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Starting point
Page 132
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We tried the SIP Startmaster on a lorry parked up overnight with its lights on. The ammeter indicated completely flat baitenes. After 15 minutes the engine started by battery power alone
• The winter places a heavy strain on vehicle electrical systems. Quite often the lights, wipers, heated mirrors, cab heater and fuel heater are all on together. Unless a vehicle's alternator and batteries are operating at peak efficiency, there is every chance that turning the ignition key will produce nothing more than a useless whirring sound from the starter motor.
At such times, a good battery charger/vehicle starter is worth its weight in gold.
The Startmaster by SIP is well named. It passed our Workshop Test with flying colours. There are two versions of the Startmaster. The CS 20-160 is the smaller of the two and designed primarily for smaller vehicles although it will perform satisfactorily on trucks.
The significantly larger CS 30-200 packs much more of a punch. The model designation number indicates the maximum charge rate in amps and the maximum start rate ampage. Therefore the CS 30-200 produces 30amps of the former and 200amps of the latter.
Weighing 20.5kg, the CS 30-200 Startmaster is 280mm high, 340mm wide and 590mm long — compact enough for any workshop and, being on wheels, very manoeuvrable. De signed for rugged use, it has a steel casing and a solid state full – wave bridge rectifier with silicone diodes. In plain language, this means that it is very efficient at providing a highspeed charge for both 12 and 24-volt batteries and doubling as a powerful instant engine starter.
The charging rate is controlled by a simple rotary switch and the level of charging displayed on an ammeter. The sophisticated circuitry provides automatic overload protection with a manual reset button.
Driver left lorry's lights on
Although the original intention was to flatten a battery deliberately and then put the CS 30-200 Startmaster to the test, this was unnecessary. A truck unloading at the SIP factory provided a ready-made test when the driver found out that he had left his lights on when he parked up in the premises the previous night. If he ever had to pick a place to have a flat battery, he couldn't have found a better one.
Within seconds of placing the positive and negative clamps on the truck's batteries and switching the Startmaster on, the engine roared into life. As a further test, the engine was then switched off and full charging rate selected. The ammeter showed that the batteries were accepting a full charge and this also indicated that they were completely flat. After 15 minutes, the engine started by battery power alone.
After use, the power and charging leads stow safely into the body ready for the next time. The recommended retail price of the Startmaster CS 30200 is 2146 plus VAT. SIP says that this is only a guide price and the more usual selling price is around £120 plus VAT.
Even at the higher price, the Startmaster would seem to provide very good value and would make a welcome and necessary addition to any commercial vehicle workshop. The product can be supplied with different input frequencies and voltages to suit specialist requirements.
SIP (Superior Industrial Products) is based at Shepshed in Leicestershire with a purpose-built office and factory complex. This is the group headquarters for the UK and overseas operations of the company. SIP has over 1,200 outlets within the UK and exports to some 45 countries worldwide.
Other products in its range include welding equipment, air compressors, industrial abrasives and circular sawing machines and blades.
SIP Turbo 78