# Small electric air compressor pump

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 12, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646 "2008-10-12T19:13:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mxsurf](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mxsurf/32/340_2.png) [@mxsurf](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mxsurf)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646/1 "2008-10-12T19:13:47Z")

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I seem to always low on tire pressure and the local gas stations are charging… (one is $1 self serve and $3 by attendant)I am wondering ; those small electric air compressors for $30 - 50 are they enough to put 10 lbs in or are they real slow? I don’t have a garage door so I don’t want to get a larger, $100 + unit

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646/2 "2008-10-12T19:32:13Z")

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Try to get one that plugs into an A/C outlet. Thay are mostly slow but you should be able to add air without too much trouble.

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**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 8:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646/3 "2008-10-12T20:11:33Z")

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I have a Black and Decker “Air Station” that I received as a Christmas present. It can bring a tire that shows no air pressure to 30 psi in about 5 minutes. It is a.c. powered. It also has a needle valve attachment to inflate sporting equipment (e.g. basketball) and another attachment for blowing out dust from passages, etc.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646/4 "2008-10-12T20:17:32Z")

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Those aren’t much good IMHO but you can get a little pancake type compressor for around $50 now that are reasonably acceptable. You can even run a small nail gun with them and aren’t hard to store.

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**Author:** ![Beadsandbeads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@Beadsandbeads](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beadsandbeads)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646/5 "2008-10-12T20:48:55Z")

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The biggest problem I have with small compressors is that, since there is no tank, there is no where for the air to cool off and shed water. You end up with a lot moister air in your tires.

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**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [October 13, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/small-electric-air-compressor-pump/20646/6 "2008-10-13T01:55:53Z")

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Some of them are quite good. I got one from Costco that will fill a tire quickly and screws onto the valve stem. It was $46 and well worth it. Some of the $10-20 models are good for emergency purposes but they don’t last very long.

The TruckAir model from interdynamics is also a pretty good unit.