Milwaukee has introduced a new M18 cordless inflator, model 2848-20, describing it as the fastest 18V cordless tire inflator on the market.
The new Milwaukee cordless inflator is said to provide unmatched performance, versatility, and the durability to survive demanding transportation maintenance applications.
The focus here seems to be on speed, accuracy, and capacity.
The M18 inflator features a 36-inch air hose with screw-on tire chuck.
The “TrueFill” feature incorporates auto pressure check and automatic shut-off. Basically, as with other digital tire inflators, you set the desired inflator pressure and a built-in sensor will deactivate the motor once the set pressure is reached.
There’s an external hose wrap, as well as storage for commonly-used inflation accessories. The inflator comes with a sports ball inflation needle, nozzle, and Presta chuck, and a Schrader valve chuck on the hose end.
One especially notable feature is a four-setting memory function, which allows you to quickly cycle to commonly used pressure settings. This lets you to save PSI presets for quicker use.
Milwaukee says that the inflator is optimized for passenger tires, light truck tires, and other medium duty tires, and the included nozzle accessories and attachments extend its usefulness beyond tire inflation tasks.
The M18 inflator can top off a 33″ light truck tire from 75 to 80 PSI in under a minute, or fill it from 64 to 80 PSI in a little over 3 minutes. (Please note that inflation times can vary depending on different factors and environmental conditions.)
The inflator has an internal cooling system to extend the tool’s life. Thanks to the built-in fan, it can operate for over 20 minutes, allowing users to get more done with less risk of thermal shutdown.
Here’s a look at the display and user controls.
The controls seem straightforward, but also include a units button, which isn’t found on other cordless inflators. Users can select between PSI, KPa, and Bar air pressure units. This potentially extend the inflator’s use to industrial applications.
Milwaukee M18 Cordless Inflator Key Features & Specs
- Powered by M18 Li-ion batteries
- 0-150 PSI
- ± 1 PSI accuracy
- 1.41 SCFM at 0 PSI
- 36″ air hose
- 13.8″ L x 6.4″ W x 7.8″ H
- Anti-vibration rubber feet
- Weighs 7 lbs (tool-only)
- Duty cycle: 33% at 80 PSI
- 5 year warranty
Included Accessories
- Schrader chuck
- Presta chuck
- Tapered nozzle
- Inflation needle
Model: 2848-20
Price: $169 (tool-only)
ETA: April 2022
Discussion
For everyone who has been waiting patiently for an M18-powered cordless inflator, is this everything that you’ve been hoping for?
M18 vs M12 Cordless Air Inflators?
Milwaukee put together a handy chart showing the intended use of their M18 and M12 cordless inflators. The new M18 inflator goes up to 150 PSI, and the M12 inflator up to 120 PSI.
I would expect for significant differences in runtime, as well as continuous-use capabilities. If you’re inflating consistently to higher pressures, the M18’s larger size and built-in cooling might be appreciated.
If you want the M12, you can get a complete kit for $119 at the time of this posting.
