Portable jumpstarters
- Thread starter Robs08Runner
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Montego Murph
Member
I'm back and forth on buying one of those for myself.
I did get one for my parents since they park in the garage nose-in and would have to push the car out to jump if they (or more likely, the grandchild) left the interior light on or trunk open... again.... :-D
How long does it hold a charge? Like is this something I could keep in my toolbox and check on it every few months? I understand nothing beats a good set of jumper cables, but the times I've needed a jump either nobody is around, or nobody is willing to help because they have been taught never to assist a stranger, or they read somewhere that jumpstarting will blow up your car.
I did get one for my parents since they park in the garage nose-in and would have to push the car out to jump if they (or more likely, the grandchild) left the interior light on or trunk open... again.... :-D
How long does it hold a charge? Like is this something I could keep in my toolbox and check on it every few months? I understand nothing beats a good set of jumper cables, but the times I've needed a jump either nobody is around, or nobody is willing to help because they have been taught never to assist a stranger, or they read somewhere that jumpstarting will blow up your car.
The little tiny models as pictured work just OK in my experience,they are much more able to easily start a dead 4 cylinder motor than a V8 for me though.
They have Litjium Batteries and seem to hold a charge well enough but I prefer the standard old style jump box with the 18ah SLA battery inside for real hard use and mine will start a V8 or my Diesel Sprinter every time.
They are bigger and carry much bigger jumping capability too.
They have Litjium Batteries and seem to hold a charge well enough but I prefer the standard old style jump box with the 18ah SLA battery inside for real hard use and mine will start a V8 or my Diesel Sprinter every time.
They are bigger and carry much bigger jumping capability too.
Robs08Runner
New member
I don't know how long exactly it will hold a charge. Just came in on Thursday. Started the truck 4 times and charged my cell. Took 10% of the battery. I would suspect if it was charged twice a year, it should ready to go when needed.
derekdevasia
New member
I have the NOCO Genius Boost 40. I've used it countless times to start my v8 4runner with no problems at all. Started by car roughly 20 times on one charge (there was a time where my battery was dead and I was waiting for one for 5 days from costco). And it stays charged for months, I usually recharge every 4-5 months.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
Robs08Runner
New member
I agree, I did get one of the biggest lion ones I could find. It's supposedly rated for up to 6.5 liters. We'll see. I just bought a new battery for the truck and this is for jumping coworkers so not to risk mine. Not a V8 among them. Hehe.
Never used one of these but have a question.
Could one use this as a temporary battery??
Lets say alternator goes out and drains battery before you realize......could you use this to power your truck for a few hours to get home? Hook it up, secure it in engine compartment and drive as normal?
Could one use this as a temporary battery??
Lets say alternator goes out and drains battery before you realize......could you use this to power your truck for a few hours to get home? Hook it up, secure it in engine compartment and drive as normal?
On my version of the tiny jumper you have to connect it and then press a button to let it jump for 30 seconds and then it turns off so no this would not work as a battery for you that way.
I don't think yo would want to try this with a bigger one either really as I imagine the SLA battery in there has the charging and safety circuits between the output cables and the battery?
Not sure though either.
ZebRuaj
New member
They wouldn't work as a temporary battery. The units cycle off after a given time.
I have the Harbor Freight "VIKING" unit. Couldn't wait for Amazon shipping. Works good if you're in a pinch. Jumped my project car a few times and a few other stranded motorists. Well worth the money to have.
I have the Harbor Freight "VIKING" unit. Couldn't wait for Amazon shipping. Works good if you're in a pinch. Jumped my project car a few times and a few other stranded motorists. Well worth the money to have.
blackoutt
New member
I use a jumper pack from antigravity. Works great to start dead battery vehicles while out camping and draining too much power, pulling vehicles out of storage, etc. Also use for charging cell phones, go pros, laptops while on the road. Be careful of buying name brands on amazon, there were a bunch of knock offs of antigravity on there being sold as genuine and people were having issues. I purchased direct from antigravity where they were giving first time buyers a 10% off discount which made it cheaper than through amazon anyway!
Rodtheviking
New member
Robs08Runner
New member
Ouch! That would take a bad situation way worse.
Love the clamps on mine. Seems to be a good quality unit all around.
yotaguy674
New member
I also recommend the NoCo GB40. Keeps a charge for up to a year and works on engines up to 6.0 Liters.
I've got this Stanley jump pack/compressor
The compressor leaves something to be desired, but it works in a pinch. The jump ability is great, though. I get at least half a dozen jumps out of it between charges. I always keep a set of jumper cables for redundancy, but this pack is great when I'm off trail, in a crowded parking lot, or just don't want to deal with the hassle of positioning two cars. I keep a short extension cable wrapped around it so I can charge it easily, especially if it's when I'm not at home, but thankfully that's not been a problem.
The compressor leaves something to be desired, but it works in a pinch. The jump ability is great, though. I get at least half a dozen jumps out of it between charges. I always keep a set of jumper cables for redundancy, but this pack is great when I'm off trail, in a crowded parking lot, or just don't want to deal with the hassle of positioning two cars. I keep a short extension cable wrapped around it so I can charge it easily, especially if it's when I'm not at home, but thankfully that's not been a problem.
scubajosh77
New member
I have the exact same one you posted OP. Bought it before Christmas on an Amazon Lightning Deal. Fully charged it then put it up. Have used it three times to start my old Yamaha Rhino that doesn’t start in the cold. Still 100% charged.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Robs08Runner
New member
Thank ya Sir!
I THINK right now, I'm a fan of these portable jumpers with the lion batteries because of how long they stay charged no matter what the brand is. For not much money, they will start most engines in a pinch when needed. If I persuade someone to get one, all I ask is to be sure you get one that's rated for what you want to start. The ones that are like 50 bucks or less probably will fry trying to start a 6cylinder or better engine. I can vouch that an 18k mah battery will start mine. It started the truck 3 or 4 times with a break in betwen. The pack didn't get hot and the cables stayed cool. The way I tested mine was to pull the negative off the battery, thus bypassing it and hooking up the jumper on the positive and the bare neg. cable. i plan on doing this once a year to be sure i still have something I can depend on. Say mine lasts five years, they should be much nicer then than they are now and I'll be ready for a new battery in the truck too.
I THINK right now, I'm a fan of these portable jumpers with the lion batteries because of how long they stay charged no matter what the brand is. For not much money, they will start most engines in a pinch when needed. If I persuade someone to get one, all I ask is to be sure you get one that's rated for what you want to start. The ones that are like 50 bucks or less probably will fry trying to start a 6cylinder or better engine. I can vouch that an 18k mah battery will start mine. It started the truck 3 or 4 times with a break in betwen. The pack didn't get hot and the cables stayed cool. The way I tested mine was to pull the negative off the battery, thus bypassing it and hooking up the jumper on the positive and the bare neg. cable. i plan on doing this once a year to be sure i still have something I can depend on. Say mine lasts five years, they should be much nicer then than they are now and I'll be ready for a new battery in the truck too.
BikeDestroyer
New member
I've had my dbPower jumpstarter battery pack for close to 2 years now, the same one as the OP. I've had to jumpstart my completely dead truck with a 4.7L motor 6 times before I could get my battery changed out and it started it up every time with ease and still showed 97% charge. I use it camping to charge my cell phone & ipad and any emergency jumpstart needs. It does use quite a bit of power charging devices but this is a great little device. It has sat for 6 months now and still shows 100% power. I would buy another one when this one dies.
