I have been working with the Dewalt DCC020IB cordless air inflator (provided to me as a review sample), and it has become my favorite tool of its kind.
Dewalt’s 20V Max cordless inflator has every feature I could ask for, and it works well.
So far, I’ve used it on many occasions to top off my tires, fill up sports balls, and refill the air bladder of a 4-gallon water tank.
One of my favorite aspects of the Dewalt inflator is its screw-on Schrader chuck. I’m much more used to valve connectors with a lever lock, or press-on chucks, and they can be difficult to use at times. While the screw-on adapter takes a little longer to attach compared to press-on adapters (under ideal conditions), it’s been a convenience for me so far. In my experiences, when inflating balls or devices to lower pressures, or smaller volume air tanks, the screw-on adapter leaks less air upon removal than press-on adapters.
If you do want a press-on connector, you can buy an adapter for a couple of dollars.
I haven’t used the high volume air hose yet, at least not successfully. I did use it to try to clear debris out of a crevice, but it didn’t work perfectly well for that. It’s better suited for filling up air mattresses, pool toys, and other inflatable products of that nature.
The inflator comes with a Presta valve adapter, sports ball adapter, and a air nozzle. I’ve used the air nozzle once or twice and the sports ball pin a couple of times.
There is also an LED worklight with its independent on/off control, digital air pressure gauge, and a 12V DC auto power cord. It can also be powered via 110V AC, but you’ll need an optional adapter, model no. N557514.
The 12V DC port is housed inside an enclosed compartment, and I fear that if I ever take it out I’ll never get the nicely-wrapped cord back in. The cord is completely removable, in case you want to leave it home and pack something else inside the small compartment.
The inflator is a little larger than others I’ve used, but it’s still highly portable, thanks to a large handle and built-in storage for everything.
It works with Dewalt 20V Max cordless power tool batteries, as well as FlexVolt batteries. It’s much more stable with 20V Max batteries, but I’ve used it with taller FlexVolt packs without issue. The user manual says that when powered by a Flexvolt battery, the inflator should be placed face-up on a flat surface.
Aside from the screw-on Schrader valve, I also love the controls and operation of this inflator. I’ve had odd experiences with other cordless inflators having inaccurate digital pressure gauges, but Dewalt’s has proven to be very precise. I’ve found it to be spot-on 9 out of 10 times. 1 out of 10 times it might overshoot or undershoot by a negligibly small amount.
Pressure can be set in 0.5 PSI increments.
There is another button, for switching between the regular inflation air hose and the high volume air hose. Attaching the high volume air hose to the outlet port allows you to fill air mattresses, pool floats, and other inflatables. Attach the air hose to the inlet port, and you can deflate them. The high volume inflation mode does not have an auto-shutoff feature.
The inflator can work up to 160 PSI, although that’s not something I’ve tested (yet).
See Also: Dewalt Cordless Inflator Launch Preview Post
A couple of years ago, I wrote a post More Pro Tool Brands Need to Make Cordless Inflators!. At the time, pro tool brands, such as Dewalt and Milwaukee, had not yet brought cordless inflators to market. Prior to that, I was told by one brand that inflators were too commonly seen as “consumer” items, and as such they weren’t fitting for pro tool brands’ cordless power tool systems.
Now, you have this one from Dewalt, one from Milwaukee, and one from Makita. Dewalt’s is the only 20V Max/18V-class inflator I’ve seen or tested. The Dewalt is a larger tool, but it’s more capable too. As long as you’re not cramped for space, it’s a fantastic tool with no major shortcomings.
Specifications
- 11.9″ wide x 9.8″ tall x 5.2″ deep
- Weighs 5.5 lbs without battery
- 3-160 PSI operating range (high pressure) in 0.5 PSI steps
- 0.5 SCFM high pressure air flow
- 15.2 SCFM “high volume” air flow
- 13.75 foot 12V DC power cord
- High pressure inflation mode with automatic shut-off
- High volume inflation and deflation modes
- Heavy duty rubber feet
Price: $102-109 for the bare tool
Buy Now(via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(via Amazon) – Lowest price as of the time of this posting
Buy Now(via Tool Nut)
Based on my experiences thus far, I find Dewalt’s cordless air inflator, DCC020IB, to be highly recommendable. It is expensive compared to other cordless and 12V DC inflators, but it offers more features and capabilities.
If you want something lower priced, consider Ryobi’s 18V consumer-grade model. Compared to the Ryobi, the Dewalt has a higher resolution gauge (the Ryobi is only accurate to ±1 PSI), larger and backlit readout display, 12V DC power option, and some more minor differences.
If you’re a Dewalt 20V Max cordless power tool user, is this inflator still on your wishlist? If you already have one, what do you think of it?
Thank you to Dewalt for providing the review sample.
