Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: LFF64 on 24 September 2008, 19:50:55

Title: Jump start power packs
Post by: LFF64 on 24 September 2008, 19:50:55
I have been looking at buying something to stick in the boot and while looking I came across a couple of gadjets that plug in to the cig lighter .
Question is how do they work more to the point do they  :question
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: tunnie on 24 September 2008, 19:53:05
they do... i have one but the charger cable is broke.

My one could jump start mine around 10-14 times before it needed charging again.
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: The Elite on 24 September 2008, 19:55:08
Man I wish I had one when I had my golf. I ended up with jump cables running from under the bonnet through the passenger door to another battery (had wrong terminals) sat in the passenger footwell. Nice and safe, huh?  :y
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: Entwood on 24 September 2008, 20:08:04
I don't see how you can jump start via a ciggy lighter at all .. the cable will burn out with about 15 amps .. and a flat battery can take a damn sight more !! Plus on the Miggy a relay disconnects the socket after about 5 minutes ...

They say they give 5 amps for 10 minutes and that'll recharge a battery ... personaly I don't see it ...  :(

I have a boost pack with standard jump clips on it .. that can be RECHARGED through the ciggy lighter ... somewhat different...


makes sense  : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-JUMP-START-BATTERY-BOOSTER-CHARGER-AIR-COMPRESSOR_W0QQitemZ160284388025QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160284388025&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Don't make sense : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-CAR-JUMP-START-BATTERY-BOOSTER-CHARGER-AUTO-JUMPER_W0QQitemZ150295977692QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150295977692&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: The Elite on 24 September 2008, 20:14:50
Quote
I don't see how you can jump start via a ciggy lighter at all .. the cable will burn out with about 15 amps .. and a flat battery can take a darn sight more !! Plus on the Miggy a relay disconnects the socket after about 5 minutes ...

They say they give 5 amps for 10 minutes and that'll recharge a battery ... personaly I don't see it ...  :(

I have a boost pack with standard jump clips on it .. that can be RECHARGED through the ciggy lighter ... somewhat different...


makes sense  : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-JUMP-START-BATTERY-BOOSTER-CHARGER-AIR-COMPRESSOR_W0QQitemZ160284388025QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160284388025&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Don't make sense : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-CAR-JUMP-START-BATTERY-BOOSTER-CHARGER-AUTO-JUMPER_W0QQitemZ150295977692QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150295977692&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Presumably it works like one of those battery savers?...
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: tunnie on 24 September 2008, 20:19:40
Quote
they do... i have one but the charger cable is broke.

My one could jump start mine around 10-14 times before it needed charging again.

Sorry i did mean propper jumper packs with feking heavy batterys.... (mine can charge with the ciggy) But does not jump off the ciggy.
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 24 September 2008, 20:41:09
Quote
I don't see how you can jump start via a ciggy lighter at all .. the cable will burn out with about 15 amps .. and a flat battery can take a darn sight more !! Plus on the Miggy a relay disconnects the socket after about 5 minutes ...

They say they give 5 amps for 10 minutes and that'll recharge a battery ... personaly I don't see it ...  :(

I have a boost pack with standard jump clips on it .. that can be RECHARGED through the ciggy lighter ... somewhat different...


makes sense  : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-JUMP-START-BATTERY-BOOSTER-CHARGER-AIR-COMPRESSOR_W0QQitemZ160284388025QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160284388025&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Don't make sense : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-CAR-JUMP-START-BATTERY-BOOSTER-CHARGER-AUTO-JUMPER_W0QQitemZ150295977692QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item150295977692&_trkparms=72%3A12|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

The theory is sound enough.

They are doing nothing more than trying to bring a battery up enough to get the engine to crank.

If you consider you need say 200amps for 2 seconds to start the car then putting 2 amps in for 100 seconds should recover one enough to allow it to crank.

If the battery is buggered as opposed to just flat then it will not work
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: Entwood on 24 September 2008, 20:49:10
That makes a good deal of sense ....   :y :y :y

Still don't like the idea though ... and with the miggy sockets turning off via a relay - I assume - then could still be problems

I'll stick with the big and cumbersome box ... mind you .. I've never used on my own cars.. always on some other idiots  ..

thats asking for trouble I know .......
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: pete.h on 24 September 2008, 21:04:45
Some of the cheaper power packs aren't very good . Had a couple which would just about start a petrol car but no chance with a diesel. They both packed in altogether within a year.
Bought a Sealey one in the end which so far is good but cost about £100
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: willyboy on 24 September 2008, 21:08:08
Ring the AA  ...........been in at least 5yrs never needed em what a waste!
Plus carry jumper leads in boot all time  :-[
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: pete.h on 24 September 2008, 21:12:49
Going back to the original Question, which I might have misunderstood . Surely you can't recharge your own flat battery from your cigarette lighter , so you'd need another car anyway so jump leads would be quicker/easier .
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: LFF64 on 24 September 2008, 21:30:06
Like Mr Entwood said I cant see that the little cig lighter gadgets would start a car  ;)
I am in the AA had to use them at weekend  ::) hence the looking for a power pack to stick in the boot just in case, the car has been ok since the weekend but if it keeps playing up the AA will get a bit funny about coming out to the same problem ;)
 The other thing I need to consider is that I work shifts and have to dio call out as well , so it would make sense to have something just in case .
I would not want to go out to the car find it would not start then have to call AA out wait for them and then go to work  :y
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: LFF64 on 24 September 2008, 21:31:13
As for jump leads they live in the boot usually , but not this weekend  :-[ >:(
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: Vamps on 24 September 2008, 21:51:59
Watch out for the Halfords one ::) looks good, compressor and 300watt 240v outlet, but WILL NOT START a FLAT battery, there has to be at leas 1.5 volts in the battery :( f'ing stupid, had one of the chaep one for about 3 years and was often used to start my, at the time, Ford Prefect or operate a 12volt childs vintage car. ::)
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: Kevin Wood on 24 September 2008, 22:59:09
If you need to start a car quickly in an emergency go for the jump lead type.

You might be able to inject a bit of charge into a battery via the cigar lighter but I'd say they're a choccy teapot and designed to hook people who don't know how to open the bonnet.

Also beware of deals that are too good to be true. The batteries in these don't take abuse kindly so any items that are offered cheap might well have suffered in storage.

Keep them fully charged at all times too.

Kevin
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: Andyswad on 25 September 2008, 08:57:58
Quote
Some of the cheaper power packs aren't very good . Had a couple which would just about start a petrol car but no chance with a diesel. They both packed in altogether within a year.
Bought a Sealey one in the end which so far is good but cost about £100


same here, dont know about the expensive ones but my cheap one was a waste of money
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: jereboam on 25 September 2008, 11:08:37
If your battery is completely flat, the first problem you have is how to get the car open so that you can get at the engine bay.

The Omega doesn't seem to fail-safe - on the one occasion I left my lights on, the car was deadlocked and couldn't be opened.  The AA man had to jack it up and, from underneath, apply a voltage via the alternator leads (I think) so that I could use the remote to open the doors.

So unless you carry the jump start machine and a trolley jack with you when you leave the car, or never use the deadlock, you have a problem! :(
Title: Re: Jump start power packs
Post by: Andy B on 25 September 2008, 11:46:54
Quote
....
The Omega doesn't seem to fail-safe - on the one occasion I left my lights on, the car was deadlocked and couldn't be opened.  The AA man had to jack it up and, from underneath, apply a voltage via the alternator leads (I think) so that I could use the remote to open the doors. ......

The theory is that you should still be able to un;ock a dead-locked car with the key from the driver's door. In prctice, there was no what-so-ever that mine would unlock. My car, being a pre-face lift saloon with a key opperated boot, I applied a voltage to the boot lamp to get in.