I've used my air compressor for a while, but I have a question that I googled for 5 minutes or so, but found no definite answer, and I figured this would be quicker (hopefully)

should I have the car engine running while I connect the compressor to the cigarette lighter, or should I just have the ignition on ready, but not have the car on?

I've been doing it for the past 3 years with the engine not running, because one of my previous compressors burned itself out when I did it a couple of times with the engine running. however, my car battery recently died (most likely it was because of its age tho) and I feel like it possibly drained really fast because I didn't have the car running while I used the compressor (not sure obviously)

the manual for this new compressor I have doesn't mention whether or not I should have the car running

tl;dr: should I have my car engine running when I use an air compressor hooked into it, or not

inb4 due to age

guys plz I have a match tonight

10/5/2012 3:41:57 PM

wait, you have a license to operate a motor vehicle upon the state highways?

10/5/2012 3:43:20 PM

10/5/2012 3:44:25 PM

come on price, I know you know, and I need an answer shortly :3

10/5/2012 3:44:55 PM

make
model
year
mileage
color

?

10/5/2012 3:46:27 PM

no you shouldn't

10/5/2012 3:46:59 PM

10/5/2012 3:46:59 PM

have it running

10/5/2012 3:47:01 PM

^ok since you might possibly want to steer me wrong, what is your basis for this

10/5/2012 3:47:31 PM

it doesnt really matter. I would explain, but you are to dumb to understand.

10/5/2012 3:47:31 PM

no your to dumb

10/5/2012 3:48:32 PM

I think you should have the car running.

and fully depress the accelerator.

with the gearshift in reverse.

[Edited on October 5, 2012 at 3:49 PM. Reason : .]

10/5/2012 3:49:27 PM

thanks

I will do that

10/5/2012 3:50:45 PM

battery voltage is a shade under 12V when the car is not running

battery voltage is between 13V -14V when running



...tire gets inflated faster with car running, plane takes off.

10/5/2012 3:50:46 PM

Have it running. Its fairly simple.

Batter is discharging to power your pump. When you have car running alternator charges battery as it discharges.

10/5/2012 3:51:30 PM

^, ^^

preesh



but why would that have blown out my previous compressor?

or maybe it was just going to blow out anyway :3

also I don't understand why they don't tell dumbasses like me this kind of thing in the manual

10/5/2012 3:53:29 PM

just hold your head to the right.

10/5/2012 3:56:10 PM

because you bought the cheapest one you could find

[Edited on October 5, 2012 at 3:57 PM. Reason : it's cool man, so did i]

10/5/2012 3:56:45 PM

The only advantage to having your car on is to draw power from the alternator instead of primarily from your battery.


You should use the compressor with your car on when your battery is weak and when your car shows sign of trouble trying to turn over due to low voltage.

10/5/2012 3:57:48 PM

what would Ron Paul do?

10/5/2012 4:08:21 PM

I don't know what Ron Paul would do, but Romney would easily fill the tires with hot air

10/5/2012 4:18:25 PM

Just pay your 50 cent idiot tax and do it at a gas station

10/5/2012 4:20:22 PM

but when he's filling his tires at the gas station
should he leave the car running?

10/5/2012 4:29:55 PM

if you're not completely flat with zero pressure, you can drive on 10 psi to the gas station or something.

10/5/2012 5:10:02 PM

Quote :

"car battery died"

Quote :

"due to age"

10/5/2012 6:49:44 PM

really doesn't matter, especially if it's just a quick top-off of one or two tires. I'd leave it running, but mainly because my truck tires are 80psi and it would take forever and probably take a good dent of charge off the batteries. Also, in most cheaper consumer electronics a slight over-voltage (car running) is fine where under-voltage (possible with car off, esp. with older battery) can cause damage and shorten the life of the pump

10/6/2012 12:28:37 AM

yeah well my car battery died the next day after using the compressor :3

maybe I'll just buy one that runs off an electrical outlet in addition to having the cig lighter able one for emergencies

Quote :

"I don't know what Ron Paul would do, but Romney would easily fill the tires with hot air"

oh my

10/6/2012 12:42:30 AM

The real question is why the heck you have to pump your tire(s) up so much?

10/6/2012 9:55:34 AM

If your battery can't stand up to a quick top off its possible you need a new one

But why is this a frequent issue? Fix your tire.

10/6/2012 10:04:54 AM

Or get it filled with Nitrogen.

10/6/2012 10:34:10 AM

Or just regular air, since its mostly nitrogen

Unless you are racing or something, there is no advantage for pure nitrogen

10/6/2012 11:49:31 AM

fill it with helium to reduce weight

10/6/2012 11:50:35 AM

Nitrous for extra speed

10/6/2012 11:57:37 AM

^^^ False:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/how-to/repair-questions/4302788

10/6/2012 12:20:22 PM

if your tires are getting low more than seasonally, its not because it is loosing air through the rubber, you have a slow leak. nitrogen won't do shit.

10/6/2012 1:10:26 PM

I remembered that nitrogen had been put in them a long ass time ago so they were still all around 30 PSI or w/e you call it when I checked, thankfully :3

10/7/2012 12:53:13 PM

tires don't need air to roll... tru fact

10/7/2012 1:57:26 PM

10/7/2012 3:26:07 PM