Thought this was worth a mention as it's the "deadest" battery I've yet tried to jump with this Streetwize pack.
It's a truly horrid late afternoon here. Daylight long gone and raining heavily but very little wind so coming straight down. Someone at the front door? Oh it's the nephew of the woman who lives in one of the flats opposite - I know him well enough to pass the time of day with. Unfortunately his Aunt is diagnosed with a medical condition which has meant she's had to surrendered her driving license. Her Seat Ibiza has stood at the kerbside for months without turning a wheel and he's borrowing it due to his own car needing an expensive ABS pump (it's an Audi so the bill is in the "ouch" region). Unfortunately it won't start, can I help?
Just a quick turn of the key confirms the battery is so flat the solenoid doesn't even click. It's such filthy weather and the fault is so obviously a flat battery, that I just go straight for the jump pack without doing any other checks. so out with the Streetwise and, on connecting it, I'm astonished to find it's still got around 13 volts showing. Remember these are capacitors we're talking about not a battery, I wasn't expecting to find any meaningful charge still in the device as the last time it was charged was way back in early summer. It takes about half a minute to charge to capacity - so the vehicle battery must have more than 5 volts still available. Push the green button, the countdown beeps are heard followed by a steady beep and "discharging" on the display so I shout "try it now" - he twists the key, it cranks vigorously and leaps into life!
Wow, that's impressive. I leave it connected, as suggested in the instructions, and it recharges in about 2 minutes when it goes dormant. I think this is advisable because if you disconnect while it's still charging you might risk a spark? Also, of course, it leaves you with a charged up pack. Everything is now thoroughly soaked, including both of us, so I've got my Goretex over the dining chairs and the Streetwise on one of my garage towels while I use another to dry it off. It's a sealed unit so doesn't mind getting wet but it's dripping water and I don't want to put it back in the car's boot like that. Mentioned to him to run the engine for at least a half hour to have any chance of it starting again. If the weather hadn't been so rotten I'd have checked the charging with a voltmeter, but I didn't. However the headlights were bright when he drove away so I guess the alternator is charging. Who knows if the battery is Ok after sitting for so long though.
So, quite a stiff test for it and it passed without even thinking of breaking sweat! I'm ever so pleased with my purchase.
