mini jump starter

I think most of these things work on the basis that the power pack puts energy back in to the car battery and then the car battery provides the power for the starter. That way the pack leads don't have to cope with 400+ amps starting current.

Ian Maycock said:

Cheers all mixed bag of responses, will have a look at those 2 Muddy Vicky and look back when you've tested the bigger one. I saw those 2 boguing on ebay but wasn't sure if the make was any good, think that's the key some of the cheap ones are going to be rubbish and others will be good its just finding the good makes.
cheers Ian

Click to expand...

Finally had a chance to test the bigger power pack. Came in a nice plastic case although the inside tray is flimsier than some of my heels. Unit itself has all the usual addons for charging phones, etc. and with four USB outlets it's certainly been useful when I've needed to charge the phones and tablet at the same time.

Anyway, the acid test. Took the Defender's good battery out. Replaced it with one I know is dead. Switched on ignition and sure enough you could just see that the dash lights were glowing if you imagined hard, not even a click from the solenoid when key turned. Connected the powerpack up and attempted to start. Nothing. However quickly realised that I'd knocked the negative clamp off with my skirt (they're not super-easy to attach to the terminals being smaller clamps than decent jump leads). Reconnected, leant over again being more careful this time and turned the key. 200 Tdi started immediately without pause. Double checked by disconnecting the powerpack and tried to start and sure enough the battery was still dead showing that it was only the powerpack providing any electric (the battery tester in the workshop dropped the dead battery to 2v under load and only 10v with no load).

The only slight caveat I'd add to that is that I'd just reversed the trailer into the workshop with the Defender so she wasn't stone cold although she hadn't been running for more than five minutes or so.

Leant the original powerpack to the old man as he needed to start a locomotive that has a habit of flattening it's battery. Could be interesting, just hope he reads the instructions before using it...

Very interesting,

Do you have a link for the exact one you are talking about here please Vicky.

Cheers

neilly said:

Very interesting,

Do you have a link for the exact one you are talking about here please Vicky.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Fleabay number: 391546342585 for the bigger unit (also available in red but other half wanted yellow for some strange reason...)

cheers Vicky that's great think I will be adding one of them to the back of the Defender for emergencies.
cheers Ian