compared to the 0.7 ~ 1.5 PSI over actual discrepancy of the previous pump.

So it’s fast, not too loud, and VERY stable. Does not jump around. Plus, the LED light is reasonably bright (not enough for a walk, but good enough to illuminate for an inflation or tire change task.

No, there’s no “car, bicycle, basketball” mode, but changing the PSI setting is quick & easy. Definitely not returning this pump. I think I’m done for now. :sunglasses:

Yay!
Thanks for you detailed feedback.
I dont mind specifying the inflation target, dont need a preset for basketballs, bikes, and cars.

I have the same pump ordered.

when you pumped for 90 seconds, how many total PSI did that deliver. (I dont know what your target PSI is for your tires…)

You’re welcome. I mentioned that I lowered my tire to 10 psi below its normal pressure, so that was the amount I inflated in about 90 seconds. But I’ve tested it again just to be sure, timed it with a stopwatch. My car tire pressure went from 26 PSI to 36 PSI in exactly 100 seconds. Body of pump barely got warm. Braided hose was fairly warm. Nothing hot.

excellent data

when my unit arrives I will do that test Four Times in a row, as that would be my actual intended use case scenario.

If the new pump can handle that task, it will let me reduce Cargo by removing the much larger and heavier Viair kit, that includes a loooong airhose, plus battery clamp wiring, and requires running the motor.

the new tech battery powered pumps have auto shut off… thats a big plus

not having to run the car motor is also a big plus for me

There is a $10 off coupon right now, so $29.99.