I've had three over the years, two of which are defunct. The third's going. The first one's dead because it's got very peculiar leads, and I've misplaced the charger. The second no longer seems to hold a charge. The third is still working.
I've also got a trickle charger, which is more reliable (assuming the problem is simply a discharged battery).
They have the advantage over trickle chargers in that they don't involve removing your existing battery from the car; they work reasonably instantly, without a need for a mains supply (at the point of your emergency); they might get you moving when the problem is the battery itself (rather than the lack of charge); they provide 12v DC for other accessories (I pump up my bike tyres with an electricly powered compressor, from the jump-starter).
The downside is that they're heavy buggers, because, in essence, you're carrying a spare battery. If you need it more than rarely, you've got a separate problem (which is the bit I got very wrong).
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Date: 2010-04-26 04:31 pm (UTC)The first one's dead because it's got very peculiar leads, and I've misplaced the charger.
The second no longer seems to hold a charge.
The third is still working.
I've also got a trickle charger, which is more reliable (assuming the problem is simply a discharged battery).
They have the advantage over trickle chargers in that they don't involve removing your existing battery from the car; they work reasonably instantly, without a need for a mains supply (at the point of your emergency); they might get you moving when the problem is the battery itself (rather than the lack of charge); they provide 12v DC for other accessories (I pump up my bike tyres with an electricly powered compressor, from the jump-starter).
The downside is that they're heavy buggers, because, in essence, you're carrying a spare battery. If you need it more than rarely, you've got a separate problem (which is the bit I got very wrong).