Going overboard on carry-along tire inflator

I have a 2024 Limited with 3500 miles that we use for traveling around the SW US. I am 75 and my hardcore off-road days are behind me. When I got the T4R last December, I took my

$85 Viair 88P - 00088 Tire Inflator Portable On/Offroad Air Compressor for Car, Truck, SUV & RV | 12V Heavy Duty Pump 120 PSI, Alligator Clip, Twist Chuck

Viair 88P out of my C6 Corvette before selling it (C6 Corvettes do not carry a spare tire which is why I had it). I am an old ex-exploration geologist guy who has had 50+ years 4x4 experience in Colorado and throughout the western US and overseas driving and building 4x4s and going out on the mountain and desert trails and appreciate having a way to adjust and repair tire air pressure issues. Though the Limited won't be doing that duty, I wanted to upgrade my tire inflation kit.

Like on my C6, I installed a 10AWG SAE pigtail on my Limited battery to attach my battery charger or maintainer in addition to a Viair air source, as needed.

I just got a new Viair 400P EF for the new truck. I can attach the 400P EF with the pigtail or, using SAE battery clips on battery terminals for other vehicles, using 6' or 20' 10AWG extensions I have, if needed. I also upgraded my unused Slime tire repair kit with a Boulder Tools tire repair kit, as well as a new Jaco tire pressure guage.

I will be gifting the 88P and accessories to a good buddy who drives from here in Arizona to Montana every year for fishing expeditions.

I now feel confident that the new Viair 400P EF and accessories will serve me well for our vehicles on our long adventure travels.

 

OK, it worked this time!

 

That’s a pretty beefy Viair upgrade! The

$85 Viair 88P - 00088 Tire Inflator Portable On/Offroad Air Compressor for Car, Truck, SUV & RV | 12V Heavy Duty Pump 120 PSI, Alligator Clip, Twist Chuck

Viair 88P I use for airing down/up for off-roading has worked well for me. But the 400P EF will work even better and faster.
I got the chance to use my Safety Seal tire repair kit recently (similar to yours). It takes some strength to push a plug into the tire so the big grip handles are welcome. It also required removing the tire to get the access and leverage to do it.

 

Just added the ARB Speedy Seal kit to my truck recently after reading about it here. Appreciate the info on the forum for sure.

 

Check the fuse in your pigtail, make sure it's up to snuff. I think the 400 has a 40a draw at startup; it's quite a bit.

 

Good call! I just went out and checked and the pigtail only had a 25a fuse from the last time I used it.

 

Do you have a picture of the pigtail attached to the battery?

 

The pigtail is a simple 10AWG SAE connection with a fuse holder and an end cap (from Amazon). I did it that way because I have SAE connectors on my Viair compressor, a NOCO battery maintainer and an Everstart battery charger to keep things simple. Each of those devices have their own properly (lower) rated inline fuses and are downstream from the higher rated upstream pigtail fuse.

I don't care for battery clips for things like this. I included my SAE to battery clip connector in the picture that I can use for any of those devices if, for any reason, I didn't choose to use the pigtail or if I want to use any of those devices on another vehicle. I do keep handy a supply of different fuses for the pigtail, but since all of those devices each has its own appropriate inline fuse, I can keep the highest rated fuse in the pigtail fuse holder since they all have their own rated protection.

 

The fuse protects the wires of the pigtail. If you fuse a 25 ampacity wire with a 40 A fuse make sure you have fire insurance.

'Course that won't help when the adjuster sees what you've done.

Protection from inrush is provided by time delay fuses. They allow a delay for starting current ride through while still protecting the 25 ampacity wire.

The National Electrical Code tells you how to do it right...

 

Put some chafe guard so the battery hold down flange doesn't saw through the red wire and short the battery.

 

@UncleShorty - The lower rated device inline fuse connected to the pigtail is downstream from the higher rated pigtail fuse upstream, so it is the same as having the lower rated fuse coming directly from the battery, right? The lower rated downstream fuse protecting it's device connected to the pigtail will still blow if the device has a problem. If the higher rated upstream pigtail fuse blows, then there is no current going down to the device's lower rated fuse.

If I did not make clear the cascading fuse ratings in the post you referred to, I hope this post corrects that and I have edited my earlier post to correct any confusion. Sorry for any misunderstanding from my poor communication skills.

 

I cut a generous opening in the side of the battery hold down flange (does not show in my picture) so it has sufficient clearance to avoid any chafing. But adding a wire loom around the wire would not be a bad belt and suspender idea.

 

You did alright. I didn't see a fuse on the pigtail.

 

Thanks amigo! Again, sorry for that, and I appreciate you correcting me! Doing things the right way to help others is the right way!