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Thread ID: 125231	2012-06-15 22:22:00	Starting a car with no battery	The Error Guy (14052)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1281833	2012-06-15 22:22:00	Some of you may remember the Morris Minor project I have mentioned a couple of times, for those wondering it's going well and stopping is about to become easier with the addition of 2x new brake pistons for the rear drums (still trying to find some new front pistons) Anyway, due to the fact its a student project (little money) and the fact that the car is hardly driven for enough time to charge the current drawn to start it means that buying a battery for it is too expensive and not really worth while. Usually we jump it or push start it however a more convenient option would be to have some sort of mains powered starting rig. Bozz runs nice enough off the generator and keeping the RPM's up means he'll run a treat even with the lights on and no batt. Winscreen wipers + lights is a bit dodgy tho :p so we don't need a battery to run him. Just starting is a tad tedious. Are there any cheapish options for getting a mains starter of some sort (doesn't need to be fancy, no ECU to damage, only blimmin solid lucas parts) or alternatively a cheap place to get hold of a shitey battery. Again doesn't have to be decent, we could leave it on a charger and just jumper the car in for a start. I'm guessing a 2nd had battery would be the cheapest option, i'm just not sure where to get one from.\ Thanks.	The Error Guy (14052)
1281834	2012-06-15 22:36:00	Mains power wouldn't handle the currant required EG ... the starter motors can draw up to about 250amps when engaged ... hence the very fat wire from the battery to starter motor. Getting a second hand battery that's in reasonable condition shouldn't be too much of a problem ... try going to an auto dismantler and tell them about the project ... they may just give you one if you can put their name in the school news letter as being a sponsor ... :D	SP8's (9836)
1281835	2012-06-15 22:55:00	Get an old cheap charger and leave the battery on permanent charge when you get one	gary67 (56)
1281836	2012-06-15 22:58:00	It's probably possible but it would end up costing at least as much as a battery, probably a lot more in my opinion. Yeah starters draw up to several hundred amps but thats at 12V, 240V for the same wattage draws almost 20 times less ( +some for the inefficiency of conversion). You'd still need a 20A connection which is not likely. Go the cheap battery route, but if you leave it on charge make sure the charger drops back to float mode or it'll cook the battery (cheap chargers sometimes just keep pumping in current forever).	dugimodo (138)
1281837	2012-06-16 00:51:00	I'll go hunt out a battery then. He's running very well, we broke the choke cable ages ago, turns out Borris don't care for a choke. Starts cold after a couple of turns once the carb is primed with no choke. If It's warm or used recently (previous day sort of thing) then he'll start 1st push as long as we have the little 12v gel batt hooked up to get the 1st spark and get the fuel running. Next job after brakes is to derust and tidy wiring/body work. Maybe even get it primed.	The Error Guy (14052)
1281838	2012-06-16 02:35:00	Getting a second hand battery that's in reasonable condition shouldn't be too much of a problem ... try going to an auto dismantler and tell them about the project ... they may just give you one if you can put their name in the school news letter as being a sponsor ... :D PickAPart would be worth a try.	mikebartnz (21)
1281839	2012-06-16 03:54:00	Having someone walking about carrying a battery, hooking up chargers and jumpers all the time... it just increases the cahnces that eventually someone is going to have an accident - spilling battery acid, or screwing up the polarity and getting into some other drama. Is there a slope you can park it on top of, to allow it to coast downhill to get to push-starting speed without the need for sweat and effort?	Paul.Cov (425)
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