XSeries-forum

Its about Ampers, its about Ampers on Jump packs  Some of them will give 1000A on jump start...

They will only give what is demanded of them by the starter/electrics. 

If the starter & electrics only draws 500 Amps then that's all the battery will be providing.  Batteries don't 'force' current, they provide according to 'demanded load' and are limited by maximum capacity.  Exceed the capacity with too much load and the volts drop.

If a starter pack has a CCA of 1000A then that is it's maximum loaded demand capacity at it's nominal voltage.

What fries electrics is both engines running and two alternators out of phase causing voltage 'spikes' on the DC supply that damages voltage sensitive components.  It's why you must disconnect the donor vehicle ASAP after the receiver vehicle starts, and keep the revs at idle.  Also turn everything like radios, a/c, lights etc off to minimise the total electrical 'load'.

Richard

Yes. You are 100% right there but if there is some water on wires ( common issue on  bmw ), jump packs with their hight ampers makes all systems going crazy, thats why i strongly advice to avoid jump packs.

Thats what I thought. It all very well saying keep it charged/conditioned, but we can all make a mistake and leave a door slightly ajar, internal light on or just have some other gremlin draining the battery and as you say BMW do provide jump starting points. I had the car jump started a few times (by the AA) both direct from their engine and from a jump pack, without issue. Im sure however some jump packs are better than others hence asking for the recommendation.

Smee

They are not jump starting points, they are charging points...recently i did few e90s after jump starts so i know what im saying...but its Your car. Smart chargers is the way to go or use jump pack as charging point but start the car on its own battery...thats all i got to say in this matter.

Sorry but you are wrong.  They are jump starting points, and BMW calls them that and how to use them.

Page 280 of my owners manual clearly states they are 'jump starting points', or starting aid points, before telling me exactly the process to be followed with both vehicles if not using a boost battery.

You need to read some BMW Owners Manuals.  It's in very clear text.

The battery is the safest method I agree as there are no electronics involved.  Of course, a smart charger would save needing to use one at all...

Richard

ok. thanks. Still learning When i do some coding, software tells me: "connect external charger to charging points" so i thought they are charging points. Never read owners manual

Hi guys, bit of a thread revival but saves starting another along the same lines. Can anyone recommend a good jump start pack? I've never had to use one on my X5 but have recently bought a mk2 astra that will be spending long periods in the garage out of use to figured it would be handy to have one of these. I would prefer one that could cope with the CCA of the X5 as thats predominantly where it will be kept should it ever be required.

Have you thought about putting a battery conditioner on it?  That way you can connect it to the battery and put it on charge every so often, or even leave it connected.  Assuming you have mains power available of course?

Your battery would be kept topped up, even if you only use it to charge the car monthly.  It's what I did with our E46 for three years.

You only need about a 4 or 5A version for the Astra.

Richard

My garage is away from the house so unfortunately thats not a route I can go down, thanks though.

Any windows?  Solar charger?

If not then some folks have things such as the Clarke starters from this lot..

Richard

....as for the tyre inflator then go to ebay and buy a continental (tyres) type inflator, mine is from a renault but they are generic to lots of makes and they are very very good and quick, do not get hot and good quality, had mine for ages and it is small enough to carry on my motorsickle adventures etc.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-Conti ... 4d27a1bc6d

think I paid £20 for mine 

Yeah I think the Clarke jump start 4000 is the best heavy duty one about after having a read online, that or the Snap On portable power 1700 but I can't seem to find a price for that online.

Can anyone tell me why some of these have internal batteries and some dont ?
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/rang ... ump-starts

For example, the jump start 4000 has very good reviews and weighs 17kg but has no internal battery (what makes up the 17kg then)?

The jump start 1000 which I think would suffice for my needs for a 2004 E53 3.oD (unless you tell me otherwise) is half the weight and has an internal 12v battery

Smee

It does have an internal 12V/38Ah battery on board.  The website just doesn't know/hasn't checked so hasn't bothered and hasn't filled in the details at a guess.

Clarke's Owners Manuals website lists it as above, so it at least explains the weight.

Richard