Air Compressor Viair 300P & Tire Repair Kit Assembled

[YukonJack]

I wanted an alternative to the Tesla tire repair kit without the sealant (“tire goop”). Finding a 120 VAC portable compressor proved difficult, so I focused on 12 VDC automotive options. After some research, I chose the Viair 300P because of its positive reviews and reputation for quality.

Current Draw and Power Supply

• Measured Current Draw: The Viair 300P pulls about 2.2 amps at steady state.
• Power Supply Attempt #1: An 8-amp DC power supply didn’t work because the compressor’s locked rotor amperage (LRA) likely exceeds 8 amps. It actually short cycled.
• Power Supply Attempt #2: A 30-amp unit (found on Amazon resale) worked perfectly.

Enclosure and Setup

I like the idea of a battery or kayak box with lights and power outlets, but I wanted everything—power supply included—to fit in the Viair 300P’s storage bag. The power outlet box gives the added benefit of a USB charger while tailgating. I caught the 300P on sale for $150 and found the 30-amp power supply on Amazon resale for $34.

PVC Conduit Box:

• Perfect for the socket connectors once you notch them.
• Using a heat gun softens the PVC enough to mount USB and cigarette lighter sockets into the conduit connector posts.
• The posts help accommodate the length of the sockets.
• I mounted the switch is on the cover (it requires minimal depth).
• Cut the hole slightly small so you can screw it in.
• I wired the switch only to the lights.

Viair 300P Set-up:

• You will need to cut and splice an SAE connector to the end of the Viar cord.
• Reuse the alligator clips to splice back onto a male SAE connector so you can use this with any other vehicles battery posts.
• Pay attention to polarity with these type connectors.

Overall, the project was straightforward, and everything fits neatly into the Viair 300P bag. The final setup cost me around $256 and provides a portable, sealant-free air solution for the Tesla Cybertruck (or any vehicle you choose since it DC). The live links as of this writing cost about $289.

I’m sure there could be some improvements to this.

Parts List

Air Compressor (Viair 300P)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X90YUO

View attachment 84887

Power Supply (30 Amp)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092LYYZ3X

USB/Cigarette/Voltmeter Socket

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJZM8JR6

SAE Quick Connectors

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MKPRHPS

12V LED Dome Cargo Lights

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W69TDPV

RV Aux Power to SAE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL51VTLC

PVC Conduit Body

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-...VC-Type-LB-Conduit-Body-E986E-12-HD/100404084

Sponsored

 

[Gigahorse]

For under $300 that is a lot of piece of mind, looks small enough to easily fit in the bay, or maybe even in the area under one of the back seats?

 

[brur]

why did you bother with 12 volt?

 

[YukonJack]

Yes this easily fits in the Vault.

You really don't need the 7-pin Aux power plug. I started with that but wanted to use the 120VAC supply since it is much easier to get to.

You can also downgrade to a cheeper compressor.

It's 12V because the vast majority - if not all - of the small portable compressors are made for automotive applications with 12VDC. None of the high quality Viar compressors are 120VAC.

If anyone wants to inspect their Tesla compressor I suspect it has a 12VDC converter powering a 12VDC compressor.

 

[jeniferkey]

My compressor choice ended up being the Etenwolf Vortex S6. I went back and forth on a 'real' compressor, but this one works well and I can charge it in the truck if the need arises. It's made for truck tires, so works tons better than my previous portable compressor that I used in my Model 3.

 

[HaulingAss]

It's 12V because the vast majority - if not all - of the small portable compressors are made for automotive applications with 12VDC. None of the high quality Viar compressors are 120VAC.

If anyone wants to inspect their Tesla compressor I suspect it has a 12VDC converter powering a 12VDC compressor.

This is a quiet, compact 120V compressor that packs a real punch (turn it down to half speed to fill one tire at a time). When used with a 4-way tire inflator hose it will fill all four Cybertruck tires simultaneously from 30 to 50 psi in 4 minutes;

It has a brushless two speed motor and integrated controller for efficiency. The air output is a standard compressed air quick release. It fits neatly in one of the smaller side compartments of the smuggler's bay under the truck bed (for those who have the OEM dividers). It will run circles around the single piston 12V Viair inflator.

I would be surprised if the Tesla branded inflator runs natively on 12 volts inside. That would be a real disappointment. You would need 75 amps at 12 volts to match the 900 watt rating of the TC-BL compressor.

 

[YukonJack]

That's a great find and option. I didn't come across that in numerous searches, including on Amazon.

As far as it running circles around the USA-made Viair - well, it's made of Chinesium, and time will tell. They both seem capable for emergency use, but the Viair has double the flow rate (2.3 CFM or 65 L/min vs. 35 L/min). I can't think of a scenario where I would ever want or need to do a circus routine filling all four tires at the same time.

 

[Strykerwsu]

That's a great find and option. I didn't come across that in numerous searches, including on Amazon.

As far as it running circles around the USA-made Viair - well, it's made of Chinesium, and time will tell. They both seem capable for emergency use, but the Viair has double the flow rate (2.3 CFM or 65 L/min vs. 35 L/min). I can't think of a scenario where I would ever want or need to do a circus routine filling all four tires at the same time.

If only mall crawling no need. The other poster is speaking of airing down for offroad use. There are cheap connections to air down all 4 up amd down quickly.

 

[HaulingAss]

That's a great find and option. I didn't come across that in numerous searches, including on Amazon.

As far as it running circles around the USA-made Viair - well, it's made of Chinesium, and time will tell. They both seem capable for emergency use, but the Viair has double the flow rate (2.3 CFM or 65 L/min vs. 35 L/min). I can't think of a scenario where I would ever want or need to do a circus routine filling all four tires at the same time.

This is silly. All Viair compressors are 100% manufactured in China, just like the TC-BL compressor. It's pretty difficult to find an American made compressor anymore, and thinking it would be better, even if it was made in the U.S. (and neither compressor is) would be wrong-headed thinking. The country of manufacture doesn't define the quality or durability, it's the actual engineering and manufacturing that matters. I've seen complete junk engineered and manufactured in both countries (and I've seen very well engineered and manufactured products from both countries).

Pretty much all compressors/inflators are made in China these days. If you want to search out one that is still made here you will probably find that it's too big to be useful for this application (or a highly specialized compressor, perhaps like the high-pressure compressor used in the suspension system of the Cybertruck).

As to flow rate: Specs can be misleading, what matters is how it performs for the task you use it for. I will guarantee the Viair is slower at filling tires than the TC-BL. Obviously, either will work but I don't understand why anyone would want to deal with the 12V voltage converter and all the wiring modifications just to end up with a slower, less efficient, more expensive solution with more dangly bits to deal with. Ignore the specs, they are probably both rated at 0 PSI in order to get numbers that will look more impressive to people who don't know any better. How much of your inflating happens at zero psi? In practice, none of it, because the Schrader tire valve causes considerable backpressure with either of these compressors. It's a meaningless specification.

The four-way tire filling hose is AWESOME if you need to add 15-20 psi to all tires after deflating for off-roading. The circus would be filling each tire individually (like I had to do for many years). The reason for this is the Schrader tire valve is very restrictive, so restrictive that a lot of backpressure builds up between the compressor and the valve, causing the compressor to have a higher working pressure than the tire sees. By giving the inflator four wide open Schrader valves, the backpressure is greatly reduced, and the compressor can pump a much higher volume of air with less heat and work.

With a four-way hose, your compressor will run a lot cooler and last longer, you will consume less energy, and you will get back on the road a lot sooner. A side benefit is your tires will all be exactly the same pressure (which has real-world benefits I won't go into here). It's the right tool for the job.

If you are just filling a single tire, you don't need a four-way hose (or a fast compressor). On my street bikes I bring a 12V compressor that is smaller than a closed fist. Yes, it's slow, it takes around 8 minutes to fill a single motorcycle tire, but it's only for emergency puncture repair.

 

[arodriguezfeo]

Great information. I thought long and hard about the TC BL. It was Hauling actually, who laid out the pros and cons for me (thanks again!). So I overpaid for the Cybertruck air pump but I don’t really off-road enough to warrant the 4-way and manually minding the fills. The CT one is automatic and works great for my use.

 

[HAL GALLUS]

I wanted an alternative to the Tesla tire repair kit without the sealant (“tire goop”). Finding a 120 VAC portable compressor proved difficult, so I focused on 12 VDC automotive options. After some research, I chose the Viair 300P because of its positive reviews and reputation for quality.

Current Draw and Power Supply

• Measured Current Draw: The Viair 300P pulls about 2.2 amps at steady state.
• Power Supply Attempt #1: An 8-amp DC power supply didn’t work because the compressor’s locked rotor amperage (LRA) likely exceeds 8 amps. It actually short cycled.
• Power Supply Attempt #2: A 30-amp unit (found on Amazon resale) worked perfectly.

Enclosure and Setup

I like the idea of a battery or kayak box with lights and power outlets, but I wanted everything—power supply included—to fit in the Viair 300P’s storage bag. The power outlet box gives the added benefit of a USB charger while tailgating. I caught the 300P on sale for $150 and found the 30-amp power supply on Amazon resale for $34.

PVC Conduit Box:

• Perfect for the socket connectors once you notch them.
• Using a heat gun softens the PVC enough to mount USB and cigarette lighter sockets into the conduit connector posts.
• The posts help accommodate the length of the sockets.
• I mounted the switch is on the cover (it requires minimal depth).
• Cut the hole slightly small so you can screw it in.
• I wired the switch only to the lights.

Viair 300P Set-up:

• You will need to cut and splice an SAE connector to the end of the Viar cord.
• Reuse the alligator clips to splice back onto a male SAE connector so you can use this with any other vehicles battery posts.
• Pay attention to polarity with these type connectors.

Overall, the project was straightforward, and everything fits neatly into the Viair 300P bag. The final setup cost me around $256 and provides a portable, sealant-free air solution for the Tesla Cybertruck (or any vehicle you choose since it DC). The live links as of this writing cost about $289.

I’m sure there could be some improvements to this.

Parts List

Air Compressor (Viair 300P)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X90YUO

View attachment 84887

Power Supply (30 Amp)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092LYYZ3X

USB/Cigarette/Voltmeter Socket

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJZM8JR6

SAE Quick Connectors

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MKPRHPS

12V LED Dome Cargo Lights

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W69TDPV

RV Aux Power to SAE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL51VTLC

PVC Conduit Body

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-...VC-Type-LB-Conduit-Body-E986E-12-HD/100404084

I got this HUSKY at home depot for $40 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-120-Volt-Inflator-H120N/325096203

 

[65SoYoLO]

This is a quiet, compact 120V compressor that packs a real punch (turn it down to half speed to fill one tire at a time). When used with a 4-way tire inflator hose it will fill all four Cybertruck tires simultaneously from 30 to 50 psi in 4 minutes;

It has a brushless two speed motor and integrated controller for efficiency. The air output is a standard compressed air quick release. It fits neatly in one of the smaller side compartments of the smuggler's bay under the truck bed (for those who have the OEM dividers). It will run circles around the single piston 12V Viair inflator.

I would be surprised if the Tesla branded inflator runs natively on 12 volts inside. That would be a real disappointment. You would need 75 amps at 12 volts to match the 900 watt rating of the TC-BL compressor.

Just ordered this. Went out on the beach yesterday and was doing great without airing down. Well, for a while anyway. AT the END of the outer beach at Montauk park, I hit super soft sand and sunk like a rock. No problem, I aired down, locked the diff's and got right out of it. Drove to a more rocky part of the beach to insure egress then hung out, watched a movie on prime on my CT on the beach (awesome) and it was time to go home. Get to the gate where the air lines are and no air. I ask the person at the booth if they could turn on the air compressor and they said it is off for the winter. That did not answer my specific question, I already know it is off since there is no air coming out...So Now I have 23-25 air on my tires and forgot a battery for my Ryobi hand compressor.
That's it. I am buying a 120 volt compressor and leaving it in the truck. I had been looking around for a while and could not find one I was confident about with no first hand review.
I like what I see and it is 120 volts. I already have an air line so the compressor will be mounted on the molle panels with some 3d printed brackets my nephew can make. (He just don't know it yet ? )

 

[M0unt41nm4n]

I looked at the TC-BL but many of its recent reviews on Amazon said it fails after a short time with E08 error codes. I really wanted this one because of its high volume air. Reviews just weren’t there. I need an air compressor that is reliable because when you may really need it, you want it to work. Instead I got the Stealth 1 gallon air compressor as advocated by another member. I was concerned about the time it would take to fill, but it was surprisingly fast. It’s also extremely quiet. It’s small and fits nicely in the smugglers bay in the bed. It gets great reviews and the company is solid. I’m sure the TC-BL works for some folks, but YMMV.

 

[HaulingAss]

I looked at the TC-BL but many of its recent reviews on Amazon said it fails after a short time with E08 error codes. I really wanted this one because of its high volume air. Reviews just weren’t there. I need an air compressor that is reliable because when you may really need it, you want it to work. Instead I got the Stealth 1 gallon air compressor as advocated by another member. I was concerned about the time it would take to fill, but it was surprisingly fast. It’s also extremely quiet. It’s small and fits nicely in the smugglers bay in the bed. It gets great reviews and the company is solid. I’m sure the TC-BL works for some folks, but YMMV.

I would have been concerned about some of the negative reviews but it's pretty hard to find reviews of any complex manufactured item that don't say it broke or didn't work. Like all products you will mostly hear from people who encountered a problem while the thousands of satisfied customers will not be wasting their time commenting that "It works". Because they expect it to work.

I've kept mine in the smuggler's bay 24/7 and used it 25-30 times to add 20 psi to all four tires in everything from hot summer days to freezing temperatures and it works great.

That said, and as I've said repeatedly, this compressor is overkill for simply re-inflating a single tire after an emergency flat repair. It will work fine for that, but it's a solid chunk of metal that weighs 16.8 lbs. without a filling hose. The MorrFlate 4-way hose with pressure gauge built-in weighs another 6.6 lbs. (total 23.4 lbs). A kit that is only used for flat repair of one tire at a time can be lighter because it can afford to be slower.

This is also a great kit for those who tow trailers. Tesla recommends upping the inflation from 50 psi to 65 psi whenever towing trailers (at least with the AT tires). Gaining that 15 psi on all four tires with most inflators will take a lot longer than 4 minutes and likely result in towing without bothering to optimize the tire pressure for the job at hand. I have seen tons of towing range tests in which they never bothered to run the proper tire pressure, either because they didn't know or maybe they had no easy way to quickly raise the pressure 15 psi.

This can also be used at home for light garage use. It can be paired with a 5 gallon tank that stays at home if you need to periodically run a legacy air tool, etc. (although most have gone all-electric by now).

 

[resellpanda88]

what is the advantage of having this setup vs a portable tire inflator? i have this in my bed when i will be traveling:

https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCC02...ocphy=9004483&hvtargid=pla-2281435180058&th=1

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