Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34653 in Home Improvement
• Brand: Porter-Cable
• Model: EX5

Features

• 300 PSI inflator handles car tires, bike tires, sport balls, air mattresses, and much more
• Capable of two hours of continuous operation
• Dual power source: 120-volt rechargeable battery, or 12-volt power cord
• Lightweight design weighs just 11 pounds
• Inflator includes air hose, universal valve adapter, three inflation accessories.

Amazon.com Product Description
The Porter Cable Ex-Cell EX5 12-Volt/120-Volt Rechargeable Inflator provides up to two hours of continuous performance and inflates everything from car tires to sport balls. Operating at a maximum 300 PSI, the EX5 handles even high pressure jobs with ease, and its unique Vibration Isolation System keeps the device from excessive shaking during operation. Use the convenient 120-volt rechargeable battery when no power source is available, or use the included 12-foot, 12-volt power cord to operate the inflator. The EX5 comes with a universal valve adapter and three inflation accessories for added versatility.

From the Manufacturer
Ex-Cell EX5 12-Volt/120-Volt Rechargeable Inflator

Customer Reviews

great but 1 negative
It wasn't clear by the description that you were unable to use the inflator while plugged in. However, it performed more than adequately with a full charge. Note: You can use the car adaptor in a power emergency - when the battery is almost fully discharged.

High-quality inflator
Pros: Portable, so you don't need access to an AC plug. Can either use the built-in rechargable battery, or the cigarette lighter (they recommend not running it off of the cigarette lighter, but rather just using the lighter to charge the battery). Quiet and relatively quick for adding some air to a tire. Includes adapters so you could use it to inflate other things as well, such as an air mattress. Feels sturdy and well-built.

Cons: As others have said, you can't use it while it is plugged into the wall. But, if you got it because you want it to be portable, that's not so bad. It's also more pricey than other portable inflators, but it seems well-built and like it will last a long time as well. The internal storage compartment (where they expect you to store the AC adpater, cigarette lighter plugs, and hose) is a little tight -- you'll probably end up having to store something otuside of the unit.

Other thoughts: Good quality inflator if you don't want to be chained to AC wall plugs. Have used it to top off several tires and has worked well on each. Worth the money.

Overdesigned (but that is a good thing)
This product is well designed, but in my opinion it is overdesigned. First, I have no clue what item in this world needs 300 psi. My air tools I have only need 100 psi, bicycles around 40 psi, and even my air shocks on my vehicle need a maximum of 150 psi. My guess is that the manufacturer is trying to make a statement that the motor will not burn up when you perform normal inflation pressures (unlike my ex-$20 "tin-monkey" air compressor).

Secondly, there is absolutely no reason why the manufacturer needed to install shock vibration feet on this unit (see "blue feet" in the picture). There is very little vibration to this unit, much lower than my ex-20 dollar tin monkey.

Finally, the 12 volt receptacle. It's a gimmick because the reason why anyone buys this unit is to inflate tires, not to power your tv, vacuum or cell phone. I just wanted a unit that can inflate my tires and nothing else. I'm not too fond of the worklight, but I bet you a beer that the worklight will come in handy on that dark stormy night.

I looked everywhere to find what size battery is in the unit. Apparently, the manufacturer has knowledgeable engineers that know battery technology, because amp-hours vary with the type of load. In their manual, they state that you can charge a 7 watt cell phone for 10 hours or you can run a 100 watt vacuum for 22 minutes. If you do the math, the battery is somewhere around 3 amp-hours for the vacuum and 6 amp-hours for the cell phone. The manufacturer did state that the compressor could run continuously for 40 minutes, which I believe is a better data point than the cell phone and the vacuum. I tend to believe the 40-minute statement, because of their level of detail they have in their manual.

Bottom line: You get what you pay for. You can buy a $20 tin monkey and get less than half of the life of this unit or you can pay more and get a good quality product. My thought: I should have never bought the tin monkey.