It can be a hassle to find a place to connect your air compressor to your car battery, and it’s not always easy to figure out how to do it.
Not only is it difficult to find the right spot on your car where you can safely connect the two devices, but connecting them improperly can damage both the compressor and the battery.
With our easy-to-follow guide, connecting an air compressor to a car battery will be a breeze. We’ll show you exactly how to connect air compressor to car battery. Plus, we’ll give you some safety advice so that you can avoid any potential accidents.
Guides for How to Connect Air Compressor to Car Battery
Air compressors have various uses, from power tools to cleaning equipment, so it’s a good idea to have one in your garage. But you can also use the best portable air compressor outside of the garage, such as when inflating car tires, truck tires.
The process of connecting the best tire inflator compressor to a car battery is a bit different for each model, but we’ll show you the basics of connecting any compressor to your car battery.
Step 01: Ensure Car Battery Power
Before you attempt to connect your air compressor to your car battery, check the current power level of the battery. If it’s less than 12 volts, charge it with a charger like a jump starter before connecting anything.
Also, check the fuse box first to ensure that there’s a fuse in place which will stop power from traveling between the car battery and your car engine. If there isn’t, you’ll need to install one before making any other connections.
Step 02: Prepare a Portable Air Compressor
Once you’ve determined that the power levels of your car battery and fuse box are functioning properly, prepare your portable air compressor by making sure it’s turned off. Next, connect the adapter to the compressor air hose.
Step 03: Find a Safe Spot Near the Car Battery
Next, find a suitable spot on or near your car where you can safely connect your air compressor. It should be close enough to the car battery so that you can easily connect the two without much difficulty.
Step 04: Connect Air Compressor Power Adapter to Car Battery
Now it’s time to connect your power adapter to your car battery. If there are any covers in place protecting the wires, use a flathead screwdriver to remove them. Then, connect your hose adapter to the positive terminal first, followed by the negative one.
When connecting the hose adapter to the terminals, make sure not to touch any exposed wires with your fingers. Doing so could result in a serious shock or burn.
Also, make sure the connecting wires or cables aren’t draped over the battery terminals. If they are, you run the risk of a short circuit, which could damage your compressor or your car battery.
Step 05: Check for Leaks
Once you’ve finished connecting everything together, check all of your connections for any loose wires. If there is no loose connection, take a deep breath and turn on your portable compressor. If it doesn’t turn on by itself, try turning the switch on.
Step 06: Attach Air Compressor Hose to Car Tire’s Valve Stem
Next, connect the air compressor hose to your car’s tire valve stem. Turn the knob at the end of the hose counter-clockwise in order to open it up and insert it into your valve stem.
Step 07: Test Tire for Leaks
Finally, you can test out your work by inflating one of your car tires with air. Start at the back and gradually move forward as you inflate the flat tire more. Check the tire pressure on your car’s door to determine whether or not it needs a little more air.
If any of your connections have leaked, stop using your compressor pressure immediately and let everything cool down before attempting any repairs. Otherwise, you risk damaging both the hose and your car battery.
Step 08: Disconnect from Vehicle
Once you’re finished using your air compressor, turn it off and disconnect everything. Make sure to remove the hose from your car’s tire valve stem before doing so. Then, if necessary, remove the adapter from the battery terminals.
Finally, cover up any exposed wires or terminals with protective covers before moving on to your next task. Be sure to check vehicles like an RV tire air pressure by using a PSI device.
After completing the tire inflation process, you’ll have a fully charged battery which will help your car start up more easily and reliably whenever you need it to. You can also use the air compressor for tasks such as removing mud from tires or inflating an inflatable pool or toy.
Things to Consider for Safety Connection
There are a few safety precautions you should take every time you connect your best air compressor or an AC compressor to your car battery:
- Make sure that your car’s ventilation system is running and the engine is not running before making connections.
- Make sure that the air compressor hose is not draped over or near your car battery.
- Never lean in close to a running air compressor when making connections.
- Make sure that you have the right tools for opening up your car’s terminals should it be necessary to disconnect them.
- Put on safety goggles to protect your eyes in the case of a hose splatter.
- Make sure to make connections when both devices are turned off and cooled down.
- Clean up any spilled fluid before starting either device back up again.
Portable air compressors are convenient for tire inflators and also many different tasks. If you connect one to your car battery, it can put the battery power to better use as well as save you from carrying additional power supply.
By following these simple steps, you’ll not only be able to complete the task quickly and easily, but you’ll also do it in a safe manner that won’t leave anything to chance.
Conclusion
A portable air compressor is a great tool for any homeowner to have in his or her garage. Not only can you use it to inflate tires, but you can also use it to clean the grill and other stubborn dirt from your car’s exterior.
However, in order to get the most out of your compressor, you’ll need a fully charged battery that will keep your car running whenever you need it to. Fortunately, with a little bit of know-how and the right tools, you can easily connect an air compressor to a car battery in just a few minutes’ time.