Battery booster pack

[jhr]

I've got a flat battery (again......). The longer term solution is to replace it, which I'll be doing over the winter, but I'm considering buying a booster pack for jump starting the engine (a) now and (b) on those inevitable occasions when the kids leave something running and I can't get the engine to turn over.

But what do I need to jump start a Mercruiser 5.0l efi? Will this do the trick:

@ 17 amp/hrs, or do I need something beefier? Can I get the same thing for half the money at Halfords?

Any comments gratefully received - I am a complete doombrain on matters like this!



<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[DepSol]

It depends on how flat your battery goes. If the battery is just flat enough not to turn the engine over then this will suffice. If the battery goes dead then you wil need something beefier.

Cheapest way is to fit another battery, I dont know what they cost in England but here in Guernsey I would charge around £50 for the battery and £12 for the battery box then all you need is the crossover leads about £15 made up cheaper to do yourself and an isolater switch.

That way you have a full battery always charged ready to take the slack of the other. Booster packs are about £79 for a half decent one and £200 for a truck/start any engine be it diesel or petrol one.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS Making boating more affordable

 

[jhr]

Starter motor turns, groaningly, a couple of times and then gives up, but there's enough power to run the bilge pump and engine blower, so the cheap option would probably do for this particular problem. However, it sounds like it would be a false economy, as the kind of potential problem I'm looking at could well involve the battery being flatter than Paula Radcliffe's chest.

I was considering installing another battery anyway, principally for domestics, so perhaps that's the longer term answer.

Thanks, Dom.

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[cliff]

17ah is more than enough to crank over your motor - for a few seconds (maybe around 2 minutes). These units contain a sealed lead acid battery so will tolerate heavy discharge currents but only recherge at 0.5 amps.

Look around the local markets etc but do not buy from Halfords - real rip off.

Going price areounf £30 complete with built-in compressor and light or £15~20 for battery or battery and light.

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[brianrunyard]

The thing that worries me with these things, is the thin cables, compared to the size of cables usually used between starter and battery.

<hr width=100% size=1>Brian
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/brunyard

 

[tr7v8]

Mine came from E Bay for about £ 60 a year or so ago. Has 80W inverter, 2 ciggie lighter sockets, small voltage reg for 3, 4.5, 6 & 9 volt. Span the Reliant SS1 over at the weekend and the battery on that is totally knackered, eg. 5.8 Volts. Actually started it and ran, surging like mad as it ran mainly on the alternator. When the Jump Start was disconnected it stopped!
Don't just leave them and ignore them, charge them & the plug a light in to make the batteries work. Practical Classics tested some a year or so ago and they were capable of starting reasonable size diesels!

<hr width=100% size=1>Jim

Draco 2500

 

[jhr]

Thanks, everyone - all very helpful.

After several goes at a search, I also unearthed <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=385611&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>this thread</A> which is quite informative, albeit faintly Happy-ish.

E Bay here we come........

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[jhr]

Last word on the subject

Have just semi-ignored Cliff's advice and gone to Halfords (just for a look, yer honour). They are currently knocking out a 17amp/hr + compressor + light for £35 (looks identical to the one illustrated above, from Compass, at £60-ish) and a 20 amp/hr + compressor + light for £50 - or for £70 with an invertor as well.

Not as cheap as a market stall or Makro, but it's on my doorstep, so I might swallow my principles for the sake of £5 and a bit of convenience..........

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[cliff]

Re: Last word on the subject

Will let you off with the £5 as it would probably cost you more in fuel to get to Makro/Costco etc and there would be the temptation to raid the booze bins/aisles while there.

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[jhr]

Re: Last word on the subject

Thanks; I can now spend the money with a clear conscience. If SWMBO gets irritated with me, I'll tell her that you said it was OK /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif.

There's a Majestic Warehouse just round the corner from Halfords, so raiding the booze bins is still on the cards....

<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[capsco]

Re: Last word on the subject

Mine was £14.99 from Boyes and it starts a 3.0 ltr Merc diesel no problem

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