Since we last posted, it’s come to our attention that not everyone knows how electronic tyre pumps work. It’s a fairly obvious thing to want to know so seems a little odd in hindsight that we didn’t talk in much detail about the practicalities of using them.
Let’s rectify that now!
What’s In The Box
First and foremost, you’ll get the compressor itself. They’re almost always in the form of a plastic box with a power lead and the air cable coming out of them. On the end of the power cable you’ll find a 12 volt plug that connects you your car cig lighter socket – these days in the interests of health you’re more likely to find them labelled as a 12V power outlet, but they’re essentially the same.
You may also find some other odd looking adaptors in the box depending on the model you buy – in most cases you’re unlikely to use them though if you don’t know what they are. Most commonly they’ll be the needle style football inflators and paddling pool adaptors. If you’re planning to make use of them, remember that your average kids pool doesn’t need to be inflated to 28PSI like a car tyre!
There’s also sometimes going to be an instruction manual in the box, but not always. If not, don’t panic, some manufacturers are starting to put them on their websites as PDF files to refer to whenever you need them. It makes a lot of sense, as you’ll almost always have your phone with you, and how often can you find that bit of paper when you need it?
Using The Pump Itself
Using the pump is almost always a simple matter of knowing what to do. The hardest bit is knowing how to set the desired pressure if your chosen make and model supports it. Just connect the pump to the power outlet in your car, and then remove the dust cap from the wheel and connect the compressor’s air hose. Generally you’ll immediately get the pressure currently in the tyre displayed – although some models vary.
Then it’s as simple as turning on the pump if you need more air. Rinse and repeat for each tyre and you’ll hopefully be on your way again. If you suspect one tyre is losing air, do that one first, then return to it once you’ve checked your other wheels. If the pressure has dropped, it’s time to get some help.