The presence
of two cylinders in the design of the pump / compressor.
This feature is found mainly among compressors (see “Type”). Usually, it is a sign of a powerful performant device: two working cylinders allow pumping twice as much air in one cycle as in a single-cylinder model with the same diameter and piston stroke. This is especially useful when inflating large tyres such as trucks, buses, heavy SUVs, etc. The downside of this design is increased weight and dimensions, as well as increased energy consumption due to additional resistance on the pistons. So it makes sense to pay attention to such devices in cases where high performance is decisive for you.
On the market you can also find foot pumps with two cylinders; they share the same features.
The capacity of the compressor (see "Type") is the maximum amount of air that it can pump into the tyre in a minute.
Higher performance reduces the time required to inflate the wheel; on the other hand, this parameter directly affects the dimensions, weight, power consumption and price of the compressor. So it is worth choosing according to performance, taking into account real needs. So, for a “duty” tyre inflation in a passenger car, a compressor with a low operating speed is quite enough — up to
20 L / min inclusive. And if the speed of full pumping is also important for you (for example, after replacing the rubber) — you can choose a unit for
21 – 40 L / min. In turn, models with more solid characteristics —
41 – 60 L / min and
more — are intended mainly for heavy equipment like SUVs, trucks, tractors, etc.
Separately, it should be noted that this parameter is NOT suitable for calculating the exact inflation time (even if the exact volume of air in the wheel is known). The fact is that the actual performance of the compressor is always lower than the claimed one: the figures in the characteristics are indicated for free air outlet, and when pumping the wheels, the pumping speed will inevitably be lower due to the resistance of the nipple.
