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From: bmt@we53.UUCP ( B. M. Thomas )
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Baby it's cold outside
Message-ID: <272@we53.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 25-Jan-85 20:01:55 EST
Article-I.D.: we53.272
Posted: Fri Jan 25 20:01:55 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 27-Jan-85 06:47:00 EST
References: <2049@pegasus.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Technologies - St. Louis Missouri
Lines: 27

>Anyway, my father (being an electrical engineer) decided that the
>Pontiac needed a bit more charging.  So I sat in the big Dodge,
>keeping it idling fast for about 15 minutes with jumpers hooked up
>to my battery.  After this treatment, I again tried my car and it
>started.

This reflects a common misunderstanding.  Starting a car takes many
MANY amps, sometimes in the hundreds in these cold times.  Most of what
pass for jumper cables look fine but do not do the job.  The connectors
and the size and type of the wires used are critical in this case.  What
happened to you was that your jumper cables were unable to carry the required
current.  This is proven by the fact that merely charging with the other
car was able to give it enough charge to start your car.
    When looking for a set of jumper cables, do not buy the cheap ones.  NEVER
buy aluminum ones.  They simply will not do the job.  They can do what yours
did IF your battery will accept a charge, but if it won't, you're out of luck.
The ones you want usually cost a lot(25 to 35 bucks), but anything else 
is a waste of your time and money.  They should have 4 guage or bigger 
COPPER wires, and painted heavy guage steel clamps with copper inserts.  
I got lucky and got a set from a Junior Achievement sale for 14 bucks.  
They had 3 guage 100-plus-stranded wire plus 400-amp clamps.  I bought 
three, and I have had many occasions to be very thankful for them, as has 
many a stranded motorist whom I have been able to help.

from over the rainbow of

	we53!bmt(Brian M. Thomas @ AT&T Technologies, St. Louis, MO)