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12 volt air compressors

Truckman4life

Truckman4life

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I just thought I'd throw this out there for anyone who cares. I saw @kgblazerfive posted about an air compressor he got and it looked familiar. Didn't want to jam up his thread so I thought I'd start a new one.
Here's the one he posted.
thorslightningairsystems.com

Thor's Lightning Portable TotalControl 12v True Dual Air Compressor 10.6 CFM - Thor's Lightning Adventure Systems

Shop Thor's Lightning Portable TotalControl 12v True Dual Air Compressor 10.6 CFM. See the rest of our 12v portable air compressors & Air Systems.
thorslightningairsystems.com thorslightningairsystems.com
Shows cheaper over on Amazon.
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I had watched a video on the Dirt Lifestyle YouTube channel where he had modded a Napa air compressor.

I can't remember where he got his but here's the one's I have seen.
Napa https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_MTWM10215C
1710861491095.png
Same looking one but might be modified as it lists a higher CFM.
1710861706928.png
Oh and I found the same looking one over on Ebay also.
www.ebay.com

Stop & Go 2100 12 Volt Dual Piston Air Compressor for Up to 42" Tires | eBay

The kit includes three adapter nozzles for inflating sports balls, pool inflatables, and air mattresses, adding versatility for recreational use. is built for durability and portability. Motorcycle Tires.
www.ebay.com
1710861841685.png
Probably all come from the same original parent company.
 
They probably are all from the same Chinese factory. I’ve used a Smittybilt compressor that was the single cylinder variety and it took a long time to fill a 35” tire from 18 psi to even 35 psi. A second cylinder would help for sure.


I haven’t looked at the twin models much but I’m curious if they are 100% duty cycle compressors or not. The smitty was not.

I bought an arb twin and absolutely love it. I bought it through work and it was still $500. It’s 100% duty cycle and I can fill my 35’s so much faster than before.

Along those lines I think ARB’s patent ran out because there are two darn near identical knock offs in the market now.

Rough country ($349.00):
www.roughcountry.com

Twin Motor Air Compressor Kit | 12 Volt | 6.16 CFM

Twin Motor Air Compressor Kit | 12 Volt | 6.16 CFM
www.roughcountry.com www.roughcountry.com

Overland vehicle systems $449.99:
overlandvehiclesystems.com

EGOI Permanent On Board Dual Motor Air Compressor System 6.1 CFM

Shop the EGOI Permanent On Board Dual Motor Air Compressor System 6.1 CFM, the ultimate on-board air compressor. On board air compressor with pressure cut off.
overlandvehiclesystems.com overlandvehiclesystems.com

I’ve got zero experience with either so buy at your own risk. Brining them up to let people know they are out there.
 
I used a Smittybuilt single this weekend to fill 01 burbs tires, after dropping them to get off the beach. It didn't take long to bring them from 25ish to 50 ish, 245 75r16. Not sure i trust the gauge provided. when my these tires are low they make a low frequency howl at @25mph, had a little of this owh yesterday.
 
My Superflo single comes with a 30A fuse. This twin is fused to 90A, so it's not just slapping another piston at the other end. By the time you add that 2nd alternator you might as well run a York? He was listing about 2.5 minutes per tire, which is 10 minutes total, which seems to track. I know it's over 15 minutes to fill my 38x15.5 tires from 8-25psi.
 
Wes Harden said:
I used a Smittybuilt single this weekend to fill 01 burbs tires, after dropping them to get off the beach. It didn't take long to bring them from 25ish to 50 ish, 245 75r16. Not sure i trust the gauge provided. when my these tires are low they make a low frequency howl at @25mph, had a little of this owh yesterday.
Click to expand...
I used my buddy’s Smittybilt a couple of times. That thing gets surprisingly hot. The gauge did stick at around the 30 psi mark. I always use my pen type tire gauge which reads about the same as my tire pressure sensors.
 
I went back and looked at the specs on the Thor’s twin. It’s a 50% duty cycle compressor. So 1/2 hour runtime and you need to let it sit for a 1/2 before running again.

If it airs up 4 tires under 30 minutes you’ll be set. Otherwise you have to let it cool off.

I’m almost certain I nuked my smitty single by being impatient and ignoring the duty cycle.

I took the buy once cry once approach. Bought the ARB. Though if the RC twin was out when I bought mine two years ago I’m bet my cheapskate side would have won and I would have ordered the RC over the ARB.

I don’t regret buying the ARB. It proved itself on steel bender when I debeaded a tire. Efforts to reseat with fire failed due to a lack of explosive enough aerosols. So I fired up the ARB and it had enough volume to reseat the bead on the first try. No way could my old smitty pull it off.
 
rampage said:
That thing gets surprisingly hot.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the ideal gas law makes things tough. I would like to add a small cooler and get the disconnect further away from the head. I have to wear a glove to disconnect the hose. Of course, the better solution is to add an air tank.
 
ZooMad75 said:
It’s a 50% duty cycle compressor. So 1/2 hour runtime and you need to let it sit for a 1/2 before running again.
Click to expand...
Do any of them spec it as runtime? Running 20 minutes a week is only 0.2% duty ratio overall. Duty ratio is for shop air. Maybe searching user stories would give an idea of how long different models go before hitting the thermal shutoff.

EDIT: Thor's Lighting is rated for 30 minutes.
 
Blue85 said:
Do any of them spec it as runtime? Running 20 minutes a week is only 0.2% duty ratio overall. Duty ratio is for shop air. Maybe searching user stories would give an idea of how long different models go before hitting the thermal shutoff.

EDIT: Thor's Lighting is rated for 30 minutes.
Click to expand...
Yeah I had thirty minutes posted. If they are anything like my single smittybuilt it locked up solid when mine quit. I tore it down to see what failed and the piston was stuck in the bore. It has only one piston ring.

My guess is the piston expanded and stuck in the bore due to the high heat. There isn’t an ounce of any lubricant inside either. Which is where I’m guessing the duty cycle comes in.

Like I said if it’s pushing enough air for you to fill all four tires in under 30 minutes the duty cycle is fine. You just can’t push it past the 30 minute mark and expect nothing to happen.

It’s like anything else. You truly get what you pay for. Compressors, winches, anything. I’m not saying that the Chinese twins don’t work. How long they work and under what kind of abuse will they survive with is the question right now. Kind of like anything from harbor freight. (Was just there Sunday). I’m cheap. No denying it. I’ve used two different cheap compressors one being the smittybuilt and a cheap red one that went viral since it was only $99 bucks at checker auto parts probably 10 years back. They both worked for a while, but did end up failing. I got tired of being “that guy” holding up the group at the end of a trail taking forever to air up or having to mooch air from one of the other guys. Hence the ARB.

I’m not saying don’t buy one of them, but don’t be surprised if/when it lets go.
 
Anyone ever used the Firestone suspension bags compressor for tires ? Our coach has them all 4 corners, the compressor runs by manual switch but also has a pressure cut off switch, and a small storage tank maybe 8-10 gl. Have a quick connect near door step to plug in an air hose, for filling tires.
I have run as much as 90 psi in the bags on occasion, since I can adjust the corners individually, works great adjusting for the crown of the road.
 
sweetk30 said:
i know lots of low riders run VIAIR units .
Click to expand...
I have had a VIAIR 400p - 40043 for 3 or 4 years and its been great. It airs up my 37's from 12 to 30 in a few minutes each. Honestly, I am bad about duty cycles, and just fill them all up. This thing lives in my trucks tool box at all times.
 
Truckman4life said:
I bookmarked this monster a while back.
Click to expand...
I have one, they are basically a York in a box powered by a 80% duty motor. Works great, I will be installing it on my rollback someday.

zips.com

Voltair 12 Volt Air Compressor

This is a 12 volt permanent mount air compressor by Voltair. It is a heavy duty cast iron twin cylinder, oil lubed compressor that runs at 470 RPM. It also has a 1 HP motor that has a 90 amp draw at 100 PSI. This compress will fill a 10 gallon tank from 0 - 150 PSI in 2 minutes and 55 seconds...
zips.com zips.com
 
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I remember before portable compressors.... A SCUBA air tank + regulator... They were quick
 
ZooMad75 said:
I don’t regret buying the ARB. It proved itself on steel bender when I debeaded a tire. Efforts to reseat with fire failed due to a lack of explosive enough aerosols. So I fired up the ARB and it had enough volume to reseat the bead on the first try. No way could my old smitty pull it off.
Click to expand...
ZooMad75 said:
cheap red one that went viral since it was only $99 bucks at checker auto parts probably 10 years back. They both worked for a while, but did end up failing. I got tired of being “that guy” holding up the group at the end of a trail taking forever to air up or having to mooch air from one of the other guys. Hence the ARB.

I’m not saying don’t buy one of them, but don’t be surprised if/when it lets go.
Click to expand...

I busted a bead off a 34/10.50-15 LTB on a Cherokee. I got out the red compressor and everyone started laughing but I'll be damned if it didn't reseat the bead. I had one of the red ones that worked really really good. until it was stolen.

I've been seeing the "fake ARB" ones and wonder how good they are


I did order one of these for $60. I haven't used it yet but figured it was cheap enough to give it a shot.
 
Capt Ron said:
I have one, they are basically a York in a box powered by a 80% duty motor. Works great, I will be installing it on my rollback someday.

zips.com

Voltair 12 Volt Air Compressor

This is a 12 volt permanent mount air compressor by Voltair. It is a heavy duty cast iron twin cylinder, oil lubed compressor that runs at 470 RPM. It also has a 1 HP motor that has a 90 amp draw at 100 PSI. This compress will fill a 10 gallon tank from 0 - 150 PSI in 2 minutes and 55 seconds...
zips.com zips.com
Click to expand...

ever used one of these?

I bought it used and plan on mounting it on my tow rig sometime
 
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