|
|
|
|
|
Got two of these off my brother, they've been sitting around his workshop for months, possibly a year. They've lost the chargers so they don't use them, my brother asked about getting new chargers for them.   They've presumably got lead acid batteries in them, so would they be un-recoverable after a year of sitting? Can I just connect a trickle charger/conditioner to the clamps and recharge the battery or will there be a circuit inside to prevent that? Are they junk? |
| |
Last Edit: Jul 7, 2014 11:32:25 GMT by Battles
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is that the Maplins one? I took mine back because it was curse word!
You might be able to bring the batteries back to life using a CTEK charger.
|
| |
Koos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The batteries in them aren't really up to the task even when new (and are often "fake" ones where there's 30% empty space inside!!)
Sitting with dead flat batteries for a year won't have done them any favours either but I suppose any jump pack is better than nothing at all.
Just connect any old small ish (Under ten amps) car battery charger onto the terminals to charge it, If the charger is an intelligent one it might not want to start charging something dead flat, so just connect the boost pack to a running car for 2 minutes then quickly connect it back to the charger. Definitely keep an eye on it for the first charge thought, if the batter is knackered you might pop one.
edit: Aren't up to the task.
|
| |
Last Edit: Jul 7, 2014 21:37:05 GMT by cobblers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Is that the Maplins one? I took mine back because it was curse word! Yeah, I think it's one that was also sold in Maplin. Everything about it feels cheap and nasty. I suppose any jump pack is better than nothing at all. This is what I thought when he told me to take them but I think I may just put my hand in my pocket and get a new one. And not lose the charger... |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I wouldn't bother with a cheap jump pack at all, even the £200+ ones from machine mart etc are garbage really. Take the leads off the one you have, and attach them to a decent gel cell battery, ie: www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/batteries/odyssey-extreme-racing-25-battery-pc680Then charge it off a running vehicle (or any battery charger). I repair boost packs for HGVs and busses at work, and many of them just have a pair of the above batteries in series to make 24v, and a £40 CTEK charger, all cased in a nice box, for £650. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thos yellow things are rubbish tbh. My dad had a dodgy starter motor and always bought them second hand and they lasted two or three charges before completely failing and never holding a charge. I then bought him a new starter motor and he's happy with that. My mum even bought one which I didn't use for a year and it no longer kept charge on it's first use (by my dad).
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For me it's a big, spare, battery with jump leads as gave up on those little power packs years ago. The actual batteries inside the fancy casing are tiny and whilst might do the job when new as they age, and loose capacity, then they are useless.
Paul H
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lots of good advice, as ever.
Cheers guys.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I've got one of the batteries from one of these packs as a tiny powerpack - stuck a 4 way lighter socket on top, fitted a switch in one of the holes, and added a small 12v jack for charging Runs my 12v impact wrench rather well, as well as a 500w invertor for a short period of time. Used to power the motor in my MIG welder for a while until I upgraded to an Xbox "power brick", and will soon power the oil pump on my small jet engine. Very capable batteries, as long as you use them sensibly, and don't try to compare them to a full-size Lead acid battery. This type of booster, was NEVER designed to be used, as most people try to use them - they're actually only meant to gently charge the dead battery, over the period of about 15 minutes. Then you remove it, and try to start the vehicle. It's why they're called booster packs, not jump start kits  |
| |
You're like a crazy backyard genius! |
|
m1keh
Part of things
Posts: 278
|
|
|
|
|
I had one of the yellow ones from a mate who gave up on it... only any use if the battery is nearly strong enough to start the car - minor boost only.
I bought a Costco one for about £75, which is a bit beefier, and copes well on 4 Cyl engines, but I've tried to use it on a Merc V8 with the battery in the boot and it wasn't up to the job. Still a good bit of kit for the money, but not suitable for a pro garage.
|
| |
|
|
