jbbies said:
The one I bought was the one everyone has been buying from checker. I dont think its the most high end one on the planet. Maybe ill leave it like it is and buy a better one. I want to stay away from engine ran one AC comp. because I like less clutter in the engine compartment so its easier to work on. Where is a good place to buy a pump and what are the better brands. Also what would it cost me on average?
Why not use it as it is, a portable unit you can just throw into the back for trips. That unit has very good air flow into open space, just not at higher pressures. You paid for it. It will air up tires. So get your money's worth out of it.
They don't spec the airflow at higher pressures, which implies that it is not all that good. Your pump should work fine for airing up tires but not much else and its not worth plumbing a built in air tank unless you plan to use the tank later with a better pump when the one you have wears out.
It has been well over 10 years since I last went pump shopping so there has got to be a slew of new choices out there. You best bet is to look at the specs for as many as possible and buy the one that best fits your need within your price range.
First decide what you want your air supply to do for you.
If you want to air up and not bother with a tank, the highest air flow at 60 lbs pressure is likely your best bet.
If you want to run air tools you really want a belt driven pump. The 12V pumps just don't have the volume of air at high pressures.
If you want to run an air locker and air up tires you want a system rated for 100 lbs or better with the best possible air flow at 60 lbs.
On board air tanks are usually rated around 150 lbs pressure or slightly less. It takes really large volume tank to inflate big tires from that low of pressure. But a smaller tank will collect air when you go between tires and before you start filling and can save a few minutes when airing up. In that case you want to look for the best pump you can find for air flow at the highest pressure you set your system up for.
Important specs are air volumed pumped AT ELEVATED PRESSURES, and heat duty cycle (how long the pump can pump without shutting down to cool off).
Air pump volume specs given without a pressure are free flow pressures at ambient pressure and doesn't mean anything when you are airing up above room pressure.
Cheap air pumps use a vibrating diaphragm. These can have impressive free flow pumped volume specs but do not pump much volume into higher pressures.
Piston pumps work much better pumping air into higher pressures. Generally the bigger the piston the more volume pumped but the harder the motor has to work at higher pressures (more heat and higher drain on the battery).
When it is time to replace the pump you have, there are a lot of piston pumps to choose from, some of which are very good and very expensive. Just find the best performance/price pump you can with the best flow characteristics and heat duty cycle spec for the operating pressure you choose.
When I looked over a decade ago, the Quickair2 was the best pump I could afford for running an air locker and airing up tires. It has done a lot of airing up over the years and is still working like a champ. There are probably better pumps for the money out there today so do shop around and compare specs, but ignore the free air pumped volume specs and insist on looking at volumed pumped at pressure specs.
Hope this helps you understand what to look for next time.