Whenever we have a dead battery around this place, the afflicted vehicle always seems to be wedged in some far corner of the shed or nose-first inside the garage, and no amount of fancy driving will put another battery within jumper cable distance. The battery charger works, of course, but one of the sheds where we keep equipment has no electricity, so that’s out (one can only string so many extension cords together). When it is 20 below, these issues are compounded by my tendency to view all dead batteries as a personal affront to my life goals and dreams. This sense of psychic injury often precipitates unfortunate tantrums.
So last January I bought a portable power unit from Sears. I was in the store getting a new battery for the van at the time, and was thus emotionally ragged and vulnerable. Now rather than fearing my next dead battery I was quite looking forward to it…couldn’t wait to trot over with my new little toy, attach the cables, crank the starter, and jet off to achieve my dreams. You will imagine my teeth-gnashing fury, then, when the first time I used it, the thing flat-refused to impart even the mildest spark. Thus commenced cussing, extension cords, barked knuckles (battery removal at 20 below is grim duty), and so on. (more…)
