Alternative to manual air pumps
Sun, 10/25/2009 - 21:49
I'm getting older (46 next week) and while I can ride all day, I get most worn out by pumping up my kites, expecially my 15 meter. I've blown through four pumps since last year so none of them work in both directions now. I know I sound like a dork, but after a year and a half of kiting three to four days a week during the summer I thought I would see if there was a better way. I tried a few different solutions. First found a battery powered car vac and blower, but while it gets air into the kite fast, it won't pump it to pressure. I looked around and found a very small (about 4 pounds) 12volt battery and car lighter powered air compressor that moves about 37 L a minute for $80. On car power it pumps up my 15 meter in 7 minutes to 9 psi. Tight as a drum. The problem with the compressor when using the battery charge for a full inflation, by the time it is getting to the higher pressure, the battery's running down. The battery charger also works off my car lighter, so whenever I'm driving its charging. Anyway for the purist who likes the sweat of pumping, don't laugh if the old guy with the red helmut (required by wife and three kids) pulls out a small air compressor to pump up his kite. In two session and three kites, I haven't had to pump in two days.
MF-1045 Cyclone Portable High Volume Air Compressor
http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/product.jcw?nval=1101021306&statenval...
Sun, 10/25/2009 - 22:55
#1
Another old guy here, 50
Another old guy here, 50 soon. I've been planning on trying my portable work compressor (carpenter). I can fill the tank at home. I don't know if 1 tank of air will be enough but if it is, it should only take a few seconds to fill the kite.
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 05:59
#2
I have been using a 20lb
I have been using a 20lb liquid Co2 tank desinged for Off Road Racing for a bunch of years and it is a great thing!
I it's the size of a scuba tank and will pump up 20-25 kites depending on kite size.
Refill cost is abput 20$ which I generally do twice a season.
It is not a small item, but it is super handy. I leave it in the Van, but it would easily fit in a trunk.
Can run AirTools as well if you feel like making something while waiting for the wind!/
http://www.offroadairstore.com/servlet/StoreFront
Im sure you could buy the parts to make one locally.
You dont need a high tech valve as you can control flow with the blowgun.
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 19:14
#4
Your calculations are correct
Your calculations are correct sir! (I think)
The Co2 tank I have is 20lbs Liquid Co2.
Carbon dioxide has no liquid state at pressures below 5.1 atmospheres. At 1 atmosphere (near mean sea level pressure), the gas deposits directly to a solid at temperatures below −78 °C and the solid sublimes directly to a gas above −78 °C.
Which if my math is correct means that there is a whole bunch of Co2 when it comes out of the Tank!
If you want to check my out at the beach just let me know!
Philip
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 06:12
#5
cheap and easy
It's cheap and easy.
http://www.yomart.com/intex-quick-fill-rechargeable-electric-pump.html
Its good for 3 - 5 kites between charges. Also, since its a low pressure device, you don't have to worry about over inflating. I still need the hand pump to top things off and get the pressure just right.
OC
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 07:15
#6
The rechargable pump looks
The rechargable pump looks great! is it small and light enough to carry to the beach for places like Waq bay?
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 07:19
#7
They both look small enough
KJJ's compressor looks small enough, the cheapo inflator I use is definitely small and light enough.
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 07:49
#8
Combined your there
I tried a similar small air pump but it left too much to hand pump. If you started with the small air pump and finished with the compressor, you could leave your pump at home.
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 17:45
#9
That would work if I pump in
That would work if I pump in the parking lot but there's no way I would carry that work compressor out to the beach at Waq Bay. It sounds like your rechargable compressor is more powerful than OC's. But I wasn't clear about whether you can charge it while driving, carry to beach and have enough charge to pump a kite without a lot of topping off, or do you always pump with it plugged into your car?
Thanks for the info!
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 18:20
#10
Sorry, i meant the little
Sorry, i meant the little compressor i have. It charges while i'm driving, carry it to the beach (smaller than a regular pump though a little heavier) and use it to fully pump up. It starts to slow down blowing up my 15 all the way on battery power at the end. If you had OCs little pump for half and the little compressor for the rest on a big kite it might work better. Together they are not a lot bigger than a single manual pump. Also the compressor comes with a nozzle that fits your kite as well.
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 23:05
#11
O.K. I'm ordering your mini
O.K. I'm ordering your mini compressor. I can write it off as a work expense!
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 21:13
#12
Anyone tried Helium yet? Up
Anyone tried Helium yet? Up Up and Away...
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 22:49
#13
Damn, that's a good idea!
Damn, that's a good idea! You could fly with 0 wind! Let me know how it works.
Tue, 10/27/2009 - 19:37
#14
best compressor out there
Offdalip.com in Hawaii carries a great portable compressor
for kites, $250, I have been using it all summer whenever Mike M comes to WB. Check it out, uses two different pump components, one to begin at low pressures, ends at higher pressures, can dial in desired end pressure. can recharge in your car, holds charge enough for about 20 kites I think. i am 46 also and laughed at Mike at first but its great for the nemesises which need very high (about 12psi) leading edge pressure. Whenever Mike brings it to beach he holds it low near his legs so noone sees him carry it! Its small , about 12 by 8 by 5 inches or so. weighs about 15 lbs I think.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 01:10
#15
Hi KJJ,
I took a look at the
Hi KJJ,
I took a look at the picture of the air compressor from the link you posted. How do you get an adapter to fit to the air compressor to your kite adapter size?
I have similar compressor which I keep in the car for emergency road assistance but the hose is to small to fit any kind of kite adapter to it. if you have any trick, sould you please share.
Thanks
TN
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 06:40
#16
The compressor comes with a
The compressor comes with a nozzle that fits my kites out of the box.
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 15:15
#17
I just pulled the trigger on
I just pulled the trigger on one of these. Sounds too good to be true. I can't wait to give this a try. Pumping sucks.
Sat, 10/31/2009 - 00:03
#18
You got one psych.. HAHA Fred
You got one psych.. HAHA Fred your a hero!
Sun, 11/08/2009 - 17:20
#19
HI KJJ,
What kind of kites do
HI KJJ,
What kind of kites do you fly with that the air compressor has adapter to fit your kites? I have Cabrinha Convert kites.
Sun, 11/08/2009 - 20:51
#20
I bought KJJ's compressor,
I bought KJJ's compressor, used it for the first time today. It works great, very well designed!
It came with 2 different size nozzles. The larger 1 fits my Royal kite just right. I think it would probably fit most or all kites.
It's a little heavier than I expected so carrying out to Waq Bay probably isn't going to happen but I'll use it almost everywhere else.
Thanks for the inside tip KJJ!
Sat, 03/02/2013 - 16:00
#21
Portable battery air pumps for kites.
My kite instructor here in Brazil said I should look into buying an air pump which uses a rechargeable battery -- while I am visiting the U.S. in 2 weeks.
He said it would be about 6 lbs. in weight and would fill 5-6 kites and that I could buy the battery locally here.
I couldn't determine if this exists with what I've been reading on-line. Can anyone guide me on this?
Thanks,
John
Wed, 03/06/2013 - 11:25
#22
Kite Tips for Girls
Awe you need to change this post to "kite tips for girls" 
HAA!
I also did some research on air volume conversion. At sea level ambient pressure is 15 psi so if you want 10 psi in your kite, you have to get 25 psi out of the tank. Accordingly, if you want your kite at 10 psi and you have lets say a 1 gallon air tank at 1000 psi, you divide 1000 by 25 (15 +10) which gives you 40 gallons of air at 25 psi, which at sea level is 10 psi in the kite. The question then is how many gallons of air your kite takes. This works for air tanks only. CO2 conversions are different.
__________________
Fred