Types of Products
Mini air compressors, also known as portable 12v compressors, are low-cost piston compressors with a low capacity of only 2 horsepower and 50 liters or less.
This model is compact and has wheels so it is easy to move. So this product has a cheaper price than industrial air compressors.
Currently, there are two main types of portable 12v air compressors on the market: the oil portable 12v air compressor and the oil-free portable 12v air compressor. Both types of machines are designed almost the same but only differ in the principle of lubrication of the machine.
1. Oil portable 12v air compressor
Oil-injected mini compressors are models that use a compressor head and are lubricated by oil immersion. This lubrication method is often much more effective than permanent lubricant.
Therefore, the amount of oil inside the compressor head also has the effect of overall heat dissipation to help the components inside the head and conducts heat to dissipate to many places.
From that, it can be seen that this lubricated mini-compressor series often has much higher durability than the oil-free version, and can handle heavier work than other mini-oil models. If you still can't figure it out then take a look at the ARB 12 Volt Twin Air Compressor.
In addition, oil-injected compressors often have a much faster air intake speed, thus allowing for greater airflow. Therefore, if the operator of pneumatic tools has to work outdoors, especially without clean air, this range of oil-injected portable compressors is a wise choice.
2. Oil-free portable 12v air compressor
Oil-free 12v portable compressors usually have a pump head with a pre-filled amount of permanent lubricant. This lubricant will be responsible for the lubrication of the cylinders throughout the life of the machine.
However, this method of lubrication is often not as effective as oil lubrication, so it often results in an inadequate oil-free compressor for continuous operation.
So when combined with the seamless head design, this oil-free mini compressor series is only suitable for short or interrupted applications.
In addition, this oil-free 12v portable air compressor has the most special advantage of producing clean air without oil. Therefore, the 12v compressed air pump is often very suitable for some specific industries such as medicine or food production.
For example, the C P CHANTPOWER Air Compressor Tire Inflator. This is a compressor when it's very easy to use, simply plug it into your car socket, attach the hose to the tire, put the desired PSI, and turn on the switch.
Best Portable 12v Air Compressor Buying Guides
In the past few years, the mini air compressor series has gradually replaced the bicycle and motorcycle pumps on the market today.
A pneumatic pump will provide a stable amount of air and make pumping a car much simpler and more convenient than using manual pumps.
Above we have classified two series of portable 12v compressors, to choose for you the best 12v portable air compressor we would like to give suggestions based on the following criteria.
1. Inflation Speed
Whether it's an emergency when you want your tires to fully fill or you just need to increase the tire pressure before you hit the road, you'll want to avoid wasting time waiting for the tires to inflate.
To be able to inflate a tire in the shortest time, you always check the inflation flow rate given by the manufacturer. Most 12V compressors can inflate a standard tire with a low 30-40 PSI in less than a few minutes.
However, if you need to inflate the tires above 80 PSI, you may find that some of the available lower-priced portable 12v compressors there start to struggle and eventually take longer.
So you should buy powerful machines like the VIAIR 300P Portable Compressor. Considering the flow rate assigned to a particular PSI will give you a much better idea, as the inflation rate will certainly slow down as the pressure becomes higher.
2. Display and Lights
Some models of portable compressors have analog gauges, others have digital screens. While traditional-style gauges are certainly popular, backlit digital displays are also useful in dark conditions and for quick reading such as the PROW Electric Air Compressor Tire Inflator.
This air compressor also has a built-in flashlight that can be very helpful at night, especially if you need to inflate the tires by the side of the road.
This not only gives you a better view but also increases safety if any vehicle is coming. This is truly one of the best 12v portable air compressors.
3. Size and weight
Whatever the product, size, and weight really matter. There are many models of compact air compressors on the market.
But with portable compressors that can be neatly stowed in one place for all their accessories and cords or a durable storage bag that you can tie in your RV basement.
One such example is the ARB (CKMTP12) 12V Twin Motor Portable Air Compressor with an extremely compact and modern design.
Simplicity meets functionality. VacLife car air pump provides you with a rest-assured using experience based on the comfortable.
Remember that if you need a more efficient compressor, it will probably get heavier. However, for a small RV with mid-sized tires, you can often use one of the lightest, most compact models to save valuable weight and space in the basement area. mine.
4. Price
While all products tend to be "you get what you pay for", you can get a lot of good 12V compressors on the market at an affordable price. For faster inflation times with higher pressures, you should choose a model with a higher price tag.
However, there are countless hand-held compressors suitable for regular-sized RV tires that require a maximum pressure of around 70-90 PSI.
Sure, you may have to wait a few minutes, but these models can save you some cash like the TEROMAS Tire Inflator Air Compressor.
On the other hand, if you have a large Class A with dual rear tires or a long fifth wheel, you might have trouble with a cheap, standard 12V air compressor.
In this case, it's best to choose compressors designed specifically for vehicles like the Smittybilt 2781 5.65 CFM Universal Air Compressor.
5. Warranty
If a manufacturer is confident in the quality of its product, then the manufacturer should have a good warranty of at least one year against any manufacturing defects.
The silent 12V air compressor is no different. So when you are thinking of buying a 12v compressor, consider the manufacturer's warranty and its warranty period. In general, the longer the warranty period, the better the performance of the product.
For example, with the ARB 12V Twin Motor Portable Air Compressor, you can get a full refund or replace it in case the device is broken or faulty and you can get help if there are any problems.
FAQs
1. What is the use of compressed air used in?
Air compressors are used in many different fields, typically in some jobs such as: Supplying compressed air for tools such as road drills, inflatables, and spray paint.
Generated compressed air products help control automatic equipment, carry out cleaning to clean dust, support the production of vacuum packaging, and use compressed air in case of lifting and lowering goods.
In the car wash and maintenance shops, the product is used to clean dust and dry leaks in the repair and maintenance work of vehicles.
However, 12v compressors such as Portable Jump Starter with Air Compressor are used the most in pumping car tires.
2. Portable air compressors should buy from which company?
There are many air compressor companies on the market, but the best one is EPAUTO. EPAUTO Company is one of the leading companies in the production of products to support cars.
The company's products are cheap, but the quality is extremely good. GSPSCN Tire Inflator Heavy Duty Double Cylinders products are trusted by many people.
This machine has multiple uses like inflating tires on cars, bikes, sedans, and midsize SUVs (Engine size under 3.5 liter).
The universal valve connector for the Schrader valve is ready to use. Additional adapters include needle value, and short cone/long cone adapters (for an inflatable kayak, and swimming pool accessories).
3. Do I need to buy any additional accessories that come with the air compressor?
It all depends on what you want to use with the compressor. Of course, you will need a hose, if you use a compressor to blow dust or clean the floor.
You will need an air chuck, to pump the tires, you will need some kind of tire chuck. However, we recommend that you still buy the full range of compressor accessories as you won't know when you will need them.
You can purchase the air compressors that come with accessories such as the ARB 12V Twin Motor Portable Air Compressor.
This machine comes with a full tool bag. A bag with a reflective strip in addition to convenient storage, it can also serve as a warning in an emergency.
4. Is the mini air compressor heavy?
Of course, called mini, in addition to its small size, it is also lightweight. With the tankless mini-pump weighing only about 5 pounds to 7 pounds, the 10-pound air compressor is the one with an extra air tank for easy use and portability.
There are also a number of machines with a much more compact design, such as the Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor. Has an extremely compact design. With a weight of only 2.35 pounds.
5. Should I buy an old portable air compressor?
To save costs, many people choose to buy cheap old mini compressors instead of buying new ones. The biggest advantage that makes many users decide to choose the old mini air compressor is because of the price.
These products are usually very cheap. Depending on the new, quality of the machine determines the price. Many older models have a much lower price than new ones. Thanks to that, high customer reach. The price is suitable for the conditions of many users.
However, the old 12v compressors are quality the compressor. Since it is a used machine, the quality is definitely not the same as the original one. If the price of the machine is cheaper, the quality of the device is lower.
If we are "greedy cheap" then the cost of repairs will increase rapidly. In many cases, the cost of repairs incurred can be higher than the cost of purchasing the machine.
So you should buy new machines, nowadays there are also many good quality mini compressors with cheap prices like VacLife Portable Air Compressor.
Final Thoughts
If consumers are familiar with the products of piston compressors, and screw compressors, the handheld 12v compressor seems to be a name not known by many people.
This type of machine is very necessary to use in work that needs to move a lot and can not use other pneumatic pumps with large and bulky sizes. Above we helped you to choose the best portable 12v air compressors.
Now we would like to summarize with two best portable 12v air compressors.
The first is Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor. This machine is easy to use with 3 display units: PSI, KPA, and BAR; FLASHLIGHT LED: Flashlight is on. Prevent over-inflation: Automatically turns off when desired tire pressure is reached. The over-temperature protection automatically turns off when overloaded.
The other is GSPSCN Portable Digital Car Tire Inflator. This is a machine with a full tool bag. The tire inflator uses a more stable motor to effectively reduce vibration and noise. And rubber feet to make sure the 12V air pump stays where it is placed.
And the air compressor with LED lights can provide light. Also, sports equipment and an inflatable adaptor included makes it perfect for your air mattress, inflatable boats, balls, and other inflatables.
Besides the two mentioned models, below are our other recommendations for different criteria:
- Best of the best: ARB 12V Twin Motor High-Performance Portable Air Compressor
- Best versatile: Smittybilt 2781 5.65 CFM Universal Air Compressor
- Best compact design: Avid Power Tire Inflator Air Compressor
- Best for the budget: EPAUTO 12V DC Portable Air Compressor Pump
And that concludes what we’ve got to say about the best portable 12v air compressor. We hope that this article can help you navigate through the selection process. Don’t forget to tell us which compressor is your favorite!