Battery Jump Pack Recommendations?.

[Skizzer]

Lithium Ion all the way! 

 

EDIT:

I have one of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Parts/DBPOWER-16500mAh-Portable-Starter-Battery-Booster-Laptop/B00YDZR3ZI/ref=sr_1_3?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1482323150&sr=1-3&keywords=dbpower

 

It's never failed to start anything I've thrown at it. Big old diesels etc are no issue.

 

The only downside is they're not really cut out for "prolonged use" trying to start a car that's somewhat shagged in another way - you're limited to probably a 10 second burst every minute or two. Any more than that and it starts getting warm.

+1 on all of the above. My DBPower Li ion one will happily start a 3.9 V8 and a 5.3 V12.

[The Moog]

Be a little careful of the small ones. I chucked mine in a bag with a set of headphones.

 

Headphones short circuited the output socket

 

 

Much smokeage before being lobbed out of the car

[Forty-two]

Ok, I know this one is expensive, ( I am sure I paid less for it last year ) but, it cranked a dead 306 derv for 10 minutes until I learnt about the fuel priming bulb. I think it's rated to start up to 3.5 litres?

 

It has other benefits beyond starting a car. I used it for camping, has a useful led light, has usb to charge stuff and a normal domestic plug for other electrical stuff. Two nights camping and the charge indicator said it was still full.

 

It sits on a cradle to charge so a so long as you put it back, it's charging.

 

Edit to add the web link!

 

http://www.screwfix.com/p/ring-33ah-rpp265-power-pack-12v/19326?kpid=19326&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CLOT1aGQkNECFW4A0wodHbkHpg

[Bren]

I have been looking at these - I am currently using a battery from a fiesta 1.25 zetec to start 3.5 litres of high compression V8 on the SD1.

 

The correct battery would also help.....

[Ben_O]

AVOID THIS ONE 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/141910632712?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=33676502101&rlsatarget=aud-168805810866%3Apla-270397360043&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9041115&device=c&campaignid=707291931&crdt=0

 

We bought one at work and was promised they were the cats pyjamas.

 

It's utter utter tat.

 

It must be a dud one they said but the replacement one worked no better

[Guest Breadvan72]

I have a Clarke 4000, and it's pretty good, I reckon.  It cost about 100 quid a while back.

 

115 quid on the site below.  More expensive on other sites.  Its main drawback is that it doesn't work if you leave it in the shed and conk out 70 miles away.  WTF OMG SOGA HRA etc [/Pistonheads] 

 

https://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-333053/clarke-jump-start-4000.html?gclid=CNqV04HSnNECFaoy0wodCB8L4w

 

 

[wuvvum]

I've found with the lead-acid type of jump pack, they seem to last better if you bin the poxy little trickle charger and charge them up with a proper car charger clamped onto the leads.

[keith777]

Another vote for li-ion, had a few people laugh at me in work when I got it out of the case, had them asking where I got it from from after it started their cars !

Just keep them charged up .

Cheers Keith.

[theshadow]

dbpower all the way,bought from amazon 24.00

[BavarianRetro]

I bought this one from Amazon to keep in the boot. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B015MSVESG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

As part of my Community Service Order, I've spent a good portion of the holiday period sculpting a full size 1:1 scale replica of my pal's Mk5 Transit 2.5 Di Recovery wagon out of mig wire and scrap washing machines.

 

This afternoon the battery was flat and the booster was in the boot of something somewhere. The Amazon thing showed 3/4 charge and I connected it up more out of hope than expectation. It spun the engine faster than the batter does when it's fully charged.

 

Only used it once, but it is amazing.

[Richard]

A couple of years ago I browsed eBay for the thickest and longest jump leads I could find without getting stupidly expensive and bought these

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-EXTRA-HEAVY-DUTY-5-METRE-1200AMP-CAR-VAN-TRUCK-JUMP-LEADS-BOOSTER-CABLES-/361458248999?hash=item5428972d27:g:yDAAAOxy2O1SYSTU

 

Best £25 (at the time) I've ever spent. Being 5m long you don't have to worry too much about where you park the donor car, I've even managed to jump start with both cars facing the same way in the drive. You basically get full power through them too, no waiting five minutes to build up some charge and you don't even have to have the donor car running (although you should if you can).

 

I'd recommend a set of leads like that for general use and one of those pocket packs for convenience use.

[Formula Autos]

I have both one of those giant Clarke units and, bought recently, a Lithium ion unit (badged Sakura, and green, but otherwise the same as the Clarke branded ones that Machine Mart now sell). The big unit is now a back-up, as the L-ion one has been so good. My shite is stored in a lock-up as well, so it means that I can now fling a battery pack in a glovebox/rucksack as well if I go to retrieve it. If the big unit goes it won't be replaced, as the small unit's so good. It even had a good torch on it, which is handy in the lock-up. 11/10

[Vin]

I've got one of these 'Phaze' 4 in 1, but it was no good jumping a 1.9 JTD Brava. Perfectly OK jumping all my smaller engined stuff though...

 

 

 

My old man bought me one of these for Christmas, a Sakura Power Bank so I imagine the Phaze will stay in the cupboard more often...

 

 

[DSdriver]

Have bought a DBPower. Was explaining to MrsDS that it is a defibrillator for cars. She said "so we don't need two cars?"

Yes but only for jump starting.

[dollywobbler]

My original lead acid jump pack (probably eight or nine years old) won't actually get to fully charged anymore, and can't deliver enough thump to even start a 2CV. It has now been relegated to workshop lamp/12v pack. Which may be useful this weekend, as I've not wired in the 2CV's own 12v power outlet yet.

[Noel Tidybeard]

the big jump packs can be rejuvenated with a new battery for about £30

[DSdriver]

Blimey, have had occasion to use the DBpower jumpstart already after DS23 decided it didn't like today's OMGSNOKAOS and threw it's toys out the pram in east London gridlock. The defib worked a treat and my car full of passengers were severely impressed that such a small unit could jump start a car.

Well done other drivers also for showing patience and tolerance with only one twat needlessly hooting whilst I got the car going again in really shitty weather.

Not the most enjoyable journey, it took five hours to do a two hour trip but it could have been a lot worse if we had had to wait for assistance.

[purplebargeken]

Just bought a Hilka power pack, seen one in use and it looks pretty good. Petrol up to 2.5 and diesel up to 3.5. £56.95.

[Steve79]

Got one of these before xmas.

 

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5220995?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156|cid:189934405|agid:18074225845|tid:pla-195117008965|crid:77627770765|nw:g|rnd:5497187676817767781|dvc:m|adp:1o2&gclid=CjwKEAjwutXIBRDV7-SDvdiNsUoSJACIlTqlbFdcOxh85pjWIY21aYbpAbJ9T0jo-xKZRFqAF3NaERoCAY7w_wcB

 

Cannot fault it at all. Used it on the e46 318ti compact i had when the battery was so flat that nothing worked when key was turned. Connected it up and it started on 1st turn of the key.

 

Used it again on the honda which hadn't been touched in 6 weeks, battery totally flat, and again started 1st turn of key.

 

Solid aluminium construction, 2x usb charge post for mobiles etc, built in led torch, usb fag lighter charger and micro usb cable included. Take about 1.5hrs to charge from completely flat.

 

Bit pricey, but well worth it.

[PiperCub]

My original lead acid jump pack (probably eight or nine years old) won't actually get to fully charged anymore, and can't deliver enough thump to even start a 2CV. It has now been relegated to workshop lamp/12v pack. Which may be useful this weekend, as I've not wired in the 2CV's own 12v power outlet yet.

 

Similar to mine now.

 

Have bumped this thread as I just started a new one 'cos I couldn't find this one!!! Thanks Mercrocker. Might be useful for those who want one for xmas maybe.

 

Should have recalled  dbPower units as DB is my initials!!!!

[uk_senator]

the big jump packs can be rejuvenated with a new battery for about £30

Thats what I did.. Got a Maplins generic one when they were discounted to £19.99 about 8 years ago, about 2 years later the battery died so binned the 18ah one fitted & put a 22 or 24ah sealed bike battery in, & it does ok. Still starts anything up to 2.0 perfectly 6 years on (struggles with a completely dead Jag 4.0 V8 though).

 

Also fitted a 48smd "dome" light instead of the torch thing, & put a 99p chinese twin USB socket on it as well as the fag lighter socket.

[dollywobbler]

Similar to mine now.

 

Have bumped this thread as I just started a new one 'cos I couldn't find this one!!! Thanks Mercrocker. Might be useful for those who want one for xmas maybe.

 

Should have recalled dbPower units as DB is my initials!!!!

Funnily enough, my little li-ion battery pack now can't even start the 2CV. I must have worn it out. It can't even fully charge my mobile now.

[Pillock]

I'm sure Cobblers might know more but I think storing these little lithium ion jump packs dead might kill them. They always ship laptop and phone batteries with 40% charge for that reason

[Noel Tidybeard]

my laptop has a setting where the battery is only charged to 60% for when running on power brick

[Heidel_Kakao]

http://m.costco.co.uk/view/p/winplus-8000mah-aluminium-car-jump-startportable-power-bank-1750766

 

Anyone have experience of this jump starter? They had them last time I was in Costco and I am going this weekend and may pick one up this time.

[dollywobbler]

I'm sure Cobblers might know more but I think storing these little lithium ion jump packs dead might kill them. They always ship laptop and phone batteries with 40% charge for that reason

 

I always try to keep it charged up. I never leave it discharged. I also try to avoid leaving it at 100% too. It's charging my phone now, and making a horrible high-pitched squeak...

[Inspector Morose]

That'll be inductor squeal from the circuitry controlling the output to the usb. It's possible from what you've said is that one of the cells inside is going south. The only way to really tell is to open it up and see if one of the cells has puffed up. If it has, it's dead Jim.

[mat_the_cat]

I'm sure Cobblers might know more but I think storing these little lithium ion jump packs dead might kill them. They always ship laptop and phone batteries with 40% charge for that reason

40% is the optimum charge level for storage - apparently storing them fully charged shortens their life. Not sure if that's better or worse than storing them flat though.

[meshking]

I'll be looking for one of these soon, currently the p38 is on charge having flattened the battery over the week.

Slightly off topic, but never in my life did I think I would be so decadent in owning a car with an engine larger than 1.8 litres. My Halfords charger is suitable for cars under 1800cc, but what is the problem with using it on a 4600 cc engine? Should just take longer to charge I would have thought?

 

Sent from my SGP621 using Tapatalk

[dollywobbler]

It's the ability to deliver the necessary cranking amps. The bigger the engine, the more amps needed.