Why Did This Battery Recharge?

Question

My son's truck battery ran down, and I tried starting the truck by jumping my 600W powerpack across it. I heard the click-click of the engine trying to turn over, but no luck, so I decided to leave the pack attached for 15-20 min to charge the truck battery. As I went back to the house, I thought how's that going to do any better. Anyway, I waited 15 minutes, and it started right up. Why?

Andrew Holme · Accepted Answer

Even a partially charged battery can supply a higher peak current than your power pack.

Bob · Answer

ingngurand when the powerpack was first connected the exhausted batterywould have been drawing lots of current from it, when theOP tried to start the enginethe first time the truck batterywas probably drawing current from the powerpack, putting a greaterload on it and pulling the voltage down.Bob

Peter Hucker · Answer

I just start mine of my solar array battery pack.  40 lead acids have no troublestarting a car.--        My ex-wife was temperamental.90% temper and 10% mental.

krw · Answer

pinging,yourtrouble starting a car.Lead acid what?  Forty lead acid cells could be 80V.  I don't see a=20way to get 12V though (six strings of six leaves four extra). BTW,=20one lead acid battery has no trouble starting a car.  ;-) =20Starting a car at room temperature is easy.  At -20F you need a=20little better battery.--=20Keith

Peter Hucker · Answer

trouble starting a car.Forty of standard car batteries (if you can call 100Ah standard), in parallel. This is 12 volts.Unfortunately (I like the cold), we don't get those temps in the UK.--        Confuscious say: "If you park, don't drink, accidents cause people."

krw · Answer

te:jumpingtryingfor Ites,an yourno trouble starting a car.llel.  This is 12 volts.You *are* a moron.  One standard car battery is clearly enough.Like I said, you *ARE* a moron.  You're in the Donkey's class.=20--=20Keith

W. eWatson · Answer

trouble starting a car.Interesting diversion. How does this answer the question?--                                 W. eWatson              (121.015 Deg. W, 39.262 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std. time)               Obz Site:  39° 15' 7" N, 121° 2' 32" W, 2700 feet                     Web Page:

Peter Hucker · Answer

jumpingtryingyourtrouble starting a car.parallel.  This is 12 volts.Enough for what?  These batteries power a lot of the electrical things in myhouse.  It's a solar power system.A moron for not being a wimp?--        "When one engine fails on a twin-engine airplane you always have enough powerleft to get you to the scene of the crash."

krw · Answer

te:umpingryingorIes,n yourno trouble starting a car.I thought the moron was using 5AH SLACs or some such.  Who knew the=20troll was having trouble starting cars with forty automotive=20batteries. =20--=20Keith

Peter Hucker · Answer

jumpingyourtrouble starting a car.Learn to read newsgroups properly.  *I* have 40 batteries.  *Watson* has troublestarting cars.--        You wag your tail like your mother, you repugnant, hairball engorging, catbuggering, pseudo-human android spawn of a foul-smelling telephone solicitor!

Why Did This Battery Recharge?

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