Portable air compressor plugs into cigarette lighter

[John_S2]

I just thought of a problem... I am planning to take my portable air compressor down to Texas with us so I am prepared to winterize the Motorhome when we start coming back North again.

Problem is I need to plug it into a lighter socket and do not have such a plug in the back of my rig. I usually plug it into my car that I park behind the motorhome. I will not be bringing a toad.

Can I buy a 12 volt cigarette lighter extension cord that might be about 20 foot long so I could run it up to my Motorhome cab plug in?

Do they make such an item and where would I be able to buy one?

[Lar114]

B.O. Plenty wrote:
Maybe it's just me, but I doubt that little 12 volt compressor will work very well to winterize. It won't have a high enough volume of air to really blow anything out..But maybe somebody else has a different opinion???

B.O.

Yea, I beg to differ, I have one of those 12volt compressors and blew out my water lines with it. My TT is a 26ft box which is a little bit larger than the op's class c 24ft (according to his signature) and it did the job for me. Now normally I don't use the 12 volt,I do have a 100psi 3gallon compressor that I use, but the wife wanted to go camping this past holiday weekend and it started getting real cold so I had blow my lines before it was to late. With no power available at the storage yard, I had to go with the 12volt using my truck 12 volt receptacle. Like someone stated in an earlier post you can use a bicycle pump, you just need to have the correct volume of air to push that water out.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

I managed to blow up a relay in my E-450 by drawing too many amps from the clearance light circuit.

Bumpyroad wrote:
HUH, didn't know they made such a thing.
bumpy

[sch911]

K Charles wrote:
You can blow out the lines with a bicycle pump. Even if you don't think that will work, which it will, it will be good enough to get you home.

No. More like push some of the water out of the lines with a bicycle pump. To really "blow" out the lines you need a much higher continuous flow of air. But I agree it may be enough to get you home. Remember PEX tubing is resistant to freezing anyway....

[crcr]

I have one of the quality 12V compressors that pull a lot of power, so I use one of these plus the 12V extension someone linked to earlier, and connect directly to my battery to avoid the risk of blowing a fuse by plugging into one of the 12V power outlets.

Roadpro 12V Battery Clip-On and Cigarette Lighter Adapter

[Bumpyroad]

Francesca Knowles wrote:
I presume your rig has a trailer light connection at the rear- there are adapters that you can plug right in for 12volt power. Here's a link for the seven-pin style pictured below.

HUH, didn't know they made such a thing.
bumpy

[bob213]

Although I like the look of Francesca's better, E-Trailer offers one also:
7 pin adapter

[Dutch_12078]

I installed a 12-volt outlet in a central bay on each side of my coach so I can reach all of the tires and the water bay with my 12-volt "TruckAir" compressor. I picked up the power from the 15 amp bay lighting circuit. I blow out the water lines by pressurizing the system, including the water heater and accumulator tank, to about 50 PSI before bleeding it off at the faucets and drains. Two or three recharges and the job is done.

[Fishinghat]

Do you have a generator? If so, a 120 volt shop vac might be a better choice. You'll need one with a blower feature as well as the vacuum. Then a 25 ft extension cord would work without a noticeable voltage drop.

[LewBob]

pianotuna wrote:
Hi,

The motor in the compressor won't be too happy about the voltage drop from a longer cable.

That's true. The plastic-coated connector end of my extension cable got so hot it warped.

[K_Charles]

You can blow out the lines with a bicycle pump. Even if you don't think that will work, which it will, it will be good enough to get you home.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

The motor in the compressor won't be too happy about the voltage drop from a longer cable.

[RayGToo]

B.O. Plenty wrote:
Maybe it's just me, but I doubt that little 12 volt compressor will work very well to winterize. It won't have a high enough volume of air to really blow anything out..But maybe somebody else has a different opinion???

B.O.

Maybe so. I got this one too. Harbor Freight Compressor

[B_O__Plenty]

Maybe it's just me, but I doubt that little 12 volt compressor will work very well to winterize. It won't have a high enough volume of air to really blow anything out..But maybe somebody else has a different opinion???

B.O.

[Francesca_Knowl]

I presume your rig has a trailer light connection at the rear- there are adapters that you can plug right in for 12volt power. Here's a link for the seven-pin style pictured below.