Tire Inflator Blew My 5A Fuse

[PaCoX]

Electrical is not my forte.

I plugged a Slime Tire Inflator (12V power with 15A fuse 300cm) into my accessory socket to inflate my tires. I was able to run the inflator for about 40 seconds on the rear tire before I shut it off to check the tire pressure with a pencil gauge. When I tried to turn on the inflator again for the front tire, it did not turn on. Upon further review, I blew the PCX's 5A fuse.

[fish]

No electrical whizz myself.....
But isn't it best to connect directly to battery posts?
Fish

[PaCoX]

No electrical whizz myself.....
But isn't it best to connect directly to battery posts?
Fish

It has the 12V "cigarette lighter" power cord, so I figured I was good to go. I'm assuming the inflator was drawing more amps than the PCX could put out.

[WhiteNoise]

Hi PaCox I too have a portable mini slime inflator. I also have a battery tender jr. with a short lead coming off the battery terminals. My pump's kit came with a short attachment cable that connects to that tender's lead. I've never blown a fuse hooking it up that way. Do note that I never used my scoots 12v socket for the pump, so no advice to share.
On the other hand, owning a battery tender is a good investment and not expensive. One never knows when one needs one...do one?
Enough with the "ones" already!
Perhaps the draw from the 12v socket for 40 seconds or so is too much at a time? Hot. Trips. Blows? Just a guess.

Next member, give this a try pa-lease

[TheMaverick]

I bought something similar - but replaced the 12v plug with 2 alligator clips. Works well if it's connected directly to the battery and then run with the PCX idling.

That way, no blown fuses and no attempt to overload the alternator

[Gil]

Thanks for sharing, as I bought one of those small slime air pumps. I got the $20 dollar one though. Which one do you have?
I got a flat today and I was outside of town, barely made it to a gas station to patch my tire. I had just bought a tire plug kit, but no inflator kit. Now I have a pump and an air pump, ready.

Which pump do you have?
Gil

[PaCoX]

Sounds like I should forgo using the 12V accessory socket for the inflator and just connect directly to the battery.

I may return my current Slime Inflator and replace it with the one that comes with multiple types of connectors.

[you you]

It's just drawn more than 5 amps and the fuse has blown

5 amps is very conservative. I'd be tempted to go to 10amps and try again keeping a close eye on things when using the pump.

[PaCoX]

Thanks for sharing, as I bought one of those small slime air pumps. I got the $20 dollar one though. Which one do you have?
I got a flat today and I was outside of town, barely made it to a gas station to patch my tire. I had just bought a tire plug kit, but no inflator kit. Now I have a pump and an air pump, ready.

Which pump do you have?
Gil

I have this guy . . .

Slime Inflator.jpg (14.44 KiB) Viewed 4450 times

[Gil]

That's the one I bought. I just checked the fuse I installed on the aftermarket accessory socket and I have a 20 amp fuse.
I think I tested it with a cigaret lighter and it held up fine, when I installed it that is.

Gil

[PaCoX]

It's just drawn more than 5 amps and the fuse has blown

5 amps is very conservative. I'd be tempted to go to 10amps and try again keeping a close eye on things when using the pump.

I'd be wary to replace with a higher amp fuse than what is recommended since Honda most likely used a 5A fuse for a reason.

[PaCoX]

That's the one I bought. I just checked the fuse I installed on the aftermarket accessory socket and I have a 20 amp fuse.
I think I tested it with a cigaret lighter and it held up fine, when I installed it that is.

Gil

Perhaps your aftermarket accessory socket is more robust than my 2017 stock socket?

[you you]

It's just drawn more than 5 amps and the fuse has blown

5 amps is very conservative. I'd be tempted to go to 10amps and try again keeping a close eye on things when using the pump.

I'd be wary to replace with a higher amp fuse than what is recommended since Honda most likely used a 5A fuse for a reason.

Best you dont then.

[TheMaverick]

I got a flat today and I was outside of town, barely made it to a gas station to patch my tire. I had just bought a tire plug kit, but no inflator kit. Now I have a pump and an air pump, ready.

I've had 4 rear flats - they're a royal PITA.

Running a tyre for too many km is a prime cause - the outside flattens out but the inside remains curved - so the two meet in the middle - which is where you're most likely to pick up something on the road since that is where the contact patch is. I limit my rear tyres to 10,000km now.

[Mel46]

"I may return my current Slime Inflator and replace it with the one that comes with multiple types of connectors."

You could keep your present inflator and just buy an adaptor that has alligator clips on one end and a cigarette lighter socket on the other. Then connect directly to the battery. Just note that you could run your battery down to zero with an inflator. I have, so I know. Just make sure your battery is fully charged. By the way, I have an inflator just like the one pictured above.
For the future, purchase a Battery Tender Jr. and connect the leads permanently. Then get a plug in adaptor for those leads.

[WhiteNoise]

Here are photos of my Slime tire inflator and the Battery Tender Junior I've used for years. Both work flawlessly still.
But do Note: I've never used the Green Slime Tire Sealant in the kit so I have no idea if it truly seals and if so, for how many miles But! I've read on other forums that it works. To each his own

image.jpeg (71.05 KiB) Viewed 4420 times

[dgnyberg]

Just my two cents, but I've been looking at the CO2 tire inflator.
They would be more compact and not require any electricity.
Just carry some CO2 cartridges and the inflator.

Any thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Innovati ... +inflation

[PaCoX]

I think for now I'll order an alligator clip-to-female cigarette adaptor to connect the inflator directly to the battery. Although I understand, I think, the purpose of the Battery Tender Jr., I don't expect my PCX to ever be garaged or stored for any length of time considering I don't get snowy winter in my part of California.

As TheMaverick stated earlier, would you recommend always idling the engine while drawing power from the battery to inflate tires?

[you you]

Just my two cents, but I've been looking at the CO2 tire inflator.
They would be more compact and not require any electricity.
Just carry some CO2 cartridges and the inflator.

Any thoughts?

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Innovati ... +inflation

These came standard on my boxer cup. Good for a get you home.

[Gil]

The guts of the slime air pump look like this amazon air pump. I'm thinking of getting rid of the shell and add some guard for the pump mechanism. That way it takes less space in the trunk.

https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Mini-Ai ... J2STVETM3T

Gil