Halfords 'lighter socket' jump lead
Discussion
ehmm .... you might be able to charge the battery through the cigarette lighter, but jump starts are a non-starter (boom, boom). Cigarette lighter is only fused to 10 amps. Starter needs a lot more than that. Wouldn't be suprised if the cigarette lighter is switched off on some cars when the starter motor cranks to minimise the other potential drains.
ah, fair enough 
. Sounds like a good idea. It's surprising how quickly the battery charges up enough to crank the engine. Last time my battery was flat (completely and utterly flat too), I jump started it off an AA van, left the car idling for about 5-10 mins after which it had no problem starting on its battery alone. I assumed it was still pretty flat, so took it out for a spin to be on the safe side.
Pure guesswork, but lets say it charges through the cigarette lighter at 1 amp and needs 100 amps for 10 seconds to crank the engine and is 50% efficient, then you need to leave it charging for about 1/2 an hour. If it charged at 5 amps, then you'd be looking at about 6 minutes. No idea what the actual figures should be, but the order of magnitudes suggests it ought to work OK.
. Sounds like a good idea. It's surprising how quickly the battery charges up enough to crank the engine. Last time my battery was flat (completely and utterly flat too), I jump started it off an AA van, left the car idling for about 5-10 mins after which it had no problem starting on its battery alone. I assumed it was still pretty flat, so took it out for a spin to be on the safe side. Pure guesswork, but lets say it charges through the cigarette lighter at 1 amp and needs 100 amps for 10 seconds to crank the engine and is 50% efficient, then you need to leave it charging for about 1/2 an hour. If it charged at 5 amps, then you'd be looking at about 6 minutes. No idea what the actual figures should be, but the order of magnitudes suggests it ought to work OK.
never actually used it though might just find it and keep it in the boot of the Chimp just in case 
i've got one too!!!
seems like such a good idea but it doesn't work!
you can sit there for 1 hour and not get enough charge for a start! you may like to lift the lid of your bin and drop it in!!
If i could be arsed i'd take it back but the bin is much closer than Halfords!!
Also the fuse to the cig lighter blows if you try and start the TVR with it plugged in!
seems like such a good idea but it doesn't work!
you can sit there for 1 hour and not get enough charge for a start! you may like to lift the lid of your bin and drop it in!!
If i could be arsed i'd take it back but the bin is much closer than Halfords!!
Also the fuse to the cig lighter blows if you try and start the TVR with it plugged in!
ok..ok..so i've wasted £15 I have one floating around in the garage...they seem liek a great idea but in reality are useless. 
I recall that it takes hours to get sufficient charge on a knackered battery to start the engine.
Best bet is jump start if you have to, but IMO you are best off replacing the battery and then using a float charger...leave it plugged in whenever you are not using the car. The differenec in teh way teh car drives when you first start it is amazing!
I recall that it takes hours to get sufficient charge on a knackered battery to start the engine.
Best bet is jump start if you have to, but IMO you are best off replacing the battery and then using a float charger...leave it plugged in whenever you are not using the car. The differenec in teh way teh car drives when you first start it is amazing!
I was told by Austec that the ECU takes it timing directly from the coil, and the last thing you want to be doing is jump starting the car with a boost charger ( aka the AA ) You stand a very good chance of frying your ECU.
With regard to the fag top up device, it will at most trickle charge, so to trickle charge a fully flat 100Amp battery.....days ?? Good for 4 cylnder shopping trollies - no good for V8s if flat. However they should prevent a charged battery from going flat no matter the size of your lump.
With regard to the fag top up device, it will at most trickle charge, so to trickle charge a fully flat 100Amp battery.....days ?? Good for 4 cylnder shopping trollies - no good for V8s if flat. However they should prevent a charged battery from going flat no matter the size of your lump.
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