Be careful with small jump starters!
02/22/2017
They are practical and above all compact, the new-fangled jump starters (boosters) with modern lithium-ion battery technology. The small power packs even fit in the glove compartment and can provide quick help in the event of unwillingness to start (even in classic cars).
Quickly connected to the battery, the power of the small device is sufficient for 20 or more starting attempts. So far so good.
But you should also read the small print, as an attentive Zwischengas user reminded us recently!
After successfully starting the engine, the device should be removed again immediately. This can be tedious, especially if the engine dies again after 50 meters and the booster has to be refitted. It's easy to think: let's leave the device in, it hardly takes up any space in the engine compartment.
However, the mini booster can quickly be overcharged by the charging current of the alternator and, in extreme cases, the device explodes/burns out (as has already been seen with laptop batteries), resulting in an engine fire with expensive consequences, as the reader's pictures clearly show.
The problem seems to have been recognized by the jump-start booster manufacturers, as some of the devices have recently been additionally protected with diodes in the supply line. Nevertheless, the expert recommendation at the present time is to avoid permanent use of the booster in the engine compartment at all costs. After all, a new battery is much cheaper than repairing the consequences of an engine fire.
