Booster pack

[Angry Sheep]

My car has a weird, intermittent battery drain which means every few months (usually at the most inconvenient time), it won't start. It's proving to be a pain in the arse to trace so, for now, I'm looking at booster packs to get it started.

I've seen this one on Amazon -

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-234578-Watt-Sta...

The reviews seem to vary from "wow, best thing in the world" to "useless, doesn't work".

Has anyone had any experience of using one? Are they any good?

[gog440]

I had one which looked identical to that one (apart from the blue plastic on that one was black plastic on mine) which was badged as a clarke. It was brilliant, really useful and never failed to start any car i tried it on (only tried on up to a 2l diesel)

[chazola]

I've got the Clarke version of that one too (all made in the same Chinese factory no-doubt, just a different sticker slapped on the front) and it's good. It'll start my 3 Litre diesel Merc no problems and the charge lasts a long time. I just keep it in the car all the time now, jump started a few neighbours this winter...

[Angry Sheep]

Thanks for the replies, I've only got a 1.6 petrol so it should do the job.

[S0 What]

That type of crap cheap one comes in yellow black and now blue, with or without a pump added on the back and yes they varey from wow this is great to fook me this is st, mainly cos of the batterys BUT you only get to find out wether you have a decent one in there "IF" the charging board lasts long enough to actually charge the thing, did i mention they are crap ?

Had 7 of em and one was brill, lasted me 7 years but still couldn't jump start a diesel if the main battery was really flat or drefective, the other 6 either had so little power you couldn't short them out to light a fart and then the charging board broke.

Did i learn and by a decent one ? well no, i got a battery box with carry straps (from an old disabled scooter) and put the highest rated battery in it i could find that fitted and used the leads of said crap jump station to make my own, no it doesn't have a torch (see the torch thread for why that doesn't bother me at all) i allways carry a seperate 12V pump and i charge it on the move by meens of an old cig lighter (male) plug run into the box that i plug into the cig lighter when i'm on the move or i charge it at home or me yard with a battery charger that came with the scooter (including the plug i fitted to the box for the chatge lead), it all looks rather nice i think pluss i now have the starting power of a snap on jump station for 1/4 of the price but it cost me an hour to bolt the wires on and drill a few holes in the battery box.

Anyhoo that was the very long winded way of saying dont bother, get a ring or better make.

Edited by S0 What on Sunday 10th February 14:31

[Watchman]

I have one of these which, after some 3+ years now, still works a treat:

http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp...

Ebay has them for £106.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-12v-20ah-Powerpack-...

Anything lower than this spec is a bit weak IME.

[Alexw88]

clarke jump start 4000 had it for 2 years been faultless

[Caulkhead]

Watchman said:

I have one of these which, after some 3+ years now, still works a treat:

http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/product_detail.asp...

Ebay has them for £106.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-12v-20ah-Powerpack-...

Anything lower than this spec is a bit weak IME.

Agree with this - most of the cheap ones struggle with anything over 1.5l - the Ring one is rated for upto 3.5l engines and has always started everything first click for me.