Portable Lithium Ion jump starter ??

[coobie]

The wife and I are going to start to do a little more traveling in the next year or so.I have been looking at the small portable lithium ion car jump starter just in case we ended up with a dead car battery/alternator problems.Any thoughts,are some better than others? I looked on amazon but holy heck there are so many different choices it gets confusing.

 

[mguitas]

Re: Portable Lithium Ion car battery chargers ??

I would take a jump starter.

 

[RickB]

Re: Portable Lithium Ion car battery chargers ??

Lots of things I'd pack before anything in that category. If you are concerned about your car battery, replace it. Battery in my wife's car doesn't see 5 years before it becomes a tractor battery for the rest of its life.

 

[coobie]

Re: Portable Lithium Ion car battery chargers ??

Lots of things I'd pack before anything in that category. If you are concerned about your car battery, replace it. Battery in my wife's car doesn't see 5 years before it becomes a tractor battery for the rest of its life.

First let me be CLEAR I do keep up on all of our maintenance on all of our cars/trucks.I change my battery every 4-5 years.My thought process was JUST in case something did go wrong we don,t want to be stranded out in the boonies.Say the alternator took a crap I could at least get it started to get to a service garage verses getting towed.

 

[coobie]

Re: Portable Lithium Ion car battery chargers ??

I would take a jump starter.

Darn it I guess thats what I meant,gonna change my post.Thanks.

 

[confused8122]

They work good for a car with dead battery, but would start quickly. ie, they don't do extended cranking.
If you have a dead battery, because of a bad alternator, the car won't run for long. Old cars could run on a few volts, new cars can't and won't.

Also, most of those will charge your phone, so you can call for help

 

[RickB]

Last three pickups I have owned I bought new and owned for a total of 34 years. I replaced one alternator in that time.

 

[coobie]

Last three pickups I have owned I bought new and owned for a total of 34 years. I replaced one alternator in that time.

Good for you hope your good fortunes continue.

 

[TractorGuy]

The only suggestion I have is to scroll to bottom of the first set of reviews offered and click on the link to all reviews, newest first. I was considering a lithium iron battery for my motorcycle that had a great overall rating. When I started reading the newest reviews I found two with pics that had burned to a crust in the last few months.

It's difficult to plan for the unknown. I too have only replaced 1 alternator in 10 years. Doesn't mean mine won't fail next week.

My original truck battery lasted 10 years. I'll be dammed if I'm gonna start replacing batteries that are working properly.

 

[coobie]

The only suggestion I have is to scroll to bottom of the first set of reviews offered and click on the link to all reviews, newest first. I was considering a lithium iron battery for my motorcycle that had a great overall rating. When I started reading the newest reviews I found two with pics that had burned to a crust in the last few months.

It's difficult to plan for the unknown. I too have only replaced 1 alternator in 10 years. Doesn't mean mine won't fail next week.

My original truck battery lasted 10 years. I'll be dammed if I'm gonna start replacing batteries that are working properly.

My last battery(junk interstate) in my 2006 ford F-150 lasted a whopping 2 1/2-3 years max.Went to start my truck one day deader than a door nail replaced with Deka brand battery.Thanks for the tip on rating reviews.

 

[JimRB]

A tow company driver was trying to jump start a car that had left the lights on for 10 hours using one of those light weight jump batteries. He goofed around for an hour. I got a set of jumper cables and hooked up the dead car to a Ford pickup with a diesel. That car started right up. I don't know if he took all the energy out of that lightweight jumper battery on the last car he started or if they don't work so swell on a slap dead battery. I do like my heavy duty jumper cables. Belt and suspenders.

 

[nybirdman]

Look at EarthX;a little more than the others but is a quality product.You are like me and the Boy Scouts;be prepared.I have use mine to jump start my buddy's Toyota Tundra a couple times.Amazing that that little pack could do it.

 

[Al 2]

Look up the reviews. There are many of these units on the market now and I think a small price to pay should you need to a boost a vehicle or to run your laptop or whatever. Many new snowmobiles and other recreational products don't have a recoil start any more and these things are small and easy to carry as a back up. Some will almost fit in a shirt pocket.
Al

 

[TractorGuy]

My last battery(junk interstate) in my 2006 ford F-150 lasted a whopping 2 1/2-3 years max.Went to start my truck one day deader than a door nail replaced with Deka brand battery.Thanks for the tip on rating reviews.

Next time check with your local Ford dealer. The Motorcraft battery in my 2003 F150 went 10 years. I was able to buy the exact replacement online for local pickup for less than $100. Even at 10 years it gave warning and became sluggish. It didn't die outright like I have seen other batteries do.

All my other stuff rides with a $25 lawn tractor battery from wallyworld including my Mustang. Been getting 5 years out of these.

 

[ScottyChip]

Interesting read. I can understand being prepared and I agree. I bought a NOCO GB40 Genius Boost, has really heavy duty booster clamps and once charged will stay that way for a year in storage. It even has a USB out to power or charge any portable device. I got it to boost my ATV, which I store in an unheated shed and after a winter in storage never wants to start. I put the GB40 on and in 2 seconds I am running. Did I also mention the GB40 has a built in light with multiple signal options. There are other models available but I went middle of the road. Here is the link to the model I bought, NOCO - 1A Lithium Jump Starter - GB4.
I think you cannot go wrong with this one, and I do not work for the company. When I find a good product that works for me I don't mind telling others.

 

[Qapla]

I have seen those lightweight jump starters in use - they do work (when used properly)

I would be more concerned that I might leave the lights on or otherwise kill my battery and take such an emergency starter like that.

Read the reviews and don't buy on price - cheapest or most expensive.

 

[coobie]

Ended up buying this portable jump starter off amazon.Besteker 16800mAh 12volts 800a peak.

 

[colson04]

What do you mean when you say your other stuff rides with the lawn mower battery? Are they just sitting in the trunk as a means of jumping your dead battery, or are they wired in somewhere on the vehicle to provide more available power? Just curious since you didn't really elaborate on your setup.

On a side note, I have a traditional jump starter that I keep in the garage, a Stanley. It's heavy and bulky, but it does its intended purpose when needed. I Carry it on road trips for piece of mind. It also has a small air compressor built in and USB and 12v DC power ports too.

 

[RickB]

What do you mean when you say your other stuff rides with the lawn mower battery? Are they just sitting in the trunk as a means of jumping your dead battery, or are they wired in somewhere on the vehicle to provide more available power? Just curious since you didn't really elaborate on your setup.

On a side note, I have a traditional jump starter that I keep in the garage, a Stanley. It's heavy and bulky, but it does its intended purpose when needed. I Carry it on road trips for piece of mind. It also has a small air compressor built in and USB and 12v DC power ports too.

I'm not buying that his 575E starts with a 300CCA L&G battery.

 

[newbury]

Ended up buying this portable jump starter off amazon.Besteker 16800mAh 12volts 800a peak.

PLEASE test it out and review it for us. That darn thing is SMALL.

LINK