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Subject Topic: Best 12V Air Compressor ? Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonTricky Ricky
16/2/2017 at 10:10pm
 Location: Denstone
 Outfit: Karsten 350 Pod + CA View Tricky Ricky's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tricky Ricky Reply   Quote Tricky Ricky Quote  
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What would you recommend as the best 12V Air Compressor to inflate a Karsten 350 Pod ?
We used what we thought was a good quality compressor last year plugged into the cigarette lighter, but it overheated & cut-out before it had even inflated one tube.
We had to resort to my bicycle stirrup pump that we took as a back-up, but it was hard work.
We've been reading some of the forums & can't decide whether to go for the Ring RAC900 or the T Max BA2663.
The T Max looks to be the more robust of the two, but also the heaviest at 11kg versus 3.8kg for the RAC900.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.


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Persontango55
16/2/2017 at 10:49pm
 Location: Lichfield
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The tubes on the karsten inflatable tents need to be inflated to 56 psi. which you need a tyre inflator that goes up to 100 psi. for it perform efficiently. Some tyre inflators only reach a maximum capaicity of 50 psi. which is what you have probably used previously thus the reason for the inflator over heating and cutting out prematurely.
Therefore to answer your question regarding the best 12 volt air compressor is not the brand but the capacity it will inflate to so you need to do a search on Google and read the product details regarding the maximum pressure the compressor is capable of.


Personhankakampa
16/2/2017 at 11:31pm
 Location: uk
 Outfit: Karsten - sun storm - doesnt matter! View hankakampa's Profile View Profile   Reply to hankakampa Reply   Quote hankakampa Quote  
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have a looky / ask in the Karsten thread ...
we all have different inflators for our Karstens - mine came from Aldi and works great although its big / bulky but inflates my 300 pod with ease.

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Personkiwistu69
16/2/2017 at 11:43pm
 Location: Cheltenham
 Outfit: Karsten 350 pod ca ea fw ra zig View kiwistu69's Profile View Profile   Reply to kiwistu69 Reply   Quote kiwistu69 Quote  
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I have 12v one rated with a duty cycle of 33% at 100 psi, with cfm of 1.62 at 60 psi. It will not run from a cigarette socket as the amp draw is way too high, needs to be connected to a battery.

I have it for inflating 4x4 tires after being off road. But will be using it for inflating the Karsten, over kill....

When selecting one, also consider the duty cycle.


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PersonTricky Ricky
17/2/2017 at 2:00pm
 Location: Denstone
 Outfit: Karsten 350 Pod + CA View Tricky Ricky's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tricky Ricky Reply   Quote Tricky Ricky Quote  
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Ok, thanks for the advice.

Not sure what you mean by Duty Cycle ?

The one we tried was a HEYNER Big Air Professional Heavy Duty Compressor, which was rated at 100PSI / 7 Bar at 40L per min, which we thought would be more than capable.

But it overheated & cut-out at the first attempt before it had even inflated the first tube. We gave it a couple more attempts, but it still wouldn't inflate the first tube without cutting out. Very disappointing !

Have come to the conclusion we need to use one connected direct to the battery.

Just need to decide which one.


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Personquilly101
17/2/2017 at 3:13pm
 Location: Herts
 Outfit: Karsten 350 Pod CA EA FW RA COMBI View quilly101's Profile View Profile   Reply to quilly101 Reply   Quote quilly101 Quote  
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I chose the T Max BA2663 as that's what a lot of the 4x4 guys use, if its good enough for their multiple use it has to be good for my 7-10 times a year


Persontango55
17/2/2017 at 3:15pm
 Location: Lichfield
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It is possible that the vehicle battery isn't fully charged because if you connect the inflator directly to the battery it won't make any difference because the voltage output will be identical to what is received via the cigarette lighter. If you want to prove that theory then purchase a cigarette lighter voltmeter and plug it in and see what the reading is then check the battery with an independent multimeter and the voltage should be exactly the same. You can buy one for under a tenner.


Cigarette Lighter Voltmeter


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Personmattlad
17/2/2017 at 5:12pm
 Location: Worcestershire
 Outfit: Defender 90 and MyWay Voyager Raid View mattlad's Profile View Profile   Reply to mattlad Reply   Quote mattlad Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 17/2/2017
It is possible that the vehicle battery isn't fully charged because if you connect the inflator directly to the battery it won't make any difference because the voltage output will be identical to what is received via the cigarette lighter. If you want to prove that theory then purchase a cigarette lighter voltmeter and plug it in and see what the reading is then check the battery with an independent multimeter and the voltage should be exactly the same. You can buy one for under a tenner.


Cigarette Lighter Voltmeter





The voltage may be the same but you can draw a lot more current direct from the battery terminals than you can via a cigarette lighter socket.



-------------
Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.


Personkiwistu69
17/2/2017 at 8:37pm
 Location: Cheltenham
 Outfit: Karsten 350 pod ca ea fw ra zig View kiwistu69's Profile View Profile   Reply to kiwistu69 Reply   Quote kiwistu69 Quote  
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Duty Cycle refers to the amount of time a compressor can be operated in a given period of time, at 100 psi, at a standard ambient temp. of 22°C. Duty cycle is commonly expressed in a percentage format as: compressor on time / (compressor on time + compressor off time) %.

33% Duty Cycle - 20 Min. On / 40 Min. Off

I do not have experience with a Heyner big air but I am surprised it could not inflate the Karsten. Your one could be faulty? I would ask for replacement.


Personkiwistu69
17/2/2017 at 8:44pm
 Location: Cheltenham
 Outfit: Karsten 350 pod ca ea fw ra zig View kiwistu69's Profile View Profile   Reply to kiwistu69 Reply   Quote kiwistu69 Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by mattlad on 17/2/2017
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 17/2/2017
It is possible that the vehicle battery isn't fully charged because if you connect the inflator directly to the battery it won't make any difference because the voltage output will be identical to what is received via the cigarette lighter. If you want to prove that theory then purchase a cigarette lighter voltmeter and plug it in and see what the reading is then check the battery with an independent multimeter and the voltage should be exactly the same. You can buy one for under a tenner.


Cigarette Lighter Voltmeter





The voltage may be the same but you can draw a lot more current direct from the battery terminals than you can via a cigarette lighter socket.




The voltage will always be 12 volts, the higher specification compressors will draw over 20 amps!


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PersonSkiiddy
03/3/2017 at 12:10am
 Location: Devon
 Outfit: None Entered View Skiiddy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Skiiddy Reply   Quote Skiiddy Quote  
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Bit late to the party but for what it's worth, the Heyner one mentioned certainly wasn't man enough and blew fuses on a Cayenne in spite of the 12v sockets having the correct fuses so avoid . For us, this is a little gem!

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2018 & so it begins.

April - please, just one weekend!
May - Who knows....
June - Tristram, Polzeath 10 nights
August - Dartmouth Regatta 4 nights


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PersonSleeper17
03/3/2017 at 6:54am
 Location: Rossendale Valley UK
 Outfit: Karsten 300 FFW CA EA RA View Sleeper17's Profile View Profile   Reply to Sleeper17 Reply   Quote Sleeper17 Quote  
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Regarding the 12v plug in Heyner

If it is the one I am thinking about It is rated at 170w draw. That would blow my ciggy lighter fuses as my socket is only rated at 120w so that is well over what many cars could possibly take?

The same brand foot pump gets good reviews. Good workout.

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2019 : 9 Camps 48 nights
2018 : 8 Camp 47 nights
2017 : 9 Camps 52 nights
2016 : 9 Camps 45 nights
2015 : 6 Camps 28 Nights


Personmzzy
03/3/2017 at 5:04pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit:  Karsten View mzzy's Profile View Profile   Reply to mzzy Reply   Quote mzzy Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Tricky Ricky on 16/2/2017
What would you recommend as the best 12V Air Compressor to inflate a Karsten 350 Pod ?
We used what we thought was a good quality compressor last year plugged into the cigarette lighter, but it overheated & cut-out before it had even inflated one tube.
We had to resort to my bicycle stirrup pump that we took as a back-up, but it was hard work.
We've been reading some of the forums & can't decide whether to go for the Ring RAC900 or the T Max BA2663.
The T Max looks to be the more robust of the two, but also the heaviest at 11kg versus 3.8kg for the RAC900.
Any advice would be appreciated.


Thanks.



Tricky did you manage to pump the Karsten up with the foot pump?
Just asking as I've brought a electric compressor, but I don't want to by another one as well, wondered if we could use a foot pump for the few times we would camp without electricity? It certainly won't be often as o like me comforts 🙂



-------------
~*MZZY*~


Personduffs54
04/3/2017 at 9:05am
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Ford Duetto Autosleeper View duffs54's Profile View Profile   Reply to duffs54 Reply   Quote duffs54 Quote  
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Weve got a Kampa one linky

briliant, came with a case and isn't too big

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Duffs54      


PersonTricky Ricky
06/3/2017 at 9:55pm
 Location: Denstone
 Outfit: Karsten 350 Pod + CA View Tricky Ricky's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tricky Ricky Reply   Quote Tricky Ricky Quote  
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MZZY

You can inflate the Karsten with a foot pump, but it's hard work & takes at least 10 minutes for each tube.

We tried a double barreled foot pump, but actually found my bicycle stirrup pump easier to use.



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