Portable jump starter (that works!)
Discussion
Hi all,
I got a bit embarrassed about repeatedly calling my insurers to send someone to come round and jump start my MY07 V8 Vantage every time I hadn't driven it for a few weeks, so I decided to try and find a jump-starter so I could restart it myself in an emergency. (I have no power to the underground carpark so can't use a trickle charger, and even with the battery disconnect switch activated, I still can't get more than 2 weeks resting time out of the evidently failing car battery).
I found a tiny little power pack that somehow manages to emit sufficient power to actually jump start the 4.3L engine. I didn't believe it would work, and was expecting to have to send it back. But it works!
Some pics, as it's so tiny:
It's a "Guluman portable starter 16800mah", and I just paid about £65 for it on Amazon. When it arrived, my first thought was "Guluman does sound a bit like gullible, doesn't it".
The first time I tried, it didn't seem to work (the starter motor kept turning, but the car wouldn't start). I used up the energy in the powerpack before realising that the flat battery in the car had activated the security system, and prevented the vehicle starting.
After recharging the power pack, I tried again. I connected it directly to the battery behind the seat (as I understand if the battery disconnect button has been pressed, you can't jump start from the engine bay), turned on the ignition, locked and unlocked the doors with the remote to disable the security system, and tried starting. It worked straight away! Awesome!
I can chuck the whole thing in the boot and take it with me. Not sure how long the powerpack needs for a full charge (I left it charging overnight), but it's great to be able to get the car started without resorting to a rescue vehicle.
PS: I immediately drove to a local garage and had them install a "G14 Varta Start-Stop Plus AGM Car Battery 12V 95Ah (595901085)", that I bought ( online from Tayna) and who delivered it within 24 hours, to replace my old battery, after seeing someone else on the forum say they had done the same. It fits, and works nicely.
I got a bit embarrassed about repeatedly calling my insurers to send someone to come round and jump start my MY07 V8 Vantage every time I hadn't driven it for a few weeks, so I decided to try and find a jump-starter so I could restart it myself in an emergency. (I have no power to the underground carpark so can't use a trickle charger, and even with the battery disconnect switch activated, I still can't get more than 2 weeks resting time out of the evidently failing car battery).
I found a tiny little power pack that somehow manages to emit sufficient power to actually jump start the 4.3L engine. I didn't believe it would work, and was expecting to have to send it back. But it works!
Some pics, as it's so tiny:
It's a "Guluman portable starter 16800mah", and I just paid about £65 for it on Amazon. When it arrived, my first thought was "Guluman does sound a bit like gullible, doesn't it".
The first time I tried, it didn't seem to work (the starter motor kept turning, but the car wouldn't start). I used up the energy in the powerpack before realising that the flat battery in the car had activated the security system, and prevented the vehicle starting.
After recharging the power pack, I tried again. I connected it directly to the battery behind the seat (as I understand if the battery disconnect button has been pressed, you can't jump start from the engine bay), turned on the ignition, locked and unlocked the doors with the remote to disable the security system, and tried starting. It worked straight away! Awesome!
I can chuck the whole thing in the boot and take it with me. Not sure how long the powerpack needs for a full charge (I left it charging overnight), but it's great to be able to get the car started without resorting to a rescue vehicle.
PS: I immediately drove to a local garage and had them install a "G14 Varta Start-Stop Plus AGM Car Battery 12V 95Ah (595901085)", that I bought ( online from Tayna) and who delivered it within 24 hours, to replace my old battery, after seeing someone else on the forum say they had done the same. It fits, and works nicely.
M5MarkM said:
Looks like a good gadget... but wouldn't be easier to press the battery isolation when leaving it? Or buy a charger?
Sadly not. From OP: I have no power to the underground carpark so can't use a trickle charger, and even with the battery disconnect switch activated, I still can't get more than 2 weeks resting time out of the evidently failing car battery.If its draining your battery every time why not fit a battery disconnect switch?
This stops all battery drain.....if your battery is still flat after 2 weeks then your battery is past its best and needs replacing.
A couple of minutes to fit at the cost of a fiver.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Isolator-Switch-...
What you are suggesting is great as an emergency situation though, was looking for something like this myself in the past.
This stops all battery drain.....if your battery is still flat after 2 weeks then your battery is past its best and needs replacing.
A couple of minutes to fit at the cost of a fiver.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Isolator-Switch-...
What you are suggesting is great as an emergency situation though, was looking for something like this myself in the past.
Edited by Mansfield on Friday 10th March 07:22
Mansfield said:
A couple of minutes to fit at the cost of a fiver.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Isolator-Switch-...
Good idea. Will order one and use it if I start having the same problem with the new battery. Cheers!http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Isolator-Switch-...
I have a similar power pack which has saved me a couple of times. I had the same issue, a while ago, where my tracker was draining my battery after a few days. A new tracker was fitted, however,my battery charge would only last a couple of weeks, so I have had to have a new battery.
The old battery hasn't done too badly, as it was the original that was fitted in the factory! (MY07)
Anyway, my charger has asisted me a few times during this period. There has been an upgrade to to one I purchased, here is a link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBPOWER-18000mAh-Portable...
The old battery hasn't done too badly, as it was the original that was fitted in the factory! (MY07)
Anyway, my charger has asisted me a few times during this period. There has been an upgrade to to one I purchased, here is a link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBPOWER-18000mAh-Portable...
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