You could rely on the kindness of strangers, or call the roadside assistance crew. But an affordable, ready-to-use emergency jump starter will save you the effort; and in the case of the Projecta range of emergency jump starters, will also double as a handy battery pack, perfect for charging your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or any other portable device.
We don’t want to jinx anyone, but winter is the most common time for your car to require a jumpstart. The cold can affect battery performance to the point where your car simply won’t start, particularly in cars where a battery might be aging. Older batteries are more susceptible to performance degradation in cold weather and may need the assistance of a portable emergency jump starter unit to help you on your way. If your car sleeps outside, the first warning an aging battery might give is a complete failure to start as many modern batteries will give their all – right to the bitter end.
Of course, it’s less of an issue these days than it’s been in the past but draining the battery from accidental use is another cause of the dreaded ‘flat’. Leaving your headlights on or the stereo running can quickly drain your battery’s remaining charge – especially when the battery is nearing the end of its life.
How do I choose the right jump starter for my car?
Choosing the right emergency jump starter couldn’t be easier. Projecta make emergency jump starter packs in three different sizes: one for small and medium-sized cars; one for larger cars, SUVs, and 4WDs; and the largest unit for use by professionals and those with heavy-duty vehicles.
To be fair, you’d be surprised how much charge even the smaller Projecta emergency jump starter can provide. By checking your vehicle’s owner’s manual you’ll be able to easily pick the right emergency jump starter pack for the job – all you really need to know is the type and size of your engine.
Petrol engines up to 6.0 litres
For petrol engines up to 6.0 litres in capacity, Projecta recommend the IS920 Intelli-Start. This 12-volt compact emergency jump starter is suitable for small leisure craft, mowers, motorcycles, and four and six-cylinder petrol cars. It provides 240 Amps of clamp power and 900 peak Amps, includes an LED work-light, a nifty storage bag, and doubles as a USB power bank.
Petrol engines up to 7.0 litres / Diesel engines up to 4.5 litres
For engines requiring a little more oomph, the Projecta IS1220 Intelli-Start is the perfect choice. Designed for larger family cars, SUVs, and mid-sized 4WDs – including diesel models – this compact 12-volt emergency jump starter provides 400 Amps of clamp power and 1200 peaks Amps. It also features an LED worklight and acts as a handy USB power bank, as well as including its own handy storage bag.
Petrol engines up to 8.0 litres / Diesel engines up to 6.0 litres
The largest emergency jump starter in the Projecta range is the IS1500 Professional Intelli-Start. This heavy-duty unit is aimed at workshops, roadside assistance vehicles, and car dealerships, but can also be used for vehicles with large petrol and diesel engines, including large size 4WDs, small trucks and vans, and even some boats. This 12-volt emergency jump starter has its own docking station and provides 700 Amps of clamp power and 1500 peak Amps.
How does an emergency jump starter work?
An emergency jump starter is essentially a portable battery which boosts your vehicle’s battery to enable adequate charge to start the engine. The unit comes with jumper clamps which attach to the battery terminals and an LED light and USB port for the charging of electronics like mobile phones and tablets.
Another consideration of emergency jump starters is safety. You want to ensure you can’t injure yourself or damage your vehicle’s precious electronic components when using the unit, which is another reason the Projecta Intelli-Start range is so good.
Projecta units use only lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries specifically designed for jumpstarting, and incorporate surge protection, short-circuit, and over-heating protection as standard.
Lightweight and easy to use, Projecta Intelli-Start emergency jump starters are weatherproof and drop resistant. Their compact size means they can easily be carried in your glovebox or console, out of sight and ready for use should you ever need it.
Projecta offers terrific how-to videos on how to charge and use their Intelli-Start emergency jump starter units, simply click on the video to learn more!
How do I recharge an emergency jump starter after use?
All emergency jump starters are charged in much the same way you’d charge your mobile phone or laptop. A cable is connected to a wall socket or any USB port and the other end to the unit. Power charges the battery and is stored ready for the next time you need it. But Projecta Intelli-Start systems take charging one step further and can be instantly recharged from your vehicle’s battery after performing a jumpstart.
Known as Rapid Recharge Technology, the process is as easy as leaving the jumper leads attached to the battery for 40 seconds after the engine starts. The Projecta Intelli-Start unit will automatically recharge itself and indicate when it’s fully charged and ready to be disconnected. It’s as easy as that!
Projecta has a great video to show how its Rapid Recharge Technology is used, simply click on the video to learn more:
Three things to consider before buying an emergency jump starter
We’d recommend not only knowing what size emergency jump starter unit you’ll need, but also what else you intend using it for. As we discussed, Projecta Intelli-Start emergency jump starters double as a power bank for the charging of portable devices, so it’s important to know how often you’ll need to charge these, and to what capacity. It’s also worth considering how frequently you’ll need to use the jump starter function, as a larger unit may be worth the outlay if your vehicle battery is aging, or you’re frequently jumpstarting multiple vehicles.
The bigger the engine, the higher the starting or cranking Amps number should be (see above for more detail). Understanding how much power it will take to start your car is the best way to know which Jump starter will suit your needs, though you might be surprised to know you don’t need the biggest unit on the market. Projecta Intelli-Start emergency jump starter units feature a manual override function to provide maximum power to a completely flat battery. This handy feature is easy to use but isn’t universally available. It’s another reason the Projecta Intelli-Start units have an advantage over the competition.
Battery storage – remembering that emergency jump starters are essentially a battery – is measured in Amp hours (Ah) or milliamp hours (mAh), where 1,000mAh is equal to 1Ah. Again, the higher the number, the greater the storage the unit offers, and the more power it has to offer you as a portable power source. Projecta Intellistart units offer from 1.6Ah to 6.0Ah when used drawing 12 volts, or enough to jumpstart between 14 and 220 batteries per charge (depending on the unit selected).
Projecta & Charging Systems products are available from Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor.
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The AL-KO Enduro independent suspension has been “engineered for adventure”, according to one of the world’s largest manufacturers of caravan chassis and components. Specifically developed to increase safety and towing stability when traversing more challenging terrain commonly found in the South African environment, the AL-KO Enduro makes towing on our country’s roads and on corrugated gravel and dirt roads leading to holiday and camping destinations a breeze. After the success of the Enduro system in Australia – which shares similar conditions to South Africa in both terrain and the desire of its camping community to enjoy driving off the beaten track – Al-KO began to manufacture the Enduro System right here in South Africa.
Al-KO’s Enduro technology breaks the mould by separating each wheel’s suspension, allowing each wheel to interact with the terrain or road surface independently. This dramatically improves stability and safety when towing.
Each wheel is fitted with heavy duty shock absorbers and an independent coil spring connected to a trailing arm. This results in each wheel moving separately up and down when towing. Being a global enterprise, AL-KO have thrown their considerable testing capacity behind the Enduro system and boast an “Extreme Testing Program”, with a no compromise approach implemented by dedicated research and development facilities in order to meet stringent quality standards.
With it hitting the South African market, the AL-KO Enduro system is being installed into major caravan brands such as the new Sprite Tourer Enduro range and as a standard in the new range of Jurgens caravans.
Offering increased ground clearance, additional load capacity, and improved stability and handling across all types of terrain, caravans fitted with this superior technology is sure to quickly become not only desired but demanded by discerning South African caravan owners.
Hot off the factory floor, you can view and buy the brand new Sprite Tourer Enduro range and the just launched Jurgens Penta 138, both fitted with AL-KO Enduro Technology, at Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor.
Call us on 012 329 2259, or follow the link below to book a viewing now!
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Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor are extremely proud to be able to make those wishes come true with our range of Thule camping, caravanning and RV products. From high quality awnings and caravan levellers to useful toiletry bags, Thule has something for everyone.
One of the standout features of Thule products is the company’s dedication to quality and sustainability. In their words their products are “sustainable by design”. Thule believe in a principal that products with long lives reduce the environmental impact of manufacturing and, as such, high quality goods are a by-product of this philosophy.
Thule achieve consistently high-quality products by means of their rigorous testing program at the Thule Test Center in Sweden. Their sustainability goals do not solely rely on manufacturing processes, but are furthered by the company’s goal of obtaining 100% of their electricity from renewable sources in 2020!
If you are looking for quality goods that will last, or are environmentally-conscious, Thule is certainly the brand for you.
Find Thule goods in-store and online from Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor today!
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“Kaufmann Outdoor is BUILT for ADVENTURE. Trusted since 1995, Kaufmann’s comprehensive range of outdoor products are reliable, quality-built and suitable for every adventure. Built the Kaufmann way, our products are developed with innovation, made to last and to ensure customer satisfaction and performance in the outdoors.”
Whether you’re looking for lighting, braai grids, tables, camping chairs or even solar showers Kaufmann has a huge variety of outdoor goods.
Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor have been stockists of the Kaufmann brand for the past few year and can proudly attest to the quality of the products being of the highest standard. We receive almost no “comebacks” and on the rare occasion that we do Kaufmann are always willing to honour a valid warrantee claim.
With Kaufmann’s level of commitment to service it is the perfect brand for Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor to offer its customers as we only want the best for our clientele.
Perhaps the best of all is that there is a Kaufmann product to suit any budget as well! Whether you are looking for a luxury recliner or if you just need a fireside spider chair there is a Kaufmann product that doesn’t compromise on quality but still suits your pocket.]]>
Each month we will discuss why we choose certain products, our focus on quality and we will get some feedback from the suppliers themselves.
So, without further ado let’s talk about Snappy Chef!
Snappy Chef are specialists in induction cooking. For those unfamiliar with the term, induction cooking makes use of a magnetic current to directly heat up pots and pans. Using this process, the cookware is heated directly instead of indirectly.
When we spoke to Snappy Chef about why anyone would need an induction stove they quickly explained why induction cooking is so beneficial.
“Our induction stoves generate heat directly in the base of the cookware, by creating a magnetic field. Due to this ingenious way of heating, you save up to 50% on electricity and cook 64% faster than a normal, electrical stove! Only the base of the cookware heats instantly, making induction cooking both faster & safer than conventional or gas cooking.”
These benefits are ideal for use when camping or daily use at home being more cost effective and efficient to run. Less energy consumption is good for the environment, puts less strain on the unstable national electricity grid and is kinder to your pocket. Not to mention that the Snappy Chef is extremely well priced for the quality of product you get!
Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor have long stocked Snappy Chef products not only because of their quality but because of the broader product range that provides you with everything you need to replace conventional cooking with induction. When we asked Snappy Chef about their range they had this to say:
“Snappy Chef is all about induction, making us the leading specialists in this area. In addition to our appliances, our brand includes a wide range of cookware, kettles & knives that caters to all segments of the market- from camping & travel, to household stoves & cookware, right through commercial catering- we have it all!”
Snappy Chef is available from Pretoria Caravans & Outdoor and if there is an item we don’t keep on our show floor we are able to get anything in the Snappy Chef range quickly.
If you are considering making a change from conventional cooking to something more economical and sustainable then you should seriously consider the Snappy Chef, visit us at our premises in Pretoria to view the product itself and have our friendly, knowledgeable staff advise you on the right fit for your needs.
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