Would you buy jump leads or splash out on a booster back

workaccount

What do you reckon? The booster pack I suppose is definitely the advantage as you can use it anywhere if your own car breaks down without help.

How often do you need to charge them though etc. Do you need to change the batteries after a certain period?

Thanks.

hebejebees

I'd recommend the Booster pack or AA/other cover, i've seen jump leads do alot of damage to cars electrical systems, garages never use them anymore because of both handyness and no chance of damage.

The problem is that the booster pack will probably have to be charged every so often because they can loose come charge over time, but are usually pretty good. The batteries shouldn't need changing at any point in its life, but that all depends on its quality

maidhc

Just get AA cover, or investigate what your insurer offers in that line of things.

Run_to_da_hills

Both. A booster pack is useless if you are stuck in the middle of no where and the charge is gone. A set of decent 450 amp jump leads will set you back about e40. and a decent booster pack will set you back over e100. Don’t buy any of the rubbish from Lidl, Aldi or Argus unless you have AA membership.

hebejebees

maidhc wrote: »

Just get AA cover, or investigate what your insurer offers in that line of things.

You could possibly have some sort of assistance cover with your insurer already, its amazing the amount of people who do and don't know about it because they never read the policy or don't know the number, give your insurance company a quick ring tomorrow and see what the story is

Timmaay

I usually have both in the boot:D. I use the boost pack for a lot of stuff, mainly pumping car/bike tires but also for starting the quad and a few other batteries as such. The main question is do you have a diesel/large petrol car or small petrol car? When the batteries are drained 100% the booster pack will not start a diesel engine or petrol engine bigger than 1.8. In this case you'll need leads. But still, the booster pack is very handy to have for 1/2 flat batteries and tires, and can be got very cheap (I got one from Lidl or Aldl a few months back for €40).

If you get jump leads don't get the real cheapo ones. they will overheat and melt in no time at all. Another tip is to keep a spanner in the car that will open the negative battery clip (usually a 10mm). If the battery is completely drained, take the negative termal off the battery, at least with this the booster pack does not have to try charge the battery as well as start the car.

Its recommended you charge the booster pack after every time you use it to start a battery. I don't know if this is a bit overkill, but it is important that you don't leave the booster pack completely drained for a long time, it will not charge up properly the next time right and will not be as good for starting a car again.

I don't know if everything I've said above is the correct way of doing things, I'm opened to correction if some thinks there is a better way.

BrianD3

Once the booster pack is charged once from the mains it can then be kept "topped up" by plugging into a 12v socket. Most cars these days have several 12v sockets. In my car the sockets don't work unless the ignition is on - so the booster pack won't drain the car's battery if it's plugged into a 12 v socket with the engine off.

Run_to_da_hills

BrianD3 wrote: »

Once the booster pack is charged once from the mains it can then be kept "topped up" by plugging into a 12v socket. Most cars these days have several 12v sockets. In my car the sockets don't work unless the ignition is on - so the booster pack won't drain the car's battery if it's plugged into a 12 v socket with the engine off.

The last thing one would want is this big lump of a thing on the passenger floorwell and to be tripping over wires.

BrianD3

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

The last thing one would want is this big lump of a thing on the passenger floorwell and to be tripping over wires.

As I said

Most cars these days have several 12v sockets

i.e. not just the cigarette lighter.

corcaigh07

oh crap, i have neither, never realised!

Barr

I have a booster pack but find it rarely starts cars where the battery is totally dead.

Run_to_da_hills

BrianD3 wrote: »

As I said

i.e. not just the cigarette lighter.

Mine dosn't :mad:

Max_Damage

Alternatively, you could just push start the car....

Run_to_da_hills

Max_Damage wrote: »

Alternatively, you could just push start the car....

Fiat and Renault owners would know all about this.

Mr.Diagnostic

For both jump leads and booster pack, if they are not surge protected........bin them.

rebel.ranter

It costs about €300 for a proper booster pack. Anything else is cheap crap.

-Chris-

Booster pack or AA. DON'T jump start your car - you could blow your ECU etc. Will cost four figures to replace.

As previously stated, most garage workshops won't jump start cars anymore for fear of damaging them.

SV

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

Fiat and Renault owners would know all about this.

Nope!
Did have to go and pick up a friend after his toyota corolla broke down though.

Mac 3

I bought a black and decker simple start about six months ago because one of my cars was in storage and wouldn't start after a few weeks. I dont think it started the car once. I had to resort to jump leads every time..

Guy:Incognito

ClioV6 wrote: »

Nope!
Did have to go and pick up a friend after his toyota corolla broke down though.

Me either funnily enough, Only 2 cars that ever let me down were a Honda Accord and a Rover 620. Bloody Hondas.

Made use of my charger once or twice after my mother left the interior light on in her clio though.:rolleyes:

maidhc

I really can't see any purpose for owning either to be honest.

For those who keep a car in storage a battery charger is a simple and cheap solution.

Otherwise, unless you are one of those people who continually leave their lights on, the battery will start the car every time for at least 80k miles.

In a modern car it is much more likely that if it breaks, it wont be because of a flat battery. The AA (or insurance inclusive recovery service) is worth having, because invariably the car will need to be towed to a garage and you will need a loan car for a few days.

shawnee

Have been using jump leads, I have a particularily strong set, buy thankfully have never done any damage. They have always managed to start my car van etc, am I missing something or am I doing something right., what's all this about damage to vehicles ?

Guy:Incognito

maidhc wrote: »

In a modern car it is much more likely that if it breaks, it wont be because of a flat battery. The AA (or insurance inclusive recovery service) is worth having, because invariably the car will need to be towed to a garage and you will need a loan car for a few days.

+1 for this. My cousin was charged €160 to have a Fiesta towed from Swords to Clondalkin last week. He's not an AA member so it wasnt them but not sure what towing company it was though. I assume thats about standard, I've never had the pleasure of needing one.

Run_to_da_hills

ClioV6 wrote: »

Nope!
Did have to go and pick up a friend after his toyota corolla broke down though.

Are you sure it didn't just run out of petrol

L1011

Have found booster packs / 'portable engine starters' completely useless in the past, but because the entire family drives cars with some level of intelligence (its impossible to leave the lights on in a Fiat, take the key out and you need to do a fairly complex manoeuvre to get the parking lights on even) I've only had to use jump leads once in three years, and that was due to a faulty ECU draining the battery to begin with - and I was replacing the ECU the same day!

If a cars not turning over due to a flat battery a consumer level portable engine starter won't get it going, basically.

craichoe

Max_Damage wrote: »

Alternatively, you could just push start the car....

Can't push start a dead diesel

maidhc

craichoe wrote: »

Can't push start a dead diesel

Only if is has a mechanical distributor type fuel pump and the weather isn't too cold! So yeah, you can't push start any diesel currently on sale or sold in the past 5 years!

LFCFan

Barr wrote: »

I have a booster pack but find it rarely starts cars where the battery is totally dead.

How often do you drain your battery?

theTinker

hebejebees wrote: »

You could possibly have some sort of assistance cover with your insurer already, its amazing the amount of people who do and don't know about it because they never read the policy or don't know the number, give your insurance company a quick ring tomorrow and see what the story is

agreed, I was unware until recently that my policy gave me breakdown assistance. It was really helpful at the time.

workaccount

maidhc wrote: »

Only if is has a mechanical distributor type fuel pump and the weather isn't too cold! So yeah, you can't push start any diesel currently on sale or sold in the past 5 years!

Interesting.

NiSmO

This post has been deleted.

congo_90

hebejebees wrote: »

I'd recommend the Booster pack or AA/other cover, i've seen jump leads do alot of damage to cars electrical systems, garages never use them anymore because of both handyness and no chance of damage.

Hmm i was nearly buying a car off a dodgy dealer who was jump starting the car. He said booster packs are bad (though i knew different)

hebejebees wrote: »

You could possibly have some sort of assistance cover with your insurer already, its amazing the amount of people who do and don't know about it because they never read the policy or don't know the number, give your insurance company a quick ring tomorrow and see what the story is

+1 my ma didn't know until one day she had engine trouble and i told her to ring and see. Turns out she did and we were sorted out straight away.

biko

Only needed jumps twice ever, and had leads in car so just had to stop a nice person. And that's it, you're off again.

Oilrig

There's an awful lot of bulls*it posted here...

Booster packs (or whatever you want to call them) are jump leads connected to a small battery - small, think ride on mower size at best.

Jump leads, you will not get a decent, professional quality set for less than E200. (poster abuse expected), but the fact is that they should be flexible (ie welding lead type flexibility) leads should be soldered to the clamps and a bridging lead soldered across the jaws of the clamps. Adds up to minimal volt drop and lifetime service. Dry joints are pi*s poor in any 12V setup.

Diagnostic guy, what's the rational behind the surge protector?

alan08

Renault Clio's are easily kick started because they are so light. I even started it by myself one day, just turn the ignition on, put in second gear or reverse, handbrake off and put your foot on the clutch then get somone to push your car and when you pick up a small bit of speed let the clutch go and push on the accelorator as if your driven off. The car should nearly always start. For bigger heavier cars this doesnt relly suit unless you have alot of help or a hill.