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Hi, I wish to purchase a batttery charger for my car incase of emergency. Repco have recommended something called "Porta Jump - emergency battery starter" which can be used by plugging the cable in the cigeratte lighter and after about 10 mins it can charge the flat battery. Do you if this is a good product and also is there any chance of damaging any electricals in my car.

Thks,

The AA is aware of this product and while it has never been officially tested it, we are very sceptical about it recovering a battery in only 10 minutes.

The recovery rate of a battery is dependent on a number of factors including the initial rate of discharge and the physical size of the battery.

I checked with our Roadservice staff to see if they had any experience or views on this or similar products currently on the market.

Using a BMW X5 as an example, they tell me they have to boost the battery for at least 15 minutes with heavy duty jumper cables and a slave vehicle with the engine running just to get the engine to crank.

To use something not much bigger than the size of a cigarette packet to achieve the same result through the cigarette lighter wiring seems highly dubious to them and me.

It may not do any harm to the vehicle’s wiring etc on your vehicle, but don’t rely on it to charge the battery in ten minutes either, especially if you are stuck in the middle of nowhere.