Anyone know where I can get hold of an industrial strength 'ACME' (lol ) jobbie -- something like what the RAC/AA would use?

It would need to have provision to be able to charge it from a 240V AC outlet, obviously (as well as by a 12V DC in-car cigarette lighter's socket).

 

Hellfrauds sell them & Argos I believe.

 

Cheers - I'll take a gander. (I know I could've used the search function, etc - but am at work and have to be a bit 'tricky' lol).

 

All the other usual places have them too like screwfix, machine mart, maplin etc.

Go for the best amperage unit you can afford as heavy duty as possible.

 

Yeah, sure - it's all about the jump-starting amps.

What do you reckon to this?:

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-too...-900-peak-amps

 

Funnily enough, that's the one I would have picked. Looks good and well known brand too.

 

I just bought one of these to keep my classic beetle battery topped up ready to go over the winter rest up.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bul...attery-charger

Working great so far!

 

Yeah, sadly I don't have a driveway/carport -- I'd have to have extra long cables trailing out into the street LOL.

So a heavy-duty jump-starter like the one above, will more fit my circumstance.

 

Are your neighbours that inconsiderate they won't let you build and extension up to the road and over your car? How rude!

 

Haw!

 

My cars kept in a garage block down the road from my house, because it's a dry weather car only it doesn't get used very much lol. So most of the time my battery is flat.

I bought the one in the link and it's never let me down, I've charged it once and dune about 6 jumps off it and still plenty of life in it

http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/ca...1111&0&cc5_824

 

I have the C-Tek MX-S 5.0 and paid a LOT less than the £100 Hell Frauds want!

 

Ta everyone, I shall chew it over.

(I've got 11 months to do so, after all) lol

 

Get yourself a Jumping Jack, they start at about £50 on Amazon, General Traffic do them too. Size of a phone, has USB output, a light, comes with a multi plug with various connections and the crocodile clips to Jump a car. Used mine a few times and decided to buy one after seeing one jump start a v8 jeep, then a couple of 911's.

http://thejumpingjack.com/

 

Amazing that such a small thing can store up, and then discharge, sufficient cranking amps!

The relentless march of technology, I guess.

 

Had problems with my 2.5 hatchback Sti going so flat the doors wouldn't even open but got this tiny phone sized jump starter and it starts. It no problem ,best £30 iv spent in ages

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1315976494...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

^^^ More mentalness.

Food for thought.

 

I have this one too - brilliant piece of kit, and the multiple extension leads mean it can be used a fair distance from a plug socket.

 

Lipo batteries! I also use an AA solar charger, plugs into the OBD port. Worked great through the summer, does ok in the winter, £20 delivered from a seller on eBay. I also have a C-Tek battery conditioner that I used to use all the time when my car was garaged. Use it a couple of times through the winter now as the car is kept outside.

 

Yeah, I'd love to get a solar-powered panel in a thrice, so as to keep the battery topped up during medium/long periods of no use. A simple and elegant fit and forget solution.

Just one problem: the Classic's cigarette lighter's power goes off with the ignition off.

So, I think I might get it rewired and tapped into the (unused) parking light circuit - obviously into the live, battery side of its switch - for this very purpose.

 

...Only just noticed your OBD port comment!

So is the OBD port live without ignition on, then?! Please say yes lol

 

Yes it is, only gripe is it doesn't come with a case as you have to disconnect it before you run the car.

 

AA Solar-Powered Car Battery Charger by AA http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AC1LLQY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_udp_awd_xGAKwbGJABRBE

 

I bought that precise one off Amazon, earlier! Get it Monday.

Re. the disconnection for running the engine...

The power lead is in two halves. So can't you just disconnect it at the conveniently cited join (and therefore leave the OBD section permanently plugged in)?

 

Cheers for this, ordered Friday, arrived this morning

Haven't needed to use it yet, but looks a quality piece of kit. (Also handy for phones etc whilst away camping)

Cheers,
Paul

 

used to get ours from Mac tools, They was about £180 ish. worked for green flag.
The cheap ones are good but they dont hold the charge for long. so 6 months down the line you might be buying a new one. had mine for 6 years now and still as good as the day i brought it.

 

Suppose you could do but the OBD connector has a short fly lead coming off it. Just as easy to remove from the OBD anyway.

 

- Yeah, plus the position of the OBD socket on a 1999 is inline with the pedals, so best disconnect it from there for that reason, anyway.


- It's just arrived!

 

FFS, it don't work.

Fail.

The blue 'receiving a charge' light immediately goes out as soon as it's plugged into the OBD socket.

I expect the OBD socket is simply wired differently to OBDII protocol (because, being pre-2001, the 1999 cars use SSM protocol to access the ECU, instead). Damn!

Sack it.

 

Stop fapping so much and get out more to keep your batt in tip top condition!