Are these safe?

[96terrano]

Found these things on eBay that simply plug into the ciggy lighter of a car and charge the flat battery,first of all, I think it'll blow the lighter fuse sky high and anything else on that circuit, wreck the wiring loom. do these things work? I would never use them

Using iPhone so can't paste link but here's the item number

110844540419

[supergnome]

These are very useful items I have ued mine to start tractors and LGV's on frosty mornings........In you're dreams.

[rustic]

It works on the principle of charging the main battery over 15 minutes at a low charge rate.
After that time I would guess that the unit will be close to totally discharged, so try to start the car with it connected and there won't be that much current flowing in the item.

Do the maths, it has a capacity of 1300mAh, or 1.3 Ah, so IF it is 100% efficient it will contribute about 1.5% to the cars battery, which can be 85 Ah or more.


So will it start a car...

I doubt it, it might contribute to the voltage available at the battery, so it could help, if the battery is half charged.

Best to use it to charge your mobile phone before you call the RAC or AA

I have used one of those mains powerd starter chargers on the Mav in the early days, you plug it in for 10 minutes, it charges the battery at 20 amps, then I leave it connected to start it. Now that worked very well indeed.


The battery was just unable to turn on the starter at the time, so the extra boost helped.

PS car was still under warrenty, so they replaced the battery FOC.



Edit...
A woman calls the AA to her car as it won't start.

AA to woman... " You have a flat battery miss"

Woman to AA man... "What shape should IT be ?"

Sorry about that!

[rustic]

Originally Posted by supergnome

These are very useful items I have ued mine to start tractors and LGV's on frosty mornings........In you're dreams.

Where you went wrong, is that you needed two of these in series, as the some LGV's are 24 volts

Bring back the old crank handle...
Do LR's still have them?
When I was only 18 I could hand crank a 2 1/4 series II petrol...

[briggie]

i have one like this below , its saved me a few times , but mine cost a lot more than the one below

you charge mine up from the ciggie lighter socket while driving around , then when you need it , its there

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-900A-H...item27c26b5b93

[supergnome]

Rustic I used the dual voltage model. DAvid.

[(RIP) PLANK]

another thought! you would have to have your ignition turned on the whole time though as the lighter socket isn't permanently live!

Unless you plugged it in the one in the boot

[glanrichbex]

It is a low current auxilliary socket, you need at least 180Amps to turn over your starter motor. Be carefull with what you connect to this socket, the wires to them are usually very thin and struggle to handle 10Amps. The problem arises when the wires heat up and burn their insulation. If these wires route along other wires in a complex loom, they will cut through other wires in the loom and you will have a complex multi short circuit issue to deal with ( similar to flooding electronics with water ) .........which is highly likely to result in you having to change the loom!!

[rustic]

Originally Posted by briggie

i have one like this below , its saved me a few times , but mine cost a lot more than the one below

you charge mine up from the ciggie lighter socket while driving around , then when you need it , its there

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-900A-H...item27c26b5b93

I had one from Lidl and that didn't last that long, I have a similar one to the one in the pic, BUT even though they all look similar, they have a different spec, for example, mine has a 17 ah battery. Not that that means much, as it's all down to quality, and these are built to a low budget.

It is critical that you keep it charged, I now charge mine every month.
The life of these is seldom over 3 years, but I also use it in the house as a 12 volt stable supply, for the sat nav.
The air compressor works but would take forever to pump up a flat tyre, as you can only run it for 10 minutes at a time.

Be aware of the light, if left on by mistake say overnight, the battery will be ruined.

Best regards,
Rustic

[briggie]

why would you want the sat nav on in the house ? , is your house that big you cant find your way around ?

[rustic]

Originally Posted by briggie

why would you want the sat nav on in the house ? , is your house that big you cant find your way around ?

Yep that's why...

No, handy to use it and charge it at the same time, when planning a journey.

[96terrano]

Originally Posted by glanrichbex

It is a low current auxilliary socket, you need at least 180Amps to turn over your starter motor. Be carefull with what you connect to this socket, the wires to them are usually very thin and struggle to handle 10Amps. The problem arises when the wires heat up and burn their insulation. If these wires route along other wires in a complex loom, they will cut through other wires in the loom and you will have a complex multi short circuit issue to deal with ( similar to flooding electronics with water ) .........which is highly likely to result in you having to change the loom!!

thats what worried me the most with these things