[Sutripta]

India specific:
Quality of copper (everybody claims electrolytic, Oxygen free etc. Most aren't)
Dia measurements. in India, it is in mm, not AWG or SWG. And most manufacturers don't meet their published specs.

Amperes needed. Work backwards from battery specs.

Best jointing is crimping. (IMO, soldering with acid flux is a very bad idea).

Regards
Sutripta

[the_joker]

You should be very careful when you jump start cars. Here is a picture of jump start gone very wrong:

http://i.imgur.com/srd4T.jpg

source: A friend of mine was helping a girl jump her car...she crossed the wires : pics

[offroad_maniac]

Above pic looks horrible, & makes me think whether or not to continue with below post. But, when the battery is dead, PROPER jump starting is the way in most situations.

As the OP is all about jump starting the car with dead / Low battery, here is one good video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv1oT_GnjYw

& also this good post by a TBHPian:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ml#post2918608

Originally Posted by ringoism

If something had been damaged (engine electronics, etc), you'd probably have seen it by now - yellow check engine light, or red charging system light would be on in the instrument cluster.

I've owned at least a couple dozen vehicles over nearly 30 years; I drove / restored a lot of older cars and was always on a budget, often stretching the life of under-rated batteries. I had a set of jumper cables in the car at all times and know a little about jump-starting - and I never once saw any damage done to any vehicle. So I cannot agree that bench-charging is superior or that there's some inherent risk factor with jump-starting, if done properly.

BTW, the proper procedure for jump-starting is this:

1. Neither car should be running, or touching each other.
2. Connect the one end of the positive (red) lead of the jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal of the dead battery, making sure the clamp is tight and you've got a good "bite".
3. Connect the other end to the positive terminal of the good battery, ensuring the same.
4. Connect the negative (black) jumper cable lead to the negative (-) side of the good battery.
5. Connect the other end of the negative lead to a ground point on the frame or engine block of the dead vehicle - NOT TO THE BATTERY!

6. Start the vehicle with the good battery.
7. Start the dead vehicle.
8. Once running well, remove the leads in the reverse order.

It is important, in all of this, to make sure your jumper cable clamps don't touch each other or other earthed (grounded) parts of either vehicle EVER during the entire connection / removal process. Good idea to keep the positive lead clamped back on its own insulation so that it can't touch anything else until getting it attached where it's supposed to be.

Anyway, this has always worked for me. Here in India, you have people trying to jump-start cars with old scrap pieces of domestic electrical wiring, etc - too small and with no clamps. Bad practices and ignorance complete the recipe for disaster. Get some good cables and follow the above procedure and you will save yourself a lot of time / hassle / expense and risk of personal injury.

[ringoism]

Originally Posted by the_joker

You should be very careful when you jump start cars. Here is a picture of jump start gone very wrong:

http://i.imgur.com/srd4T.jpg

source: A friend of mine was helping a girl jump her car...she crossed the wires : pics

Pretty interesting photo... and I was skeptical at first as to whether it could actually happen. I still doubt whether simply crossing terminals could do this.

BUT then I remembered one time when I was at a used car dealer in rural Thailand and the guy wanted to jump-start a diesel Nissan pickup that was for sale. Carefully taking into consideration the potential danger of connecting the negative (earth) lead to the battery terminal of the dead vehicle, this brilliant fellow searched for an alternate earthing point, finally deciding on ONE OF THE METAL DIESEL FUEL INJECTION LINES - to which he clamped the lead, thereafter immediately directing his assistant to try and start the car!!! A few milliseconds later, there was high-pressure diesel fuel spurting out from where the current had arched and burned a hole in the line. Very fortunately, no fire - but if it had been a petrol car (petrol is much more volatile / combustible), that probably would've been the end of at least one vehicle (as in the photo) and maybe of the three of us, too. God's grace. But in conclusion, maybe it should just be said that, "stupid people shouldn't jump-start cars". C'mon - A FUEL LINE!!!???

-Erik

[car.lover]

Folks - given the rain in the last 2 days even the morning commute to work was in partial darkness and low visibility.

Consequence- yours truly had switched on the lights in between and forgot to switch them off, so when it was time to return home => Dead battery

Given the rain, took a lift from a colleague to go home and took the metro back to work today. Was reading up on jumpstarting the car (this thread was helpful) and before buying the cables, etc. decided to give Exide Batmobile a call.

Was blown away with their service. Team arrived within 2 hours, checked the battery, jump started the car, gave me advice on what needs to be done next and left. All without expecting or asking for a single paisa!! Awesome service, great experience. Two thumbs up

[Desmosedici]

How many times can a battery be jump started and it will work or how many times can a dead battery be charged and used. Is there some limit.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by Desmosedici

How many times can a battery be jump started and it will work or how many times can a dead battery be charged and used. Is there some limit.

I guess you will know when the car's self is cranked the instrumentation console goes blank and the starter motor refuses to start, it is the end of the battery completely. It will not charge even if tried.

My battery died the same way. Pushed the car two times and the third time when I wanted to start the whole console went blank and no sound from the motor was heard. Stereo, headlights and indicators were working fine. The starter motor current was being delivered. So finally changed the battery.

I don't know hoe good is it for the electrical and the battery to be jump started.

Anurag.

[ghpk]

Originally Posted by Desmosedici

How many times can a battery be jump started and it will work or how many times can a dead battery be charged and used. Is there some limit.

Seriously, How many times you would be lucky enough to find a helping car
on a stranded road, and if you don't have your own "Jump Start Cables"
you are trying a possibilities of 5000:1 ratio for sure.

As the started car would provide enough voltage and power to jump start you but its something which can be Very Risky if done connecting the cables wrong way a single time.

[Aroy]

The jump start cable should be thicker than the cable from battery to the starter motor - 30-50 sq.mm, and 3-5m long with thick copper clips.

On a lonely stretch, a jump start cable is of no help if there is no car available to help you. So it is better to check the battery regularly especially if it has crossed 2 years of service.

[Desmosedici]

I got my battery changed today morning. The battery was around 3 years old but has been jump started atleast 4 times in the last one and half years. I had given it for charging yesterday but it could only charge uptil 7Volts. I had extracted the max from the battery hence duly changed it to Exide Champion for my Old Honda City Vtec. Cost me 3k with exchange with 18 months replacement guarantee.

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by Desmosedici

I got my battery changed today morning. The battery was around 3 years old but has been jump started atleast 4 times in the last one and half years. I had given it for charging yesterday but it could only charge uptil 7Volts. I had extracted the max from the battery hence duly changed it to Exide Champion for my Old Honda City Vtec. Cost me 3k with exchange with 18 months replacement guarantee.

Bro! exide is now not what it used to be. Anyway keep the warranty handy. due to their bad service i switched to Amaron 4 years ago and happy since. i have used amaron in atleast 8 of the cars. and believe me you, our weather in hills is harsher than what you would face in plains

[Desmosedici]

Originally Posted by SirAlec

Bro! exide is now not what it used to be. Anyway keep the warranty handy. due to their bad service i switched to Amaron 4 years ago and happy since. i have used amaron in atleast 8 of the cars. and believe me you, our weather in hills is harsher than what you would face in plains

I always thought Exide was the best in business hence went for that. My other car has an Amaron which is doing well. Agree that the climate in Mumbai is nothing compared to what you guys must be facing. I guess this battery if taken care of properly should service me atleast for the next 2 - 3 years minimum.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by SirAlec

Bro! exide is now not what it used to be. Anyway keep the warranty handy. due to their bad service i switched to Amaron 4 years ago and happy since

Hello SirAlec

Is Exide not a good brand any more as compared to olden days? Have you had an bad incident or service issue with Exide?

Amaron is the next best alternative after Exide in the battery brands that I trust and has not disappointed me personally and no negative feedback from friends.

Originally Posted by Desmosedici

I always thought Exide was the best in business hence went for that. I guess this battery if taken care of properly should service me atleast for the next 2 - 3 years minimum.

Oh Cool! Which Exide battery is it? The model I mean.

If the batteries are taken on regular intervals then it must stay OK till the warranty period ends or further may be. Where did you get the battery changed and what care are you going to take (would be great if you can share as it will be helpful to others)?

Cheers,
Anurag.

[SirAlec]

Originally Posted by a4anurag

Hello SirAlec

Is Exide not a good brand any more as compared to olden days? Have you had an bad incident or service issue with Exide?

Amaron is the next best alternative after Exide in the battery brands that I trust and has not disappointed me personally and no negative feedback from friends.



Anurag.

i have seen exide dying after every 2.5 years. amaron is still going strong with 4 years plus, imagine numerous cold start all those years.

[a4anurag]

Originally Posted by SirAlec

i have seen exide dying after every 2.5 years. amaron is still going strong with 4 years plus, imagine numerous cold start all those years.

Yes. I am one of these. My stock battery lasted only 2.6 years and 92667 kms but don't know why. I got a free replacement for the battery as the positive terminal had developed a problem and lose contact was seen. Complained to the dealer and got it checked for which they agreed and gave me a new battery for free.

Regards
Anurag.