Red Jumpstart Battery Thingo
Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 18:27
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Geoff1967
I have one of those red plastic Jumpstart 600 AMP
Power auxilary battery
packs BCF sell. It says to charge for 52 hours, which I did. According to instructions that come with it, something like a fluro light should run about 30 hours (draws only 1 amp) yet I found the Jumpstart 600 was flashing red (this means recharge it) after an hour or so of fluro light use!
Is this maybe because its brand new or something?
Any advice appreciated.
Reply By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 20:51
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 20:51
You do know that BCF is owned by Super Cheap Auto.....
AnswerID:
315668
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:04
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:04
History:
In early 2003, Super Cheap Auto Group identified camping and outdoor leisure products as a retail category which provided an opportunity to develop a new and innovative retail format.
In January 2005, Super Cheap Auto Group purchased the CampMart business which consisted of four
Brisbane stores. This business became the platform to launch the company's new brand BCF Boating Camping Fishing in October 2005.
FollowupID:
581853
Follow Up By: Geoff1967 - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:25
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:25
To be honest I don't really care who owns it. I was just hoping someone could enlighten me about my battery.
FollowupID:
581856
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:30
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:30
More info needed.
What is the a/h rating ?
These normally have a sealed lead acid battery in them.
They should not have a memory unless it has built up sulfation on the shelf. You should get what they advertise otherwise take it back.
FollowupID:
581857
Follow Up By: Geoff1967 - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:38
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:38
I don't know much about batteries but it says 12 AH peak
power, 600 amperes.
All I wanted was a simple little back-up battery pack to
power my smaller items such as fluro light etc.
FollowupID:
581858
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:45
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:45
You should expect about 8 hours from a 1A fluoro.
Take it back.
FollowupID:
581864
Reply By: kcandco - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:31
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:31
Hi Geoff
It sounds like the jumpstart did not charge at all when connected to the mains.
Don't these things have a battery charge indicator built in whereby you push a button on the front and an analogue guage gives you a percentage reading of the state of the battery. If you have charged it for 52 hrs and it is not showing 100% charge after being left to sit for a half day after charging I would take it back. The item I have which sounds very similar (sold by supercheap) has a 12 amphour battery fitted thus would only give in theory 12 hrs operation of your fluoro before fully flat. If you
check the battery charge with this button immediately after charging you will get a false reading. Leave the battery to settle before testing. Also the unit I have has a lead acid battery fitted which if flattened a few times will not recharge. I make it a rule never to discharge
mine to less than 50% charge but even this is probably to low. I hope this info has helped and not confused you.
regards Kc
AnswerID:
315675
Follow Up By: Geoff1967 - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:44
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:44
Yep has a gauge and this confused me.
Has "% of charge" over most of the gauge range (up to about 12.75 volts) and the gauge goes all the way up to over 15 volts. But no matter how much I charge it when I hit the
test button it stays at about 13.5 volts. When camping last weekend, and I charged it for 52 hours first, as described initially after an hour or so use of a 12V fluro the red recharge light started flashing...
I think it was already at about at 13.5 volts when I first got it. Is it possible to 'over charge' it and some how deplete the battery?
I'm just a simple plug n' play guy who knows nothing about batteries and I just recharge things when they flash :-)
FollowupID:
581862
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:47
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:47
I would do a
test and see how many hours it takes to get the battery down to 11.5V
Do you know the exact amps that you lamp uses ?
FollowupID:
581869
Follow Up By: Geoff1967 - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:50
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:50
Yep its a 12V "Handylight" (got it from Anaconda) and has a 1 amp draw.
FollowupID:
581870
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:56
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:56
Great.
Fully charge the pack again. Run the lamp until 11.5V and time it.
11.5V at 1 amp should be close to 10% remaining capacity.
7 to 8 hours is acceptable.
I would not worry about flashing lights if using a good voltmeter.
FollowupID:
581875
Reply By: Geoff1967 - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:46
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:46
PS Ive had charge longer than 52 hours and it seems the green recharging light never goes off. The instructions say to recharge it (quote) "...until the battery meter shows full (13V)".
Its never been below 13V.
AnswerID:
315683
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:52
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:52
I would suggest a load
test.
You would need a globe. Say a 21W stop lamp globe. See how many hours it runs until the battery pack drops to 11.5V.
This would be a good indication of its capacity.
I guess at 6 to 7 hours if the battery is fully charged and in serviceable condition.
Regards
Derek.
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Follow Up By: Geoff1967 - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:55
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 21:55
thanks for advice. I'll try my fluro tonight and see how it goes.
FollowupID:
581874
Follow Up By: Geoff1967 - Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 23:53
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2008 at 23:53
2 hours later we have a flashing red "recharge" light :-(
Weird thing is its only dropped slightly on the gauge just below 13V and still on "100% of charge"
Go figure.
FollowupID:
581902
Follow Up By: Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:28
Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:28
It sounds like the charge sense circuit may be faulty or too sensitive.
Does the light run for 7 or 8 hours or does it die ?
I would also ask to see the lamp they say runs for 30 hours.
FollowupID:
581911
Reply By: Mainey (wa) - Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 at 05:54
Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 at 05:54
Geoff,
I would take it back because it does not do as the manufacturer states, "according to instructions that come with it, something like a fluro light should run about 30 hours, yet I found the Jumpstart 600 was flashing red after an hour or so of fluro light use"
Whatever the reason it's not working is not your concern, get a replacement "600 AMP
Power auxilary battery pack" and charge that as directed by the manufacturer and hope for a better unit.
Hope the new one works for you.
Mainey . . .
AnswerID:
315703
Reply By: Isuzumu - Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:04
Thursday, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:04
I have a 900 and a 600 the 600 is probably 6 years old and the red light only comes on when charging, but the 900 a green light comes on when charging and as soon as I disconnect it from the charger it starts flashing red. They both have not given me any trouble, so I suggest you put the fluro on and see how long it last or find a vehicle with a flat battery and try jump starting it.
Cheers Bruce
AnswerID:
315708