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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ portable starter packs

Posted by: synthesisdv Oct 14 2004, 06:25 AM

Have been looking at getting one of those starter packs. Most are 400 amp starting power with 17 amp battery.

Don't want one with air compressor, flashlight, compass built in, just the power.

Posted by: Sparky Oct 14 2004, 07:40 AM

For kicks I tried one on my 944. I put in a discharged marine battery (barely moved the needle on my volt meter) and plugged one in. Now this was the handy dandy plug it in your cig lighter model (forget the brand my dad had bought it) and gave it a whirl. My starter went clunk once and that was it. I double checked my grounds and tried again. Nothing. Maybe this was a defective one who knows. My test was hardly scientific and after a shrug dad returned it to the FLAP he bought it from.

Mike D.

Posted by: kafermeister Oct 14 2004, 10:27 AM

My dad started his 914 (1975 1.8 w/L-Jet) a few months ago with one. Didn't have a battery at all, car started and ran at least long enough to move it out of the garage. Didn't push our luck by driving it arround the yard.

I can check what kind it was if anyone is interested.

Rick

Posted by: Rhodes71/914 Oct 14 2004, 10:37 AM

I think that the problem that Mike D. had was the discharged marine battery. Prolly sucking all the juice before it got to the starter. I bet if you hadn't of hooked up the bat it should have started.

sr

Posted by: bondo Oct 14 2004, 11:23 AM

They are NOT all the same.. the VAST majority of them are only intended to recharge your current battery enough to get a start, and depend on having a good battery that's just dead.. and they take a while to do the charging, even longer with the cig lighter plug. The only one I know of that has the power to actually start a car by itself is the "Secure Start" which uses Bolder TMF batteries.. very advanced technology. I don't know if it is still available.

Posted by: bondo Oct 14 2004, 11:26 AM

Oh, and a battery that barely moves the voltmeter is a bad battery.. Any time a lead acid battery gets discharged below about 10 volts, damage is being done.. the longer it stays low, the more damage. If you can get a battery that dead to take a charge, it won't have anywhere near the performance it had before.