Car Jump Leads - what to get?

[Hazel at the Hill]

A non-gardening question, boys 'n' girls, but I know Grapepower will help me out!

A couple of months ago, my niece went off with my jump leads in her rattly old second hand car (just in case), and that's the last I've seen of them. My brother thanked me, and said, 'I must replace those for you', and has promptly done nothing about it.

I'm quite happy to get my own (he'll pay me back), but it seems that I have a choice of about half a million sorts of jump leads.

What should I be going for
(a) in terms of cable length - 3 or 3.5m seems to be the norm, is that adequate?
(b) in terms of - er - amps. Looks like the larger the amps the more heavy duty the leads are. My fiat punto banana car prob. only needs titchy 200 ones, but I guess that middle of the range is more sensible? Would giant 800 ones be over the top, or is it the case that bigger is better?

This technical stuff a bit beyond me - left to my own devices, my only criteria is that they come in a little zip up case which will go neatly in the back of the car.

[veggiechicken]

I have one of those yellow box things that mean you don't need another car to start your battery - which was very handy when the car wouldn't start in the middle of nowhere.
Something like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/PORTABLE-POW...sxp_grid_i_1_1
It is bigger than tiddly little jump start leads but you can also use it for inflating tyres and other odd things! I don't carry it round with me now, but when I had a car with a dodgy battery it was quite reassuring to have in the boot.

[Pa Snips]

Those at 3-3.5m should be perfectly adequate unless your battery is in a really awkward place.
The ones rated at 200 amps will be quite sufficient as long as they are good quality. I don't know the rating of mine but they are quite skinny things and have been used to jump-start a 2.0l turbo diesel from a 2.5l turbo diesel without any problems.

[shirlthegirl43]

Get ones that are at least as thick as your thumb. I remember trying to help a neighbour jump start her car - her leads were like black and red liquorice and nearly melted. I got mine out (used for starting tractors and heavy machinery ) and she asked what on earth they were!!

[Snadger]

Get ones that are at least as thick as your thumb. I remember trying to help a neighbour jump start her car - her leads were like black and red liquorice and nearly melted. I got mine out (used for starting tractors and heavy machinery ) and she asked what on earth they were!!

I agree.........tractor jumper leads last longer and don't melt!