Power packs
Hi
Can anyone suggest what power pack I should get to start my motorhome, it has a 2 litre diesel engine. it's in storage a the moment and we are not able to visit, so by the time we are allowed I am expecting the battery to be flat.
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This is ours.
It starts our 2 litre diesel Peugeot no trouble at all and the pack recharges from the mains in minutes.
This make is often only found in trade outlets and I’ve never seen them online.
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TW
Amazon and Ebay have them listed but not always in stock!
Once charged how long does it stay charged in order to start an engine or do you regularly top it up?
David
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I see that model is now available online, David, although it didn’t used to be. Quite a bit dearer in some cases than the price we paid though!
Other than the initial charge when first purchased, I've never topped up the charge in ours except after using it. It’s been left for 12 months and still started the engine. It has a test button which shows the state of charge so it's probably worth checking that from time to time.
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Could not get one of those, sadly, 'cos I've just been informed my Amazon prime account has been closed unless ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,, ,,,
P.S. / Edit If you go to visit / collect your Motorhome by car, and can drive to the front of it, then take a couple of decent jump leads and start it that way.
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We take ours with us, Brian, (remember the Altnaharra quip?). It weighs about 7kg though so it may not do for those with very limited payloads.
It has other uses - running a tyre inflator pump or air awning pump or water pump, charging devices via its 12v power outlet socket etc etc.
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It has a smart charger built in, so can be left on mains when not in use, plus it has a 3 stage state of charge test circuit.
This isn't a 'cheap' pack compared to a lot and is the type used by many in the motor trade.
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There's always the simple expedient of parking on a hill.
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Only if a hill is available and we tend to avoid them when pitching. 🙄
Likewise, not much good for an auto car so not 'always' or 'simple'. 🤔
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So will anyone else with a flat battery if they’re staying on the same site as us. 👍🏻
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I have one of these power banks
not exactly a jump starter but it works, all my vehicles (7) are petrol (including MH which is a 2ltr) and it has successfully given enough juice to start any of these which have had a flat battery. it is connected to the battery with supplied leads and left for 5 - 10 minutes then, with it still connected, start the vehicle.
small light in weight and, with other functions such as torch, usb and phone charging etc., very useful.
I believe there are more powerful versions if you want that extra bit of oomph!
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I see that you can get them on line from Mole Valley Farmers for £100 with free delivery or Click and Collect.
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That sounds a fair price, assuming it includes VAT. 👍🏻
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It does. There are other sleds on eBay but the prices vary and are much higher.
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As I said earlier, they now seem to be available online but usually from trade suppliers.
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On my Autosleepers Peugeot it is not obvious where to connect jump leads (the battery is only accessible from inside the cab). I got my dealer to point out the connections in the engine compartment. Also, I have read that it is not a good idea to jump start motorhomes. Can it interfere with the habitation control systems?
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It’s not affected ours, HG.
I'd have thought it to be perfectly OK as long as the hab electronics are turned off.
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I think the risk is that the habitation battery may also be flat so the load on the jump start vehicle alternator could be massive. Motorhome alternators presumably are oversized to cope with the load of charging both batteries and the alternator on, say, a family car is of a much smaller output.
Worth looking at aandncaravans website where they say that under certain circumstances the habitation battery will attempt to supplement the jump start battery resulting in some quite severe damage to electronic systems in the motorhome.
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See aandncaravanservices.co.uk, “Jump Starting a Motorhome” which describes the risks, albeit in unusual circumstances. In fact they say you should never do it!
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Just be careful jump starting, nobody has mentioned the smart charge alternators that are fitted to all 'modern' vehicles, the electronics can be severely damaged if jump starting is carried out incorrectly.
as previous posts check the manual/and or dealer for advice (smart alternators are extremely expensive)
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HG, as far as I know the vehicle electrics are standard van electrics. When the vehicle battery charge drops to about 10v, the battery usually disconnects to protect itself.
Similarly, the habitation control unit normally disconnects the hab batteries, and the vehicle battery from the hab electrics, when the level drops to about 10v. On Sargent units, this is one of the advanced settings and can be altered. Therefore, what you suggest is unlikely to happen.
Full details can be found in your Peugeot and Sargent handbooks. The Sargent instructions (Dealers' Handbook) can also be downloaded from their website.
If jump starting the vehicle was likely to be detrimental, the under bonnet connections would not be fitted. Note, too, that dealers habitually start the MHs on their forecourts with battery packs.
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I was just passing on what I read but agree that a battery pack would be safer than a jump start from another car. Also, there are older motorhomes that may not have the same level of protection as newer models. When we owned a caravan I had a spare battery on my bench and would swap them over periodically when the van was in storage. I also find a spare battery useful if you have a high power air compressor which uses battery connection rather than a cigarette lighter socket, although of course you can connect to a vehicle battery terminals direct.
So, it might be worth buying a spare car battery of a decent size rather than a battery pack and use this rather than a jump start kit. £80 or so?
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......except the battery pack is portable and travels with us.
Like all things, it’s ultimately down to personal choice.
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Looks like I should get one, as our car wouldn't start yesterday after only standing idle for a couple of days. The battery appeared to be completely flat. Have had it on charge all day and will do similar tomorrow morning and the see what's what. Following advice I disconnected the battery before try to charge it up. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
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Hope for the best, Nellie.🤞🤞🤞
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