How good are these?

[2F45T4U]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PORTABLE-12V-JUMP ... dZViewItem

I'm forever pratting about with jump leads pumping up tyres and working in the dark. Are these ideal or a lousy comprimise? It says charger in the title, does that just mean from its built in battery or canyou usually plug these things in to 240 volts and its a proper charger?


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[Sprintinbits]

Hi Adam,
With an internal battery of only 17Ah this will only give you a short squirt of power.
It is normally the capacity of the battery that determines how usefull (and how heavy) these things are

It is probably ok for one off/occasional use. A 'leave it in the boot in case you need it after coming out the pub and finding a flat tyre' type thing!

Probably not best suited for your needs chap.

[1300dolly]

these cheap ones are not worth having .the one i used for work was a £400 snap on power pack (jump leads only , no light or compressor)which worked well till i killed it by running over it with a 7.5 ton truck the spare one iam using is a sealey unit costing £100 which needs a mains charge after 2-3 jump starts.
buy a decent rechargable led torch/work lamp ,and a compressor that works of the cig lighter.

[tinweevil]

I've used exactly that model. As Justin says not worth the bother. Save up and get the right bits in the right order. Given that you can usually find something that runs so you have power and light the order I did it is:

1) Good jump leads or these. These are both good but beware of using the halford ones on cold days, the plastic gets brittle and snaps. Don't bother with the cheaper halfords ones (9.99), been there, binned them - too much voltage drop.
2) Torch. LED ones weren't about when I were a lad 4xD maglight has other uses tho
3) A good battery charger, Halfords fully automatic one does the job. Don't bother with the non automatic one, too easy to kill a battery.
4) A spare battery, one with a built in handle and keep it charged. Doesn't need to be brand new, just servicable.
5) A good track pump is a bloody sight faster than one of those fart-arsey fag lighter powered things, faster and easier than a foot pump too.

That lot'll cost a lot more than one of those yellow things but each does its job well and will last. The yellow boxes do none of the jobs and won't.

Tinweevil

[melj]

I have one of these http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product.as ... 2058&g=107 (no compressor etc, jumping only) which saw me through a period of bother with my alternator - I was surprised how few people will stop and help a lone lady proffering jump leads! Does an adequate job to get you going and makes me feel better about being out and about on my own, but no substitute for decent kit in the long run.

[1300dolly]

the clarke ones are ok for keeping as an emergency but no good for what adam needs.

[DavePoth]

Easy answer, buy a new alternator and a new battery. And drive it regularly.

[melj]

Done, and happily doing!

[2F45T4U]

Right Santa Clause is bringing me Halfords £22.50 jump leads. Good for engines up to 5 ltr and 25square mm of copper in the leads as opposed to the 5 square mm in the £9.99 Halfords ones. Or the 4 strands left in mine!
And an automatic battery charger.

Have a wind up torch and will just keep nipping to the petrol station to pump the tyres up to there 28 front and 50psi rear for drifiting Well 28 front and 30 rear. At anything near the manufactures recommended the car doesn't handle anywhere near as nice

[Mad Mart]

Have a wind up torch

Don't you get enough of that on here?

[1300dolly]

Adam ,ask santa(aka mummy ) for a years sub to the TDC.

[2F45T4U]

I don't get what the connection is between Santa and my Mummy... Can't imagine my dad will be happy

[SprintV8]

I don't get what the connection is between Santa and my Mummy... Can't imagine my dad will be happy

Bet your MUMMY will be thought!!!.