Can you run an air compressor on a computer PSU?

[mercanucaribe]

I have a Campbell Hausfield air compressor that plugs into a cigarette lighter jack but I want to use it inside the house to inflate my bike tires. Can I use a 12 amp 12v line on a PSU? Is 144W enough?

 

[Leper Messiah]

if it plugs into a cigarette lighter, you should be fine...

 

[mercanucaribe]

There are 700 watt invertors that plug into cigarette lighters.. So I don't know how limited they are. They could supply 100 amps for all I know.

 

[Eli]

Yes, I have done it before. 12 amps should be enough, even at full load.

Those little compressors draw significantly more amperage as the PSI they have to overcome raises.


Edit: For bike tires, it is not a big deal.

I actually ran it off 17V(12+5V rails) when I did it because I was in a hurry.

 

[mercanucaribe]

It worked but took a few tries. The PSU turns off if you turn the compressor on while the PSU is running, so you have to switch on the pump first.

 

[Bassyhead]

PSUs are terrible for inductive loads in things like larger electric motors (besides the small ones used in fans and drives). Unless it's a good supply, it will think there's a short or overload and shut off. You can try placing a power resistor in series with the compressor to limit the current if necessary.