What preps are you doing this week? Part 3.

[sniper 55]

Got a jump starter pack for the car seems a cracking bit of kit for the £35 less a £5 discount I had


http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-249 ... 9459&ar=10


Been after one for ages

Going by a few YouTube reviews on very similar looking products they do the trick

I'm told it's not really safe to jump start pretty much any car less than 5 years old unless it's done with Anderson plugs and surge protectors like the AA/RAC use. I know Audis have been killed (written off by a jump start) and Jaguar advise owners not to do it or it voids the warranty. You might be doing someone a favor but end up being held liable if it goes tits up.
I'm not an expert by any means, but I'd check before you use it on your own car.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Take it you have seen that searching the internet

http://m.mynrma.com.au/get-involved/adv ... rn-car.htm

I wonder how a Anderson plug makes a jump start "safer," as its just a high current plug and socket...

http://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/anderson- ... ctors.html

Yes you can buy surge arresters but most cars already have one.... In the guise of a heated rear screen and blower fan....

Its at the time of disconnection the avr on the alternator might have a brain fart and spike the voltage..

So IF you do a running disconnect jump start from a donor car slap the Fan and rear screen on before disconnection... But safer to use the running car to charge the dead battery rather than jump start it. ....

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/ ... tm?t=24318



There are safer methods:



https://www.theaa.com/breakdown-cover/a ... jump-leads

http://www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/ho ... tart-a-car

http://blog.greenflag.com/2014/jump-start-dead-battery/



Also decent lead's in terms or cable / cable size and decent clamps and clean terminals to give a good connection

One reason for the jump pack clip it on once the car starts it automatically removes itself from the circuit electronically



Best prep is good servicing and replace the battery if it becomes weak... A decent drop tester will soon tell you if its on its way out...

Been there told people "your battery is weak and needs replacing". Yeh yeh yeh..... First cold night of winter and Its " MY CAR WONT START!" Call or message...

Given the option I'd rather bench charge a flat battery

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessorie ... ers-tested


using a modern pulse / PWM Charger but if its been really flattened best of binning it and replacing as a lead acid taken regularly below 50% DOD won't last / recover very well...

[sniper 55]

No I didn't see that, my brothers a car dealer, his garage have a few cars in that have been fried after someone left the lights on and then had to jump start it. The garage has a special booster pack but they cant use that on some cars, the only option is to replace the battery on those.
Apparently it's not safe to push/tow start some cars either, not sure why though.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Apparently it's not safe to push/tow start some cars either, not sure why though.

Mainly due to unburnt fuel going into the catalytic converter and burning in there... Also electronic fuel injection won't tend to work bumping a modern car as no power from the battery = no fuel been squirted

[JDandCoke]

My wife bought me molle 40l rucksack, so I am happy as hell. Already bought water bottle and edc attachments Just a toy, but I carry rucksacks anyway so useful toy
Other prepps? trying to lose rest of belly, probably an inch off waist and will have visible abs (already visible after training and in good light )

[ChefSimon]

My wife bought me molle 40l rucksack, so I am happy as hell. Already bought water bottle and edc attachments Just a toy, but I carry rucksacks anyway so useful toy
Other prepps? trying to lose rest of belly, probably an inch off waist and will have visible abs (already visible after training and in good light )

Gotta Love Molle, the amount of uses it has! Good luck with losing the inches... I've given up with finding the Abs. Going to keep them under a little bit of protection for a little longer haha.

I've been out in the woods this weekend.

Having been updating my bushcraft/hiking bag I wanted to go and give it a try and also give my skills some beat up training.

Had a good crack, went for a 30 mile hike using both traditional navigation skills and also a new app on my phone (komoot for anyone interested, allows you to map out walks etc off line) and linked it into my Apple Watch just for the laugh. Result; It's accurate in the forest to within 20m which surprised me. Out on the hills in the open its down to less than 5m which I am impressed with.

As for the rest, I tried out my fire skills and my new fire lighting kit (see my post in Bushcraft section) went like a charm. Basha and Hammock construction are still good and no other issues. Little bit of refinement on the winter kit. Some things to take out and a couple more to go in. But all things considered A good day.

Just finished cleaning my boots and a quick re-org on the kit so it's ready to go again.

This week starting I'm planning on a re-org of my 72hr bag and the home emergency kit. Check dates, quality of items etc. Noticed the other day that the torch in the bedroom needs a battery change.

Before you think WTF, I keep a small pack in each main room in the house. (contains small first aid kit, small torch, cyalume, Pen, waterproof notepad, spare batteries AA & AAA and finally a small multitool) the whole thing is in a 10x10x5cm pouch. I also have a larger go to kit in my man-cave but that's another story lol.

[womble]

Gotta Love Molle, the amount of uses it has!

Be wary, fellow preppers, of (cheap) "Molle" bags where the "Molle" is largely decorative. Bought a bag recently which was touted as "Molle", but has wrongly-spaced webbing strips, and so would not be compatible with any "real" Molle or PALS additions. Doesn't, fortunately, invalidate the purpose for which I use the thing, but does make it significantly less expandable, which is a shame.

[JDandCoke]

I bought these https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01 ... UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01 ... UTF8&psc=1
I always check reviews and these were fine

[sethorly]

Got my wife a SAK Classic for Xmas, in jelly blue (to help distinguish it from our family's red EDC SAK Hikers). Hopefully she won't realise it's part of my med-kit preps.

Trying to think of an excuse to buy this: http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p80044? ... 0wodvRQJ3Q I've come to think this is going to be an essential part of my bug out kit - barbed wire begone!

[Zunzuncito]

Had to completely re-stock my AA battery supply as unbeknown to me my husband had used them all (God only knows on what) and hadn't replaced them. I come to put some batteries in my Christmas lights and they are all gone!

Unsurprisingly I was not happy and had to issue a stern, and you would think obvious, lecture as to why you don't use all the AA batteries and not replace them! He also had to go the very next day and buy a whole load and help me put up the Christmas decorations - which he doesn't like doing.