I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency
car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.

--

Walter

On 09/27/2015 04:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A
emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.



It takes quite a bit more than 50 amps to start a car and a charger like
that could only produce 50 amps for (perhaps) a fraction of a second.

That said, if your battery is in good condition but simply too cold or
run a bit too dead to start your car...an inexpensive charger like that
would certainly be useful.

Basically you'd need to allow it to charge your battery...at least
partially...to get your car going.


Ten minutes might be enough...might take longer.

On Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 5:57:57 PM UTC-4, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency
car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.

--

Walter

50 amps would provide 600W. I recall typical starter today being
around twice that.

I have a charger like that and I use it by first charging the battery
for as long as I can at 10A. If you have enough time, you can charge
it in a couple hours so that the car will then start. If I need to
start it right away, then I charge it for whatever shorter time I
have, even 10 mins, then put the charger on 50A mode while cranking it.
Whatever you can put in the battery before the attempt, can help
supplement the charger. It's always worked for me. If you had no
battery assistance at all, 50A might be enough, but I think it
might be marginal.

On Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 6:10:46 PM UTC-4, philo wrote:
On 09/27/2015 04:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A
emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.



It takes quite a bit more than 50 amps to start a car and a charger like
that could only produce 50 amps for (perhaps) a fraction of a second.


IDK about the HF charger, but I have a Sears charger that also
puts out 2/10/50 and it can go a minute or more on 50A.




That said, if your battery is in good condition but simply too cold or
run a bit too dead to start your car...an inexpensive charger like that
would certainly be useful.

Basically you'd need to allow it to charge your battery...at least
partially...to get your car going.


Ten minutes might be enough...might take longer.

Agree, I posted similar. Charging it at 10A for whatever time you
have available, then using 50A when cranking works for me.

On Sun, 27 Sep 2015 14:57:54 -0700, "Walter E."
wrote:

I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency
car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.
If there is a half dead battery involved, the charger only needs to
provide about half the cranking current. and SOME new vehicles with
gear reduction permanent magnet staters WILL start on 45-60 amps.

On 09/27/2015 05:20 PM, trader_4 wrote:
On Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 6:10:46 PM UTC-4, philo wrote:
On 09/27/2015 04:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A
emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.



It takes quite a bit more than 50 amps to start a car and a charger like
that could only produce 50 amps for (perhaps) a fraction of a second.


IDK about the HF charger, but I have a Sears charger that also
puts out 2/10/50 and it can go a minute or more on 50A.




That said, if your battery is in good condition but simply too cold or
run a bit too dead to start your car...an inexpensive charger like that
would certainly be useful.

Basically you'd need to allow it to charge your battery...at least
partially...to get your car going.


Ten minutes might be enough...might take longer.

Agree, I posted similar. Charging it at 10A for whatever time you
have available, then using 50A when cranking works for me.




You probably got that back when Sears was still a good brand name.

Many of those cheap chargers can only put out a lot of current
momentarily...but at any rate...for a battery that is only partially
discharged such a charger is probably good enough.

On 9/27/2015 2:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The specs
show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.

Depends on the car, state of the engine, outdoor temperature, etc.

The starters on small cars are obviously less demanding than on
bigger engines/diesels. A big diesel that's been soaking in a
-10F Chicago winter obviously presents a bigger load.

FWIW, I think a Civic's starter is in the 1KW ballpark (worst case).
That doesn't mean it is running *at* capacity each time you start the
vehicle.

It also ignores any charge available in the battery -- as well as any
charge that your charger *dumps* into the battery between the time
you hook it up and the time you turn over the ignition.

On Sunday, September 27, 2015 at 6:48:38 PM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
On 9/27/2015 2:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The specs
show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.

Depends on the car, state of the engine, outdoor temperature, etc.

The starters on small cars are obviously less demanding than on
bigger engines/diesels. A big diesel that's been soaking in a
-10F Chicago winter obviously presents a bigger load.

FWIW, I think a Civic's starter is in the 1KW ballpark (worst case).
That doesn't mean it is running *at* capacity each time you start the
vehicle.

It also ignores any charge available in the battery -- as well as any
charge that your charger *dumps* into the battery between the time
you hook it up and the time you turn over the ignition.

over 40 years ago i bought a expensive sears 100 amp charger 200 amp boost battery charger. my mom and grandma yelled at me to return it. boy am i glad i didnt i must of used it 50 ties, for me, neighbors, friends etc.

there are on rare occasions something you buy and make very good use of.

for me its that battery charger.

with chargers go big.

i had one diehard battery that died hard at less than a year old.

a connection must of seperated internally. i came home, picked up some parts and upon leaving within 10 minutes battery was stone dead.

so i used the charger, and went directly to sears who did a free replacement..

without the 200 amp boost i wouldnt of gotten to the store

On Sun, 27 Sep 2015 15:48:41 -0700, Don Y
wrote:

On 9/27/2015 2:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The specs
show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.

Depends on the car, state of the engine, outdoor temperature, etc.

The starters on small cars are obviously less demanding than on
bigger engines/diesels. A big diesel that's been soaking in a
-10F Chicago winter obviously presents a bigger load.

FWIW, I think a Civic's starter is in the 1KW ballpark (worst case).
That doesn't mean it is running *at* capacity each time you start the
vehicle.

It also ignores any charge available in the battery -- as well as any
charge that your charger *dumps* into the battery between the time
you hook it up and the time you turn over the ignition.

My old 225 Dart generally started on less than 75 amps at normal
daytime spring, summer, or fall temps (60-80F)

On Sun, 27 Sep 2015 14:57:54 -0700, "Walter E."
wrote:

I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency
car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.


I've bought two of those. They work great. Here's a tip if you buy
one. If your battery is really low and you use the charger on the
logical settings, like "charge" on the 10 amp setting, you may fine
the "charge complete" light will come on right away but it won't have
charged the battery. That's got something to do with how the thing
senses the ability of the battery to take current, apparently really
low batteries fool the charger into thinking no charge is needed. The
way around that is to leave it on the 10 amp setting but put the other
switch on "boost" instead of "charge". As to the 50 amp thing, that's
about all you are going to get out of that small a transformer in a
small charger. I know when a battery is low and you put it on boost
the meter needle bangs over to the right from the high current. A
starter on old V-8s typically would draw 150 amps to start the car. I
would guess a 4 cylinder with a battery too weak to start it, but not
ruined and shorted, could be started with the 50 amp boost. You might
need to give it a 10 amp charge for 15 minutes first and then switch
to boost. Or a few minutes set on 50 amp boost to force some charge
quickly into the battery. I would expect the charger to overheat if
you used it that way very long.

On 9/27/2015 4:03 PM, bob haller wrote:
over 40 years ago i bought a expensive sears 100 amp charger 200 amp boost
battery charger. my mom and grandma yelled at me to return it. boy am i glad
i didnt i must of used it 50 ties, for me, neighbors, friends etc.

there are on rare occasions something you buy and make very good use of.

for me its that battery charger.

with chargers go big.

i had one diehard battery that died hard at less than a year old.

a connection must of seperated internally. i came home, picked up some parts
and upon leaving within 10 minutes battery was stone dead.

so i used the charger, and went directly to sears who did a free
replacement..

without the 200 amp boost i wouldnt of gotten to the store

I keep a couple of charged batteries in the garage (to power an
irrigation pump, act as a bulk power source for UPS during outages,
act as a "spare car" to "jump" another).

SWMBO has discarded one of her golf caddies (is that what it's called?
just a little two wheeled cart to drag golf clubs around behind you).
I plan on converting it to carry the batteries so I can just wheel
them to wherever they are needed.

On 9/28/2015 3:02 AM, Don Y wrote:
I keep a couple of charged batteries in the garage (to power an
irrigation pump, act as a bulk power source for UPS during outages,
act as a "spare car" to "jump" another).

SWMBO has discarded one of her golf caddies (is that what it's called?
just a little two wheeled cart to drag golf clubs around behind you).
I plan on converting it to carry the batteries so I can just wheel
them to wherever they are needed.


Golf club cart might work. I suspect it will be
top heavy, clumsy, and might tip over.

Kids' Red Ryder wagon might work better. More
flat, and bigger foot print.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

A caution when using 12 volt boost. Please don't
wiggle, move, or unclamp the terminals when using
boost. I did see an old farmer explode a battery
one time. Using boost, and then squeezed one of
the charging terminal clamps. The resulting spark
lit off the hydrogen. It sounded like a gun shot.
I may never forget the next words "get some
water for my eyes."

Unplug the charger and wait a couple seconds before
wiggling or removing either of the cable clamps.

-
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

Stormin Mormon wrote:
A caution when using 12 volt boost. Please don't
wiggle, move, or unclamp the terminals when using
boost. I did see an old farmer explode a battery
one time. Using boost, and then squeezed one of
the charging terminal clamps. The resulting spark
lit off the hydrogen. It sounded like a gun shot.
I may never forget the next words "get some
water for my eyes."

Unplug the charger and wait a couple seconds before
wiggling or removing either of the cable clamps.

That's why they tell you to attach the ground terminal LAST to a grounding point
away from the battery, and remove that first. It doesn't take a boost charger to
generate a spark.

"Walter E." wrote in message ...

I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency
car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.

-- Walter

NO it will not start you car 50 A. it is similar to 10 just that is not
regulated
and not filtered to be good DC. 50 A. will speed up charging, suggestion not
to use longer then 15 minutes at time or less.

On 9/27/2015 5:10 PM, philo wrote:
On 09/27/2015 04:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A
emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.



It takes quite a bit more than 50 amps to start a car and a charger
like that could only produce 50 amps for (perhaps) a fraction of a
second.

That said, if your battery is in good condition but simply too cold or
run a bit too dead to start your car...an inexpensive charger like
that would certainly be useful.

Basically you'd need to allow it to charge your battery...at least
partially...to get your car going.


Ten minutes might be enough...might take longer.

Jump packs are becoming very popular now, since the charge lasts for
months (lithium ion battery), you can jump multiple times between
charges, and they're small enough to keep in the glove compartment.

Here's one:
http://www.amazon.com/Nekteck-Multif.../dp/B00MG687JW

Where I work, we can call our company's parking dept. if we need a
jump or a tire change. I once called the assistance guys needing a
jump, and instead of maneuvering their truck next to mine for a
conventional jump start, they just used one of these jump packs. I was
taken aback - but it worked.

On 9/28/2015 9:03 AM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:
On 9/27/2015 5:10 PM, philo wrote:
On 09/27/2015 04:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A
emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.



It takes quite a bit more than 50 amps to start a car and a charger
like that could only produce 50 amps for (perhaps) a fraction of a
second.

That said, if your battery is in good condition but simply too cold or
run a bit too dead to start your car...an inexpensive charger like
that would certainly be useful.

Basically you'd need to allow it to charge your battery...at least
partially...to get your car going.


Ten minutes might be enough...might take longer.

Jump packs are becoming very popular now, since the charge lasts for months
(lithium ion battery), you can jump multiple times between charges, and they're
small enough to keep in the glove compartment.

Here's one:
http://www.amazon.com/Nekteck-Multif.../dp/B00MG687JW

Where I work, we can call our company's parking dept. if we need a jump or a
tire change. I once called the assistance guys needing a jump, and instead of
maneuvering their truck next to mine for a conventional jump start, they just
used one of these jump packs. I was taken aback - but it worked.

A neighbor swore by one of these! I've not looked into them in
detail -- and suspect a lot depends on the state of charge in the
battery in question.

Most of the times that I've needed to jump a vehicle I discovered
a dead alternator (which led to the battery's demise) *or* loose
cables at the battery (big IR drop there, poor charging, etc.)

On Sun, 27 Sep 2015 16:03:20 -0700 (PDT), bob haller
wrote:

over 40 years ago i bought a expensive sears 100 amp charger 200 amp boost battery charger. my mom and grandma yelled at me to return it. boy am i glad i didnt i must of used it 50 ties, for me, neighbors, friends etc.

+1 I bought a Schumacher brand 2/40/200 Amp (wheeled) charger at
Sears ~ 23 years ago. Still have and use it. Can't count the times it
has been used... lawn tractor, deep cycle marine batteries, cars and
trucks over the years. Best thing since Georgia Ice Cream.

Some new models have a battery/alternator tester helps diagnose
electrical system problems and battery state.

On 09/28/2015 11:03 AM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:

Where I work, we can call our company's parking dept. if we need a jump
or a tire change. I once called the assistance guys needing a jump, and
instead of maneuvering their truck next to mine for a conventional jump
start, they just used one of these jump packs. I was taken aback - but
it worked.


Last Christmas, I gave a friend one of those. It looked too small (at
1*3*5 inches) to start a vehicle, but it did (the vehicle was a Jeep SUV).

BTW, this battery also has a USB port for cellphone charging. During
last May's power outage, it ran a USB fan most of the night (maybe
longer, but then it got too cold and I didn't need a fan).

--
88 days until the winter celebration (Friday December 25, 2015 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"We cannot accept the doctrine that war must be forever a part of man's
destiny." -- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

On 9/28/2015 12:03 PM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:

Jump packs are becoming very popular now, since the charge lasts for
months (lithium ion battery), you can jump multiple times between
charges, and they're small enough to keep in the glove compartment.

Here's one:
http://www.amazon.com/Nekteck-Multif.../dp/B00MG687JW


Where I work, we can call our company's parking dept. if we need a jump
or a tire change. I once called the assistance guys needing a jump, and
instead of maneuvering their truck next to mine for a conventional jump
start, they just used one of these jump packs. I was taken aback - but
it worked.


That's astounding. I've got some thing of the same idea,
but with a lead acid SLA cell. Cost more than that,
and holds about the same amp hours.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
learn more about Jesus
.. www.lds.org
..
..

"Bob F" wrote in message
...
Stormin Mormon wrote:
A caution when using 12 volt boost. Please don't
wiggle, move, or unclamp the terminals when using
boost. I did see an old farmer explode a battery
one time. Using boost, and then squeezed one of
the charging terminal clamps. The resulting spark
lit off the hydrogen. It sounded like a gun shot.
I may never forget the next words "get some
water for my eyes."

Unplug the charger and wait a couple seconds before
wiggling or removing either of the cable clamps.

That's why they tell you to attach the ground terminal LAST to a grounding
point
away from the battery, and remove that first. It doesn't take a boost
charger to
generate a spark.

I bought that charger but brought it back because it didn't have an ON/OFF
switch. Personal quirk but I believe all electrical devices, especially
potentially dangerous ones, should have at least an ON/OFF switch and
hopefully an ON/OFF indicator as well.

--
Bobby G.

On Mon, 28 Sep 2015 08:22:39 -0700, "tony944" wrote:

"Walter E." wrote in message ...

I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency
car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.

-- Walter

NO it will not start you car 50 A. it is similar to 10 just that is not
regulated
and not filtered to be good DC. 50 A. will speed up charging, suggestion not
to use longer then 15 minutes at time or less.
If the battery has ANY power left in it, the 50 amp setting WILL
start most cars. If the battery is stone dead, it won't. Never leave
the charger on the 50 amp setting for more than a min ute or two.
Proper procedure is to use the 50 amp ONLY when cranking so you don't
get excessive voltage to your electronics - if, for instance, you have
an intermittent open circuit in the battery, or a bad battery cable to
battery connection.

On Mon, 28 Sep 2015 09:29:08 -0700, Don Y
wrote:

On 9/28/2015 9:03 AM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:
On 9/27/2015 5:10 PM, philo wrote:
On 09/27/2015 04:57 PM, Walter E. wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A
emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.



It takes quite a bit more than 50 amps to start a car and a charger
like that could only produce 50 amps for (perhaps) a fraction of a
second.

That said, if your battery is in good condition but simply too cold or
run a bit too dead to start your car...an inexpensive charger like
that would certainly be useful.

Basically you'd need to allow it to charge your battery...at least
partially...to get your car going.


Ten minutes might be enough...might take longer.

Jump packs are becoming very popular now, since the charge lasts for months
(lithium ion battery), you can jump multiple times between charges, and they're
small enough to keep in the glove compartment.

Here's one:
http://www.amazon.com/Nekteck-Multif.../dp/B00MG687JW

Where I work, we can call our company's parking dept. if we need a jump or a
tire change. I once called the assistance guys needing a jump, and instead of
maneuvering their truck next to mine for a conventional jump start, they just
used one of these jump packs. I was taken aback - but it worked.

A neighbor swore by one of these! I've not looked into them in
detail -- and suspect a lot depends on the state of charge in the
battery in question.

Most of the times that I've needed to jump a vehicle I discovered
a dead alternator (which led to the battery's demise) *or* loose
cables at the battery (big IR drop there, poor charging, etc.)

Most for me have been bad batteries that finally gave out on a REALLY
cold day. - or someone left the door open, or the headlights on, or
the trunk open - and drained the battery dead.

On Mon, 28 Sep 2015 17:42:16 -0400, Stormin Mormon
wrote:

On 9/28/2015 12:03 PM, Moe DeLoughan wrote:

Jump packs are becoming very popular now, since the charge lasts for
months (lithium ion battery), you can jump multiple times between
charges, and they're small enough to keep in the glove compartment.

Here's one:
http://www.amazon.com/Nekteck-Multif.../dp/B00MG687JW


Where I work, we can call our company's parking dept. if we need a jump
or a tire change. I once called the assistance guys needing a jump, and
instead of maneuvering their truck next to mine for a conventional jump
start, they just used one of these jump packs. I was taken aback - but
it worked.


That's astounding. I've got some thing of the same idea,
but with a lead acid SLA cell. Cost more than that,
and holds about the same amp hours.
The old SLAs were OK, but the new Lithiums? They are incredible. Mine
will fit in the armrest box on my ranger, and will start a 6.0 liter
Suburban several times - even 6 months after it was charged. ANd it
won't stretch your arms carrying it.

It's the CCA that's critical, not the amp-hours when it comes time to
"kick butt" and get an engine started.

On 9/28/2015 6:52 PM, wrote:

A neighbor swore by one of these! I've not looked into them in
detail -- and suspect a lot depends on the state of charge in the
battery in question.

Most of the times that I've needed to jump a vehicle I discovered
a dead alternator (which led to the battery's demise) *or* loose
cables at the battery (big IR drop there, poor charging, etc.)

Most for me have been bad batteries that finally gave out on a REALLY
cold day. - or someone left the door open, or the headlights on, or
the trunk open - and drained the battery dead.

Here, we lose batteries to the heat. If car doesn't start -- or, starts
to act sluggish when turning over -- check the date on the battery
case and drive directly to the store for free replacement under warranty.

Previous Monte Carlo would eat diode bridges in alternator pretty
regularly. Cheap fix -- except for the time to pull it off the
engine

"Walter E." wrote:
I am considering a Harbor Freight battery charger on sale for $ 29. The
specs show 10 A charging current, 2 A trickle charging and 50 A emergency car starting.

Will 50 Amps start modern cars? I thought it was higher than that.


It will try to charge very hard and add additional power from battery. Mine
broke. Perhaps something I Did ?

Greg