Jump Starter Batteries - Have you used one?

[edro]

Have any of you used one of these before?

Do they hold a charge for very long? (1, 3, 6, 12 months?)
How many amps do various vehicles need to start?

I found a link to a Cold Cranking Amp estimator.
It estimates my CRV engine at 286 CCA. (143cu/in, 4cyl.)

Here are examples of the devices I am talking about.

$50 - Black and Decker 300A

$130 - Duracell 600A

Thanks for your input!

 

[Pardus]

problem with jumper cables, you need to have another car to start the battery, i bought this Porta-Jump Emergency Jump Starter and it worked great. My battery wouldn't kick over, was 5 degrees outside and snowing.

No way am i gonna get jumper cables out, plugged the sucker in, waited 10 or 15 mins or so, shivering, then the car finally started. Had a faulty starter that fixed the problem.

I got the porta-jump off ebay for about $15.

 

[hanoverphist]

friend of mine uses a 600A one at his custom shop. works great, they plug it in a couple times a month. last time i was helping him with an install the battery was deadd before we got it in the shop, the jumper hadnt been plugged in for a few weeks and was on its 4th jump. didnt take but a couple min of sitting before the car started right up. id buy one if i wasnt such a slacker.

 

[edro]

problem with jumper cables, you need to have another car to start the battery, i bought this Porta-Jump Emergency Jump Starter and it worked great. My battery wouldn't kick over, was 5 degrees outside and snowing.

No way am i gonna get jumper cables out, plugged the sucker in, waited 10 or 15 mins or so, shivering, then the car finally started. Had a faulty starter that fixed the problem.

I got the porta-jump off ebay for about $15.

What?!?! No way...

How the hell can that tiny thing deliver over 300A, stay charged for long periods of time and cost less than $30?

Found this in the FAQ:
Q. If my car battery is completely dead, or at a low level, will the PJ work?
A. No. The unit is not designed to replace or jump start a completely dead battery. This unit only carries 30 volts and if your battery is at too low of a point to except a charge, then the LED light will not turn red.

 

[Eli]

I have the Black and Decker, only the next model up.. was like 70$. Saved my ass a few times, and I use it as a reserve for my 125Ah deep cycle when camping. It will start my car with a completely dead battery without any trouble.

They will stay charged about as long as any other lead acid battery will - 6 months max.

I just brought mine in for charging this morning, actually.. The LED flashlight on it had gotten turned on by accident and drained it to about 50% SoC.

 

[BrownShoes]

I don't know which brand that I have but it holds a charge for six months or so before you have to charge it up.
I have ended up using it on other people's cars actually. Handy to have for emergencies.

 

[HannibalX]

I have a PowerPro Quipp 300A unit I bought at Wally World some time ago. It holds a charge well. Not sure what battery technology it uses. It will not start my Ford 4.6L V8 from a completely dead battery. It will start if there is at least a small amount of charge (not enough to crank over on it's own but enough to assist the mobile charger). It will start my Ford 4.0L SOHC V6 from a completely dead battery.

I wish I would have bought the 600A unit.

The unit takes 72 hours to charge completely and can be used several times before it goes dead.

I think I paid $54.

 

[SunSamurai]

Have any of you used one of these before?

Do they hold a charge for very long? (1, 3, 6, 12 months?)
How many amps do various vehicles need to start?

I found a link to a Cold Cranking Amp estimator.
It estimates my CRV engine at 286 CCA. (143cu/in, 4cyl.)

Here are examples of the devices I am talking about.

$50 - Black and Decker 300A

$130 - Duracell 600A

Thanks for your input!

At first I was like
:hmm:


but then, I
:awe:

 

[F1N3ST]

I like mine. It's been useful.

 

[LTC8K6]

AAA plus...

Those jump starters always seem to be dead when I need them...

 

[lupi]

I was given one that looks like the B&D linked but think it's a different brand. I love mine.

 

[HannibalX]

AAA plus...

Those jump starters always seem to be dead when I need them...

I used to work outdoors in a place with lots of cars (take a guess). I've also seen probably 50-75 people with dead batteries and AAA. I've also seen some of these people wait up to two hours for the AAA guy.

 

[lxskllr]

They don't work that well, but it beats a blank. It's worth having in the off chance you need it, and it's capable of giving a jump. If I were motivated, I'd run wires to it keeping it permanently on charge. That way you know it'll be as good as it can be.

 

[BTA]

I bought a black and decker one from Walmart.

It sat unplugged for a good 4 months probably before I had to jump the wife's car. Worked fine even if it wasn't fully charged anymore.

It also has an air pump that has come in handy as well.

I just make sure to plug it in and let it charge up every 3 to 4 months.

 

[gorobei]

dont get the black&decker you listed. i have an oem no name version of it. the alligator clips arent full-length metal construction, just the teeth part are metal the rest is plastic. the handle broke on mine and now i have to swap out the so called "clip" with one from a spare set of jumper cables.

otherwise they are great tools to have. way more convenient than jumper cables and another car.
you usually want to find one that doesnt have any extra frills like radio/light/aircompressor/etc. the more crap they add to give it value usually means the internal battery(the main thing youre interested in) part is cheap. single function versions will typically last longer.

 

[edro]

you usually want to find one that doesnt have any extra frills like radio/light/aircompressor/etc. the more crap they add to give it value usually means the internal battery(the main thing youre interested in) part is cheap. single function versions will typically last longer.

That was my guess as well... although an air pump might be kinda nice.

I have never found myself needing to pump my tires in an emergency though.
There is almost always enough air to get to a gas station or back home to my air compressor.

 

[lxskllr]

That was my guess as well... although an air pump might be kinda nice.

I have never found myself needing to pump my tires in an emergency though.
There is almost always enough air to get to a gas station or back home to my air compressor.

Electric compressors eat shit. You'd do better buying a nice bike pump. You'll have to put some ass into it, but they're very reliable and won't leave you stranded.

 

[jlee]

I had a cheap one once and it wouldn't turn my Tacoma over..I brought it back.

 

[Farang]

Depending on what you're using it for, you might be off getting a battery charger. A charger is going to be cheaper, and an alternator isn't really designed to recharge a dead battery so you shouldn't rely on it to do that on a regular basis. If running into a dead battery is something you deal with on a regular basis, in a set location where an outlet is available, you should go with a charger.

 

[OulOat]

I have the same B&D starter. Started my car fine from a completely dead battery. My car is a sedan, 300V is more than enough for it. If you have a truck or SUV, get something more. I can attest the battery inside the B&D stays charged for a while; I left it outside in my trunk (with all the temperature changes) for 2 months at a time. The battery level goes down to 2 out of 3 (seems to stay there for a while), but the leds become full after an hour of charging.

 

[mizzou]

i bought a 50$ car starter/charger about the size of a big encyclopedia for like $20, it could BARELY get my truck started from 0-dead, but it could easily handle a smaller car.

if you batter is sort of dead it's fine, i usually take it with me during tailgates and walk around and start peoples cars for beer and hugs

 

[wiredspider]

Bought one, charged it, and left it in the house. Finally had to use it 1-2 years later and it had a charge.

 

[SKORPI0]

Got this from Costco a few months back, Powerstation PS5000M

Works good for what I need. I can check tire air pressure too.

 

[Leros]

The ones that plug into the cigarette outlet are kinda neat, but are the wires connected to that outlet capable of handling the amperage needed to start the car?

 

[mizzou]

The ones that plug into the cigarette outlet are kinda neat, but are the wires connected to that outlet capable of handling the amperage needed to start the car?

Supposedly, but I wouldn't want to try it.

I think you mainly let it sit there for a while to charge the battery up, then try to start