Jump Starter

[keyplus90]

I am thinking of buying a heavy duty Jump starter. I already have a 300Amp starter but I noticed that if battery goes a bit too flat then it does not work. I guess Amps are the main thing when you chose these things. Am I right? Would 900Amp be strong enough to start a car when battery is completely dead? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[gingejbee]

I think I'd spend the money on a decent battery rather than on something that "aids" a poor one. But you may have a good reason for this purchase. And, yes...a bigger output will give better results.

[keyplus90]

I have and always do purchase decent battery. But in cold winter these things tend to go down when car is not used regularly and I am thinking just for the backup purpose otherwise I also have RAC membership.

[tonyav]

Maybe one of these solar powered trickle chargers would help if the car isn't being used very regular.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_odkw=solar+car+battery+charger&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1311.R2.TR2.TRC0.A0&_nkw=12v+solar+car+battery+charger&;_sacat=0

[gingejbee]

Another suggestion would be to keep the battery "topped up" with a mains trickle-charger (if garaged).....or a solar-powered one, if the car is outside. Both available in Maplins.

[TWR]

The condition of charge determins how much you are taking out of it, if you are doing very short trips with the radio, wipers, de-mister, lights onyou will not put back what you have taken out, this excludes the first thing of starting.

[stewey]

Remember the old days when your car wouldn't start? You'd just get it rolling down a slight incline and then jump in and, invariably, it would start...Now that was 'jump starting'.

[TWR]

Do you go back as far as the crank handle Stewey?

[stewey]

I always thought that the guy who invented the wheel was intelligent; however, when that other genius invented the extra three, things were a lot easier...The crank? It came much later, TWR.

[Bazile]

Stewey - what about the guy who invented the extra two , for a three wheeler ? - Dont leave him out

[RATTER15]

Stewey, "Now that was 'jump starting'" no that was bump starting not jump starting, a bit different. I have bump and jump started many cars over the years, getting to old for all that pushing these days lol. I used to bump start my mini by pushing it a long the flat and jumping in as it was moving. At least my old Land Rover has a starting handle :-)

[stewey]

Bazile, he's the guy who went on to invent the 'Edsel': never amounted to much:)

[stewey]

RATTER15, I've never heard it called 'bump starting'. Must be a different side of the pond type of thing.

[RATTER15]

Maybe Stewey, Jump starting is with cables and bump starting is by running the car down hill here in UK.

[stewey]

I just typed 'bump starting a car' into Google (Canada/US), and it said "Did you mean jump starting a car"; so, yes, it's a pond thing.

[RATTER15]

Correct Stewey. http://www.accidentrepairfinder.com/how-to-bump-start-a-car/

[stewey]

That's why this site is so interesting: we seem to learn something new every day.

[douglas9401]

I'd have thought that your existing pack would do the job for the average car provided that when you connect it you put the positive connector to the + on the battery and the earth/ground to a suitable point on the car rather than the negative post of the battery.
You're trying to start the car rather than charge or top up the battery.

[keyplus90]

Thanks for allof the replies and now I know whay it is called "Jump Starting" or "bump starting".