Jump starts for this winter what will you use?

With winter getting closer we all dread that moment when you turn the key in the Landy at 7am.... nothing! Or worse still leaving the girlfriends house.... I mean... you cant really call the missus

Jump leads are cheap and normally effective but unless you have 2 cars your screwed for an easy option. Green Flag home start etc... on a frosty morning 2 hours if you are lucky. On you own in the snow... :doh:

Didn;t want to hijack a thread on anything goes but these jump starter things got a mention... Diehard 1150 and a few others. Prices vary from under £30 up to almost £100

I looked around for the Diehard... looks very good but cant find a uk supplier... I think it would be close to £100... has a 1150 amp discharge?

Had a look on Amazon and found a Silverline with a 900 amp discharge for under £30.... would this start a Land Rover within say 30 seconds? [ame=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-234578-Watt-Starter-Compressor/dp/B001C85UG8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290035443&sr=1-1-catcorr]Silverline 234578 900 Watt 12 Ah Jump Starter and Air Compressor: Amazon.co.uk: Car & Motorbike[/ame]

Anyone use one of these types of jump start kits? Can you suggest the better makes and minimum amp discharge for a healthy Land Rover that normally starts first time? Places to buy with links would help us out

i will use the A A, or the RAC or GREEN FLAG.

although it claims 400 amp start boost, 900 amp peak boost, the internal 12Ah battery won't last long on a protracted start, really, it will have to get it started first time, because it won't stand a repeated cranking, even if it is fully charged.

at 400 amp, the internal battery will last 0.03 hours, or 1.8 minutes.

I appreciate that it is only for a quick boost start, but if your landy is a reluctant starter anyway, then you could find this running out of charge before you have started.

pays your money...

I'll be using my well-maintained and effective battery and charging system which is permanently installed in my Landy and never fails to start it on the first touch of the key.
I will however carry my huge lorry jump leads to help out others who fail to maintain their vehicles properly and end up with flat batteries.

a spare second battery is a cheaper option than a jump pack. I have 2 snap-on 1700 booster packs and when fully charged I can just about start my landy (which is fitted with a truck battery) with it.

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...&group_ID=2217&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I was looking at the other thread as well, in the end i think i'll just check me glow plugs and see how it goes, as said, a 17ah battery will only give one ggood chance.

The best thing about the power packs is that it is a portable tyre compressor which could be handy as i dont like forecourt pumps.

Dave

Treworgey 90 said:

I'll be using my well-maintained and effective battery and charging system which is permanently installed in my Landy and never fails to start it on the first touch of the key.
I will however carry my huge lorry jump leads to help out others who fail to maintain their vehicles properly and end up with flat batteries.

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Im with you Trew, battery and alternator already fitted seems a shame not to use them for what there intended for, however i keep my snap-on boost pack and a good set of jump leads in disco for the peeps who arn't so lucky

Anyone have there boost-pack connected to the car so its always kept charged while the engine is running??? Can this even be done??

Only asking because i know that batteries dont stay charged for long in cold temps and a flat booster pack is about as good as a rice-paper condom

davek0974 said:

Anyone have there boost-pack connected to the car so its always kept charged while the engine is running??? Can this even be done??

Only asking because i know that batteries dont stay charged for long in cold temps and a flat booster pack is about as good as a rice-paper condom

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Booster packs should only be charged directly from a running vehicle in an emergency. They are supposed to be charged at about 5 amps.

I guess I will just use the new battery and new alternator to keep it starting well thats the plan but it is a landy after all

ratty said:

Booster packs should only be charged directly from a running vehicle in an emergency. They are supposed to be charged at about 5 amps.

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I was thinking more of a trickle charge to keep it topped up.

I think i'll just stick to me standard setup 'cos i'll probably forget to charge the pack:doh:

ratty said:

Booster packs should only be charged directly from a running vehicle in an emergency. They are supposed to be charged at about 5 amps.

Click to expand...

Morning matey, i plug mine into the 12v supply with the lead supplied to charge if neccassary but have found it charges a lot better from the mains.

ratty said:

Booster packs should only be charged directly from a running vehicle in an emergency. They are supposed to be charged at about 5 amps.

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the booster pack i have got states that it can be plugged into a 12volt car socket, and recharged or kept topped up that way.

oldskool said:

Morning matey, i plug mine into the 12v supply with the lead supplied to charge if neccassary but have found it charges a lot better from the mains.

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Morning mate.

I find mains best too hence having the 2 packs. I keep one on charge at home and the other ready for use in the truck. As and when needed I switch their positions around.

I have charged one of mine direct off the trucks battery before now after I went out to a flooded beemer that I couldn't get the truck anywhere near. It took 3 charge and discharge cycles of the booster pack to get the car going. It's never been quite as powerful since. I suspect I let the gel heat up a bit too much.

As my truck is 24 volt, and the ciggy lighter goes through an inverter, I can't get enough power into the pack on the lighter lead. I also find that the 230v inverter in conjunction with the mains charger doesn't fuly charge tha pack either.

Spare battery to go with me jump leads... hopefully won't be required once i've refurbed this starter me mates just given me though!

New battery, plugs, earthed to ****, new lift pump, new leak-off rail and yet still really cold mornings require a very careful touch and a start up checklist like concorde to avoid requiring a boost...

unless you need the booster pack often for work , its going to be a waste of money.... itll be flat when you need it.... if it survives this winter by the time its been sat in the shed all summer it will b useless next.... the dosh will be better spent on a new big battery in the truck and make sure it charges properly. if the truck isnt used much stick a solar charger on whenever its parked ... itll even put something in the battery in bright overcast.

ricc said:

unless you need the booster pack often for work , its going to be a waste of money.... itll be flat when you need it.

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Most Powerpack state that they should be left "on charge" when not in use - mine has lasted 5 years so far. That way they are always fully charged and always recharged immediately after use.

If the vehicle is maintained correctly there's no reason why it wont 'start on the key' when the cold weather arrives. If your glow plugs are not 100% then the battery will overcome this for a while, but will fail eventually. Just a case of keeping everything in tiptop condition before the cold weather arrives. That said, I always carry jump leads, not for my benefit but for others

Nigel.

I use one of these charger/starters with a long mains lead.
Works very well.
Clarke BC130N Battery Charger & Engine Starter - Machine Mart

Patman1200 said:

I use one of these charger/starters with a long mains lead.
Works very well.
Clarke BC130N Battery Charger & Engine Starter - Machine Mart

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just be carefull if you use one of these on a p38 as they do not like it one little bit,it even tells you in the owners manual not to use one on them.i did and it wrecked the BECM,i had it rebuilt by rick the pick,cost me nearly 400 quid anorl.but now it is unlocked and refurbed as well.