With the usual hard-won scepticism as expressed by Mike but shared (at least at the time) by me:
Disco_Mikey wrote:
If that jump starts anything, I'll be mighty impressed, let alone starting a dead D3
I actually got to try one on a D3:
Robbie wrote:
Time to be mightily impressed - just tried one on a D3!
Must be powered by witchcraft or something as the unit was barely warm afterwards. The D3 battery was around 7 volts at the start. I wish it was colder so I could see how it would cope with a big glowplug draw pre-start.
Think I may just get one.
So it looks like I may have to surrender some of my scepticism, but one success does not a product make so I ordered one from Amazon and its just arrived. I'll be wringing its neck to see if it does actually work but for now here is the un-boxing:
It came in a big plain box which contained this smaller box:
Click image to enlarge
Which contained this even smaller coloured box:
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Which had this:
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As a cover for this:
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Clearly designed for the Russian market…
Anyway, the claim the product is Del proof to such an extent that they used 'Del Friendly' words on the packaging:
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So this is it; a smart unit in a rugged IP65 case:
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Ignoring the yellow band warning me to charge it first, I turned it on to find it 75% charged:
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The unit comes with manuals, USB charging cable, cigar socket (2.1 Amp) and some very high quality croc clips:
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The wiring to the clips has that cold-weather friendly flexible silicone insulation and are screwed together with quality fixings:
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The connections at the other end are of equal quality:
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Which mate to a socket hidden under a weatherproof cap at the torch end:
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The other end of the unit has 2 further caps covering a USB charging port so you charge a phone or whatever plus the USB power in to recharge the internal lithium battery:
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Returning to the 'Del Safe' claim, the safety features can all be disabled if desired via an override. This gives the unit the ability to start a vehicle even if no voltage is sensed:
Click image to enlarge
My first impressions could not be higher and we will see how the unit performs in the real world.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Robbie, do you think it could be used as a long term power source for say a fridge etc by connecting into the outlet?Altox GSM FBH controller thread
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5th Jan 2015 2:09 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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I would not have thought so. Given its size I would guess that the energy stored is not that large and that it relies on giving up this energy very quickly to hit its peak amperage. Fridges pull a reasonable amount of current over a long period.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
I've had a read around, but cant find any info that suggests there is a supply mode as such, lots of interesting other products in the range though Altox GSM FBH controller thread
IID Pro MV License - D3, D4 & RRS - Enabling, Updates, D4 & RRS Timed / Remote Climate, D4 Bluetooth fitting
PM me for details
Owner of the original "Beanie" grille
D4 & RRS style D3 grilles made to order
5th Jan 2015 2:35 pm
comedyharvey
Member Since: 04 Jul 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1727
I've been waiting for your review of this since the earlier postings Robbie.
That's a great intro to it, looking forward to seeing how you get on with it. Certainly looks interesting.
How big is it? Just wondering if it would double as a travel recharger for phones, tablets etc.Arthur.
Comedy was a horse, Harvey a dog, both sadly gone. Thought I was choosing a password!
Currently;
Discovery 3 HSE 2009
101" Fwd. Control 1976
Nuffield 10/90 Tractor (10/60 with 6 cylinder conversion) 1964
Previously;
Series III Lightweight. 1976.
5th Jan 2015 2:50 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
It's about the size of a smaller Ctek battery charger.
Here it is next to an iPhone 5S for scale:
Click image to enlarge
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 27 Apr 2012
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 562
Just seen it demonstrated on Youtube. Very impressed.
D3 TDV6 S MY2005
5th Jan 2015 3:26 pm
ak121078
Member Since: 23 Oct 2014
Location: berkshire
Posts: 23
looks like a good bit of kit!
i'll be keeping my eye on this thread!
5th Jan 2015 3:41 pm
Robbie
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
I still have the laws-of-physics thing in my head when I think of 6 fully-functioning glowplugs taking a big suck of power plus the rest of the systems taking another 20-odd amps before the starter is even turned….Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
Member Since: 05 Feb 2006
Location: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Posts: 17932
The tests:
Disco 3
1. D3 MY05 - Battery at around 6.8v / +6 deg C and not willing to hold a charge. The vehicle had been run beforehand with a new battery.
Result: PASS
2. D3 MY05 - Battery disconnected from vehicle and replaced by Noco GB30. Engine block still warm with the coolant at 65 deg C.
Result: PASS but with a fair few warning bongs.
Disco 4
Click image to enlarge
3. D4 MY13 - Battery disconnected from vehicle and replaced by Noco GB30. Vehicle was cold-soaked and had not been driven for 2 days. Outside air 6.8 deg C.
Result: FAIL
The dash lit normally and the glowplugs went through a normal cycle, there were no error messages. On pressing start there was a click and the instruments did nothing for a few moments before fading out. Repeat attempts achieved the same. After the first attempt the Noco was down to 11.5v when the ignition was on. After a few more attempts the voltage was down to 10.9v and the unit was displaying the 50% light (as per image above).
So reconnected the original battery and hit start…. errr…. hit start…. err kinda hoping that this button would do something.... Dash doing the same thing as with the Noco attached before fading out. Oh err… what have I done!
I let the vehicle sleep whilst grabbing the iPad and IID Tool. As well as some ancillary codes (FBH etc) I had a transmission code and a P0700 too but the MIL was not lit. In fact there were no clues on the message centre as to why it would not start. Once these 2 codes were cleared and the ignition cycled the vehicle started normally and no codes returned.
So there we have it. The unit worked on the D3 both as a booster and as a replacement battery but appears to have triggered a bit of a hissy fit on the D4 when used without a main battery connected with everything cold-soaked.
I am scratching my head as to what happened to the D4 transmission during the testing and disappointed that it did not recover when a normal battery was connected. On that final point I would like to do additional testing but I would need to scope a few things to try and understand what is happening. Clearly it would be frustrating to flatten a battery only for the vehicle to refuse to start once good power is applied. Glad I had my IID Tool.
Land Rover - Turning Drivers into Mechanics Since 1948
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