On Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:30:14 +0100, Adrian C
wrote:

T i m wrote:
I find these can also help when do-gooders try to give them a jump
start (I saw such a melted example on a Corsa the other day when Dad
had tried to help Son) ;-(

I had an attempt (successful) of being a do-gooder when I came across a
mini-cab stalled dead at a garage, the owner had a passenger in the back
freting about whether she'd now miss the flight at the airport they
where headed to.

You aren't a do gooder, you are an automotive guy. ;-)

Cabbie bloke had some jump leads with him, so had already set about
connecting both leads to his battery terminals on his dead car. I got
mine moved in close to his vehicle and got out. It was then that he
approached me with the free ends of the connected cables, holding both
casually in the same hand ...

shudder

I've also see showers of sparks from the 'live' lead and name any
other metallic earthed part the car.

Seemed a bit confused why I'd started shouting at him. Luckily for him
the claws of his cheap leads were more plastic than copper and the
plastic stopped the potential for a wee burnup in his hand. In fact
there was so much plastic, the claw metal inserts barely made connection
with the battery terminals and things weren't happening until I got into
looking closer at both vehicles.

I know the clip type, same on my portable pack. It's actually
difficult to actually connect them when you want to.

H.M. Gov statistics department probably has a list of injuries/year on
people jump-starting cars, and should maybe set about doing a public
information film.

I'd only consider such if it would help people stop killing cars. I'm
very happy for Mr Darwin to look after the 'people'.

T i m