Compressor amperage draw

[Gascoigne]

Not much of an auto electrician (on the learning curve though!) so can anyone help with this:

Is there any danger of flattening the battery (single battery) if air compressors are used with the engine running?

Looking at getting a decent compressor and wonder if I need to add this into the equation.

Cheers

Gascoigne

[rangieman]

Not likely with the engine running

[DEFENDERZOOK]

you should be able to run your compressor long enough off a good battery to reinflate your tyres....
and still have enough juice in the battery to start the engine again.....


the key word being SHOULD......its always wise to leave the engine running.....it can take up to 30 mins to reinflate 4 tyres......

if the engine is running....the alternator will pretty much run the electronics....compressor included.....
hence not drawing too much power(if any at all) from the battery.....






if you are going to be adding accessories....it will be wise to fit a second battery.....
complete with an isolator......if you wish to go down this path then drivesafe is the one you will need to speak to.....
will also save you a lot of dollars.....

[DirtyDawg]

you should be able to run your compressor long enough off a good battery to reinflate your tyres....
and still have enough juice in the battery to start the engine again.....


the key word being SHOULD......its always wise to leave the engine running.....it can take up to 30 mins to reinflate 4 tyres......

if the engine is running....the alternator will pretty much run the electronics....compressor included.....
hence not drawing too much power(if any at all) from the battery.....






if you are going to be adding accessories....it will be wise to fit a second battery.....
complete with an isolator......if you wish to go down this path then drivesafe is the one you will need to speak to.....
will also save you a lot of dollars.....

Tony 30 minutes??? what you using a bicycle pump?:D:D

[DEFENDERZOOK]

yeah...a 12v one.....



some compressors are slow........and some tyres are big......put the two together and you have the worst case scenario.....

normally 10ish mins is what it takes with a good compressor.....

i dunno what compressor he is gonna use or what size tyres he is running.....
so i covered my backside by saying "up to 30 mins" .........

i also have a honda powered 4 stroke compressor.....very quick......:D

[waynep]

Compressors can draw a lot - up to 20 amps. Thats the equivalent of about four headlights on full beam, so will give you some idea.

[maggsie]

My compressor can draw up to 46 amps, so I only use it with the engine running.

Maggsie.

[weeds]

My compressor can draw up to 46 amps, so I only use it with the engine running.

Maggsie.

just checked the current draw from my bushranger max air 36amps/h, didn't think it would run that high

no real problem running the compressor without the engine running for short amount of time ie if your are airing up after coming of the beach and your compressor ran for say 10min continous, on mine that would be 6amps of current draw, pretty much any battery would handle that and still start the car.

however now that i know the current draw i will keep that in mind when camping with two engles running and the kids want to air up the truck tubes and water rockets

i have three batteries to draw from, umm one good thing about a manual battery isolater i guess

i'm always pumping the kids and there mates bike tyres up along with socer balls, footy's and water rockets etc with out the car running

[camel_landy]

Compressors can draw a lot - up to 20 amps. Thats the equivalent of about four headlights on full beam, so will give you some idea.

My one is WAY over 20A.....

M

[waynep]

My one is WAY over 20A.....

M

Hmmm OK I was going from memory (from the manual that came with my ARB ).... my memory was obviously not serving me well :)

Also from memory I think the manual said that it is better to use it with the engine running ... but I could be wrong on that too ......:confused: :D

EDIT EDIT

No I was right , specs on the ARB

Flow Rate0.5 cfm @ 100 psi, 1 cfm at open flowPower Requirements 12 volt Maximum current 20 ampsAir discharge port size 6 mmIntegral pressure Hi and Low cut out switch, 0.5 l receiverType Oil free operationDimensions in case150 x 170 x 370 mmWeight 5 kg


Whew, senility not setting in after all !!
But obviously some of the higher flow ones draw a much larger current - our Club has a Twin Tongue - I'd hate to think what that draws then:eek:

[DEFENDERZOOK]

twin tongue....?
i would say your club has the situation licked.....

[Vern]

Big Red = 20a

[camel_landy]

Mine's a 'Mega Grunt' or something... IITC it draws 30A - 35A. It certainly won't run from the fag lighter (20A) as it blows the fuse.

M

[DirtyDawg]

Bossairsuspension Vehicle mounted draws 25 Amps on start up

[drivesafe]

Hi folks, first things first, the only way you are going to know what sort of current your compressor or any other device actually pulls is to measure the current while you are using it.

The marked current rate on any electrical device, be it 12 volt or 240 volt, is the maximum current that the device can safely handle and if everything is running correctly, the device should NOT pull that much current.

Next, most electric motor powered devices pull more current at lower volts so if you measure the device with the vehicle’s engine running and with the vehicle’s engine off you will either get a higher current draw with the engine off and / or slower electric motor speed than when the vehicle’s engine running.

Last but not least, with compressor currents like those posted above, theoretically you could still flatten your battery because with the vehicle’s engine at idle, the current output of most alternators is going to be less than the amount of current being used, BUT it would probably take many MANY hours to flatten the battery.

Here’s a tip to help extend the operating life of any electric motors in or powered from your vehicle. Running the vehicle’s engine while using the electric motor supplies the motor with a higher voltage. This higher voltage allows the motor to do it’s work easier and thus lessens the load on the motor.

This works well for winch motors, compressor motors but is very effective at extending the operating life of electric window motors. It’s a good practice to always put your electric windows up before you turn the vehicle’s engine off, it’s a less of a strain on the motors while they are supplied with the higher voltage.

One more tip, the highest current you can get from a “ Fag socket “ is 16 amps which is far too low to be an effective power supply for an air compressor. Either pick your power up right at the battery or if you have heavy cables running to the back of the vehicle to power a camper trailer or caravan, make up an extension lead and connect your compressor to the lead.

Cheers

[waynep]

twin tongue....?
i would say your club has the situation licked.....

:lol2: :lol2:

...... OK a Twin Tongue is two Blue Tongues hooked up together. They use them for filling diving tanks on boats and one of our members who works in a dive shop got it for us.
It is very quick .....

[Gascoigne]

Most helpful.

Thanks guys.:)

[DirtyDawg]

Thanks Drivesafe good info:)