Flat Battery Portable Battery Booster ????

Duh · Guru

Flat Battery Portable Battery Booster ????

Duh · Guru

I have seen these little batteries in a battery store, apparently if your battery is flat you connect this small battery to the main and it gives you enough charge to start your vehicle. I assume they are charged up when not in use by using 240V at home/caravan park or anywhere a 240V supply is available.

Is this correct and does anyone have one and if so can you recommend them?

Thanks

Vic

Happywanderer · The Master

Yes Duh, I do have one. great little contraptions. I have used mine to start Myrtle when I had a flat battery. I have also used mine with my compressor to pump up my tyres.
You fully charge them at home before you head out on your trip and then anywhere else you may find mains power if you have used it in the meantime.
Mine has USB ports and 12 volt ports so have also charge my phone and IPod shuffle at times.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

G'day Vic, I have a SCA 190amp Portable Power Booster I got from Super Cheap Auto (SCA). It works well and I have even hooked up a tyre pump to it and pumped up the Avan tyres. I charge it from 240v or you can charge from 12v as well.

johnno02 · Veteran Member

Hi,Duh.

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MB3594

This is the one I use,as the ad says it is multi functional.

Has,built in led worklight,compressor,and 400 watt 240 volt Inverter(I wouldn't use this for too long),or the compressor.

I suggest you give the 240 volt charger that comes with it a miss,because, unless they have improved them,

they put out too high a voltage,which can cook the battery.

I bought this to replace a heavy duty one,that is now 10 years old,and still going,you can guarantee,it will fail just when I need it.

I keep a little 2 watt Solar Charger stuck to the window,of the car,and this seems to keep them both charged up nicely.

Just swap around every now and then.

I refuse to go anywhere,without a portable jump starter,in the Car,having been caught,some years ago,

Not funny when battery dies,out in the middle of nowhere,and it happens.

Supercheap Auto,had these Solar Chargers on special several months ago,forget the price,but it was under $25.00

Hope this helps

John

-- Edited by johnno02 on Tuesday 31st of July 2012 03:33:03 AM

johnno02 · Veteran Member

Sorry,the link doesn't work

Just highlight it, and copy and paste

bloody firefox

John

jimricho · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
G'day Vic, I have a SCA 190amp Portable Power Booster I got from Super Cheap Auto (SCA). It works well and I have even hooked up a tyre pump to it and pumped up the Avan tyres. I charge it from 240v or you can charge from 12v as well.

This is the one I have and I've used to jump start my diesel Pajero. It's the largest one that Supercheap supply and has an amphour capacity of around 38ah. I also use it as a backup to my aux (fridge) battery in the car.

It is rather slow to fully recharge using the 240v plugpak or the 12v cig lighter cord. I have used my Ctek smart charger to give it a quicker recharge when needed.

Jim

Happywanderer · The Master

I bought mine from BigW at about 59.95 I think. Unfortunately it didn't have the compressor like others I had seen so bought one separately from Supercheap.
I only have a 240 v charger with mine but from reading all the answers here I should be able to get an adaptor to attach to a little solar panel I keep on my dash for chargeing my mobile phone and IPod shuffle.

Duh · Guru

johnno02 wrote:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MB3594
Thanks Johnno, I just made the link "clickable"....
Thanks also Jim, Marg and Doug.
Dougs post says 190 amp, is that meant to be the 900 amp or 1900 amp one shown on the SCA products?

Duh · Guru

Dougwe wrote:
Sorry Vic, 1900 amp. Uncle Al is starting to take over I think. That or wombat is playing around with my posts. But I don't think he would do that to a mate. Do you?

Thanks for clarifying that Doug.......Wombat.......wouldn't he just !!! wink furious aww

PS: Any idea what that adaptor thingo is for on the SCA website ? connecting to the battery? Only around $15 ?

-- Edited by Duh on Tuesday 31st of July 2012 05:54:25 PM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Sorry Vic, 1900 amp. Uncle Al is starting to take over I think. That or wombat is playing around with my posts. But I don't think he would do that to a mate. Do you?

johnno02 · Veteran Member

Duh wrote:
johnno02 wrote:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MB3594
Thanks Johnno, I just made the link "clickable"....
Thanks also Jim, Marg and Doug.
Dougs post says 190 amp, is that meant to be the 900 amp or 1900 amp one shown on the SCA products?
Thanks Vic
for getting that link to work,
lot's of very helpful advice from the members also

jimricho · Guru

Duh wrote:

PS: Any idea what that adaptor thingo is for on the SCA website ? connecting to the battery? Only around $15 ?

-- Edited by Duh on Tuesday 31st of July 2012 05:54:25 PM

A $15 thingy ain't gunna have enough juice to jump start your car!

Here's the web page for the Supercheap 1900 amp job. I consider it worth the extra money to have the extra capacity...http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online-store/products/SCA-Jumpstart-1900-Amp-Heavy-Duty.aspx?pid=283448&menuFrom=70601#Description

Jim

PeterD · Guru

Duh wrote:
Dougwe wrote:
PS: Any idea what that adaptor thingo is for on the SCA website ? connecting to the battery? Only around $15

"SCA Jumpstart Charger - 240V, 500mA" Looks like a charger to charge your jump-start from the mains.

Duh · Guru

Thanks Jim, 1900Amps sounds like the go, I see that little charge thing on the page you supplied too. aww

Thanks PeterD, yes that's what it looks like it is (the little thingo), didn't occur to me I was looking more at a connection to the battery or something...... aww

Dougwe · Chief one feather

From what I am reading here if I get a SCA Jumpstart Charger - 240V, 500mA for around the $15.00 mark, it will charge quicker than the one supplied with the 1900A unit ??????

Duh · Guru

No idea Doug, I'm still not sure why you would need it if as you say the 1900 one already has it's own charger connection?

jimricho · Guru

Duh wrote:
No idea Doug, I'm still not sure why you would need it if as you say the 1900 one already has it's own charger connection?

The jump starters supplied by SCA do come with their own plugpak charger, also a 12v cig lighter connection for recharging. I feel sure that other brands would do likewise. You can leave the unit on charge indefinitely with the pugpak without any problems but note my previous post about slow charging and the use of a smart charger such as the Ctek if needed for a faster recharge.

Jim

Duh · Guru

Thanks Jim,

I am not too offay with techo stuff, I'll bear that in mind, most of this stuff is over my head! hmm

Duh · Guru

I ended up buying an SCA 1200 Amp charger without compressor (I have a separate one already that is a good one and pumps quickly, connects to battery terminals) so will use that.

I checked with the RAC and also a good friend both who know a bit about these and both said it is suitable for my Hi Ace 4 Cylinder.

-- Edited by Duh on Thursday 9th of August 2012 03:14:36 PM

Duh · Guru

Reading up on my new jump starter, the booklet says it has a sealed lead acid battery.

As it is too tall for any of the convenient spots in my vehicle, does this mean I can't travel with it laying down as it may leak?

What do others with similar jump starters do please? confuse

Happywanderer · The Master

Mine fitted nicely standing up in the cupboard under the fridge. I don't think I would like to store it lying down duh.

Duh · Guru

Thanks HW, I don't have a suitable cupboard it can stand up in and under the beds are just a bit too low.

Even the front cabin floor is no good, it blocks the glove box and can't stand straight because of the slope of the glove box too. Might have to sit in on the floor in part of the back and move it when I have to, a bit of a bummer but I can't see any other solutions if I want to stand it up straight.

Happywanderer · The Master

Maybe stand it up straight in the aisle like I do with a 10 litre of water, then run a Occy strap through the handle and onto something firm to make sure it doesn't move. I've had no problem with my 10 litre of water.

Delta18 · Guru

Duh wrote:
Reading up on my new jump starter, the booklet says it has a sealed lead acid battery.
As it is too tall for any of the convenient spots in my vehicle, does this mean I can't travel with it laying down as it may leak?
What do others with similar jump starters do please?

The booklet should tell you if you can lay it down, being sealed it may be possible. Be aware though that even a sealed Lead/Acid battery CAN give off hydrogen gas if they get an overcharge. Make sure that the location they are kept/charged is freely open to atmosphere and not a sealed box.

Another use for these battery packs is that if you need to remove your cranking battery for any reason you plug the in with ciggy lighter plug in the dash and your radio will keep it's presets as willl any other fitted accessory until your new battery is installed.

Cheers Neil

Duh · Guru

Thanks HW, yes I have it standing in a recess in the ailse now, have it so it won't move around.

Thanks Neil, I had read the booklet but no advice there on whether to keep it upright or not, none on the box either.

When I opened the cardboard box it came in it was already fully charged, so they must do it in the factory, and that has plastic around it and foam inside the box. Have taken the plastic cover off and also the foam out of the box so may carry it in the box for stability.

The book does say some fumes could come off the battery and not to use in a confined space.

Delta18 · Guru

Another way maybe to tell...one would think that standing up was essential then there would be markings - warnings on the outside of the packing box to ensure it stayed upright in transit....?????

Just a thought.

Duh · Guru

Nah......checked that too.......will leave it upright in the box just in case, took all the packing out and stabbed the box to death with numerous holes for ventilation, but sits better in the box biggrin

jimricho · Guru

I carry mine in the back of the Pajero strapped to the cargo barrier.

Duh · Guru

Thanks Jim, sometimes I wish I had my tug back, was thinking of towing a little trailer for extra goodies but don't think I want to tow anymore, also don't have the parking room at home for anything else without it being a nuicance......