Running a small compressor off the auxiliary line in the headlight - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Nick Mystic · 10-21-2008, 11:41 PM

I installed a cigarette lighter outlet to power my GPS unit by running it off the extra wire inside the headlight assembly. This has worked fine for my GPS unit, which has a minuscule power requirement. I've read about problems some people have had with over heating their ignition switch assembly when they use this wire to power light bars that draw a lot of power. For that sort of electrical power it's been suggested to run directly off the battery with a relay.

Here's my question: I picked up one of those tiny portable air compressors that plug into a cigarette lighter socket to use as an emergency tire inflation device if I get caught on the road with a slow leak, etc. Does anyone know, how much power such a device uses? The documentation that came with the unit says it draws 12 amps, but this might have been a misprint since the text made it sound like they were referring to it working off a 12 volt electrical system.

I tested it by running it for a few minutes plugged into my auxiliary outlet with the key turned on, but the engine not running. The unit worked fine and I did not feel any heat building up on the ignition plug where my key was inserted. Does anyone have any experience running one of these small compressors powered the way I've described? The instructions say you shouldn't run it for more than 15 minutes at a time with a 30 minute rest between uses so that it won't overheat. I'm guessing it would only need to run around 5 minutes or so for the use I would make of it to top off a slow leak until I could get home.