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Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 9:33 am
by dejavu
Well I am sure this has been covered at some point but I still feel a whole lot of different kite pressures when I help launch kites. Some are tight like a drum, others are firm then there are those that just flop and bend. So what should we pump our kites up to?

Most kiters use a manual pump with no gauge. How do we know the pressure? Does this effect performance?

With Cabrinha, I personally pump to 450Mb or 6.5psi (When I use my Bravo Kite Pump) and then do the flick on the leading edge and check the kite is firm and struts well filled out. When I use my manual pump I seek the same feel.

What do you do? Does it vary by Kite Brand?

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:26 am
by plummet
ping test is the answer.

A smaller LE wll be able to hold more pressure and a bigger le less pressure.

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:34 am
by BigPaul
Most kites say, on the leading edge about best pressures

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:49 am
by toddalbinson
No gauge is accurate. When the kite gets filled with air check LE with hand every pump or so until it gets firm. If you can bend LE in half than not enough air. Other methods I have heard are when the pump starts to resist than you have enough air, flick with finger and it should make a high plink noise like a small drum. Every pro you talk to will tell you to pump the shit out of it till it is rock hard. Well they also get their kites for free. LE and struts are the framework of the kite so they need to be solid. Under filled kites will not perform as well.

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:01 pm
by tautologies
dejavu wrote:Well I am sure this has been covered at some point but I still feel a whole lot of different kite pressures when I help launch kites. Some are tight like a drum, others are firm then there are those that just flop and bend. So what should we pump our kites up to?

Most kiters use a manual pump with no gauge. How do we know the pressure? Does this effect performance?

With Cabrinha, I personally pump to 450Mb or 6.5psi (When I use my Bravo Kite Pump) and then do the flick on the leading edge and check the kite is firm and struts well filled out. When I use my manual pump I seek the same feel.

What do you do? Does it vary by Kite Brand?
it does vary, but probably more than anything else the diameter of the LE determins how much air you need. A lot less pressure on thicker LE.

The ping test is good.

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:43 pm
by knotmyfault
Optimum is Baywatch hard.... :lol:

Image

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:28 pm
by edt
Pump according to manufacturers recommendation. A gauge is useful when you first start out. You can also use the 'ping' test or grab the leading edge and squeeze. Small leading edges need to be pumped to a higher pressure than a thick leading edge, so a small leading edge won't 'ping' until 8 or 9 psi while a fat leading edge will 'ping' at 6 psi, it's due to something called "hoop stress." If a kite floops in half when launching it is underinflated. This is dangerous for the kite because it can taco in the air drop into the power zone and then suddenly fill with air and rip into pieces. You might think you are making a kite last longer by underpumping it because it means less stress on the stitches but you will wear out a kite a lot faster by underpumping it and ripping it into pieces.

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:50 pm
by knotwindy
yep, what everybody else said sounds right to me as well. I pump until the tip will not bend easily.
too little and the kite will fly funny, jellyfish, and have trouble relaunching. too much and it might explode on a tomahawk crash. smaller tubes need more pressure than larger tubes and smaller kites need more pressure because of smaller tubes and it is usually gustier when windier and the increased pressure can make the kite more stable. if in doubt a little more is usually better than a little less.
but don't over think it like we all have :lol:

Re: Optimum pressure a kite should be pumped up to

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:18 pm
by cglazier
I see lots of kites that are under inflated.
I very rarely see a kite that is pumped too hard.

:wink: