Portable Jump Starter

ArlyA · Nov 25, 2023

Here is me recharging our TACK LIFE T8 Pro. It just sat in our trucks tool box for years, so I was impressed how little power it had lost. It was still at 95%

blehmann · Dec 9, 2023

I had quite a few Cabelas Club points built up so I bought the best one (???) in their catalog at no cost to me. I think it is a Schumacher. It charges my cell phone quickly. I haven't needed it for a big engine yet but winter is nearly here and the JD 4230 is booger to start in winter. It won't be long and I'll know if free was cheap enough.

bmaverick · Dec 10, 2023

A few Christmas's ago, I got one of those Stanley jump starter bulking types. It is the 600 for V6 engines.
Well, even fully charged, it will not jump start a V6 3.8L in mild cool weather. The Stanley 1000 will do it.
I see these all over the places in Walmart and the farm box stores.

After reading this thread, I too would like a hand held compact device. This Stanley rolls around in the trunk and rattles too much too. I will not be getting another one.

gstrom99 · Dec 10, 2023

I just bought two of these. One for me, one for the daughter/SIL.

Amazon.com

MTGreen · Dec 10, 2023

I went through 2 of the MicroStart XP models over the years. Batteries swelled and burst in both of them after different summers when I lived in AZ.
Now I have a super capacitor based unit with NO battery to find discharged or swelled up. I've used it half a dozen times so far for truck and tractor. Works great as long as you follow the directions.
The concept is that you charge up the capacitors over a few minutes using the residual few volts on your discharged battery or from an alternate source such as a USB etc. It tells you when it's fully charged, then you push a button and crank the engine -it discharges into your dead battery over 10 seconds or so and it cranks like a fresh battery during that time. I don't have anything that requires extended cranking so I don't know how well it would work after 10 seconds. If you don't have the residual volts in the battery it's beyond starting anyways for most modern vehicles

This is the one I have:

1000A Battery-less Jump Starter - Rescue Mate

The OzCharge Rescue Mate Battery-less Jump Starter voted 'Best New Safety Product of 2018' The Rescue Mate does not contain any batteries and does not require recharging. The Rescue Mate is always ready to jump start. It's both safe and easy to use.

www.ozcharge.com

HAR · Dec 10, 2023

I have a NOCO GB40 and used it for about 3 years, and decided that I wanted the 12VDC feature, so I upgraded to the NOCO GB70. Both work great. I started a Chrysler TC van with a totally dead battery in one try with the GB40 at 25F with no problems. The GB70 has been really handy as I can use it as a back up charger for electronic devices, as well as have the 12VDC feature. I keep the GB70 in my rig, and the GB40 in my wife's car. Showed her how simple it is to use. Just need to periodically get some draw on the battery and recharge, as they recommend that.

LittleBill21 · Dec 10, 2023

remember not to leave them fully charged in the summer, I generally won't charge them over 80%, which is still like 15+ plus jump starts with mine

ArlyA · Dec 10, 2023

LittleBill21 said:
remember not to leave them fully charged in the summer, I generally won't charge them over 80%, which is still like 15+ plus jump starts with mine

Its been in our truck for years, started out fully charged.

LittleBill21 · Dec 10, 2023

ArlyA said:
Its been in our truck for years, started out fully charged.

hot sun and full charge generally causes lipo to puff up and increase premature failure. There is a reason they have a storage charge value, ever notice how every lipo you buy new is never fully charged?

Gregster613 · Dec 12, 2023

gstrom99 said:
I just bought two of these. One for me, one for the daughter/SIL.
View attachment 837348

Amazon.com

I've had one of these for about 2 years. Actually even used it once. It worked even though it had gotten very low on charge. I'd forgotten about it being under the truck seat and had never juiced it up! I now try to check it every six months or so. But...my memory isn't what it used to be anymore, so we'll see how that goes. It did do its job when needed though!