T-Max 180660 BA2663 air compressor review and future ideas

I have bought a T-MAX 12V Air Compressor - The 45amp, 150PSI version (BA2663) for my Defender step project. The Model No. 180660.
There are a few accessories included which are 8m (Not 10m as stated in the video, sorry!) of hose and a few airbed/ball adaptors. None of these I will be using. The plan is to permanently install this compressor under the passenger seat in the Defender to provide an air supply to a small air reservoir for the air actuators for both steps. I don’t think the actuators are too heavy on the air and the reservoir will act as a buffer. More on this in a later video. Back to the review…..
The compressor (T-Max) came well packed from an eBay supplier and the manufacturer supplied it in a strong box and polystyrene shell. All the contents arrived in an excellent condition. Opening the box and removing the top poly layer revealed a nylon zipped bag containing the T-Max. This would be handy if you wanted to keep all the bits and piece together in your car. Unzipping it exposed the compressor unit.
At first look it appears to be a well-made item. It has a good weight to it which often means quality, not always though. The T-max sits on a pressed steel tray, isolated by 4 rubber mounts. On the underside of the tray are another 4 rubber feet. This will certainly mitigate some of the vibrations produced by the compressor. I did a bit of prodding and poking of the compressor and I must say it has got my seal of approval so far. Now to the limited test.
I deflated an 18” Defender tyre to 10PSI. Having clipped the T-Max power cable to the truck battery I fired it up on the tyre and found it took less than 90 seconds to restore it to the normal 32PSI I use. I was very impressed and I also observed the T-Max barely got warm although it was a short test. The current drawn on load was a tad over 43amps. It states in the manual that you should run the engine in the vehicle when using the T-max. This is something I would agree with. The croc clips remained cold when on the battery which shows they do grip very well.
As stated earlier I bought this for my step project, linked below, but I think I will also be using it as required to pump up tyres as and when needed as soon as I add an addition port to it. Keep a look out for future videos as I’m sure this will feature in them.
My Defender deployable step project, Pt.1 • Land Rover Defender TD...
Link to eBay seller from whom I bought the compressor at the cost around £98 delivered in Jan 2020. Now £121, about the same as Amazon, also linked below.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T-MAX-12V-...
Link to Amazon:
amzn.to/3geG5eV
Some of the links above may be out of date so make sure you get the 160litre ‎BA2663/8016601 version, I think its the better version.
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[@caryfielder3796]

Very informative vid mate, well done. Looking at one of these for my LRD 90 👌

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Cary, mine must have been fitted for over 12months and is used daily (For my step project) and so far absolutely no issues! Thanks for watching 👍🏽

[@barrettbilali9727]

Good stuff. I just bought one in Zagora, Morocco and had it installed in my Landrover Disco 2. It performs well and mounted in upper left corner. So good

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Barrett, Yes, I'm loving mine, it does what it needs to when asked. All good. Thanks for the comments and for watching 👍🏽

[@barrettbilali9727]

@@MikeMakesIt Thanks for your response. I also added a small tank making it like on steroids. Peace

[@gerhardschmitz1]

Thank‘s a lot for testing.

[@MikeMakesIt]

No problem! I'm still using it daily in the Defender step project and it has been faultless. Thanks for watching.

[@gerhardschmitz1]

@@MikeMakesIt Thank‘s , good to know, I ordered one for my car…now

[@elmonty6500]

Good vid thanks

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi El, glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching 👍🏽

[@RoyFJ65]

This is really good stuff and OEM to Ironman and others.

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Roy, thanks for the feed back, much appreciated. 👍🏽

[@rml10000]

Hi Mike, Did you ever make a video of how you installed it under the seat. I'm trying to do the same but don't know if I can put a pressure switch on it without an air receiver. Cheers.

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Martin, I've done a series of videos with regards to my Deployable steps project using the T-Max compressor. The eighth and final video is almost completed where I plan to show every thing in place. Could be in a coupe of weeks. The closest I go at the moment is in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZCrnpqCm6igbLs where you can see the placement of the compressor base. It does all fit, even with the electronics! The pressure switch I've used is mounted on the separate panel that goes to the RH side of the compressor. The switch panel is in the electronics video seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4fQfGd4hqx8idk. I hope that helps a little but keep watching for Part 8, not too long now!

[@pingmurtuza]

Hi Mike Good informative video, how to make it auto Cutoff inflation after setting up Required PSI with digital tyre gauge? Is there a way to do it?

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Murtuza. I've set mine to auto cut off using a standard air sensor switch on the output. This interrupt the power to the compressor when it reaches the sensor preset high. The only thing is they are not adjustable, certainly mine is not. It turns on at 90psi and off at 120psi which is what I needed for my step project in the Land Rover found here kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip_Zg4qMl7V-f7s There may be a device out there that could work but I've not seen it. I know there are tyre inflators which have a built in cutoff at a desired user preset pressure, like this one: amzn.to/3GwYqOs but I cannot vouch for the quality as I have never owned one. I hope this helps a little, thanks for watching 👍🏽

[@peterjuhasz5143]

Thank You for this review! It was very useful for me. I'm searching a portable compressor for my LR Discovery 1. I've the stock tyre size, which is 205/80-R16, and my expectation is to get this size of tyre from 1.5 Bar (22 Psi) to 2.2 Bar (32 Psi). What is Your opinion, how much time is needed for this compressor to do this job? Thank You for Your answer!

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi, I went from 10psi to 30psi in 90 seconds with a 265/65R18 tyre so just at a guess I'd say less than 30 seconds a corner. Remember the compressor I have is the higher power/output of the 2 I know about in the T-Max range. Hope that helps, Mike

[@peterjuhasz5143]

Thank You for Your answer, Mike! It's help me a lot!! 30 seconds sounds real good! Now I search a little bit more among the portable compressors, but the T-max's pice is good, maybe it would be my choise.

[@matthewlippert]

Hi Mike, thanks for the review. I've bought one and would love to know how you converted it to PCL? Can you recommend how best to do this?

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi, remember I'm going to use the compressor for my Defender step project but if you just need to use the compressor "normally" I'd suggest you cut off the end (the end furthest from the compressor) supplied and fit one of these. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2PC-Airline-PCL-fitting-with-barb-for-3-8-8mm-pipe/302669178984 From memory you need one with an 8mm barb, but do check. When you have pressed the barb right into the pipe (liquid soap helps) fit a good quality jubilee clip to hold everything in place. Hope that helps, Mike

[@matthewlippert]

@@MikeMakesIt that's great. Thanks very much Mike

[@ned900]

I have had one of these compressors for about 8 years, and a few years ago a seal failed on it, and it would not inflate passed 25psi. So I left it. I returned to it last night and took it apart. The fins you see on the side of the cylinder, they are plastic. So totally useless thermally. Just for show. The head is cast steel, and the cylinder is mild steel, and the crankshaft chamber is cast steel. The major failing really is the plastic cooling fins. I plan to fabricate fins for mine, using aluminium sheet. The cylinder wall is 65mm in diameter so I bought a 65mm holesaw, to cut suitable holes in a sheet of aluminium. In retrospect a 64mm holesaw might have been better, and then file it out to size, that way I hope to get a tight fit. What else - it does not seem like there is a rebuild kit available for this model. An O-ring failed in mine, so that's easy enough to find, but the rubber gasket in the head looks like it might be a problem to buy. A Viair, in contrast, is totally serviceable. You can buy a new head, you can buy a new piston, you can get gaskets, its all meant to be serviced and to go on forever. Also, the cylinder on a Viair is aluminium and has cooling fins, it is one solid block# of aluminium. So that's it. You live, you learn.

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Ned900, very interesting comments. Thanks for that. When I was looking at buying a compressor I did shop around and the T-Max seemed to fit my budget and situation the best. If I had paid more however I'm sure I would have ended up with a much more repairable item although so far so good. Fingers crossed! It actually gets little use as it only fires up after about 10 actuations of the Defenders steps and at the moment is only used for that purpose so hopefully won't be overused. Videos for the Defender step project here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip_Zg4qMl7V-f7s Thanks for watching and the great ideas 👍🏽

[@SphericallyChallenged]

What about inflating a large caravan air awning? Frontier Pro 400 to be precise.

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi M R. Whilst the T-Max might manage to do the inflation really its better for low volume and high pressure applications. I'd suggest something like this: amzn.to/32vfPch Not only would it be more suitable for your application it would also use considerably less power. The T-Max uses around 43amps while I would expect the above blower to use about an amp. There are many units suitable for the awning and the link above is an example of what I would use. You will need to satisfy yourself on quality and application on the exact blower you buy. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching 👍🏽

[@julied6527]

Hi I have used this compressor only once now its not working any idea why

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Julie. There is a reset button on the compressor that may have tripped. Pressing this will reset it if indeed thats the problem. Other things to look for are bad connections to the croc clips. The compressor draws a huge amount of current (43amps) so make sure the car/truck is running when trying the compressor. Inside the cable end of the compressor is a relay, its possible this has an issue or simply an internal cable has broken loose. Mine I must admit has been faultless and in my application it is used daily with no issues. I hope you find the problem. Feel free to comment again with more information and I'll try and help further. Thanks for watching 👍🏽

[@RenoLaringo]

Hi Mike, I got the same 160L/min compressor and I changed the small yellow hose and fittings for standard size PCL ones. Its fast and powerful. One question though: when I connect my digital gauge and let the compressor run, the pressure valve keeps activating every 10 sec or so. Obviously this does not occur when I'm inflating a tire or anything else, just when I let the unit idle without letting it blow air ( the digital gauge tire blower does not let air come out if you don't press the lever of course). I'm assuming this is normal. Can you confirm this?

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Reno, thanks for the question. No this isn't normal if I understand you correctly. By the sound of it the safety release valve is actuating as the compressor isn't turning off when it get to the desired upper pressure which is around 110psi in my case. It sounds as if the unit which has the main on/off switch in it is not sensing it has got to 110psi and shutting off the compressor. Normally when it gets to 110psi this is what happens. When you use up some air and the tank pressure gets below a preset value the compressor will restart and fill to the preset upper limit then shut off again. I'd suggest you get this sorted ASAP as if the safety valve fails the tank will explode. I hope this helps. Thanks for watching 👍🏽

[@RenoLaringo]

@@MikeMakesIt Wow! ok, thank you so much for the info Mike! I went into the manual (which I should have done in the first place) and noticed it states that the unit should not be used with a device that is blocking airflow, which is precisely what I did (I was using an aftermarket digital gauge inflator that I bought separately as the gauge coming with this unit has bad reviews regarding its precision). This inflator hose has a lever (like the pro ones used in garages) and the unit keeps actuating the security valve each time à don't press the lever, meaning each time I let the pressure build in the unit. If I understand you, the compressor should stop no matter what I connect to it when it reaches a certain pressure...is that right? I will try tomorrow with the original hose and gauge and see if the unit stops by itself or not. The only problem is that I have to try on a tire, and I'm concerning exploding it(110 or 150psi is quite a pressure for a car tire, don't you think so?).I thank you very much for your warning!

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi Reno. Hold on, for some reason (probably because I replied to you in there middle of the night!) I thought we were talking about the Jun-air air compressor. The TK Max does NOT have a device that switches it on and off at a certain air pressure. Indeed it will do exactly as you say, it will keep running when you use a tyre pressure gun and blow the safety valve like it is doing when you release the tyre pressure lever. If you leave it running on a tyre it could over inflate the tyre and cause the tyre to explode. DO NOT DO THIS, ALWAYS ONLY INFLATE THE TYRE TO ITS CORRECT PRESSURE AND DISCONNECT THE TYRE AND COMPRESSOR. So to answer you first question correctly, yes it is normal for the valve to blow every ten seconds or so when you let it idle. I'd suggest it's not good practice to allow it to idle for very long for the same reason I gave earlier as if the valve failed the tank could explode. On my Defender deployable step project I have actually used the compressor with a pressure switch which turns the compressor off at 120psi and back on at 80psi. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding and hope this explains a bit more clearly for you.

[@RenoLaringo]

@@MikeMakesIt Ok ok, Now I get it Mike. It all makes perfect sense indeed. I thought my device was probably malfunctionning but what you say is perfectly logical. I will now use the original hose to inflate my tyres and use the tyre gun in the end just to make sure the pressure reading is accurate. I will avoid letting the unit idle and decompress like it now does. 10 bar is obviously something that could turn out to be very dangerous indeed if suddenly something should fail. I can't tank you enough for the time and effort you put in helping me sort this issue. I wish you the best to happen there. Greetings from Belgium !

[@MikeMakesIt]

Hi, I'm glad we are the same page now. As I said earlier I use a switch which will turn mine on and off in the application I am using it in. I hope you will find it a good addition to your workshop, it seems like a great compressor. Thanks for the great comment and for watching 👍🏽

[@DANPINAdventure]

Perche' tutti i landroveristi hanno una tazza sul tavolo?

[@MikeMakesIt]

Forse perché a tutti noi piace una tazza di tè? I hope you enjoyed the video, thanks for watching 👍🏽