Flat battery, remote location, what would you do?

jumar

jumar

LIFE MEMBER
Joined
Nov 6, 2012
Posts
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Location
Spain
Funster No
23,578
MH
Hymer Tramp
Exp
Since 1994
Imagine this..you decide to park-up off grid for a weekend in the wilds.... you've enjoyed a great weekend although the sun didn't shine as much as you wanted.
It's time to leave, make your preparations and start the engine...NOTHING...not enough to crank the engine over....your weekend venture has backfired on you. No mobile coverage or habitation within easy reach.
What would you do, what do you carry to ease the situation, get you out of trouble...can you self help....
I haven't experienced this, and am not currently in this situation...but perhaps one day I or you could be...
 
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I’ve bought a Ctek free just for this circumstance or for winter in storage here in Scotland. Rather than a boost, which I was concerned might damage the ecu, it transfers enough power over 15mins to allow vehicle to start. Have a look on YouTube, seems impressive, real life will tell I guess!
 
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Interesting question, but I doubt there's anywhere in the UK, where an hour's walk wouldn't find sufficient mobile reception to call the breakdown services.

More importantly, is why has the starter battery gone flat after only 2 days.

Edit - of course you'd be away for the weekend in Spain not the UK. I can therefore imagine that widespread notspots are quite likely away from coasts and towns. But the sun always shines in Spain, so just wait for the solar to do its thing!
 
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Connect leisure battery to starter battery and leave it to charge for a couple of hours. I've done it a couple of times to other people's vans to get them out of trouble.
If that fails use the leisure battery to start the engine.
 
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I have to second NOCO I have a Noco40 and a Noco70 the 70 is in the campervan all the time and I have started at least 20 motorhomes and campervans in France Spain and Portugal whilst travelling with no problem the Noco 40 I carry when collecting salvage vehicles cars and vans of allsorts I've even started a JCB 3c with the 40 with salvage they deliberately flattern the batteries by turning the lights on to stop electric fires in the salvage yard and the Noco hasn't yet failed me yet lol I also use ot as a power supply for my tyre pump.

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Phill D said:
As Lenny HB says,
Simples , get out my jumper leads and connect hab battery to cab battery and allow them to equalise a bit before starting the engine.
Click to expand...

Me too - always have a pair of jump leads in the van.

To be honest though, re the original senario- if you have a reasonably decent battery it is unlikely to go flat on a weekend away.
 
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Barti Ddu said:
Interesting question, but I doubt there's anywhere in the UK, where an hour's walk wouldn't find sufficient mobile reception to call the breakdown services.

More importantly, is why has the starter battery gone flat after only 2 days.

Edit - of course you'd be away for the weekend in Spain not the UK. I can therefore imagine that widespread notspots are quite likely away from coasts and towns. But the sun always shines in Spain, so just wait for the solar to do its thing!
Click to expand...
The scenario is intended to question the resources of fellow Funsters and to help others like me work around a situation they may find themselves in....it is an unusual situation...no mobile, no habitations and no sunshine...
The replies so far have provided me with an insight into what I would do, and hopefully, what others can prepare for.👍😃🇪🇦
 
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Phill D said:
As Lenny HB says,
Simples , get out my jumper leads and connect hab battery to cab battery and allow them to equalise a bit before starting the engine.
Click to expand...

VXman said:
Me too - always have a pair of jump leads in the van.

To be honest though, re the original senario- if you have a reasonably decent battery it is unlikely to go flat on a weekend away.
Click to expand...
I don't bother carrying jump leads, just a length of 3mm sq cable will get enough charge into the starter battery if you leave it a couple of hours & kinder to the leisure battery.

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Regarding connecting the hab battery to the starter battery - presumably not necessary if you have a battery master or similar device fitted.

To be honest, I had figured that the hab battery in the scenario was also low by the comment that the sun hadn't shone as much as Jumar would have liked. If both batteries are flat - then what?
 
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If you really are off grid in the wilds then these would provide a means of summoning assistance - albeit a tad expensive.

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Would be useful too if you had an accident hiking or mountain biking out of normal mobile reception.
 
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NOCO 70 for me too
Works every time, it has never failed to start any vehicle I’ve used it on

Works well to power my paddle board pump as well
 
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Following a similar thread some years ago I invested in some long heavy duty jump leads

First need, got them out of locker and discovered the hab battery is too close to top of locker to attach them 🙄

RAC jump start, now carry a NOCO which I haven’t needed 🙂
 
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BillandHelen said:
I’ve bought a Ctek free just for this circumstance or for winter in storage here in Scotland. Rather than a boost, which I was concerned might damage the ecu, it transfers enough power over 15mins to allow vehicle to start. Have a look on YouTube, seems impressive, real life will tell I guess!
Click to expand...
 
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Another vote for NOCO. If like me your technical skills are non existent it is simple and as I saw it easy to use. Once charged fully I rarely have to top up. Like the Ring heavy duty tyre inflator I travel better knowing I have them.
If I tried linking vehicle and leisure batteries I would inevitably get it wrong with nasty consequences. So all down to your competence I guess.
 
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Well it happened to us in 2021 up a hill on Patmos Island, Greece.

We phoned up George, who is a taverna owner who I have known for 20 years. A mechanic arrives on scooter, collects duff battery, 20 mins later arrives back with new battery, shoved it in and we are away.

Moral of story: only let engine battery die on an island where you have been going for 40 years so have friends. ;) :giggle:
 
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I take these can be connected without removing any fuse's? I jump started my Hymer last week and blew the 50amp fuse on my leisure battery :(
 
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Would nobody call out the breakdown service you've paid for?

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Langtoftlad said:
Would a lower rated NOCO 40 fire up my 2.0l Citroen?
They claim will restart diesels upto 3.0
Click to expand...
I had the flat cab battery scenario at the weekend on my peugeot boxer 150 BHP and the Noco 40 started it immediately so that is definitely staying in the MH in case that ever happens again. Must be honest when i took it out of the box my thoughts were ” this is never going to work”. It did and it didn’t even move the battery level after use so the fact they say it will do 20 jump starts on a full charge is likely true.
 
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Just a warning...a fitter told me once that under no circumstances should I try to jump start or booster charge a starter battery without opening a circuit (turn side lights on or interior lights, you get the drift) because if you don't you may risk the voltage spike frying the ecu?

Ask me how I know? A fella down my yard tried to do me a favour as he knew my truck batteries were flat, and attached a booster pack to my lorry before I got down there.......£6500 for an ecu that cost me just because there wasn't an open circuit to absorb the voltage surge.

It also left me with the dilema of wondering if I could ask him for 6.5k for the ecu and ptm that had been fried because he tried to help? I didn't, but lesson learned and nothing I possess gets jump started without the interior lights or side lights on at the very least.
 
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