Portable Jump start devices?

DaveH

DaveH

Joined
Dec 2, 1999
Messages
12,249
Anybody have or use on of those portable self contained jump start devices?

Any reccomendations?

I went out today after an especially cold night and one of the cars wouldn't start. I tried using the 50 amp jump start feature of a car battery charger but it didn't have the ooomph to get it started. (I've always had my doubts 50 amps would start much of snything other than a lawn mower)

Thanks
 
They work but batteries must be taken care of . Batteries last about 5 years on average .Heat is the problem , a Florida battery will have a shorter life than a NY battery. Once it gets to 5 years old think of getting a new one .If you have run it all the way down that will cut the life too. My mechanic uses a jump start device when he gets a call to start a car .If a car is in a garage the jump start device is easier than trying to pull the vehicle out of a garage to jump from the truck.
 
Yeah, I know that at least the better ones work really well. Back when I was doing landscaping we had a truck with a bad battery, and the owner wouldn't replace it. One of those portable jumpstarters would start the truck (Ford F-450, with 18 volt battery) up with no problems.

The only real problem is that they must be kept charged up to, which isn't that big a problem as long as you remember to keep up the charge....
 
My battery problem was the kids leaving reading lights on and such. After replacing the battery twice in 2 years, not to mention a number of jump starts, I got the Priority Start which is a low voltage disconnect for the car battery. No more dead batteries!!!
 
Our department has been using the portable numbers for a couple of years now; they work really well if fully charged. No manuevering another car into position, no long cables to dangle in mud and snow...

However, the first bunch we bought worked fine for a while then wouldn't charge anymore. We went to another supplier; so far so good.
Unfortunately, I'm on vacation, and can't remember the brand of the duds!
 
Thanks for the info, I looked up the date code on the battery and it is July 1997.

As a partial face saving measure, this is not really our car, we just keep it for some folks during the winter.
 
No... but up at the garage we keep a battery on a roll around cart with some jumper cables :D

Same concept... just easier/cheaper (half decent batteries out of junk cars...) :cool:
 
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