Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)So far this unit has performed well. I used it to jump-start a raggedy old farm tractor, and the little box seems to have an impressive amount of cranking power (for short bursts, anyway).
I've used the inflator twice to inflate a car and a truck tire. Takes awhile to get a tire up to pressure, but's that's normal with these little compressors. For it's size, it's quite adequate as an emergency air source. Took me about 8 minutes to bring the car tire up from 25 PSI to 45 PSI (under the weight of the vehicle). Really not that bad.
The truck tire took a bit longer, as I had to stop the unit to let it cool down. B&D recommends running the inflator for no more than 10 minutes continuously. Total time to bring this nearly-flat tire up to pressure: Just under a half-hour. Again, not too shabby considering how small this thing is.
I like the layout of the controls and indicators. Clear, easy to read, easy to access. Storage for the jumper cables is OK. I'd prefer to see them stowed in a sealed compartment, but they seem pretty secure. Keep the clamps clean, and there shouldn't be any issues storing this in a car.
Storage for the inflator hose is cheesy. It's stuffed into a tiny compartment, and you have to really bend the hose in order to get it inside. The maximum length of the air hose is about 2 feet. You must set the unit very close to the tire for the hose to reach the valve. Not a problem for me so far, but keep this in mind if you need a unit with a long reach. B&D could have done better here.
A major gripe I have is that the inflator has no provision for a backup power source. Depending on how long the internal battery will remain charged in storage, you might find it lacks the juice to power the unit in an emergency. Why couldn't B&D include a 12V cigarette adaptor for this situation? For a unit that's supposed to be a piece of emergency gear, this seems like a glaring oversight. You'd better hope that the internal battery is extremely reliable - without it, the unit is useless. Could have been a five-star rating if not for that issue.
Overall, I'm pleased with this purchase. Reliability will be the ultimate test, and it's still too early to pass judgement. If it holds up season after season, and delivers the goods when really needed, I may change my rating to 5 stars. For under 100 bucks, I'd say give it a try.
UPDATE: 12 Jan 2010
The inflator died on me, with less than 4 hours total runtime. The motor was cranking away, but there was no air pressure at all. Brought it to a B&D service center, and paid $15 to have a new one shipped to my home. No hassle at all returning the unit, and the replacement is working as advertised - so far. Maybe I just got a lemon, so I'm not going to downgrade the rating at this time. Will check back at a later date.
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Product Description:
The Black & Decker 500-Amp Jump Starter with Inflator provides instant starting power to get you back on the road fast.The integrated 120 PSI inflator is ideal for filling vehicle tires, sporting equipment, air mattresses, and other inflatable items.This jump starter features an innovative low-profile design for easy storage in your vehicle or garage, and it keeps you safe with visual and audible reverse polarity alarms to warn against an improper connection to the battery terminals. It also comes equipped with an ultra-bright area light for easy use at night, and the cable clamps store easily on the unit.
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