Eletric Kite Inflation

[windmlv]

Just bought the "boatstogo" electric pump in Canada (Vancouver). Picking it up next week.
Will let you all know how it works out.
You can also find it on the net by searching for "Island Inflator pump".
Seems most of websites that come up are in Australia but I found one in Canada.
m

[Marty]

My comment was directed at the Briskites LeafBlower(tm) kitepump. But the boatstogo kitepump does look quite nice also.

As it happens, I've repaired and modified probably a few dozen of the Scoprega pumps. I'd love to see either company offer a pump without the automated stuff. Just a toggle switch for off-low-high pressure, and a pressure gauge. I'd also love to have a source of repair parts.

My bad, I thought it was the original video from boatstogo, until I watched Briskites,,, HA, HA,,,

My problem with the pumps is always the gears, not the electronics.
I just replaced a broken gear shaft on the high pressure side, gear.
From a old spare one I kept around.

They are great to use in the snow, and at 10,000 feet.
The hand pumps seem to never have much pressure, per stroke at that elevaton.

[Kamikuza]

... I think dry air is irrelevant in this discussion. Or rather, moist air is relevant ...

Nonsense. If you're going to compare air with Nitrogen, compare both dry. You're not going to compress and dry your own Nitrogen - are you? So compare air from a dive shop with Nitrogen from a welding shop. I'll bet the air will be cheaper ($3 - $7 for a 3000 psi fill of a full tank), and work every bit as well as the Nitrogen.

The point was that Nitrogen had all these magical properties. It doesn't.

Ultimately, I don't care about magical properties or cost or whether it's dry, damp or flavoured with bullshit ... I'd be using my own compressor to compress REGULAR OL' air so ...

What I want to know is - will filling up a kite's delicate bladder with a shot of compressed REGULAR OL' air be harmful in anyway?

[SBBeachbum]

(Ever watched a burnout at a drag race?)

You mean how the tyres deform due to inertia? Derp.

...

I'm not looking to reignite the shit-storm but ...

Let's compare apples and apples. How do you think dry air compares with dry Nitrogen for pressure stability?

... I think dry air is irrelevant in this discussion. Or rather, moist air is relevant ...

For a DIY inflation system using a bottle of compressed gas, a reasonable assumption would be that it would be filled up from a common-or-garden compressor and would be full of ... regular air, water vapour and all.

What I want to know is - will filling up a kite's delicate bladder with a shot of compressed air be harmful in anyway?

I've seen guys fill kites with a compressor at shops etc so SURELY the answer is yes ...?

Please do not start designing nuclear plants.

[SBBeachbum]

not all gases obey boyle's law for instance, no2 nitrogen dioxide does NOT obey boyles law what happens is that there is a complicated process where some of the no2 becomes n2o4 so that the pressure remains constant.

NO2 is also not part of regular air and therefore irrelevant for this discussion. (Unless we are talking heavy smog which does contain trace amounts of dinitroustetroxide)

[Kamikuza]

Please do not start designing nuclear plants.

So that's another "I have no idea" then. Thanks for your input

[plummet]

Lets go all silly. How about inflating your kite with helium??? lets forget that helium is as expesive as hell and consider the performance advantage. the lighter your kite is the better it performs. therefore a helium pumped kite should have awesome performance.

I wonder if it would float in the air unassisted by the wind?

ps you shouldn't have a problem inflating a kite with a compressor as long as the velocity is not too high and you have regulation or relief valve set a 9psig. Over inflation will lead to a big bang. Velocity too fast at the fill point could cause dammage to the bladder. if you used a standard kite pump hose then the velocity would be fine by the time you get to the kite. if you use a small oriface air gun then the velocity could be high enough to cause dammage.

[spork]

you shouldn't have a problem inflating a kite with a compressor as long as the velocity is not too high and you have regulation or relief valve set a 9psig

Given that the Scoprega pump IS a compressor, and that's the only thing I've used for about the last 7 years, I'd say you're right.

[Kamikuza]

Velocity too fast at the fill point could cause damage to the bladder. if you used a standard kite pump hose then the velocity would be fine by the time you get to the kite. if you use a small oriface air gun then the velocity could be high enough to cause dammage.

... that's what I figured, plummet, just wanted to know for sure I'm sure it's something I'll never get around to anyway and will just keep using pumps

The compressor runs 80psi - what do the electric pumps erm pump at?

[Vinny]

If you are too lazy to punp a kite manually you really need to question whether kiting is the right sport for you. Maybe darts or snooker or scuba diving would be better pastimes to pursue.