jump starter thingies..

milo · Guru

jump starter thingies..

Yuglamron · Guru

Hi Milo,

Yes the packs are able to start your car,basically they are just a battery pack with jump leads.Some even have an air compressor built in.

You have to get one that suits your vehicle though.

Various sizes from 4 cyl through to 8 cyl.You also have to make sure they are compatible with your electronics and won't damage your computer in the car.

The guys at places like Autobarn and Repco etc should be able to advise you of the model and capacity you need.

Handy things to have around if you remember to keep them charged up.

milo · Guru

thanks for that.... interesting idea, good for when away I gather

blaze · Guru

Avoid the cheaper ones and good ones cost a bit,
cheers
blaze

ozi2 · Guru

blaze wrote:
Avoid the cheaper ones and good ones cost a bit,
cheers
blaze

G'day Blaze, is it the CCA rating that needs to be checked with these different models; ie, that it has the cranking power, especially with diesel?

cheers,

ozi2

blaze · Guru

ozi2 wrote:
blaze wrote:
Avoid the cheaper ones and good ones cost a bit,
cheers
blaze
G'day Blaze, is it the CCA rating that needs to be checked with these different models; ie, that it has the cranking power, especially with diesel?
cheers,
ozi2

Also found that some cca's aint what other cca's are, bit like horse power and pony power.

cheers

blaze

Wombat 280 · Guru

They will start a car but not a diesel and if in a cold area may not produce enough to cold crank anything with compression above a 2 stroke mower . Just ask what the cold crank voltage is . The bigger the battery pack the better off you are

jimricho · Guru

The advertised amperage (do not confuse with CCA) of most of these is a piece of fiction unless one shorts it out and manages to measure the current before it destroys itself. If you intend to do this you will need a very high current ammeter and be wearing bomb disposal protective clothing... as they say in the classics....don't try this at home!

I have one (a cheapie) that's allegedly suitable for diesels and tried it out and found that it would augment a sluggish battery but did not not start the motor if the main battery was completely disconnected.

I have found it useful for augmenting my auxiliary battery (the main reason I purchased it) and that its amphour capacity at least equal to the advertised 30 ah ("C" rating not specified)

Re charging they come with a plugpak (240v) and a cig lighter plug. They are slow to charge but can be left "on charge". I have used a Ctek 3.8 amp to charge mine with good results for a quicker charge.

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 9th of April 2011 08:21:42 AM

goinsoon · Guru

I have one that I got from KMart and it has a compressor as well, it pumps up the tyres on the van quickly and has no trouble jump starting a 4.5 ltr petrol Patrol.

It came supplied with a little recharger, just plug it into 240v and leave it a few hours and it is ready to go.

Best thing I ever got, has saved my ass! several times

jimricho · Guru

The slow recharge time I refer to is for a "full" recharge from a near "flat" condition as indicated by a warning lamp on the unit. The higher compression and fewer cylinders (4) of my diesel was a challenge. On a recent trip away I had to use it as my aux battery is "on the way out" at about half its nominal 55 ah capacity (space precludes a larger aux battery)