Best Portable Jump Pack ?

[Trails2004]

What ever brand you purchase- look for an AGM battery in the pack. This type of battery can take the punishment of repeated draw downs better than the conventioanl type of battery.

Northern Tool and Supply offers an AGM battery model look here-

DSR ProSeries Heavy-Duty Jump Start 2200 Amp, For 12V Batteries, Model# PSJ-2212 | Portable Jump Starters | Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[robertwhite]

Speak of the devil, just had to use the trukpac this morning. The 06 powerstroke was-a-clickin when I turned the key.....so hooked up and started er up!

Which jump pack do you have?

 

[robertwhite]

What ever brand you purchase- look for an AGM battery in the pack. This type of battery can take the punishment of repeated draw downs better than the conventioanl type of battery.

Northern Tool and Supply offers an AGM battery model look here-

DSR ProSeries Heavy-Duty Jump Start 2200 Amp, For 12V Batteries, Model# PSJ-2212 | Portable Jump Starters | Northern Tool + Equipment

I was under the impression that units with Clore batteries were considered very good. Never heard of AGM.

That unit you linked to seems pretty bad azz though at 2200 peak amp.

 

[Trails2004]

I was under the impression that units with Clore batteries were considered very good. Never heard of AGM.

That unit you linked to seems pretty bad azz though at 2200 peak amp.

You got me with a Clore battery ????? AGM = Absorbed Glass Mat. This type of battery can be mounted in almost any position. AGM's discharge very slowy, can not freeze and as stated can take the punishment that jump packs are subjected to. Sears Platinum , Deka Intimadator, Odyessy are some big brands. Optima is also a type of AGM.

VRLA battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[robertwhite]

Sears Platinum , Deka Intimadator, Odyessy are some big brands. Optima is also a type of AGM.

VRLA battery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ahhh, never knew what was inside an Optima battery.

Clore makes the battery packs inside of many different brands of jump packs.

 

[scoutcub]

Which jump pack do you have?

Truckpak ES6000......and love it!!

 

[Gary Fowler]

Man, $400 for the heavy duty jump pack and only (3600 amps =275 cranking amps). I think a 850 CCA battery for $70 with a $60 automatic battery tender on a cheap cart would be more power and just as easy to move around for the shop and farm. Those jump packs are OK for putting in the back of your SUV just in case your battery dies, but come on guys if you need that much power for portability, buy an inverter type generator

 

[Gary Fowler]

I bought a cheap $30 jump pack that works fine for my purpose which is to run my 12 volt 15 GPM fuel pump on the bulk diesel tank. I leave it plugged in and charging all the time and so far it works fine for the 2 years I have had it. IF it quits charging, I will just put another $30 out for a new one. IF I only get 2 years of service out of each one, that equates to 20+ years on the $400 one and I am very sure no battery will last that long.

 

[Trails2004]

I bought a cheap $30 jump pack that works fine for my purpose which is to run my 12 volt 15 GPM fuel pump on the bulk diesel tank. I leave it plugged in and charging all the time and so far it works fine for the 2 years I have had it..........

It is the "freeze-thaw" cycles that seem to get ours at work- they are kept in the service trucks without a constant temperature. We try to keep them charged at all times- that is very hard when you live on the road during the week.

You may have given me an idea- use a small plug in type inverter with a battery maintainer to charge the jump packs during the drive time.

Thanks

 

[some zilch]

even though some of these models claim big amp numbers, they still dont have much in the way of cca or ca. also, using the above northern tools unit as an example, how much current can you pass through 4ga cables?--not much. to me, heavy duty jumper should be nothing less than at least 0ga cable. i heat up 1/0 jumper cables pretty good trying to start some of my stuff, 4ga wouldnt last 1 jump. i have since made some 20ft long 2/0ga jumper cables, and they will start anything.

i think if i HAD to have some kind of jumper with an air compressor, electrical outlets, lights, and all this other garbage, i would get something ready made and hope it lasts. best bet for the OP, since it seems he wants to use it more to run lights, is to get a small generator, like a suitcase honda, and use it to power a bettery charger when needed, and then lights or an air compressor when needed. i'd rather be able to plug a machine in to warm the coolant for a while, and then jump it, rather than just keep wearing out a jumper pack on something that probably isnt going to start anyways

 

[patrick_g]

An unattended trickle will ruin a battery.

A battery maintainer (float charger) will not harm your battery by "boiling" off electrolyte like an old fashioned trickle charger. They may be connected for a long time. They are NOT for charging a discharged battery, just keeping a fairly charged battery from self discharge.

Available from HF under $10 or autoparts store for $20 or more. I have some of both and recommend the HF units as they have never failed me and cost about $7-9 on sale.

Pat

 

[tsteahr]

A battery maintainer (float charger) will not harm your battery by "boiling" off electrolyte like an old fashioned trickle charger.

Available from HF under $10 or autoparts store for $20 or more.
Pat

I just went through doing the battery tender research. I believe these are the best available:

Battery Tender - Home of the Battery Tender Jr. - Batterytender.com

They make a Jr and a Plus. $22 and $45 on amazon. They are the most sophisticated units I found. Temperature compensated with a four phase program. The only functional difference between the two is max amperage, 0.75 vs 1.25. If you are a Snap-On type of guy, Snap-on sells the Plus version painted blue with a Blue-Point label. The Blue-Point label and blue paint adds about $30 to the price.

I have one of the inexpensive HF tenders and have used it for years. I have always had the nagging suspicion is was ever so slightly overcharging. With the HF unit, I end up only leaving it hooked up for a few days, then disconnect it for a few days, than back on... As with all HF stuff, it can be hit or miss if you get a bad one. I don't think quality control is a HF forte.

 

[Matt_Jr]

I have a Snap-on jump pack, I think it's a 1700 model. I don't know what that 1700 means, but I tested it at around 290 cranking amps with a snap-on starting/charging system tester. I haven't had it more than a year, but so far haven't had trouble starting anything except a few diesels that were just flat out dead. I found on most vehicles, if I hook it up and leave it on the vehicle a few minutes before cranking, the odds are more in my favor. I bought it more for the reason of hooking a power probe to it to test electric motors, solenoids, etc.., but works ok for starting most cars and light trucks. Expensive little booger.

 

[Sackett2]

I bought a 70 dollar Wall-mart special- a bigger one. Love it, although Wall-Mart no longer carries it. The feature I liked was the no-voltage at he clamps until it was hooked up. It eventually failed so I went to interstate and replaced the battery inside it. It has been one of the better jump boxes I have had; I have a mac brand also, its OK

 

[Gem99ultra]

I too, use Battery Tenders. Actually, I have 5 of them. They run about $50 including the pigtail as well as clamp connectors. So far they've kept my batteries in a full charge state, some with over 7 years on them.

I also have a couple of Honda 2000 watt suitcase invertors. Those can be daisy chained to give 4000 watts if one wanted. So far I've not had a need to daisy chain them though, but I do love the fact that they run ~13 hours on one gallon of gasoline. And they're quiet enough that one can talk and be heard right next to them.

Both items are top of the line, in my opinion. They just keep on working, and have never let me down. That in itself is worth a couple of extra bucks.

 

[FlaDon]

Originally Posted by crbr
An unattended trickle will ruin a battery.

Over how many years? A half amp/13 volt charge going into a battery between uses once a week didn't kill them in 4-6 years that the batteries were rated for. It does help if you set the charge level correctly instead of using a fixed rate one.

 

[jenkinsph]

With about 30 batteries in my equipment I have found that having good batteries tends to eliminate the need for jump starting. If I have a dead battery I simply replace it, now if you have someone leave the lights on or something of that nature (operator error) then replace the operator.

My jump pack consists of a set of 2/0 ga jumper cables for the larger stuff and a cheap set of 4 ga for the small stuff. For winter and portable use I have a Honda 2000i with 8amp output and battery clips and 120v outlets that can charge up the battery and warm the engine simultaneously. Warming up the engine probably helps more than anything.

This week when I go to the big city I will get a new DieHard Platinum for the 110tlb since it is 5 years old, have to change it before it fails.

If you are a private homeowner/user then needing a jump pack would make me think you need good batteries instead.

 

[robertwhite]

The more info I get from here the more it makes me think I may just go with a HD battery and a cart set up. I don't think there is any way a jump pack is going to equal a 850cca battery. Also thinking about a small generator.

 

[VitaBene]

The more info I get from here the more it makes me think I may just go with a HD battery and a cart set up. I don't think there is any way a jump pack is going to equal a 850cca battery. Also thinking about a small generator.

I have thought about it since my original post:

1. Sturdy, somewhat compact hand truck from HD or the like $40
2. Marine battery box on the bottom shelf with a nice 850 or so CCA battery $95.
3. Weld some hooks for the cables and another shelf with sides on it for the inverter and battery tender. If you are like me, you will tack it on yourself - of course built out of old bed frames and scrap metal. If you don't have a welder your buddy will do it for a case of icy cold Budweisers

It will sit nice in a corner when not needed and provide your 120VAC in the field with the inverter.

 

[crbr]

Originally Posted by crbr
An unattended trickle will ruin a battery.

Over how many years? A half amp/13 volt charge going into a battery between uses once a week didn't kill them in 4-6 years that the batteries were rated for. It does help if you set the charge level correctly instead of using a fixed rate one.

Think what you may. I didn't write the facts.







"unattended trickle"

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