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Old 10-28-2015, 02:01 PM   #1
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12-volt extension cord question

My portable air compressor has quit holding a charge, but it works great when I plug it into a 12-volt socket. However, I need an extension cord for it to reach my trailer tires. I read somewhere that the compressor is about 25 amps and that the available extension cords have a 5 amp fuse in them and won't work for that reason. Could I get one of these extension cords and change its fuse to something larger, or is that a dumb idea?
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Old 10-28-2015, 02:16 PM   #2
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Dumb idea. You will get a large voltage drop from the wires and probably burn out your compressor. Running under voltage will cause it to draw more current and run hotter.

I'm not sure of a good solution. I would take it apart and put in a new battery or look into getting some LiPo batteries and make a set that gives you ~13 volts at 25 amps.

If your compressor can run over voltage (15v) a 10000 mah 4s LiPo rated for 30c should run it fine. You can also make a plug with some diodes to put it at about 13 volts.
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Old 10-28-2015, 02:17 PM   #3
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Why not use a regular 110 extension cord and modify it with the proper plugins for our use? put a regular 110 plug on the end of your compressor and an adapter for the other end of the extension crd.
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Old 10-28-2015, 02:21 PM   #4
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Can you make the air hose longer instead of the power cable?
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Old 10-28-2015, 02:23 PM   #5
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i run my portable compressor off the traielr battery - its 17 feet shorter than the truck battery.
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Old 10-28-2015, 02:44 PM   #6
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I use a standard cheap extension on my 12 volt compressor. Mine is 40 years old. There is no way it draws 25 amps, maybe 10 amps. Yours was running on battery and most likely a 7.5 amp/hr battery, 25 amp draw would kill the battery in short order


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Old 10-28-2015, 04:54 PM   #7
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A new 50ft air hose is the best way to go or put two together and have a 100ft


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Old 10-28-2015, 05:54 PM   #8
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12-volt extension cord question

Get a jump box and cover yourself on two matters. Not a jump box w/ compressor- just jump box with 12v outlet. Think I paid 65 for 900amp from Sears.


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Old 10-28-2015, 06:05 PM   #9
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X3 on longer hose. You lose very little performance with longer hose. If it must be portable, you can easily replace the battery. Just open it up and enter the battery number in amazon to find a replacement.
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Old 10-28-2015, 06:06 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by strat56 View Post
Can you make the air hose longer instead of the power cable?
This ^ Simple and cheap.
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Old 10-28-2015, 09:40 PM   #11
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Some great ideas here. Thank you all.
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Old 10-28-2015, 09:57 PM   #12
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We have a 12 volt plug in the trailer and use that for the compressor. If you don't have one put on in by your battery or converter.
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Old 10-29-2015, 09:41 AM   #13
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Why not use a regular 110 extension cord and modify it with the proper plugins for our use? put a regular 110 plug on the end of your compressor and an adapter for the other end of the extension crd.
The issue is that will still have a high "I squared R loss". The issue is while 110 moves more power it does so with less current by using a higher voltage. This is why you need to use heavy gauge wire on an inverter, if you do not most inverters will see a low voltage condition due to the voltage drop across the feed lines unless the inverter is a fairly small one. Additionally you will lose a lot of power in the form of waste heat. The wires will just turn into toaster elements.

Remember also the longer the cable run, the higher the resistance. Resistance isn't just a function of cross sectional area but also length. The longer your extension cord the more you're supposed to derate for the current capacity for loading. This is one of the reasons why stacking two extension cords together is such a big deal. At the end of the cord you're no longer seeing 110V but instead a lower and depending on the tool it will draw more current to make up for the sagging voltage.

It is likely that the compressor does not run 25 amps continuous as that would be almost 300W, however it also depends on the size, capability, efficiency, and loading of the compressor. There is also the starting inrush, however fuses and line ratings are based on continuous load and can even handle reasonable inrush currents. 10 or 15 amps should be plenty for most, especially if it runs out off the cigarette adapter plugs. Those are nominally rated for 10 or 15 Amps unless you've installed something special. That said, looking around I'm also seeing some bigger compressors that are up to 45A.

The joke at a previous place I worked was, anything can work as a fuse, including transmission lines, once. Additionally, especially on something like this, your equipment will run better with a higher efficiency the closer you can put the power to the compressor. This is the downside to 12V power, you have to move a lot of current to deliver the power.

My order of options would be, out of convenience and expediency:
  1. Replace the battery.
  2. Get a jump pack for use with the compressor.
  3. Build a jump pack for use with the compressor.
  4. Use an extension cord.

You can always attempt the last item if you have no choice and need it now, worst that can happen is you blow the fuse.

*Side note* I did just think of a trick you could do with the 110 cable though. You could use a boost buck converter on one end and a DC switching power supply to bring it back down on the other end. You could run 48+V in the middle then dropping your current losses in the middle. We used that trick during a HAM field day exercise once to cut the losses from out battery bank outside into the trailer. I am now thinking of ways to leverage that trick in my new trailer...
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Old 10-29-2015, 11:43 AM   #14
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Thanks, guys. It never occurred to me, but after a couple of you guys mentioned the jump starter, I remembered that I have a brand new one in the closet that I got for boating. Never used. I'm charging it now and think that will be my best option at this point.

Proof again that if you ask a question on this forum, there will be plenty of folks who have answers and enjoy sharing them. Thanks again for taking the time.
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Old 10-29-2015, 11:57 AM   #15
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Thanks, guys. It never occurred to me, but after a couple of you guys mentioned the jump starter, I remembered that I have a brand new one in the closet that I got for boating. Never used. I'm charging it now and think that will be my best option at this point.

Proof again that if you ask a question on this forum, there will be plenty of folks who have answers and enjoy sharing them. Thanks again for taking the time.


God I know how that goes. Buy a tool for something and then forget you have it till someone mentions that it exists. Then it's the classic, "Oh yeah, I've got one of those..."

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Old 10-29-2015, 12:37 PM   #16
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12vdc extension cord

Interesting conversation. I use a cord to supply 12vdc from my 5th wheel socket to our fairly large boat to keep the refer when towing. It allows us to camp while towing to launches. I purchased the 2 conductor # 6 awg cable from a solar supply store and connect to the unused 5th wheel plug through Anderson 50 amp connectors. I just purchased a Viair 200 air system and use this cord along with 25' of hose. This comes in handy as I can air up anything as long as I can get the truck within 50'
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Old 10-29-2015, 01:42 PM   #17
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Air hose extension.
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Old 10-29-2015, 03:10 PM   #18
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X3 on longer hose. You lose very little performance with longer hose. If it must be portable, you can easily replace the battery. Just open it up and enter the battery number in amazon to find a replacement.
Off topic, sorry! Where and when did you serve in VN??
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Old 10-30-2015, 12:11 AM   #19
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My portable air compressor has quit holding a charge, but it works great when I plug it into a 12-volt socket. However, I need an extension cord for it to reach my trailer tires. I read somewhere that the compressor is about 25 amps and that the available extension cords have a 5 amp fuse in them and won't work for that reason. Could I get one of these extension cords and change its fuse to something larger, or is that a dumb idea?
after reading the entire thread, am not sure why you want to pack along a heavy portable air compressor, air hoses, etc -- I carry a 20-yr old compact, about 6"x10", porter-cable inflator/compressor, weighing all of 2 lb, if that, with its original 10 ft cord having a 12v plug -- this wire was not long enough, so I measured the distance from the batt on the a-frame to the trailer wheels and cut a length of 16/2 cord to match -- on one end, I attached a pair of battery spring-loaded clamps, soldering in a fuse holder on the + line -- for the other end, I used a 12v receptacle I'd cut from an inexpensive 12v Y -- now, I had an extension cord for the compressor that was capable of accessing easy power and delivering it to where it was needed: the trailer wheels -- since it was a 12v appliance anyway, fusing was determined simply by reading current specs on the side of the compressor -- hope all's worked out for you
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Old 10-30-2015, 04:26 AM   #20
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I have made my own 12v extension cord by getting the male and female connectors at AutoZone (or similar) and using about 30' of 12 gauge wire. Use it for small portable compressor all the time, have never had any issues, works great. Handy to have around for a number of uses.
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