Can I just cut off the cigarette lighter bit and wire in a 3 pin plug?

Yes, but please get a friend to record it for our entertainment please. 🙂
Seriously, it is currently 12v DC, what you are proposing would be 240v AC, slight mismatch, so probably not a good idea.

It runs at 12v vs 240v from a mains socket…

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Pin-UK-Plug-Cigarette-Lighter-Socket-240V-to-12V-DC-Car-Charger-Power-Adapter-/322244198190

Can you? Sure. Should you? Only if you’re fond of major electrical fires and / or death.

It runs at 12v vs 240v from a mains socket…

230V. But yes.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-car-accessory-socket-acdc-power-supply-n35az

I think I’d rather wire the plug directly than trust that ebay special ^

Thats only good for 600mA (if that) which i doubt will be enough for an inflator

Linked from the link above, should do it: http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-5000ma-car-accessory-socket-ac-dc-power-supply-l25ay

Is this todays’ trolling thread?

I was going to suggest this too

I’ll take that as a no then!
Birky, I wouldn’t have needed that as I would have had a bucket of water on standby.

Can I just cut off the cigarette lighter bit and wire in a 3 pin plug?

Remind us, what’s the purpose of this exercise?

So that I can inflate my tyres in the shed rather in the back of the car.

A decent track pump would be a better solution

OP – I think it would be safer for everyone if you just converted your house to 12V DC. You should not be allowed anywhere near elctrickery. 🙂

A decent track pump would be a better solution

This. Quicker and easier.

😯

Seriously, OP?

True on the electric front.
I have a track pump but seating fat bike tyres is a lot easier with power.

230V. But yes.

230V +10%/-6%, a range containing the 240V used by the UK, if we’re being pedantic… 🙂

I had a mains to 12v adapter once. It worked for a while, then changed its function to be a temporary heat, smoke and flame generator. It was quite useful while it worked, so would fit the OP’s requirements.

230V +10%/-6%, a range containing the 240V used by the UK, if we’re being pedantic…

…RMS. (-: But yes, this is true, I was just being gratuitously contrary.

Yes, but ……
Seriously, ….

Timing with an answer like that can be everything. I was working with a friend on a sort of junk-art / scrap heap challenge type project years ago. We’d found an electric blower and planned to put inside a dustbin so that it would blow the bin bag inside out and eject the contents.

My pal asked if it was safe to take the blower out of its metal housing to get it into the bin.

I said ‘Yes. But just make sure that its not plugged in before you start.’

However as I was saying ‘But just make sure..’ he went flying across the room.

He survived but for the rest of the afternoon kept telling us ‘I can feel all my reef’

I have a track pump but seating fat bike tyres is a lot easier with power.

while this is true. A car cigarette inflator isnt going to help matters …. think of them as asthmatic mini pumps when it comes to that front.

Birky, I wouldn’t have needed that as I would have had a bucket of water on standby.

Extended trolling?