Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question

Posted by: past_digger

Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 05:17 AM

Loooong time lurker, first time poster; been trying to implement what I've learned so far before asking any more questions.... Did a search here and didn't find much on battery jumper/boosters. Anyone use them? Are they worth it (seen prices between $40 and almost $200)? Brands/features to look for or avoid (lights, tire pumps, etc...), amps, etc...? If I get one, it would be for an aging '87 F150 and a 2000 Caravan.

My personal 'equipped to survive' story:
DW was unimpressed with my efforts until last year. 2yo lost his breakfast and lunch down her shirt as our flight touched down - unbeknownst to her I had a small towel, a complete change of clothes for both and a trash bag for the dirties in my backpack (purged down to ca. 20lb of TSA safe schtuff - gotta work on that). More of a diaper bag on steroids, urban/first aid/kid oriented, lacking only shelter and enough H20 for a weekend in the woods. She doesn't mention my 'paranoia' anymore...
Posted by: JohnN

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 05:51 AM


Hmm. I think I'd rather consider a good 2 battery system.

Or, just be proactive about replacing your battery. I tend to replace ours with an Optima Red Top every 5 years.

I've never had a problem since I stopped giving it the element of suprise! :-)

-john
Posted by: silent_weapon

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 12:42 PM

We TRY (operative word) to use these rechargeable jump boxes at the PD where I work to avoid the hassle of using jumper cables.

The problem being that they NEVER have enough battery power to jump even a go-cart. They are a good idea but fail when needed most. They are heavy and prone to being discharged. The only time they have ever worked is instantly after removing them from the charger.

If there is one that recharges from the car's alternator while the vehicle is running, that might be a better option.
Posted by: Malpaso

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 12:57 PM

I bought a Black & Decker one last year, and surprised even myself how many times I've used it. I think I paid about $80.

1. Got back from a weeks vacation to find I had a flat on my truck at midnight in the airport parking lot. Fortunately is was a slow leak and the unit pumped it up enough to get home on.

2. Jump started a motorcycle that had broken down on the side of the road after work one day.

3. Topped off the air in the tires in the motorcycles at the beginning of the season.

I don't see much use for the built in light, but then again, not everyone carries multiple flashlights ;-)
Posted by: JimJr

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 02:21 PM

A good set of jumper cables is a good thing to have, IMHO. You want to look for some with a single digit guage (the larger the guage, the smaller the cable diameter).

I also have a "jump battery". I used my "jump battery" to power a small TV while my power was out after Katrina (4 days).

JimJr
Posted by: OldBaldGuy

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 02:34 PM

I bought one of those battery booster/jumper cable things at Costco a few years ago, kept it charger per the instructions, finally needed to use it, it was flat, and would not take a charge again. Did I mention that, much as I love Costco, I have had terrible luck with their auto batteries???

A good (as in more expensive) set of jumper cables are worth much more in my opinion...
Posted by: lifeview

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 02:53 PM

I've had one about 2 years. I've used it quite a few times for neighbors, co-workers, etc. The only time I needed it, I didn't have it with me. It's worked better than I expected. It's nice to know that you can jump your car if no one else is around.
Posted by: paramedicpete

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 03:03 PM

We too have the portable starters/power supply units (as well jumper cables) in each car and have used them several times to jump-start various vehicles. I check and recharge as needed the units every few months.

We have also used the units to power portable TVs, DVD players and such when power was unavailable, either directly or with an inverter. The ones we have will power the DVD player for 1-2 movies.

Pete
Posted by: silent_weapon

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 03:35 PM

I guess I should clarify, the jump boxes we have are the cheapest available, about three years old, and don't hold a charge for more than a week after being off the charger. If you invest in a higher-quality one, it looks like they are a good thing (according to some of the other posts).
Posted by: Russ

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper -- Solar?? - 10/17/06 03:44 PM

Solar Xantrex XPower300 Not cheap, but you can take it with you and not worry about 120VAC.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 05:08 PM

I've been using the same 600A power pack for three years now. I discharge it completely on a regular basis beacause I use it to power a small 12v lunch box. It has started my truck (barely), inflated my tires (slowly...) boosted stranded motorists... It is loosing its staying power so I plan to replace it with a 800A unit. During the cold winter months you need all the cranking power you can get to start a cold engine.

Make sure it comes with booster cables, AC charger, 12V charger.

You can also purchase a separate solar panel to keep it topped up, but that should not be an issue if you use it regularly.

See my next purchase here: PowerBox800

Expect to pay for quality and I doubt anything under 600A can start your pick-up !
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/17/06 09:55 PM

Just a mention:

If the primary concern is being stuck with a dead battery in a single vehicle, one can add a second battery under the hood (best to have a bracket welded in place with a hold-down clamp). The second battery can be connected to the electrical system with a single diode (Digikey has the MBR4045WT-ND 40 amp diode with only a .4V drop for about 2 bucks, it will need some heatsinking). When the primary battery dies, you've got a "hot spare" for roughly the cost of the battery, bracket, and diode.

No light, no airpump, no inverter, and you can't move it between vehicles though.
Posted by: JohnN

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 03:25 AM


BreathingMeat,

Yah, that was what I was trying to suggest in the first reply. I think it is a good way to go if you are serious about the problem.

-john
Posted by: ironraven

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 05:06 AM

A lot of cars these days don't have the space. But, the resistance of wire running from the front to the back, and back to the front, is low enough that trunk mount should be fine as well. I haven't done it, but I've thought about it for a few my past cars.

Just one more thing to have break loose and slam into your kidneys in an accident. :P
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 03:38 PM

Quote:
that was what I was trying to suggest in the first reply


Sorry, John. Didn't mean to step on your post there... Must've overlooked it when I scanned the thread. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: JohnN

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 03:55 PM


Not at all. You described it much better than I.

-john
Posted by: Glock-A-Roo

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 04:32 PM

I love the concept and carried one in my trunk for a long time. Problem was that it kept losing its ability to hold a charge, even though I was meticulous about discharging & recharging it. It worked fine in a few instances but then wouldn't hold a charge well enought to be of use. Of course I always have a good set of jumper cables on board but that's no use when you don't have a second vehicle.

Part of the value of these devices to me (and especially my wife) is the security factor: you don't have to be stuck on the side of the road or in a dark parking lot depending on the mercy of strangers.

I have searched all over the 'net and haven't found a brand of these things that is consistently reliable. If anyone here has better info I'm all ears!
Posted by: Eugene

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 04:35 PM

Don't put a battery in the trunk unless you vent the trunk to the outside somehow. Since the trunk is sealed to the outside all the toxic gas from the battery charging will pass thorough the back seat and into the passenger compartment.
The f150 most likely had a factory dual battery option (usually for a Diesel) so you can puck up the second factory battery tray and bolt it in easily. Then isolate it with an isolator, which is available for under $50 from most automotive stores (mine came from NAPA, is a surepower with Napa's name on it).
The thing to remember about those jump start boxes is they have a battery too so it has a finate lifetime which will be about the same as the vehicles battery so after a few years your jumpstarter needs replaced too. plus they won't help with a really dead battery, they are only good if you left your lights on at the store, they won't help when its 10 below zero in a blizzard.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper -- Solar?? - 10/18/06 04:37 PM

At 24Watts it will take days to charge a low battert though.
Posted by: skunked

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper -- Solar?? - 10/18/06 05:42 PM

The goods ones that are fairly beefy are not bad, avoid the ones with an air compressor, light, radio and expresso machine. They do none of those well. Please be aware that none of these will jump start a diesel.(Truck at least, don't know about a diesel car) If you do get jumper cables make sure to get the really thick ones ( this has already been said) also try to buy ones that will go from the front of the vehicle to the back plus some ( think busy road jump starts!) also one of the nylon carrying cases will be handy.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 06:28 PM

Good point about the gas in the sealed trunk. That isolator, BTW, is a couple of really expensive diodes, but it has a heatsink and some nice terminals and I'm sure it comes with instructions for those that aren't electrically inclined.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 06:38 PM

Quote:
Problem was that it kept losing its ability to hold a charge


Just curious... Do you live in an area that's fairly warm, like in the South or Southwest? I thought I remember reading somewhere that sealed lead-acid batteries don't care for elevated temperatures (like in a closed trunk), it greatly shortens their life.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/18/06 09:25 PM

I couldn't fine a pair of 120A diodes and a big heatsink for less than what they sell them for off the shelf. And then add in the voltage sense circuit.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/19/06 03:38 AM

"Voltage Sense Circuit" Okay, well I'm lost. I visited the Surepower.com website and took a quick look at their offerings and saw no mention of a "voltage sense circuit". I'm really curious as to what this circuit supposedly does...
Posted by: anotherinkling

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/19/06 04:35 AM

I bought one a few years back from Sportsmans Guide, I believe. It has the air compressor on it as well. Didn't cost more than $50-60 shipped (they're fairly heavy). The air compressor's fairly slow and noisy but works and the jumper's great. Supposed to be able to get several jumps from a single charge. Mine has held it's charge, and I've been surprised that they weren't more popular. They cost about the same as a year's AAA membership and you won't have to wait 3-4 hours for help to arrive. The prices do vary alot, but I'm not sure you get much more for your money by going with the pricier ones.
Posted by: Eugene

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/19/06 02:29 PM

The E terminal on the 4 terminal isolators. GM and ai think some other brands alternators need that 4th terminal to be connected to an ignition switched source and a wire running back to the sense pin in the alternator. It works out well though as the alternator now measures the voltage past the diodes so it conpensates for the voltage drop in the diode.
Posted by: ratbert42

Re: Urban/Battery Booster/Jumper Question - 10/20/06 01:50 AM

Being a ham radio guy into portable operations, I keep a motorcycle battery sized sealed battery around and well charged. It's not always in the car, but if I'm headed to the sticks, I sure want it with me. It was about $80 and most of the time I just use a $25 2amp charger for it.

The sealed lead-acid batteries in almost all of those things need pretty tender loving care. Charge them with more than 14.4 volts and you cook them. Let them drain too low (~10.5v under load / 12v idle) and they're shot. I'm pretty careful with my batteries but I still fry about one a year now. Those cheap wall-wart chargers on most of those jumper packs are asking for trouble. You're better off with one of the packs that you can plug into the cig lighter to charge, since that's a nice regulated voltage source. (Any spikes when starting aren't too horrible for batteries, but a long-term over-voltage is fatal).