Small compressors/bed plug.

I've Done quite abit of research about what small compressors to use, for air mattress/cheap airing up and down/emergency plug on a flat tire. People here were saying that the small 1 gal compressors and such wouldn't work with the factory 120V 15 amp plug. I have a small cheap one that's 120v 5amp and it works fine with the bed plug. Am I missing something here? Should I still be worried that it will trip the breaker even though the compressor says 5 amps?
Fills up in about 3 minutes

 

Well, good timing of this post. I was just looking to seeing the amp rating of the plug myself. I would say if you are 5 amp and it's rated to a 15 then you are fine. Hence you are not pulling more amp's over the connection then it's rated for.

 

OK, I think I got what's needed to figure this out. I am surprised but I couldn't find an AMP rating in the owners manual or anything in relation to draw. Just a lot of don't be stupid warnings.

I assume this work of this formula since it uses an induction motor.

"For inductive load (like induction motor), the power factor can be approximately equal to 0.8:
amps = 100W / (0.8 × 120V) = 1.0417A"

Basically take the wattage number, such as 400 and divide it by 96. The 96 came from the 0.8 x 120.

So a max of 400W (which has to be while the motor is running) is equal to 4.17 amps.

The other factor is anything that comes up 5 amps right off the hope is bad and could likely trigger a fuse break. Think of it kind of like maxing your volume on your stereo and then turning the power on. If it ramps up it's preferred.

So your technically over the limit which may not be bad now, but will be wearing the system down long term.....again if my math is right.

 

that is correct, you would be overloading the inverter circuit. if you need to bring air with you,
then buy a 5 gallon air tank and fill it with your compressor from home and then
take the tank with you. that's what I used to do. you can even consider a 2kw Honda generator.

 

Cool. Got it, thanks guys!

 

Isn't the amount of amps to start something higher than the amount it uses once is running?
Maybe someone can explain that better.

 

I bought this back when I had an FJ with 33's. Inflated them no problem. Clips on battery to run.

http://titanwinches.com/index.php/products/air-compressors-accessories/titan-max-air-compressor.html

 

Can't run a small compressor off of the 110 plug? What's the point of it if it can't event handle that?

 

That's very possible. The compressor he is using max in fact give that information. Some make a note saying "peak draw". Likely why it works for him now.

So basically when an electrical item initially powers up it draws a large chunk of power then regulates. Again, everything does things it's own way but basically the unit is technically over amp but barely.

 

It can but you have to be aware of the size / draw of the item you are connecting to it. Different companies make products and likely the owns that draw less cost more.

 

Just ordered a

$91 viair 88p portable compressor kit (12V, 120 psi, forup to 33" tires)

viair 88p 12v compressor. Better safe than sorry out on the trail.

 

YES. Think of starting a car on an almost dead battery. It will click a few times because it won't start to turn the starter. If you are lucky, the starter will start spinning and then it will easily spin a while, even if the battery is almost dead. This is why you don't let off the key if your car won't start. The starter may not start spinning again even though there is more than enough power to keep it spinning.

It's a zero rpm problem that electric motors have. They make their maximum torque when they are at 0 rpm, meaning they need max amperage draw when they are at 0 rpm. Also, coefficients of static friction are much higher than kinetic friction.

that probably didn't help you much...

 

I cut a 1/2 piece of plywood with my skill saw off that plug,,, couple times actually ,,, I was however in a pinch ,,, wouldn't do it on a regular basis,,that little air compressor is the same as mine and I use it steady

 

Higher starting current is referred to as "inrush current" and is typically 3-5 times the rated peak amp draw. Large industrial compressors unload the cylinders until they're up to speed.

15a saws work fine on my 15a breaker in the garage, but they have less of a load on startup.