Find answers to the most frequently asked customer questions about our TireTek RX-i Inflator here, along with Video User Guides, PDF Downloads and Troubleshooting Tips below.

If you can’t find what you are looking for, please do CONTACT US with your enquiry. We’re here to help!

RX-i: COMMON QUESTIONS

What is the unit's power requirements and fuse rating?

Power required for this unit is 12 volts DC rated at 8 amps. Check in owners manual whether your vehicle cigarette lighter power socket is fused to 8 amps (modern vehicles are usually 15 Amps). If the fuse is below 8 amps on your vehicle, connect directly to the car battery terminals via a clip-on adapter to avoid blowing the car’s fuse.

How long can I leave the compressor running?

The inflator is NOT designed for long periods of sustained use. All small compressors will get hot after a few minutes use regardless of watts, size or output. This unit has a maximum duty cycle of 10 minutes, it should then be allowed to cool for 15-20 minutes before resuming to avoid overheating. In practice, this will usually mean letting the unit cool after each 2 tires inflated successively.

Should my vehicle be running while I'm using the inflator?

It is recommended to leave your vehicle engine running during operation to preserve battery power, increase performance and to provide a consistent level of input power to the unit so that the motor is not overly strained due to insufficient power supply.

Always plug in the inflator BEFORE connecting to the vehicle tire and turning on the air compressor. As the inflator runs at 100W, there is a small risk that overcurrent could blow the car fuse if you plug in the compressor while the power switch is turned ON and connected to the tire.

What is the correct operating sequence?

a) Connect the power cable and wait for the display to turn on.
b) Set the desired pressure on the display (see TIPS below).
c) Connect the air hose to the tire valve (the current pressure is displayed).
d) Turn the compressor power switch to ON to begin inflation.

How quickly will it inflate a tire from flat?

Inflation of most common car tires to normal operating pressure using this tire inflator should take around 4 minutes to 30 psi. If you notice the meter pressure increasing very rapidly during inflation, it could indicate a blockage and no air is not being injected into the tire. If this happens, it is vital to turn off the unit immediately and disconnect the air hose to avoid damaging the motor.

What is the maximum PSI the unit will inflate to?

The compressor is rated for use up to a maximum of 100 PSI. Do not use on high pressure tires found on some commercial vehicles, agricultural or specialist vehicles that are above 100 PSI.

Can I use the inflator on balls, air beds, camping equipment etc?

Yes, the TireTek RX-i Tire Inflator is widely used worldwide as a convenient, portable 12V compressor for the inflation of both vehicle tires and a wide range of inflatable equipment. It is supplied with a range of adapters for this purpose. IMPORTANT: please remember when inflating large items such as rafts etc. that the maximum continuous operation duty cycle is 10 minutes before the unit must be left to cool.

Can the digital display be set to KG / BAR as well as PSI?

The large, easy to read digital display can be set to PSI, BAR or KG as required up to a maximum 100 PSI (7 BAR). See operating TIPS below.

RX-i: TIPS & TROUBLESHOOTING
  1. Turn on the car engine and insert the unit’s power plug into the car cigarette lighter socket (or connect to the clip-on battery adapter).
  2. When the LED display lights up, press ‘M’ repeatedly to choose the desired measurement unit. This can be PSI, BAR or KG as required.
  1. Ensure the ON/OFF switch on the compressor is in the OFF position.
  2. Turn on the car engine and insert the power plug into the vehicle’s cigarette lighter power socket.
  3. Set the required tire pressure (see below).
  4. Screw the valve connector on the other end of the air hose (or yellow air hose extension if used) clockwise onto the vehicle tire valve. Ensure the connector is connected properly on the tire valve stem, but do not over tighten.
  5. Press the single ON/OFF button on the front of the compressor to switch the unit ON.
  6. Check the air pressure display on the compressor to monitor the status of the tire. (Please refer to the owners manual or on the tire itself for the recommended tire pressure).
  7. Once the desired pressure has been reached, the compressor will stop automatically a few seconds after the required pressure is shown on the LED display. It is normal to loose a little air when unscrewing the air hose, so the pre-set memory auto cut-off will slightly overfill to allow for this difference – so when setting use the exact pressure required.
  8. You’re done! You can now unscrew the inflation hose and replace the tire valve cap.
  1. Turn on the car engine and insert the unit’s power plug into the car cigarette lighter socket (or connect to the clip-on battery adapter).
  2. DO NOT turn on the compressor power switch at this stage.
  3. When the LED display lights up, first ensure the desired unit of measurement is selected as above.
  4. Press the ‘M’ button to select the display mode (PSI, Bar, kPa or kg/cm), then simply press + or – to adjust the desired pressure setting required.
  5. Connect the air hose to the car tire valve and ONLY THEN turn on the compressor power switch to inflate.
  6. Once the set pressure has been attained, the compressor will stop automatically a few seconds after the required pressure is shown on the LED display, to allow for air loss while disconnecting.