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Jump pack or a spare battery?

  • 03-09-2016 10:19am
    #1
    jenny smith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 716 ✭✭✭


    What is best to buy for emergencies a jump pack or a spare battery?. Jump packs have to be charged regularly - do they also have to be used/discharged before charging? How would you discharge them if you do not need to jump the car.? I had an aldi one before and it died. i was charging it regularly but not ndischarging or using it

    Do spare batteries need discharge and charge regularly too?


Comments

  • #2
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,102 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    jenny smith wrote: »
    What is best to buy for emergencies a jump pack or a spare battery?. Jump packs have to be charged regularly - do they also have to be used/discharged before charging? How would you discharge them if you do not need to jump the car.? I had an aldi one before and it died. i was charging it regularly but not ndischarging or using it

    Do spare batteries need discharge and charge regularly too?

    The best buy for emergencies is proper maintenance. If you think your battery is going to fail get it checked and replaced. Jump packs should be for cars sitting idle for long periods. Why would you haul around a good and bad battery instead of just replacing the bad one.


  • #3
    Atlantic Dawn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 84,749 ✭✭✭✭Atlantic Dawn
    M


    You shouldn't require either if your car is used regularly and functioning properly.

    I've seen these smaller battery packs recently, they also double as USB chargers, they are around the size of those USB charging packs you can buy for phones, here's an example which can apparently jump start your car 15 times and charges itself in just 5 hours, they have good reviews...


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBPOWER-8000mAh-Portable-Starter-Battery/dp/B013UBRZKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472898163&sr=8-1&keywords=car+battery+charger+pack


  • #4
    jenny smith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 716 ✭✭✭jenny smith


    Del2005 wrote: »
    The best buy for emergencies is proper maintenance. If you think your battery is going to fail get it checked and replaced. Jump packs should be for cars sitting idle for long periods. Why would you haul around a good and bad battery instead of just replacing the bad one.
    I disagree mine dies suddenly no warnings or sign it was bad


  • #5
    Del2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,102 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    jenny smith wrote: »
    I disagree mine dies suddenly no warnings or sign it was bad

    Cars don't just die, there's a short somewhere that needs to be fixed. Fixing the problem is cheaper than treating the symptoms repeatedly.


  • #6
    blade1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,607 ✭✭✭✭blade1


    This was recommended by one of the lads over in the motorbike forum.
    http://https://www.amazon.co.uk/Suaoki-Portable-Starter-Battery-Charging/dp/B019GCENC8/ref=gbps_img_s-3_8647_343e0b2d?smid=AWPA24GC2QA1D&pf_rd_p=981978647&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=PFEDFN9JC9WAYTHE235W


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  • #7
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,532 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Del2005 wrote: »
    Cars don't just die, there's a short somewhere that needs to be fixed. Fixing the problem is cheaper than treating the symptoms repeatedly.

    Batteries can die suddenly though. It happened to me once at a petrol station. The car was going grand before and when I came back to the car after paying for petrol the battery was dead flat.

    A test of the battery confirmed that it was indeed after failing.

    It's alright to say change the battery every couple of years and you won't have any problems but new batteries also go faulty sometimes.


  • #8
    BrianD3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,513 ✭✭✭BrianD3


    There are compact jump starters available based on capacitors rather than batteries. I don't know much about them but read about them in Car Mechanics mag. Apparently if the battery in a car has some charge but not enough to start the car, the jump starter can be connected to it for a few minutes in effect "soaking up" the residual charge. Then the capacitor can produce a high current for a short period allowing the car to start.

    Could be exaggerated bollocks though so do your own research.


  • #9
    jenny smith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 716 ✭✭✭jenny smith


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    Batteries can die suddenly though. It happened to me once at a petrol station. The car was going grand before and when I came back to the car after paying for petrol the battery was dead flat.

    A test of the battery confirmed that it was indeed after failing.

    It's alright to say change the battery every couple of years and you won't have any problems but new batteries also go faulty sometimes.
    Course they can .


  • #10
    icjzfmq7ewon1t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭icjzfmq7ewon1t


    jenny smith wrote: »
    Course they can .

    An old one can die suddenly but if you replace it with a new one it won't die provided all is well with your car.
    If you're driving your car daily and a new battery is running down there's some problem with the car.


  • #11
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,532 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Jessa Short Birdseed wrote: »
    An old one can die suddenly but if you replace it with a new one it won't die provided all is well with your car.
    If you're driving your car daily and a new battery is running down there's some problem with the car.

    A new one can die suddenly too if it goes faulty.


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  • #12
    icjzfmq7ewon1t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭icjzfmq7ewon1t


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    A new one can die suddenly too if it goes faulty.

    That would be rare and you'd be taking it back to the shop not buying power packs to start your car.


  • #13
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,532 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Jessa Short Birdseed wrote: »
    That would be rare and you'd be taking it back to the shop not buying power packs to start your car.

    I think the op just wants a power pack for emergencies. You might be bringing the battery back to the shop but it could still leave you stranded somewhere.


  • #14
    icjzfmq7ewon1t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭icjzfmq7ewon1t


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    I think the op just wants a power pack for emergencies. You might be bringing the battery back to the shop but it could still leave you stranded somewhere.

    I think you should change where your buying your batteries.


  • #15
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,532 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Jessa Short Birdseed wrote: »
    I think you should change where your buying your batteries.

    Why is that?


  • #16
    icjzfmq7ewon1t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭icjzfmq7ewon1t


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    Why is that?

    Because you keep saying they leave you stranded I've bought more new batteries than I'd care to admit and one never left me down so it's either your supplier or your very unlucky


  • #17
    JohnBoy26
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,532 ✭✭✭JohnBoy26


    Jessa Short Birdseed wrote: »
    Because you keep saying they leave you stranded I've bought more new batteries than I'd care to admit and one never left me down so it's either your supplier or your very unlucky

    Where did I keep saying they leave me stranded? I think you need to go back and read my posts properly.


  • #18
    JOhnty78
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 40 ✭JOhnty78


    Boards is probably not the best place to ask OP...


  • #19
    icjzfmq7ewon1t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 336 ✭✭icjzfmq7ewon1t


    JohnBoy26 wrote: »
    Where did I keep saying they leave me stranded? I think you need to go back and read my posts properly.

    I'm out life is too short


  • #20
    jenny smith
    Closed Accounts Posts: 716 ✭✭✭jenny smith


    Atlantic Dawn wrote: »
    You shouldn't require either if your car is used regularly and functioning properly.

    I've seen these smaller battery packs recently, they also double as USB chargers, they are around the size of those USB charging packs you can buy for phones, here's an example which can apparently jump start your car 15 times and charges itself in just 5 hours, they have good reviews...


    https://www.amazon.co.uk/DBPOWER-8000mAh-Portable-Starter-Battery/dp/B013UBRZKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472898163&sr=8-1&keywords=car+battery+charger+pack
    Had not seen the lithium ion mini chargers before. Going to get one as would charge laptop and camera in car.But a lot of the five star reviews on Amazon are people who got free /discount for their 'unbiased' reviews which all read the same bullet pointed etc


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