Inside a clever USB air pump teardown with hack

This is a clever approach to making a portable air pump. Whether you need to aerate something while travelling or have an emergency battery backed or solar powered air source, this unit could be useful.
It's based on what appears to be a standard pump with a very minimalist cover, and current is low - especially after a little hack.
I'm not sure what overall lifespan this unit has for continuous operation. The weakest points may be the rotating offset pin-cam or the motor brushes.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of KZbin's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.

[@jhonbus]

Rubber flaps? I barely know 'er!

[@TheRubbertube]

Was hoping you would wind it up to the full 12v

[@donkee]

From led bulbs to air pumps, I always seem to come back to your videos even though I search for something completely different. You explain well so thank you!

[@deavman]

6:22

[@cberge8]

I've had one of these running as the sole air pump on my aquarium since this video came out. I have it plugged into a power bank that is always charging so in the event of a power outage I get about 3 days runtime before the power bank is depleted. I was originally very sceptical of the longevity of the pump, but a year later at 24h/day run time it's still going strong.

[@unperrier5998]

Why didn't you go up to 12V? I wanted to see bubbles! :)

[@ChainsawFPV]

Thank you so much. This video answered so many questions I had about this pump. I'm building a micro fog machine for electric RC airplanes and needed a micro air pump that would meet certain specs. This video saved me from having to test a bunch of motor combos. This setup will do exactly what I need.

[@gusmartin6053]

That was a really cool stroboscopic effect! Almost like you had a high speed camera.

[@millomweb]

Looks an excellent pump - little to go wrong and a great little motor that even starts at 1V.

[@juansolo1617]

Hey, that's the electric supercharger for my Kia Rio.

[@H2R5GSXR]

Works like an RV water pump, just much smaller and pumps air. Thanks for explaining the need for that resistor. Love your channel.

[@mavos1211]

Clive I absolutely love how you make yourself laugh with Innuendos.

[@thomasesr]

Everyone wants to see 12V. I myself want 20V

[@davidf2281]

Welcome to 2020, where appliances have resistors specifically to waste energy

[@starofeden9277]

Now this was a good recommendation from KZbin.

[@finnman89]

Got ten of these. Not only can you use them in emergencies or when shipping fish, it is very valuable as a standard air pump because it is alot more quite than other air pumps. Air pumps are usually noisy!

[@life_with_bernie]

Fishy Fun Fact: It's not the bubbles coming up through the water that adds air, it's the movement in the surface of the water they cause that does it.

[@BillyNoMates1974]

Shove 12 volts into it. I bet that will pump some air then

[@sakthicon]

This is exactly what I was searching for. Thank you.

[@rollyherrera623]

Big Clive! Cheers mate fron Texas! You teach me alot, and I have been a commercial high voltage electrician 30+ yrs, 480/277 3 phase...Now, Im into micro-circuitry beyond PLCs! Thank You!!!