Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Tony H on 04 October 2007, 22:29:43
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Could you use a battery booster pack as a battery charger by clipping the booster cables onto the flat battery and if you can would it have an adverse effect on the battery or booster pack :-/
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No. I don't think it would be any good in that application. To charge a battery you need to apply a higher voltage than the battery's terminal voltage. This is why an alternator typically has an output of around 14-14.5 volts. Connecting a 12 volt battery (in the booster) wouldn't charge it significantly.
In addition, the batteries in a booster are so much smaller in capacity than a car battery they wouldn't be able to fully charge it in any case.
Kevin
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Thanks for the reply Kevin. I was just being a tight a*se and seeing if I could get away with not buying another battery charger to replace the one that smashed to bits when I dropped it :(
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The instructions for most booster packs tell you NOT to connect across the battery .. but to connect to positive terminal + and then to an earth point on the engine.
There are 2 reasons for this ...
1. If "jumping" the engine you want max power to the starter and don't want to waste energy forcing it through a dead battery
2. The output from the booster is unregulated, and if there is a short in the duff battery it could cause an explosion at worst, or knacker the booster at best as a HUGE current could be drawn.. albeit for a very short time
A mains battery charge has fuse protection, is regulated, and is designed to gave a low current over a long period
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The instructions for most booster packs tell you NOT to connect across the battery .. but to connect to positive terminal + and then to an earth point on the engine.
There are 2 reasons for this ...
1. If "jumping" the engine you want max power to the starter and don't want to waste energy forcing it through a dead battery
2. The output from the booster is unregulated, and if there is a short in the duff battery it could cause an explosion at worst, or knacker the booster at best as a HUGE current could be drawn.. albeit for a very short time
A mains battery charge has fuse protection, is regulated, and is designed to gave a low current over a long period
and 3) Most important - the battery fumes are highly flammable, and if the sparks fly as you connect the -ve, it may ignite. So connect -ve last, and away from battery to stop the flames ;)
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The instructions for most booster packs tell you NOT to connect across the battery .. but to connect to positive terminal + and then to an earth point on the engine.
There are 2 reasons for this ...
1. If "jumping" the engine you want max power to the starter and don't want to waste energy forcing it through a dead battery
2. The output from the booster is unregulated, and if there is a short in the duff battery it could cause an explosion at worst, or knacker the booster at best as a HUGE current could be drawn.. albeit for a very short time
A mains battery charge has fuse protection, is regulated, and is designed to gave a low current over a long period
and 3) Most important - the battery fumes are highly flammable, and if the sparks fly as you connect the -ve, it may ignite. So connect -ve last, and away from battery to stop the flames ;)
Absolutely correct :) hydrogen is flammable and explosive !! however, in my experience .. by the time I've been called to jump someone .. they've been faffing about with the bonnet open so long any gases are long gone !! .. but I agree, safest way is as you say :)
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The instructions for most booster packs tell you NOT to connect across the battery .. but to connect to positive terminal + and then to an earth point on the engine.
There are 2 reasons for this ...
1. If "jumping" the engine you want max power to the starter and don't want to waste energy forcing it through a dead battery
2. The output from the booster is unregulated, and if there is a short in the duff battery it could cause an explosion at worst, or knacker the booster at best as a HUGE current could be drawn.. albeit for a very short time
A mains battery charge has fuse protection, is regulated, and is designed to gave a low current over a long period
and 3) Most important - the battery fumes are highly flammable, and if the sparks fly as you connect the -ve, it may ignite. So connect -ve last, and away from battery to stop the flames ;)
:y
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The instructions for most booster packs tell you NOT to connect across the battery .. but to connect to positive terminal + and then to an earth point on the engine.
There are 2 reasons for this ...
1. If "jumping" the engine you want max power to the starter and don't want to waste energy forcing it through a dead battery
2. The output from the booster is unregulated, and if there is a short in the duff battery it could cause an explosion at worst, or knacker the booster at best as a HUGE current could be drawn.. albeit for a very short time
A mains battery charge has fuse protection, is regulated, and is designed to gave a low current over a long period
and 3) Most important - the battery fumes are highly flammable, and if the sparks fly as you connect the -ve, it may ignite. So connect -ve last, and away from battery to stop the flames ;)
Absolutely correct :) hydrogen is flammable and explosive !! however, in my experience .. by the time I've been called to jump someone .. they've been faffing about with the bonnet open so long any gases are long gone !! .. but I agree, safest way is as you say :)
True, although the very high charge rate as soon as engine fires (as batt is very flat), can cause another build up, and the sparks when you disconnect.....