Portable battery jump starter advice?

[jymbee]

My aging Sears portable jump starter-- which I never liked in the first place-- is pretty much dead. Looking for a good replacement. The clamps on my old one suck. Have to manually help clamp down sometimes. Any advice as to what models you can recommend as a replacement?

 

[Mendonsy]

I have a Black & Decker Electromate 400 that is about 10 years old. It was cheap when I bought it from their outlet store and (so far) it has worked fine. Murphy's Law says now that I have told you, it will fail soon.

 

[Big Barn]

I have a Black & Decker Electromate 400 that is about 10 years old. It was cheap when I bought it from their outlet store and (so far) it has worked fine. Murphy's Law says now that I have told you, it will fail soon.

Yup.

 

[newbury]

What are you trying to do with it? Start your Massey or a diesel truck?

 

[RNeumann]

NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Amazon.com: NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB4 1 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter: Automotive

These have a good reputation and the Lithium battery should last for several years. We have several in use.

 

[jymbee]

What are you trying to do with it? Start your Massey or a diesel truck?

All of the above-- and more. GMC diesel pickup, cars, JD diesel 748 tractor w/ mower... Plus neighbor's cars that call in the dead of the winter with dead batteries.

 

[jymbee]

NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Amazon.com: NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB4 1 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter: Automotive

These have a good reputation and the Lithium battery should last for several years. We have several in use.

That's interesting. I did see those much smaller Lithium units but knowing nothing about them I just assumed that they were too small to be very powerful. Kinda' dates me I guess.

If they work as advertised the more compact size would be a big plus over the big lead based models. I assume the serveral you have in use have worked well for you? One drawback might be what looks like very short cables.

On a related topic-- don't any of these things come with an easy way to connect to batteries with side terminals? Or perhaps some after-market product that would make connecting easier? Those blasted side terminals are a real PITA IMO when trying to get a solid connection! :thumbdown:

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
That's why even GM has done away with them, at least on their pickups. :thumbsup:

 

[thepumpguysc]

I bought 1 from Northern tool for 80.00 on sale it worked great.. something like 800cca I started many, many diesel tractors w/ it..
It ended up growing legs.??
I needed 1 real quick while out on the road a few months back & ended up going to Harbor Freight.. I got 1 w/ a coupon that was only 50-60.00.
It hasn't let me down yet.. lots of tractor starting.. built in USB, spot lite & an air compressor..
1 suggestion tho.. buy the BIGGEST ONE u can afford..
I take mine out in the boat w/ me, just in case.. "I" haven't needed it, but I've gotten other boaters out of some real tight spots w/ it..

 

[RNeumann]

They work very well! They make different sizes, so if you need more juice you can upsize. Lithium does a better job all the way around. Embrace it!
We don’t jumpstart fire engines with them (6- 12v batteries) but we jump everything else. And with the vehicle computers and every other wiz bang that uses a battery we are jumping vehicles all the time.

 

[jymbee]

I bought 1 from Northern tool for 80.00 on sale it worked great.. something like 800cca I started many, many diesel tractors w/ it..
It ended up growing legs.??
I needed 1 real quick while out on the road a few months back & ended up going to Harbor Freight.. I got 1 w/ a coupon that was only 50-60.00.
It hasn't let me down yet.. lots of tractor starting.. built in USB, spot lite & an air compressor..
1 suggestion tho.. buy the BIGGEST ONE u can afford..
I take mine out in the boat w/ me, just in case.. "I" haven't needed it, but I've gotten other boaters out of some real tight spots w/ it..

Hmmm... when I click that link to Amazon I'm prompted with:

We need more information to verify that this product fits
your vehicle.

then when I check the basic info:

We need more information to verify that this product fits
your vehicle.

What are they talking about re. "fits"?? I'd assume that if I can use it to start our diesel pickup it would work just as well with any of our cars or even lawn tractor? Perhaps they just want to make sure that it can be used to start the most "demanding" vehicle and everything that requires less juice below that would be fine?

 

[thepumpguysc]

That IS odd??
There are a lot of choices, so its best to GO LOOK.. The bigger the AH's the "better" the battery.. {amp hours}
Some come w/ accessories, like air compressors & such..
You prob. don't wanna buy 1 online.. the shipping weight would KILL YA.. they are heavy..
I used 1 up once, battery would no longer carry/hold a charge.. & isn't THAT what they're supposed to do?? lol
I took it apart, got the battery # & searched it.. The batt. was as much if not more than the entire thing..
I clipped off the cable clamps & threw it in the dumpster..

 

[Cat_Driver]

This will show you what the best is.

 

[Cat_Driver]

NOCO - 4A Lithium Jump Starter - GB15

 

[bigtiller]

NOCO - 4A Lithium Jump Starter - GB15

$375 , It sounds to good to be true. Also, 80 jumps per charge???

And it fits in your shirt pocket.

 

[CobyRupert]

You can replace the clamps.
Wally-World has 400amp ones for about $12 I think.

 

[thepumpguysc]

WOW.. 375.00!!! That IS nice.. but for 375.00 I'd go buy some jumper cables & pull my other truck around.. Lol
THAT IS impressive tho..