Customer Reviews

Interdynamics TX-300 TyphoonMax 12-Volt High Speed Air Compressor

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I don't like hunting around for service stations with free, working air pumps to keep my tires at proper inflation...so I decided to invest in a portable compressor. I wanted one that had a built-in gauge to avoid having to switch back to a separate gauge. The TyphoonMax 300 fit the bill. However, the chuck threads onto the tire stem, rather than quick-fastening. This results in a loss of anywhere from 2-4 pounds of pressure when you remove the chuck, no matter how quickly you unscrew it. You then have to doublecheck your pressure with a separate gauge once you've removed the Typhoonmax chuck. This defeats the purpose of a built-in gauge! This device may be appropriate for vehicles with really large tires, but if you only are trying to maintain proper inflation of standard car tires, there is no need for a screw-on chuck that you can leave for a few minutes.

Also - another annoyance - the power and chuck cables come shipped neatly stored in the back of the device, but the power cord is impossible to "re-store" in the same position, forcing you to leave it hanging or wrapped around the device when not in use.

The unit does have an on-offswitch, inflates fairly rapidly, and is not too noisy. But the product design oversights above are making me consider returning it and purchasing a more convenient alternative.

I've been delighted with this item since I got it, especially since I have a tire that for years slowly deflates [it's not the tire, probably a slightly warped wheel). I tried another plug in model, and it took about half an hour to inflate one tire: that was a joke. This thing works as planned. I plug it into the lighter socket (leave the motor running so you don't drain the battery) and this unit easily reaches each tire (through an open window) and gives you a read out. I know others have complained about losing 1 or 2 psi while unscrewing the chuck. Well, it's a high quality brass chuck, and I'm supposing there's a reason you don't have a cheapo clip on a tire that has the weight of a car or truck on it. So I fill to 2 psi above the recommended, and then unscrew. I don't bother remeasuring.

This unit is quick, so in a minute or so I've brought my tire up to pressure, and it's easily portable to the next tire. I'm very happy with my purchase.

This unit is well designed, easy to use. I like this unit's screw-on fitting better than the clamp-on type that most pumps come with. You lose a tiny bit of air - less than 1 psi - while screwing it on or off. But it stays on more securely than the clamp-on kind. The guage is great - even though it reads all the way up to 250 psi, it has an expanded scale down around 30 psi where car tires like to be, so you can tell the difference between 29 and 30.

After spending half an hour trying to inflate a bicycle tire to 55 psi with this compressor, I gave up. The thread-on chuck on this unit releases a large quantity of air while it is unscrewed; despite letting the unit pump to an *indicated* 80psi level, (then hastily unscrewing the chuck!) none of my efforts resulted in a higher reading than 40 psi(using a separate mech. gauge). FWIWD, I had no problem accessing the valve stem on the bicycle tire(s), and I do not feel that it would have made any difference. No matter how swiftly I unscrewed/disengaged the chuck, pressure was lost.
I didn't buy this unit to spend 30 min. pumping 1 bicycle tire to a soft 40 psi. Simply put, the TyphoonMax TX-300 12v does not do the job.
I am currently looking for a 120v unit without a "thread-on" chuck.

I have an inflator, but when I blew a fuse with it, I thought it was time to look into alternatives. I ordered this unit from Amazon after reading the reviews and comparing them to reviews for similar items. I think it looks pretty cool, with its red color and rugged appearance.

This unit is very substantial, as it is more than double the size of my old inflator, and about three times the weight. It has a very large and easy to read psi dial that has very usable gradations on the scale. It has a brass chuck with a substantial feel that twists onto the tire valve. This is different from the plastic type that clips onto the valve stem with a small lever. This metal chuck has a feel of quality and ruggedness.

The chuck is made of a heavy brass that twists onto the valve stem and tightens with a nurled barrel positively, quickly and easily. It loosens equally well. It requires a bit of practice removing it as it lets out about a psi during the 1/2 to 1-1/2 seconds it takes to unscrew the tire chuck. It does fill up the tire in about 2 minutes as opposed to the 10 minutes my other unit takes, from about 22 to 30 psi. The on/off button is a bit less positive in its action. It is also a bit less loud as it pumps. It will operate either standing upright or laying flat, as it has little rubber feet to accommodate either position.

The handle is nice to grip, but does not fold away, making it kind of bulky. This takes up a lot more space in my small trunk. It also is virtually impossible to wind up the cigarette lighter cord and air hose and fit them back into the small, tight recessed compartment in the back of the unit, as it was supposed to. I broke the flimsy plastic cover on the first try. I don't have the kind of patience it would take to put the cord and hose away as it should.

I use it to fill a tire every few days with a chronic slow leak. Overall, it does what it is supposed to. I like the unit and would buy another.

I am VERY disappointed in what I thought was a good product from a good company. Since going Chinese, it's crap. I bought this pump wanting good flow rate, reliability and long life. It broke completely after a few dozen uses.

First a hinge pin snapped off so that the rear door fell off. The gauge is consistently about 6 psi above all other devices that I read the pressure with. So it can't be trusted. Then part of the brass screw-on connector snapped off internally, so that it does not compress the tire's valve pin. Instead, air just rushes out at 100 psi instead of inflating the tire. Unit dead. I'll never buy from this company again. Brass should not fracture just screwing it on. Don't buy this.

The TyphoonMax has all the features you need for fast easy tire inflation. Anteater chuck head (heavy brass with rubber grip) easily reaches deep into any hubcap/wheel configuration. This screw on chuck head connector is superior to the quick connect design (which loosen with time thus allowing for leakage during inflation). Note: snub nose connectors such as at the gas station do not conjoin tightly to many modern wheel angles. Features include easy to read pressure gauge, durable housing, and long lighter adaptor cord. But most importantly it gets the job done quickly (16 inch tire; 25 to 40 in 3 minutes). No more driving to the gas station in the rain/snow to find their compressor is "temporarily" out of order. No more guessing when you have reached the specified pressure. Note: overinflate tire by 2 pps to compensate for loss during chuck head unsrewing. Inflate tires in the comfort of you garage (keep that door open pal) or in an emergency on the side of the road.

It's fast. It's easy to use. It's reasonably quiet. It seems to be made very well. The brass, quick-connect chuck screws on quickly and easily. I didn't lose much air connecting the chuck. Perhaps I didn't lose air because I don't try to push the chuck onto the stem?? I just place it on and the screw it in. As the chuck screws into the stem, you can hear some air coming out, but if you have the slightest of nimble fingers, it doesn't take long, at all, until the air stops getting released from the tire. I'd give it five stars, but, only a magician can get the hose and power line back into the small compartment at the back. The package says "Amazing Inflation Speed!". Believe it!

This tire inflator has a number of substantial benefits which makes it well worth recommending.First, it is very light and portable (in the 5#or less range). Second, the tire nozzle easily fits on the tires and the large pressure gauge provides a quick read on tire pressure. Third, it inflated my automobile tires fairly rapidly (10#pressure in approximately 3 minutes). Fourth, I've experienced no problems attaching it to my car's 12 V connection. The only negative, and my reason for the four-star rating, is that it is difficult to put the wires back in the compartment and the plastic door in the back is fairly flimsy (mine has snapped off). However, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

After reading reviews of several compressors, I bought this one hoping it would work quickly without overheating. I can say that it does both very well. It is light weight and well-conceived, with a handle to carry, and a compartment in the back that holds the power cord and the hose. There is an on-off switch on the front and as you can see, and a pressure gauge so you don't have to unscrew the hose to check pressure. I don't know what the fuss is regarding the screw-on hose...I just overfilled a lb. or 2 and had no trouble at all. I also bought a 12' extension cord so I could reach other vehicles and trailers.
The only recommendation I would make is that the manuf. should have a sticker on the back with the instruction sheet so you have it at all times. (oh yes, and lose the clam-shell packaging!!)

I give it one thumb up! (I lost the other one opening the package!)

**Added later** The nozzled tip broke for me so I contacted the manuf and they sent out two new tips (2 different styles) at no charge. Otherwise it's still working great!