Аdvantages and disadvantages of using mechanical and electric pumps for tire inflation

A pump (or compressor) for pumping car tires — a very important device that every driver should have. It is very important that the tire pressure is always optimal, and in the event of a drop in it, a pump will be useful, which will allow to restore the necessary indicators. Now in the shops you can buy a variety of automotive compressors and pumps, which differ from each other in appearance and design type. Of course, different models have specific advantages and disadvantages. We will discuss this in this article.

pros and cons of using mechanical and electric pumps

Types of automobile pumps and features of their work

All the devices that drivers use to pump tires can be divided into two major types: mechanical and electrical.

Mechanical pump

The main feature of a mechanical automotive pump — the need for a person to apply his physical strength to create pressure. They also come in two types: foot and hand. Already from the name it is clear that in the first case, you have to use the legs, and in the second — hands.

A car foot pump has a rather simple design that looks like a pair of scissors, between which there is a piston with a cylinder. Through a special tube, air, when you press a special pedal with your foot, enters the wheel. The pump has a pressure gauge with which you can adjust and check the current tire pressure in order to complete the booster procedure in time.
Hand pumps are made in a special form, in the form of a capital "T". In their design, a vertical cylinder is used, and the handles driving the piston are on the sides on both sides. The rest of the principle of their work is not very different from the foot. Air is forced inside the cylinder and is fed through a connecting tube into the wheel. Working with such a device can be more difficult, as it is not easy to pump a large amount of air with your hands. That is why drivers are more likely to choose precisely the foot models.

Electric compressor

When using an electric compressor, no effort is required to inflate tires. The operation of devices of this type is based on the connection of a standard piston pump and a small electric motor. It is the motor that will be the main driving force in such devices. They need electric power to operate, most often the compressors are connected to the car’s on-board network via a cigarette lighter, but there are models that also work from a battery. Such devices may have additional functions, a pressure gauge, a built-in flashlight, etc. And they are often used for other purposes as well-and pumping a boat, a ball, bicycle tires, etc.

Considering the design features, electro compressors can be divided into several varieties: membrane, piston and rotor. Membrane is now almost not used, because it has a low reliability index. But the piston are quite popular. Their design involves the presence of a motor and a cylinder with a piston. The high level of reliability of reciprocating automotive compressors is easily explained by the fact that the piston connecting rod is driven directly using an electric motor shaft. Rotary models are the most expensive, so not so popular. However, in terms of performance, they win the rest. This type of compressor is characterized by good operating parameters, durability and reliability in any conditions.

Аdvantages and disadvantages of a mechanical pump

Each model, and this naturally, has its own advantages and disadvantages, which affect the convenience and efficiency of their operation. In particular, the following can be distinguished:

Аdvantages

Compactuality — the pump fits easily in the trunk, so you can always take it with you on the road so that it is always at hand.
Low weight — since devices of this type do not have an engine, this allows them to be made fairly light.
Extremely easy to use — all that is needed is to properly connect the device to the car wheel, no complicated instructions or settings, then everything depends only on the amount of physical effort.
Democratic price — mechanical pumps are considered the cheapest because they have a very simple design.
Independence from having a source of electricity.
Durable and robust design — they simply have very few elements that can break, so they can be used for years without problems.

Disadvantages

For foot and hand car pumps, perhaps, there is only one major drawback the need to use physical strength. This leads to fatigue and the fact that the speed of work will be lower.

the pros and cons of using mechanical and electric pumps

Аdvantages and disadvantages of an electric compressor

Of course, electric models of automobile pumps are more convenient to use, therefore they are quite popular, but they have both advantages and disadvantages, among which the most significant are:

Аdvantages

High speed and ease of operation — the driver does not have to painfully inflate tires for hours, wasting his strength. Everything happens automatically and as soon as possible.
High power — thanks to the use of electric motors, compressors can pump wheels up to 8 atm in minutes.
Autonomous work without human intervention — the driver needs only to connect the device to the network and the wheel, and then turn on the device. Pumping will occur completely automatically, without human intervention.
Compact size — most modern models, albeit of a slightly larger size than mechanical pumps, but still fit easily into the trunk. Therefore, they can also always be taken with you.
Additional features — pressure gauge, built-in flashlight, etc.

Disadvantages

Repair difficulties — in particular, the piston and the cylinder, in the electric compressors of the piston type cannot be replaced, which significantly reduces the likelihood of the device recovering in the event of a breakdown.
During active operation, the motor and other elements may overheat — to avoid this, experts recommend periodically letting the compressor cool down.
High price and weight — this is especially noticeable if the device is equipped with a large number of additional functions, then its cost may be several times higher than that of conventional mechanical foot automobile pumps.

As we see, all devices have their own characteristics, and everyone has to choose for himself, taking into account his needs. Do not want to waste time and effort — Take modern powerful electric compressors. If you do not need to inflate tires infrequently, and you don’t want to overpay for comfort, then an ordinary foot pump is quite suitable.

You can buy a car compressor for pumping tires in Kiev, Odessa and Kharkov with delivery in the online store 130.com.ua. Our catalog contains a large selection of various models.

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