[Vwdiesel] Boosters

[Val Christian]

Yep, battery boosters, and in jump start packs.

Farmer Jim down the road, says he gets his 12 cyl combine going with one 
of them.  Debugging a car, he dropped on off for me to play with.
Interstate 3000.  LEDs on the clamps, long, but not long enough clamps,
polarity wrong warnings, a go/no-go meter for the onboard battery, 
a roadsize flasher, and so on.

So I tried it.  Yep it boosted things, but I'm not sure that it was any 
different than a battery with jumper cables.  I returned it before I took
it apart.

So are these things something like a 20 Ah battery, and other than the 
onboard charger, the warning electronics, and the cute little LEDs in the
jumper clamps, is there any fancy electronics?  Or is it simply a battery,
with a switch, in parallel with your existing, presumably cranked-out battery?

Anyone know?

Diesel relevancy:  Eventually, your diesel will need a jump.  If the other 
engine has a 130+ Amp alternator, and you have 4 ga or better cables, your
life is always easier.

ps: Farmer Jim should consider a solar trickle charger for the combines 
parked outside, and a smart charger for the batteries inside.  Actually,
I think one of the combines already has one...