Tyre Compressor Connection to Battery

Hi

I feel quite daft having to ask this question but having spent hours online and reading the various manuals I'm still not confident of the answer and thought someone on here might be!

I have a 2016 Nuevo on Pugeot Boxer and want to purchase a RAC RING 900 so that I can deal with pressures at home. I've ordered a Draper analogue gauge so that I can check the pressures that way.

Before ordering I thought I'd look at the vehicle battery and check that I could obviously see the points to which I'd connect the RING 900 compressor clamps and I couldn't!

I'm growing in confidence at being independent with the vehicle aspect of motorhoming, the habitation element felt very easy in comparison. As a retired nurse I'm reasonably practical but that has never extended to vehicles!

I've only ever taken my car to a fuel station compressor but want to be able to deal with the 'van at home and on our travels if need be.

Please can anyone point me in the direction of a sensible you tube video or photo/description that would act as a (completely) beginners guide as to where the connection points are.

Thanks and hope people are enjoying the little bit of sun we are having today!!

Hi Lemon2

Not sure if this is any help, if you haven't already seen it?

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The Ring unit will draw around 23 Amps, so if your cigar lighter fuse is rated to 25A you could replace the croc clips with a cigar lighter plug, but check if that is rated & fused to 25A.

Is there any particular reason why you've gone for such a heavy duty unit?  How many times will you be inflating tyres from completely deflated? Most of the time I'm guessing it'll only be maintenance top-ups, so seems a bit of a sledgehammer to crack a walnut? 

We just use the same type of 12V pump as we use for the car, it simply plugs into the cigar lighter socket; we keep the engine running on tickover whilst using it.

cheers
Roger

Hi

Thanks Roger. That is helpful. Can I ask what 12V pump you use? It sounds as if you are happy with its performance when topping-up your van tyres.

I went for the RAC model as it seemed to rate well on reviews and I saw an MMM video that used something similar. Some of the reviews I've read about the 12v pumps are not so great but if forum members such as yourself have good experiences of 12v pumps then I'd be happy to explore that further.

Cheers

I use a ring 12 volt compressor similar in shape to the one you are contemplating. I cannot access mine to check the model number, but it came with a cigarette lighter plug. The valve was the standard flip lock type and it came in a carry bag. 

It performs well on my van which needs 80psi in the tyres. Like you I had had a recommendation from one of the forums.

If I can, I will see if I can find the model number of mine, although I dare say they change models at intervals.

Davy

Hi Lemon2. If you're only going to top up pressures at home I'm sure a unit similar to this will be all you need. I've had one for 10 years now and it's never failed. Charge it up from the mains at home after every use and it's always there ready to go. Being self contained there's no messing under a bonnet hooking it up, and no trailing wires while you go round all your wheels etc.
Al.
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Hi Lemon2

You will find some comments about the Ring RAC900 here
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I have one and connect it to the "jump start" points under the bonnet rather than the battery, find it very good with a longer air line than most so it easy to reach the back tyres.

Mike

Hi

Thanks. Lots for me to look at here. Quick question for Mike, I can see the place to connect the earth but cannot see the positive metal point. Is it the metal strip under the black hinged cover above the two bolts.

Thanks again.

I too have the RAC Ring 900 and a seperate Draper analogue guage. I bought the RAC900 unit because cheaper less powerful models take an absolute age to make any appreciable difference to the tyre pressures at pressures of around 60psi.

I read all the reviews of the "900" being virtually commercial recovery grade equipment and I ordered one. It is a quality piece of kit, with a very long air hose. I keep an old 12V car battery in the garage and connect it to that with the supplied croc clips. If I needed to connect it to the M/H I would use the jump start terminals under the bonnet. I personally would be dubious about trying to draw 25A through a vehicle cigarette lighter socket.

It is expensive but we have 6 vehicles in the household plus trailers etc so it does get some use, and as with everything in life, you get what you pay for.  Incidentally I do find the onboard guage closely matches my Draper guage.......

Looking into engine compartment from the front, at right hand side there is a fuse box, black I believe and at the rear/side of that there is the flip up cover over the positive terminal, should be marked with a "+", can't remember the colour though and our van is in storage so can't nip out and check or take a photo.
There is details of the jump start points in the boxer Manual with a diagram of where they are.

I hope that helps you locate it.

Mike

If the compressor takes 25A don't even think of using the cigar lighter or the adjacent power plug. They are only rafed at 15A (180W).

Hi

Thanks Mike, I've now located the two points and feel more confident. I didn't realise it could be done on the jump start points and so will have a go at that.

Next step is to have an accurate weigh bridge reading so that I can email Continental and get advice about the right pressures. I thought it would be a simple matter but on phoning my local weighbridge in Halifax I was told that they can't provide split axle weights and that these can only be provided by a VOSA bridge. So, I went onto the Government website to be patched through to my local council who couldn't give me details of a bridge that could give split axle readings. The local one at Huddersfield (Ainsley Top) is not available to the public. So I phoned VOSA who said 'not us' and directed me to the Dept Transport who said 'not us' and directed me back to VOSA. I've been on more entertaining merry go rounds!!

So, tomorrow the search goes on but if anyone knows of a weigh bridge in Yorkshire that can provide split axel readings or knows how to find one out then please let me know.

It seems barmy that we have to jump through so many hoops just to locate safe pressures for a motorhome. It could be easier!!

Thanks to everyone for the advice above. Very much appreciated.

Hi Lemon2,

No need to email Continental; Backtrax has already posted their charts on the forum.

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Best of luck with the weighbridge........

Derek

I had wondered myself if I could use the under bonnet battery connections, useful information.

In relation to weighbridges I used Job Earnshaws at Midgeley. They are timber merchants and gave me axle weights and written details.

David

Sorry I should have included more information.

Telephone number of Earnshaw's is 01924 830055, postcode WF4 4JG.

It is eighteen months since I used them, I rang up and arranged a time they were very helpful.

David

When I have used a weighbridge I just pop into the office first and tell them I want axle and gross weights and they just tell me how they want me to do it. Very helpful 

Public 24 hour free weighbridge on A650 at trading standards Morley.
Just drive over pad and it gives separate readouts for front and rear axles.

Dave

Hi

Thanks David for Midgeley contact details and Dave for Morley.

Also found one in Todmorden and so should be able to progress now.

Thanks also to Derek for the signpost towards the Continental charts.

Nearly there!

Hello Lemon2, thanks for starting this topic. It's something that I have thought about but had missed the obvious (i.e getting a 'portable' tyre inflating compressor!) and have certainly had issue in using service station compressors in the past! My biggest problem with the latter is having to reposition the van to check/inflate tyres on nearside and offside since the hose on most forecourts won't reach all wheels on our MH!
Last time I took the van to a helpful tyre shop who generously checked/inflated all tyres for free. A portable unit would save a lot of hassle!
The second point the topic made me check was the location of 'jump start points' in the engine bay! I hadn't thought of this and given the vehicle battery is under the passenger seat on the Winchcombe, finding easily accessible 'terminals' under the bonnet may come in useful at some point!
Now the question is to decide which compressor to go for! I quite like the idea of a '3 in 1' compressor/jump start power pack if I can find something suitable since the RAC900 unit whilst I'm sure is an excellent compressor might be too 'professional' for occasional usage? Cheers Andy

I've just ordered the RAC900 compressor, the tiny one I have at the moment is barely powerful enough for my car, and that is up to 22lbs!

Not sure if my Inca has jump start points though..

AndyLouch wrote:Hello Lemon2, thanks for starting this topic. It's something that I have thought about but had missed the obvious (i.e getting a 'portable' tyre inflating compressor!) and have certainly had issue in using service station compressors in the past! My biggest problem with the latter is having to reposition the van to check/inflate tyres on nearside and offside since the hose on most forecourts won't reach all wheels on our MH!
Last time I took the van to a helpful tyre shop who generously checked/inflated all tyres for free. A portable unit would save a lot of hassle!
The second point the topic made me check was the location of 'jump start points' in the engine bay! I hadn't thought of this and given the vehicle battery is under the passenger seat on the Winchcombe, finding easily accessible 'terminals' under the bonnet may come in useful at some point!
Now the question is to decide which compressor to go for! I quite like the idea of a '3 in 1' compressor/jump start power pack if I can find something suitable since the RAC900 unit whilst I'm sure is an excellent compressor might be too 'professional' for occasional usage? Cheers Andy

As I've said before, I love the convenience of a self contained unit, however my 16 year old unit is just about giving up the ghost, so yesterday I purchased one of these.
I'll report back when it's had a bit of use.
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bikeralw wrote:As I've said before, I love the convenience of a self contained unit, however my 16 year old unit is just about giving up the ghost, so yesterday I purchased one of these.
I'll report back when it's had a bit of use.
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That's another 8 kilos then! What's your MGW?

Oh I'm not carrying it round with me Ron! If I have a tyre problem when touring I'll leave it to my recovery company... 8 kilos=8 litres of wine...
Al.

AndyLouch wrote:
The second point the topic made me check was the location of 'jump start points' in the engine bay! I hadn't thought of this and given the vehicle battery is under the passenger seat on the Winchcombe, finding easily accessible 'terminals' under the bonnet may come in useful at some point!
Now the question is to decide which compressor to go for! I quite like the idea of a '3 in 1' compressor/jump start power pack if I can find something suitable since the RAC900 unit whilst I'm sure is an excellent compressor might be too 'professional' for occasional usage? Cheers Andy

In the Merc you have 25A socket bottom centre of the front bulkhead. Mercedes supply a very efficient compressor that operates from that socket. It came as standard with my van as there is no spare wheel.

Hello Peter, Thanks for information. No such 'luxury' on our 2013 Winchcombe. However, we do have a spare although, as Al notes, if we suffer a problem we will call for the cavalry as I doubt we can even get the wheel nuts off and the though of jacking up 3500Kg on the roadside doesn't appeal!
The idea of being able to check/pump up at home rather than faff about at a local service station does appeal. Hence, a mains compressor might have more oomph?
Andy

My 3 year old ALDI AutoXS - which is a combined Jumpstart/Compressor unit has just given up/died - a bit like Monty Pythons parrot!!. 
It always seemed to struggle to get to the required 74psi on the higher rear wheel pressure. So I have been looking at the Ring models - I was surprised to see that the Ring RAC 900 has a higher air flow (55 ltrs/Min) when compared to the Ring RAC 750 Mains unit which is rated at 41 Ltrs/Min. And indeed the Ring site mentions the 900 as being the only one that is suitable for Motor-homes with their required higher pressures!
I agree that given the short hoses now fitted at the local fuel station its a real pain - so I have decided to get the Ring 900 and use the on board leisure battery which is more easily accessible rather than fiddling under the bonnet. 
Liam