Dead Battery

[Tyme2fish]

It wasn't while I was boating or fishing but it's still a stupid human trick.

I decided to vacuum the interior of my F-150 yesterday. I parked the F-150 in front of my garage doors so the cord from my shop vac would reach the electric outlet.

Somehow, I left the truck key on and never noticed. After the monsoon passed yesterday, I went out to move the truck and the battery was dead. I couldn't jump off either of the vehicles in the garage as the vehicles were pulled in and the battery jumper cables wouldn't reach.

I decided to let the F-150 sit over night in the hopes that the battery might somehow have a magic fix and recharge itself over night. Well, needless to say that didn't work.

So this morning I tried to jump start the F-150 with my little lawn tractor. IT WORKED!!!

I let the F-150 idle for 10 minutes then drove it around the "country" block. All is now well.

Dangit! Three vehicles and I couldn't go anywhere last night with the dead vehicle blocking off the other two vehicles.

I need to replace my kaput battery charger.

 

[Thad]

Re: Dead Battery

That would have really been bad if you had run out of beer!

The best investment I have made in a long time was a booster jumper box. No more jumper cables, pulling up to close to someone, scratches, etc.
I now have three. One in each vehicle and one in the boat. I have used the one on my boat more than the other two. You see someone in trouble, they need a jump, oh yeah! Hand them the box and there ya have it.

They also work for portable power for phone charger and air pump for the tubes.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Dead Battery

I LOVE my booster pack. I really didn't think I'd need or use one because I never had to boost, or needed a boost from anyone. Got mine for Christmas as a gift.

One winter the battery in my car started not holding a charge. Booster pack kept me going until I could afford a new battery. Now it seems like I use it for a lot of stuff and not just jumping cars. I always take it when I'm taking the boat out too, a great cheap investment!

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Dead Battery

I love my 2000 impala..
You can't kill the battery.

If you leave the dome light on, Ignition on with radio or leave the door open. After 15 minutes they shut off. We have auto headlights as well, but if you pull the headlight switch and leave them on. They will shut off in that amount of time. The only way it doesn't shut off in the 15 minute range, is if you are sitting in the front seat.

It's also kinda cool too. If we leave the house and have to go back and the wife runs inside but need the keys, you can shut the car off. As long as the drivers door hasn't been opened and you stay in the seat, the radio will still play and the window controls work.

I always have a set of jumper cables. But was considering in the small booster pack.

 

[pmat1]

Re: Dead Battery

Dont need jumper cables or boxes. my battery is about 6 years old. Where i live is verry hilly and if it ever dies i just get it drifing and start it in gear. works every time.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: Dead Battery

The best investment I have made in a long time was a booster jumper box. No more jumper cables, pulling up to close to someone, scratches, etc.

Remember to periodically plug them in and recharge 'em. I have a dead one in the garage. Loved it, used it numerous times. Now have good batteries in all vehicles. Lincoln sat in the garage for 3 months. Went to start it, turned over and then died. Grabbed battery pack, dead. I haven't charged it for over a year. Now I need a new one.

 

[FishyFish]

Re: Dead Battery

Where i live is verry hilly and if it ever dies i just get it drifing and start it in gear. works every time.

I wonder if that works going Down River?.. j/k.

I love my Xantrex 400 power boast. It's worth it's weight. Keep it on the boat and have used it jump start the truck when waiting for the miss's to do her shopping which some times take hours, I listen to the radio and the time fly's.
It's a good investment.

Fish

 

[Thad]

Re: Dead Battery

Remember to periodically plug them in and recharge 'em.

Just like clockwork. On the calander is when it is time to add salt to the softner, sharpen mower blades, spray liquid weed trim, and charge boosters.

There are a few other "honey does" on there and sometimes they get done too

 

[madurodave]

Re: Dead Battery

That would have really been bad if you had run out of beer!

The best investment I have made in a long time was a booster jumper box. No more jumper cables, pulling up to close to someone, scratches, etc.
I now have three. One in each vehicle and one in the boat. I have used the one on my boat more than the other two. You see someone in trouble, they need a jump, oh yeah! Hand them the box and there ya have it.

They also work for portable power for phone charger and air pump for the tubes.

What booster do you have? I am in the market for one.

 

[Thad]

Re: Dead Battery

What booster do you have? I am in the market for one.

I will have to check this afternoon when I get home.

It has a 12v dc outlet that also has a dual plug cord that will allow it to charge from the 12v outlet in your vehicle. Or run 12v electronic equipment. And a built in work light.

I will post later the watts and make. I got it on sale for about $50.00.

I have used them to start everything from a truck down to a riding mower. Even use it to blow up tubes on the dock when I don't feel like sitting in the boat to do it.

I still have a set of jumper cables, but they are in the barn acting as a spider habitat.

 

[HappierWet]

Re: Dead Battery

I wonder if that works going Down River?..

Fish

DEPENDS ON THE CURRENT AND THE PITCH OF YOUR PROP.....

 

[david_r]

Re: Dead Battery

you guys do know all you are buying is a lawnmower battery in a fancy case right?!

i must have got a bum deal. i got one of those $80 jobs and it was crap.

i always keep a spare battery........... 2 cars, 2 trucks, 2 4-wheelers, 1 dirtbike, 2 bassboats, 2 riding lawnmowers, and an old 50 something ford tractor........... i can gaurantee one of them wont start next time i go to use it, and robbing from peter to pay paul is a headache.

when i decided to take my jumper apart i was really dissapointed...... it had almost the same battery as my new riding lawnmower.......... and at $80 you can probably guess i wasnt a happy camper.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Dead Battery

To the jumper packs defense, that fancy case does include a battery charger. Mine also has a light and battery strength indicator and a cigarette lighter port on it too (comes in handy blowing up air mattresses). I think I've seen a few that have a radio so you can jam to some tunes while swearing at the battery in whatever it is you're boosting.

 

[64osby]

Re: Dead Battery

My wife got me one for Christmas a few years back. Don't know the name on it. About 10"X12" in size and bright yellow, has jumpers, 2-12v outlets, light and an air compressor. It has never been good for jumping, even when the battery says its at 14v it wont even start my lawn mower. But I really love the air compressor, a little slow but it saves the back.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Dead Battery

Dont need jumper cables or boxes. my battery is about 6 years old. Where i live is verry hilly and if it ever dies i just get it drifing and start it in gear. works every time.

Are your parking lots hilly too??? ;-)

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Dead Battery

Dangit! Three vehicles and I couldn't go anywhere last night with the dead vehicle blocking off the other two vehicles.

That would have really been bad if you had run out of beer!

George Jones drove his riding mower to get beer/liquor when his wife took the car/truck keys, so you weren't really that stuck

 

[pmat1]

Re: Dead Battery

Cant say theyre all perfectly flat... i live by coal country and the walmart was built ontop of a old coal mine that is sinking slowly. I cant even describe what the parking lot looks like

 

[JeepinGunGuy]

Re: Dead Battery

I got a Sears jump box for X-mass a few years ago, it has a compressor, 400watt power inverter with two 110v outlets, and a work light. I use it all the time. I do a lot of offroading and my alternator dies in the mud all the time, since the box came with a cigarette lighter jumper cable to charge it while driving, I plug it in and with everything off driving down the road I can get about two more hours of drive time. I lost power just before the Daytona 500 last year, plugged in my little 19" TV and watched the whole thing.

 

[dlindeblad]

Re: Dead Battery

I bought a booster pack for use while I was hunting up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere in Colorado. I didn't want to spend weeks stranded becasue I left my ignition or lights on.

My new car beeps to tell me the lights are on and if you choose to ignore it, it turns them off anyway??? Go figure.

The one time I really needed the booster pack, I let countless others use it BTW, it was not charged. OOPS!!!

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: Dead Battery

Have a little yamaha generator, has a 12 volt outlet for direct battery charging.

Also great for winter power outages, ran a light and tv and at night a king size electric blanket.