The Slime COMP 07 Rechargable Tire Inflator is also marketed as:
- Kwik Goal Portable Inflator
- Campbell-Hausfeld Model CC2300
Unfortunately, the unit is sold with a cheap 12 Volt, 7.0 Amp-Hour internal battery that cannot hold up under the rigors and demands put on it by the general consumer. Anyway, the battery in any of these types of portable devices doesn't last forever and will eventually have to be replaced. Think of is as normal maintenance, to be done every two to five years, even with the best of batteries.
But a simple change to a 12 Volt, 8.5 Amp-Hour, high-rate replacement battery will greatly enhance its performance. Without going into a stuffy brain-dump: A simple 21% increase in Amp-Hour capacity (to 8.5 Amp-Hours) will double the amount of work the fully charged battery can do, under load, such as the internal 12 Volt compressor motor. The "high-rate" designation is also a type of battery that is designed to take heavy loads without damage -or shortened battery lifespan.
But don't make the mistake that many 12 Volt power pack owners sometimes do: Attempting to jump-start their car from this tiny device. Doing so will instantly destroy the unit's internal 12 Volt battery and literally melt the compressor case down. Also, never plug a 12VDC appliance into the "Output DC 12V" jack that exceeds about 0.5 Amps (6 watts). For example, plugging in a small 12VDC coffee cup warmer will draw 8-10 Amps and burn out the internal 12 Volt lead acid battery in a couple of minutes. You'll know when a sealed lead acid battery is burned out when the tremendous amount of heat from the dying battery melts and distorts the outside plastic case of the compressor and a sick vinegar smell emits from the now-dead internal battery.
That said, replace with: Power-Sonic PSH-1280F1 FR Battery, 12 Volt, 8.5 Amp-Hour, High-Rate Series. I ordered mine from BatteryPlexDotCom. Really, to install a lower capacity battery in a portable field device is just false economy. And note, the "F1" designation is for the 3/16" / .187" wide metal terminal tabs on the battery, for a quick and speedy battery change with the internal wiring push-clips. To get to the internal battery, just lay the portable compressor on its side and unscrew the seven phillips-head screws that hold the halves of the outside plastic case together.
Now the portable compressor unit pumps up my 100psi bicycle tires -and 34psi minivan tires, with ease. The built-in pressure guage, in my unit, reads 5psi higher than actual, but that's easy to compensate for.
And the unit also now serves as a reliable 12 Volt portable power pack, a real workhorse, that is quickly recharged in the field with my portable 12 Volt wind generator, or my portable 12 Volt sun tracking solar panel.
I have also been pleasantly surprised with the unusually well-designed quick connect valve that seats perfectly on the valve stem, and releases without loss of tire pressure. Really, this has been a major headache with all my other air pumps, both manual and electric: When removing the quick connect valve from the tire stem, air always rushes out, and several more attempts have to be done before the tire is finally properly inflated, a real pain. But, to expedite things, and just to be sure, I usually disconnect the Slime COMP 07 quick connect valve from the tire valve stem as soon as the proper pressure is reached, with the air compressor still running.
The battery for this device is a lead acid battery, that is sealed, so that the electrolyte will not leak out of the battery. But, being a lead acid battery, it can do only half as much work, at 30 degrees Fahrenheit, as it will do at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. So either store the portable compressor in a reasonably warm environment until you need it, or accept its inherent shortcomings in a cold environment.
Also, never run the portable compressor down until it runs slowly, or ceases to run. This is commonly known as "batterycide." Doing so, even if promptly recharged, will greatly reduce the service lifespan, or even destroy, any good lead acid battery. Keep the portable compressor charged and ready at all times and you'll have no trouble. The LED Battery Check indicator is activated by turning on the Power switch (with the Compressor switch off). The unit is okay to run as long as the LED indicator is green "HI". The portable compressor should be recharged when the LED indicator is yellow "LOW". If at all possible, do not discharge the battery below 12.25 Volts. Always immediately recharge the battery after moderate-to-heavy use. You'll soon learn what this useful little compressor can handle -and can't handle.
And, being a lead acid battery, it will hold its charge for months and months, with very low self-discharge. Yet another advantage of lead acid batteries is that they are routinely recycled. In fact, a brand new lead acid battery, off-the-shelf, is manufactured from recycled lead.
One major, and justified, gripe many owners have with the unit is the ridiculous claim in the instruction manual that the device can be used to inflate air mattresses, rafts, etc.. Well, that's simply not true. The compressor is for pneumatic tires and soccer balls and footballs, etc. only (and maybe to run an airbrush). The hard-working piston in the compressor is only the size of your little fingertip, so it would take all day to fill up an air mattress, and keep filling it until the mattress bursts (if unattended). And the battery is not large enough to run the compressor that long anyway. For air mattresses and rafts, just buy a specialized high-volume, low pressure, 12 Volt air pump, and plug it into 12 Volt jack on your trusty Campbell-Hausfeld Cordlesss Air Inflator / 12-Volt Power Pack, and you're good to go. Slime COMP 07 Rechargable Tire Inflator - Inflator - Air Pump - Tire Inflator - Air Compressor'
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