|
Solar panels on the roof maybe?
|
|
|
|
|
The best solution is to carry a set of cables. How often can you NOT find another vehicle for a jump?
The next best solution is just carry a 2nd battery! It is about the same price as any of those other options, it is the same size... but with the exception that once you install it, you don't need to get a new battery anymore!
|
|
|
|
|
I've always thought that some of the newer LiPo emergency jump-start battery solutions were pretty damn neat. You can pick them up for a wide range of prices. Anything from about $20 to about $200. Some of them double as a usb phone-charger too.
Here's the cheapest and nastiest of the options - ~$20 + the price of a charger for it ($23 US for a Turnigy Accucel 6 - which can also charge a fist-full of different cell chemistries)
Jump starting a car with a $20 LIPO battery[^]
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__7028__Turnigy_Accucel_6_50W_6A_Balancer_Charger_w_Accessories.html[^] - I power mine with an old pc PSU
The video uses a 4s pack, though you can do it (and it's safer for the car's electronics) to use a 3s pack
Here's a couple of commercial LiPo solutions, complete with led torches and usb outputs:
http://www.cnet.com/au/news/pocket-sized-jump-starters/[^]
To do it on the cheap, you just need to be able to supply about 1,200 watts. You can do this with a 3s LiPo with a discharge rating of 30C and a capacity of 4Ah. This is entirely safe for the car's electronics, since it's got a maximum pack voltage of 12.6v
Here's one for US $26, which can actually give you about 1,600 watts for 10 seconds: Turnigy 4000mAh 3S 30C Lipo Pack[^] - For a grand total of about USD $49 + an old PSU, when you use the Accucel 6
But like others have said, if the battery died after just 4 days without use, you've got other problems that need attention first. Even if the alternator still charges the battery, the diodes can be shot which can cause the battery to drain. If I were you, I'd charge the battery first, take it out for several (4) days and ensure that it still died. If so, you can be certain the battery is expired and it's not the alternator that's draining it. If this didn't fail, I'd look into repairing/replacing the alternator.
I'd expect that plonking down the hundred bucks and buying a new car battery would be the best solution.
"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." - John Lennon
modified 28-Aug-15 15:21pm.
|
|
|
|
|
The car's two years old and I put in over 2,000 miles a month. I've already replaced the tires once. Thankfully, after getting jump started, I haven't had any problems yet. We'll see what happens the next time I go away on travel. However, this is all for research for now since jumper cables was all I've ever owned.
|
|
|
|
|
I'm thinking about getting this one.
<a href="http://shop.antigravitybatteries.com/micro-start-xp-1/"></a>
Scroll down for the video.
|
|
|
|
|
I seriously read Cat Battery Charger/Jump Starter...
Guess it's time to get some sleep... 
|
|
|
|
|
Does anyone here have any personal experience regarding the transferring of video tapes (e.g., VHS, 8mm) to DVD that they can share? I've seen several hardware examples (e.g., Pinnacle, Roxio, Honestech), but with each positive review, you get an equal number of negative reviews, thus rendering them all null and void. These tapes are not copyrighted (i.e., holidays, vacations, etc).
Thank you.
DC
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
modified 28-Aug-15 12:11pm.
|
|
|
|
|
I know our super-warehouse Costco does it for a nominal fee. I have one or two VHS tapes that I need to convert as well.
|
|
|
|
|
But do you have any personal experience with either some other company (e.g., Costco, Walgreens) doing it or using a hardware solution on your own?
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
|
|
|
|
|
No. A friend of mine has a device that does the conversion and ignores the privacy. He swore it converted great. Don't know the name though.
|
|
|
|
|
So, no trouble copying the fuzzy outlines and colour fades and the white streaks and sound dips then. Er ... excellent ... I guess! 
|
|
|
|
|
But will they bypass copy protection?
|
|
|
|
|
My videos are personal videos. So I should be fine wither way. I haven't asked about Costco's yet.
|
|
|
|
|
I have an oldish Sony unit that I bought at Walmart that is a VHS and DVD in one unit. It transfers in either direction. The quality of the DVD (depending on the VHS source tape) is pretty good.
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, I did some earlier this year. I'll try to remember to update this with the brand and model when I get home.
My primary concern was some old movies that are not available as DVD (yet), so I had to deal with copy protection. For this, I tried a stabilizer, but it wasn't a simple plug-n-play operation.
Update:
ION Video 2 PC Analog To Digital USB Video Converter for PC
On Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002MT7JFQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage[^]
modified 28-Aug-15 22:04pm.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aether[^] does exist!
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
|
|
|
|
|
Well, as per Pakistan's time I have got just 4 hours left as a teenager. Tomorrow's my 20th birthday and I almost feel grown up, I don't know what to do actually tomorrow. But most of the plans say, that I will sleep entire day tomorrow!
As a teenage I received much from many communities, learnt to support and to say sorry when I am wrong; a hard thing to do as a teenager! 
I have enjoyed being a member of CodeProject, last year I joined (actively) in August and since then I have gained not just reputation but a lot of knowledge, support and respect in community. The trust most members have in me is a repay for that. Personally, after all this hard work that I did as a teenager will definitely help me in my coming years.
I just wonder, what is next to come. 
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
|
|
|
|
|
If it goes like it went for me, nothing is going to change in your immediate future.
|
|
|
|
|
I am expecting this, not to change the way I am. 
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
|
|
|
|
|
Nearly fourty, and still not there; I merely grow old
--edit;
Happy birthday, you old git!
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
If you can't read my code, try converting it here[^]
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you, hub! 
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
|
|
|
|
|
IT'S A TRAP!
(He says as he stares down the approach of fifty.)
|
|
|
|
|
Golden jubilee, eh? Maybe everything that glitters is not gold. 
The sh*t I complain about
It's like there ain't a cloud in the sky and it's raining out - Eminem
~! Firewall !~
|
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
