Still kicking around air systems, and I saw you can buy a nice DeWalt portable compressor that runs 5.2 cfm and 140 psi, includes gauges, switches, 4.5 gal tank, everything. Problem is, these are 120 volt units. Cost of one of these is $299 reconditioned.
I have had a RolAire job site compressor for about 25 years that gets abused like you wouldn’t believe. These portable units are tough. Of course they are 120 volt.
Now if I remember, a horsepower is 750 watts, so a 1.8 hp compressor will suck about 1350 watts. 1350w / 12v = 112 amps. I looked and a guy can buy a 1500 watt inverter for around $90. An oversized 2500 watt can be had for $160. There will be some loss in the inverter but wouldn’t this be an option?
There is a huge market full of excellent 120v oilless compressors out there. Why can’t we just put a 120v outlet on our ride and plug in one of these tough little compressors for a much lower price than a 12v specific compressor?
Inverters by nature lose alot of power due to the conversion process through heat.
If you’re serious, there used to be alternator/generator kits out there that were dual output (120VAC for accessories and 12VDC for the vehicle) but I don’t think they put out that kind of amperage. I remember seeing them in the much older Hearse (60’s and 70’s) but good luck trying to find one … I’m not sure they still make them.
The other concern is, of course, duty cycle of the compressor. I don’t know what the duty cycle is of the compressor you’re looking at, but you need to make sure it’s high if you’re going to be blowing your horns all the time.
Not necessarily… Can a roofing gun drain a tank of air in a matter of seconds?
Also, remember when it comes to 110-120v compressors, they draw quite a bit of surge watts. When it first starts up, a good majority or inverters cant handle that spike of power…
stick with a viair or if you need heavy duty go oasis.
It can be done. You will need a swinging inverter to do so. As to deal with the initial amperage draw. The guy I know uses a compressor off of a pancake style set up. hen has that pumping up a larger tank. You might have to run dual batteries and a larger alternator to have it work properly. By the time you would get all of the stuff to do it you might as well get a Oasis or a few Viairs.
I would think 12V to 120V would require 10 times the amperage to equal wattage output (V x A = Watts). So if the the compressor takes 12 amps of 120V power it would take 120 amps at 12V.
Ohm’s law / Joules law…Apparent power… Yes you get more power from DC but then there is a loss converting to AC. I think I’m just going to get a couple of 444’s and forget about the whole thing!
