Jump Pack for Diesels

GreatWhitehunter · Feb 21, 2015

Does anyone have a recommendation on a decent jump pack for diesel engines? I can't seem to find a lot of reviews on them.
I'm sure a lot of cranking amps is going to be a must for diesel's. With the extreme cold we've had in the Northeast this year I've found myself needing a power pack more and more. The battery in my 110 is new(6 months) but I don't use it very much in the winter so when I do need it the engine is dead cold and will sometimes need to crank for a bit before it fires up. I then only use the machine for 15 min so it doesn't get a chance to recharge. I know I should pull the battery and put it on a charger then perhaps a tender but I'm hoping I'll get away with using a jump pack to keep from draining the onboard battery.

Matt

3930dave · Feb 21, 2015

As you know, your battery is undercharged. So you need to do something there - portable generator+battery charger is one solution. A good sized solar panel is better than nothing.

If you can drive to the TLB (4x4 PU), if nothing else, I'd boost it with a really good set of jumper cables when starting, to reduce the drain on the onboard battery.

Consider running your machine longer, even if you end up doing volunteer/busy work - it is also spending all winter with fluids never really up to temperature.

Most people are going to have trouble carrying a battery that is big enough to help very far. If you need to go that route, buy the biggest truck battery you can find, and use a cart or sled to move it. Regular retail battery packs won't do much for you.

Just my :2cents: .

Rgds, D.

jimmysisson · Feb 21, 2015

Why not a Tender? They're cheap, and you can get a solar one if no 110v. Work great for exactly the condition you describe.
Jim

buickanddeere · Feb 21, 2015

Why would you want to use a booster pack? Just plug in the block heater and use a battery tender. Cold starts strain the engine, starter, battery and alternator. A perpetually discharged battery have a short life span.

GreatWhitehunter · Feb 21, 2015

buickanddeere said:
Why would you want to use a booster pack? Just plug in the block heater and use a battery tender. Cold starts strain the engine, starter, battery and alternator. A perpetually discharged battery have a short life span.

jimmysisson said:
Why not a Tender? They're cheap, and you can get a solar one if no 110v. Work great for exactly the condition you describe.
Jim

3930dave said:
As you know, your battery is undercharged. So you need to do something there - portable generator+battery charger is one solution. A good sized solar panel is better than nothing.

If you can drive to the TLB (4x4 PU), if nothing else, I'd boost it with a really good set of jumper cables when starting, to reduce the drain on the onboard battery.

Consider running your machine longer, even if you end up doing volunteer/busy work - it is also spending all winter with fluids never really up to temperature.

Most people are going to have trouble carrying a battery that is big enough to help very far. If you need to go that route, buy the biggest truck battery you can find, and use a cart or sled to move it. Regular retail battery packs won't do much for you.

Just my :2cents: .

Rgds, D.

All of those are good idea's however my tractor lives in a large carport and has no electricity near by. It was -6 when I drained the battery cranking it this morning. I'm running a yellow top Optima which has been good but this morning she was just too cold. I went out and picked up a 20' jumper cable set. It was ineffective as I had drained the battery down too far. I ended up pull the battery and bringing it into the garage. Threw it on the charger for a few hrs and she fired right up.

I've had the need for a jump pack many times before. I stopped at a local diesel shop and asked what they used on the rigs they service.
This is the model they recommended:Amazon.com: Jump-N-Carry JNC950 2000 Peak Amp 12V Jump Starter: Automotive

So I ordered it and will give it a test drive. All these headache sure have me wishing for a heated pole barn to store the toys out of the elements.

Matt

like2wheel · Feb 21, 2015

That is a standard jump box for automotive purposes. Diesel shops typically something twice that size & much more costly.

The real issue is what buickanddeere already mentioned is that a battery that is not kept fully charged has a much shortened lifespan. A simple solar arrangement could keep your battery charged & provide some basic listing for your carport.

GreatWhitehunter · Feb 21, 2015

like2wheel said:
That is a standard jump box for automotive purposes. Diesel shops typically something twice that size & much more costly.

The real issue is what buickanddeere already mentioned is that a battery that is not kept fully charged has a much shortened lifespan. A simple solar arrangement could keep your battery charged & provide some basic listing for your carport.

I will look into the solar charger as well, the jump pack has over 900 cranking amps. That's more than stock battery is capable of. This has been an unusually cold winter, in the past I have removed the batteries and put them in the garage on a tender, that just too much of a hassle at present.

I should also have mentioned that I have a need for the jump pack for other vehicles but didn't want to buy one that would be incapable of turning over a diesel.

Matt

jenkinsph · Feb 21, 2015

GreatWhitehunter said:
I will look into the solar charger as well, the jump pack has over 900 cranking amps. That's more than stock battery is capable of. This has been an unusually cold winter, in the past I have removed the batteries and put them in the garage on a tender, that just too much of a hassle at present.

I should also have mentioned that I have a need for the jump pack for other vehicles but didn't want to buy one that would be incapable of turning over a diesel.

Matt

The problem with jump packs and diesels are the glow plugs and air heaters sap the power before you can crank them up. What I have found works the best is a good starting battery and short set of jumper cables. A jump pack is okay with a good gas engine that only needs a few seconds of boost to crank up. Charging up the glow plugs for 30 or 45 seconds puts a large load on a jump packs small battery.

I suspect it will be time to change my battery in the 110 this year and will see if I can get a DieHard platinum or Odyssey that fits. These are very good batteries for cold weather.

like2wheel · Feb 22, 2015

GreatWhitehunter said:
I will look into the solar charger as well, the jump pack has over 900 cranking amps. That's more than stock battery is capable of. This has been an unusually cold winter, in the past I have removed the batteries and put them in the garage on a tender, that just too much of a hassle at present.

I should also have mentioned that I have a need for the jump pack for other vehicles but didn't want to buy one that would be incapable of turning over a diesel.

Matt

I was just closing out some windows, & just realized that I misspoke. I didn't read the specs, or look closely enough to realize that is not the typical automotive jump pack. Hopefully it will serve you well

skyhook · Feb 22, 2015

I suppose in your situation, a power pack is useful.
The reviews on this JNC950 look pretty impressive, buy one

I would try and do a pre-heat on your machine first (glow plugs), then get out and attach your booster,
another quick pre-heat and turn her over.
Let us know how it works out.

Zebrafive · Feb 22, 2015

I have a JNC660 for auto/truck use with gas engines. I think the JNC950 is more than twice the jump pack I have and think it is a good choice.

GreatWhitehunter · Feb 22, 2015

Zebrafive said:
I have a JNC660 for auto/truck use with gas engines. I think the JNC950 is more than twice the jump pack I have and think it is a good choice.

The guys at the truck shop were really talking the 950 up. They did have an even larger one but they said they use it less due to the weight.

Matt

TimBuck2 · Feb 22, 2015

I suspect that your machine has a short that is drainind the battery while it sits.

I recommend installing a good quality battery disconnect and see if that improves the situation. The blade type throw switch are the best. Saw them at autozone the other day, $25 or so.

SPYDERLK · Feb 22, 2015

You only need the big ones when you have multiple vehicles or you have one in bad shape. One in good shape just needs an extra kick in the cold. Lithium ion jump packs you can put in your pocket will give several hundred amps to supplement the regular batt that customarily starts it unaided. If thats not enuf there must be some other issue.
larry

billfires · Feb 23, 2015

We went to pick up our ambulance at the GM dealer, (in for service on the Duramax), and it was dead. Dealership forgot it has a refrigerator and did not plug it in. The tech jumped it with what looked like a laptop battery (w/ jumper cables attatched). This ambulance has 3 batteries in it. I don't know the size but he said it was a lithium jump pack. Bill

SPYDERLK · Feb 23, 2015

billfires said:
We went to pick up our ambulance at the GM dealer, (in for service on the Duramax), and it was dead. Dealership forgot it has a refrigerator and did not plug it in. The tech jumped it with what looked like a laptop battery (w/ jumper cables attatched). This ambulance has 3 batteries in it. I don't know the size but he said it was a lithium jump pack. Bill

Now, jumping something with a dead battery is a heavy chore. ... Im impressed.

DT86 · Feb 23, 2015

://youtu.be/hxMnd6F1fZo

I received a Micro Start XP-10 for Christmas. 110v is usually close by when something needs a boost and I also have a set of monster size jumper cables so I leave it in my GF's car.

She is a nurse (They have to park way out in the back 40, leave work late, ect) so I figured it would help her and her colleagues more than myself.

So far she has used it to boost the RTV 900 when it was around 15* and her car (Civic) at around 32*. I have not used it on a truck or tractor yet but I believe it will do the job.

I bet this is what they boosted the ambulance with.

kco · Feb 23, 2015

I think the booster pack will serve you well, GreatWhiteHunter. I bought Canadian Tire 800 amp one similar to this

Motomaster Eliminator 800A Powerbox | Canadian Tire

about 8 years ago I believe.

It has an inverter so can be used to run small 120v loads during power outages. I also regularly use it for filling my tractor with the 12v fuel pump because I cannot easily connect the pump to my tractor's battery, you have to lift the hood to access the battery but then you lose access to the fuel tank.

My main reason for purchasing it was as backup for starting my 2003 Nissan 4x4 in remote areas in which there is a 99% chance I will not see anyone. I was surprised to find the truck, which has an automatic transmission, will not turn over when rolling at fair speeds (30 mph) without the motor running. That rules out my former backup plan of parking with a long downhill slope (and before that with a standard which required very little distance to get it running).

GreatWhitehunter · Feb 23, 2015

Well the JNC 950 arrived today(super fast shipping) and it's a large unit. It's not a unit you'll confuse with a car jump pack it's physically twice as large.
I was impressed to see that it came with a dc charger aswell as the ac adapter. It looks rugged and I hope it's serve me for a long while. I'll update this post as soon as I have a chance to use it.

Matt

firemanmike69 · Feb 23, 2015

GreatWhitehunter said:
Well the JNC 950 arrived today(super fast shipping) and it's a large unit. It's not a unit you'll confuse with a car jump pack it's physically twice as large. I was impressed to see that it came with a dc charger aswell as the ac adapter. It looks rugged and I hope it's serve me for a long while. I'll update this post as soon as I have a chance to use it. Matt

Wow that was quick. I'll be standing by for a review once you get to use it