Unused battery discharge.

[Topmast]

You just can't trust anyone, can you. Bunch of Scammers.
I must be just making up starting this 2800cc Diesel with my little jump pack in the following video


Disappointing there. See video below ... battery was 10.7V (which is pretty well dead!)

Description in video:
The Starter Battery in this LT is faulty and does not deliver any real CCAs. Prior to starting Filming I tried to start the engine (and the battery was at around 12.6V having been on charge for previous 20 hours). Turned the key once and hardly any cranking and that is when I put the meter on and read 10.7V. It was at that point I decided to film using a Lithium Jump Pack to start the engine. Between the two goes with the Jump Pack connected I go back to the engine bay and check the jump pack. I didn't actually do anything or change anything on it, just checking the leads were all in place and pack not hot before trying again.
Engine Started on 2nd go with Jump Pack. I used the Jump Pack yesterday as well and it was exactly the same - first go engine turns slowly, then leave for a minute or so, turn key again and engine starts : )

Please don’t think I was disbelieving you,I was just taking with a huge pinch of salt some of the claims of sellers on eBay.

 

[wildebus]

How many pennies was the one you used and the make please

Amazon. Around £60-£70 I think. The exact one I bought is no longer available (these kind of things come in and out the sales listings frequently).
It was pot-luck with the various ones around. Bought as a prize to give out. tried it and worked so well, kept it and bought another the same to give away

I would get from Amazon rather than eBay as you can try it and if it does not do the job, reject it and get money back easily. Bit harder with other sellers (still have a dispute running from Sept last year for the little washing machine someone posted a link to and I took a punt on).

 

[mistericeman]

How many pennies was the one you used and the make please

IF you want to take risk out of the equation (I have a 'none branded' one and it works great BUT there are poor, ones out there)
As in buying one that doesn't work....

Then look at the NOCO ones....

Known quality maker of excellent pro grade gear (chargers etc as well as, jump start packs)

And I know several of their brand ones in use in the trade very successfully.

 

[trevskoda]

At 60/70 bucks ill give it a mis, my car is the problem with a tiny battery which will die if you leave dipped lights on, but easy started with a tiny push, all side and tail lights now changed to led so I can leave on the rd for a while and still start, never a prob with the van as I can link all the batts up with a flick of a switch.

 

[wildebus]

At 60/70 bucks ill give it a miss, my car is the problem with a tiny battery which will die if you leave dipped lights on, but easy started with a tiny push, all side and tail lights now changed to led so I can leave on the rd for a while and still start, never a prob with the van as I can link all the batts up with a flick of a switch.

I have used mine a few times in the LT back in 2017 - but I knew the battery had had it, so it the van was in use it would have had a new battery before hand.
I've used it on the car once when I had a mystery dead battery. never happened since. It was dead handy to have the jump pack though.
I have used a couple of times at camping meets to help out others and carry it in the van as a "just in case". Being Lithium, it keeps charged without the need to charge regularly (unlike the lead jump packs).
Is it worth £60? well, not an essential item but it really is handy and in terms of a battery pack, it is not that much more expensive than a power tool lithium battery so I would not say overpriced.

 

[mblinko]

in my experience Noco jump packs are great for charging your iphone when not near a plug.

 

[colinm]

Small(ish) solar panel connected to the starter battery with a cheap PWM controller. If you can/are monitor the battery only connecting when voltage starts to drop depending on panel size and time of year.

 

[trevskoda]

Small(ish) solar panel connected to the starter battery with a cheap PWM controller. If you can/are monitor the battery only connecting when voltage starts to drop depending on panel size and time of year.

Just a mppt unit here foes all batteries, though a movable panel for the screen is handy.

 

[Big Bill]

If you wild camp I assume that you have a solar array to recharge your leisure battery but that array does not keep your engine battery fully charged.
I use a simple diode rectifier between the leisure battery positive and the engine battery positive. This allows the engine battery to be charged by the solar array but does not allow the engine battery to be dicharged along with the leisure battery. All you need is a 30 Amp Shottky rectifier costing a couple of quid [Schottky diodes only drop 0.3 volts]. My engine battery lasted for 13 years when used for long periods camping on the beaches of Spain and the Algarve for up to 3 months at a time. It quickly started last time after months of inactivity.

 

[Harryw]

FWIW I too have a Amazon £60 special bought years ago.
it’s something like 18/20aH and has successfully been used on Morris Minor, Mini 1.4, Vag 2.0D and a 4.5ltr V8 petrol (very high compression version too). Never failed to start them. It’s been used many a time for IPhone and iPad charging too. I actually jump started a ladies completely flat (lights left on) Astra in a hospital car park last week.
I wouldn’t be without one…. I do not understand the reticence tbh.

 

[trevskoda]

If you wild camp I assume that you have a solar array to recharge your leisure battery but that array does not keep your engine battery fully charged.
I use a simple diode rectifier between the leisure battery positive and the engine battery positive. This allows the engine battery to be charged by the solar array but does not allow the engine battery to be dicharged along with the leisure battery. All you need is a 30 Amp Shottky rectifier costing a couple of quid [Schottky diodes only drop 0.3 volts]. My engine battery lasted for 13 years when used for long periods camping on the beaches of Spain and the Algarve for up to 3 months at a time. It quickly started last time after months of inactivity.

A diode reduces the voltage, this does not, I amp to starter battery.

 

[Geek]

If a lead acid battery is in good condition and is more or less fully charged, AND it has no load on it, it should be good for at least six months of standing.
After that sort of time, it depends on a few factors such as temperature and quality of the battery. Some are good for a year, but six months is a sensible safe limit.
However most starter batteries have a bit of a load when parked up: ECU, immobiliser, radio standby, alarm...