Design features and operating rules of an automobile compressor

Every modern driver must have a car compressor in his arsenal. This small but very important device is also called a car pump. It is necessary for inflating tires and helps out in unpleasant situations that often happen on the road.

According to statistics, in 99% of cases the wheel flattens on the road, away from the tire shop. It is in this situation that an electric compressor powered by a cigarette lighter will help. Thanks to him, a flat tire can be quickly and easily returned to working condition.

In this article we will tell you everything about the device and features of the operation of autocompressors.

Automobile compressor device

The design of any compressor must contain the following elements:

An electric motor powered by a standard 220V household network or 12V car network (can be connected to a battery or cigarette lighter socket).
Pressure gauge is a special device required to control the output air pressure indicators.
Cylinder.
Discharge mechanism (piston, rotor or diaphragm).

Additionally, different models may have different accessories: brushes, wires with crocodiles, seals, adapters and a set of nozzles for inflating various inflatable objects (boats, balls, mattresses, etc.).

What are the types of automotive compressors?

There are several types of automotive pumps. The principle of their work as a whole is practically the same. There are three stages in total: air intake from the atmosphere, compression and release to the outside. As we have already discussed, the design of compressors has only one difference - the discharge element that compresses the air. Depending on the type used, all automotive pumps can be divided into three categories:

Piston compressors are the most common option. Its work is based on the interaction of the cylinder and the piston. The cylinder usually has 2 valves: inlet and outlet. Due to the operation of the electric drive and the transmission of torque through the gearbox, the piston makes translational movements up and down. Devices of this type are characterized by high reliability and performance, they have a fairly high efficiency. There are, of course, downsides. These include heating due to the friction of the piston on the cylinder. This can lead to wear of the main elements. Therefore, piston compressors require good lubrication, so you can increase their operating life.

Diaphragm air compressors are simpler and more understandable in their design. They are small but noisy. In them, air compresses the rod using a cam mechanism. It acts on the rubber plate. The membrane is located in a closed cylinder. It flows in, sucking in air, and then becomes convex and, thus, the air mass in the cylinder is compressed. The membrane does not pump air very strongly, like a piston, so the efficiency of the membrane compressor is lower, as is its performance. That is, it will pump the wheel longer, but it will still pump it up very well.

As you can see, there are no rubbing mechanisms in the membrane compressor. And this means that it will not heat up during operation and does not need additional lubrication. This is already an advantage. But he also has a weak point - rubber. It contains rubber, which becomes hard and hard at low temperatures. The situation is similar to how summer tires cannot run in cold weather, because they are "tanned" and they have practically no grip on a frozen road. That is, the membrane loses elasticity, and can no longer bend quickly. That is, membrane automobile compressors are good in the warm season, in winter they will be useless.

Rotary compressors are a rather rare option. They are good, high performance, reliable and durable. But they are quite expensive, and not often manufacturers produce them because of the cost. In addition, the rotor is large and heavy. Therefore, rotary compressors are usually not taken for home use, they are mainly purchased for service stations, car parks, and large enterprises. The rotary pump is optimally suited for inflating tires of heavy vehicles - trucks, SUVs, buses, tractors, etc.

The procedure for connecting and operating a car compressor

To quickly pump up a flat tire, you need to know how to properly use an electric car compressor.

The first step is connection. First, look at where your device is connected: to the cigarette lighter, or to the battery. If there is no instruction, then look at the cable. If there is a connector for

the cigarette lighter socket, then the device is connected to the car's network. If there are wires with crocodile clips, then such a compressor is connected to the battery.

There will be no connection problems through the cigarette lighter, just insert the wire into the on-board network connector. But the battery must be connected correctly, following a certain sequence. To do this, the cable with "crocodiles" is connected to the polar terminals of the battery, strictly observing the polarity: plus to plus, minus to minus. Please note that the battery must not be discharged, otherwise you can completely land it.

After connecting, the procedure is as follows:

Connect the pump hose to the nipple on the car tire and screw tight.
Look at the gauge readings. It will show how much you need to inflate the tire. It is necessary to download to the recommended mark, which is indicated by the car manufacturer in the technical documentation.
Turn on the compressor and the device will start blowing air. As air enters the tire, the pressure will rise, so keep a close eye on the pressure gauge to prevent over-inflating.
When the required value is reached, the compressor must be switched off.
Everything is ready, it remains only to disconnect the nozzle from the nipple.

When pumping, be sure to take into account the temperature of the air outside. If you have to pump up in the cold, then the pressure level is recommended to be left slightly lower than recommended. This is due to the fact that in a warm garage, the pressure will increase, and the tire will be pumped over.

It is also important to consider the type of autocompressor used. If you have a piston model, then such a device can be used in any weather: both in heat and in frost. Be sure to monitor the heating, do not overheat the parts. It is recommended to take a break every 20-30 minutes of work.

If you use a membrane compressor, then in this case the operating mode should be as gentle as possible, it is afraid of low temperatures, since the membrane loses its elasticity. It is optimal to take a break every 10-15 minutes. The fact is that membrane devices do not tolerate heavy loads.

If you want to buy a car compressor in Kyiv, Kharkov and Odessa, then in the online store 130.com.ua you will find a large selection of models of different designs at an affordable price with delivery throughout Ukraine.

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