Jump start/booster pack

[Jem0911]

A collegue has just purchased a Vanquish.

He has asked my opinion on a booster/starter pack as he won't be using the car that often.

Also will be leaving it in various Airport car parks on longish stints for business so it will need to hold charge.

Any advise please?

[Jockman]

Jem0911 said:

... will be leaving it in various Airport car parks on longish stints for business.

Should have bought a ford focus. Too gorgeous a car for such a purpose.

[Jem0911]

Jockman said:

Should have bought a ford focus. Too gorgeous a car for such a purpose.

Tell me about it.
Chopped his CLS55 in for it.
I also have his seventies 500SL for sale.
Strange but true.

[MrOrange]

You could consider a solar trickle charger, charging either the vehicle or the booster pack or both. Would need to be quite large though. I've no idea what the car pulls in terms of power when locked and shutdown but if it's less than 0.5 amp then it might work.

[Jem0911]

MrOrange said:

You could consider a solar trickle charger, charging either the vehicle or the booster pack or both. Would need to be quite large though. I've no idea what the car pulls in terms of power when locked and shutdown but if it's less than 0.5 amp then it might work.

That sir, is a great idea. I will put that to him this morning.
He bought the car from McGurk looks nice.
http://www.mcgurk.com/CarDetails/2002_Aston_Martin...

Maybe I should collect it for him, its local(ish) after all.

[drcarrera]

MrOrange said:

You could consider a solar trickle charger, charging either the vehicle or the booster pack or both. Would need to be quite large though. I've no idea what the car pulls in terms of power when locked and shutdown but if it's less than 0.5 amp then it might work.

As long as he doesn't leave it in a multi-story car park!

[AndrewTerry]

Jem0911 said:

He bought the car from McGurk looks nice.
http://www.mcgurk.com/CarDetails/2002_Aston_Martin...

Blimey, that's gorgeous! And he's going to leave it in an airport carpark on a regular basis?!?! He's a braver man than me..

[Neil1300R]

If I was him I would be buying myself a shed as well as the Vanquish as I would never consider leaving an Aston at airport car parks for long periods. Alternatively, if its going to be in the car park for more than a couple of days use a decent taxi company and get them to pick me up.

[Knights of Aston]

Be extremely careful using a jump pack on a Vanquish. I've seen them blow modules in the past, and the engine ones are a few thousand pounds. Personally, I'd use a good charger/conditioner.

[Jem0911]

Thank you for all the info.

If it were me i would be leaving the car in random places either.

Thanks for the charger/jumper advise passed on.

[fluffer]

A high end solar charger might do the trick but most arent pretty at all, especially the cabling. A halfords one likely wont work. I spent a while online looking into them. Any of the tidy ones were for much smaller engines. Even the American ones for larger engines were really designed for Californian weather..

I tried to do exactly what your friend is hoping to do in terms of airport parking. It failed almost every time to hold its charge(killed once and the battery is in a downward spiral anyway), and these sizeable engines murder any portable booster/starter pack.. Not only that but its not the best at taking luggage to the airport either.
I upgraded the battery to a Varta Ultra AGM model. They are rated to dissipate far slower than standard wet cell batteries.

However I recommend a taxi.

[MrOrange]

How about a battery cut-off? An unloaded battery lasts ages - naturally the alarm and tracker won't work

[limpsfield]

I use this for my Maserati:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

pricey but worth it and once charged seems to hold it for an awful long time

[Knights of Aston]

Vanquish has a proper battery cut off switch as standard.