Car Charge and Start still useless?!

Waitrose

I have a "Charge and Start" device that plugs into each car's cigarette lighters to charge supposedly a car from anothers battery, instead of the jump leads situation..

I purchased one of these, and at the desperate time that I needed it (I bought for my wife really, which I thought was a clean and simple way for her to re-charge the battery if she was stuck on her own, and thinking of her safety)

Anyway I used this around 2 years ago (luckily on my drive as a test) and it was completely useless! even after following the instructions correctly (not good if my wife was alone and dark etc)

Anyway, I thought I should tell the company, and they offered to exchange it free of charge no questions asked! which I thought was good service

I suddenly had the need to use this again a few weeks ago and used this new replacement.

Again, absolutely nothing! dead!

As the first correspondence was over two years ago, I cannot remember the company that I originally contacted (don't have the email)

All that is on the box is a company called "Perfect Solutions" and a model PS1654Uv

Googling this brings up nothing for any company handling these, only amazon sellers..

Does anyone else use one of these, or know of the company that makes/imports them? I'd like to get back in touch, as at the times you need it, it doesn't work - even the replacement!:(

colino

Isn't this just a very feeble trickle charger? If it's what I think it is, it either works (just a piece of wire with two elaborate cig. lighter ends) or it doesn't, with nothing much to go wrong. Possible fly in the ointment is that with some cars, the cig. lighter isn't permanently live, the ignition has to be on for it to work, so the device couldn't work without the appropriate cars ignition key being in position II.

Waitrose

colino wrote: »

Isn't this just a very feeble trickle charger? If it's what I think it is, it either works (just a piece of wire with two elaborate cig. lighter ends) or it doesn't, with nothing much to go wrong. Possible fly in the ointment is that with some cars, the cig. lighter isn't permanently live, the ignition has to be on for it to work, so the device couldn't work without the appropriate cars ignition key being in position II.

Yes followed the instructions, and the Key in Position II etc, but surely if its a product that 'should' work, you don't want to be stranded and find out it "doesnt"!

molerat

It is a low current charger and no good for, nor is is it designed for, emergency jump starts. Leaving it on for about 2 hours should be enough for a start. With the ignition on it is probably discharging as fast as it is charging.

red_eye

Waitrose wrote: »

Yes followed the instructions, and the Key in Position II etc, but surely if its a product that 'should' work, you don't want to be stranded and find out it "doesnt"!

cig lighter has a 15amp fuse you are not going to get anything near a jumpstart.
Slow chargers are 15amp to jump start a vehicle you need something like 400 amps hence the thick cables

your best bet is if leaving a vehicle standing is to start it and bring it up to temp every 2 weeks

or invest in one of these http://www.eurocarparts.com/booster-pack

Waitrose

red_eye wrote: »

cig lighter has a 15amp fuse you are not going to get anything near a jumpstart.
Slow chargers are 15amp to jump start a vehicle you need something like 400 amps hence the thick cables

your best bet is if leaving a vehicle standing is to start it and bring it up to temp every 2 weeks

or invest in one of these http://www.eurocarparts.com/booster-pack

Yes thats all well and good, and what I thought, but.. they are selling this device and its basically useless!

I hope others, don't buy one thinking it will charge a car, if in trouble, as it states - because it doesn't

Also I sent an email to the company (for which I cannot find that email!) and a woman said it should work and sent a replacement! I just cannot find who sent this from whatever company as I'd reply again! :cool:

TrickyWicky

I had a car years ago that wouldn't even connect the cig lighter socket unless the immobiliser had disarmed (Yes I found ou the hard way using one of those things you have that a colleague lent me).

With a flat battery the immobiliser wasn't even operational so it couldn't disarm and activiate the fag socket. Rather pointless really.

Lesson to be learned? Buy jump leads.

What you bought was a clever gimmick. It seems ;like a great idea at the time until you actually need it. By the time most people discover it won't work, the years warranty will probably be up so they have your money for useless trash.

Notmyrealname

Waitrose wrote: »

Yes thats all well and good, and what I thought, but.. they are selling this device and its basically useless!

I hope others, don't buy one thinking it will charge a car, if in trouble, as it states - because it doesn't

It does charge a car but no faster than the slowest car battery charger you can find. It'll charge enough to start a car after several hours.

vikingaero

Most of these devices are low powered as others have said and relies on the cig socket being permanently live or having the ignition key switched on. I have one and it works OK but you have to leave it charging the flat battery/car for 10-15 minutes. I bought one because my parents park on a slope and it was impossible to get a set of jump leads to their cars.

red_eye

vikingaero wrote: »

Most of these devices are low powered as others have said and relies on the cig socket being permanently live or having the ignition key switched on. I have one and it works OK but you have to leave it charging the flat battery/car for 10-15 minutes. I bought one because my parents park on a slope and it was impossible to get a set of jump leads to their cars.

you sure you mean 15 hours? there is no way you can charge a flat battery in 15mins with a trickle charger.

Waitrose

vikingaero wrote: »

Most of these devices are low powered as others have said and relies on the cig socket being permanently live or having the ignition key switched on. I have one and it works OK but you have to leave it charging the flat battery/car for 10-15 minutes. I bought one because my parents park on a slope and it was impossible to get a set of jump leads to their cars.

Exactly what i bought one for, to charge a battery in 10-15 mins as stated on the box, but it doesn't work

Still tying to find the company