"Slime" compressors for flats

alice · Post by **alice** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:25 pm

After having the lovely experience of a flat tyre on the Albany motorway at 0515 in the rain with a boot full of stuff, a passenger and a dog on board and a spacesaver tyre, I'm looking at those "Slime" packs in Repco, the ones with a compressor you plug into the cigarette lighter and a bottle of goo you pour into the tyre.
Questions: They require a 15 amp minimum from the lighter socket. What's the rating on a 1998 NB? And will the standard equipment battery cope with the compressor's requirements - 8 minutes to fully inflate the tyre?
Anyone out there have any clues? Please!
Happy New Year to all.
mike

poison · Post by **poison** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:43 pm

I've heard the new NC doesn't even come with a spare tyre, just an aerosol thing. I thought they were just an aerosol, I have not heard of having to plug a compressor in... anyone???

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Wed Jan 07, 2009 12:11 am

The NC comes with what Mazda call an IMS (Instant Mobility System). It's a
can of goo plus a compressor. I used the compressor to pump up my Terrano's
tyre that went half flat overnight. Worked well although a bit slow on such
a large tyre!
The instructions say to let all the air out of the tyre. squirt in the goo
then inflate with the compressor. They give you a sticker to stick on the
dash or where ever to remind you to not exceed 80km/h (I think it is) until
the tyre is repaired.
There is no spare in the NC, just more boot space.

Grant.

Post by **zorruno** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:55 pm

Happy New Year Mike.

alice wrote:Questions: They require a 15 amp minimum from the lighter socket. What's the rating on a 1998 NB?

The wiring diagram for the US '99 NB shows a 20Amp fuse for your cigarette lighter circuit.

alice wrote:And will the standard equipment battery cope with the compressor's requirements - 8 minutes to fully inflate the tyre?

You would do it with the engine running. I wouldn't try and run for that long on just the 12V battery. With the alternator going, you could keep going until the fuel ran out...

cheers

poison · Post by **poison** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:24 pm

zorruno wrote:With the alternator going, you could keep going until the fuel ran out...

That's interesting, what kind of fuel does your alternator use?

Post by **zorruno** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 3:50 pm

poison wrote:That's interesting, what kind of fuel does your alternator use?

Mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons... some benzene, toluene, naphthalene.......

.........smartass

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 5:05 pm

chop the cigarette plug off and put some aligator clips on instead. that way you can just hook it up straight to the battery.

Also if you want a spare for your NC you can use the alloy space savers as found on series 6 "batman" RX7's and RX8's and mount them under the floor. (you have to mod the rear exhaust to do this.)

heres the link:
http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.ph ... flowmaster

alice · Post by **alice** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 4:31 pm

Thanks for the info Zorruno, that gives me some hope.
I'm not sure about this, but I think the instructions with the Slime thinngy said NOT to run the engine while running the compressor. Must go and hacve another look in Repco.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:56 pm

An easy option might be to join the AA!
Just did some current measurements on a couple of small 12 volt compressors.
First a $12.99 one from The Warehouse. At no load the current is 4.3 amps.
At maximum load I can manage with my thumb on the outlet hose, the current
was 7 amps.
On the NC Mazda unit, no load current is 4 amps and maximum thumb load is
8.3 amps.
Not sure what the amphour capacity of an MX5 battery is but I think it's
about 30A/H. So if it is and the battery is fully charged then you should be
able to run these units at maximum load for 2 hours and still have plenty
left to start the car. You would definitely have plenty left to start the
car as both would have seized long before the 2 hours was up.
The Mazda unit is to be run for a maximum continuous time of 10 minutes. The
Warehouse one has no limits on the box so you should be able to run it
forever and when it stops they'll give you another as long as you have the
receipt!
even a 15amp requirement unit will allow you to fully inflate the tyre and
still have plenty left to start the car. If not then your battery is in need
of replacement.

Grant.

------------------------
1998 NB, chaste white[/quote]

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:35 pm

Should have added that these tests were done using a 13.6 volt 20 amp
regulated bench supply, not that it would make any difference.

Grant.

alice · Post by **alice** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 9:43 pm

Thanks, Grant, for that useful and interesting reply.
I am an AA member of long standing, but when the wife's cell phone had a flat battery the only option was a walk in the rain to the emergency phone. Not a pleasant experience even at a quiet time of day! And does the AA service operate at 0515?
Here's to a puncture free 2009.
mike

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:51 pm

The AA service is 24 hours a day. Also it's for the member, not the car so
no matter what car you are in, even if you are a passenger, then you are
covered.
I've had one puncture this year so far. As is normal for me though it was in
the 4WD and off road. My worst year I got 13 in 12 months! Not one on the
road though.
I am therefore quite happy to drive my NC without a spare.
If I did have a spare as someone suggested mounted under the floor, then
what do I do with the full size one when I have used the space saver? I'll
rely on the goo or the AA.

Grant.

------------------------
1998 NB, chaste white[/quote]

mcjohnruther · Post by **mcjohnruther** » Sun Dec 27, 2009 12:21 am

zorruno wrote:
poison wrote:That's interesting, what kind of fuel does your alternator use?
Mainly aliphatic hydrocarbons... some benzene, toluene, naphthalene.......

.........smartass

Hi Zorruno,
Thank you very much for the information you posted answering many questions with just one answer like a teacher in a classroom. And I have doubt too How can it be helpful in my economic things and mileage either.. I never doubt the product but just to know .. may I know one more thing about the working of the compressors at various conditions like high voltage and all.

Regards,
mcjohnruther.