Battery jump starter / booster

[winkosmosis]

Does anyone carry a mobile jump starter? Any recommendations?

I don't know about you guys, but I've left my lights on and killed my battery more often than I've had a flat tire, so it would be just as worthwhile as carrying a spare.

I saw one of these at Home Depot for about $50-- but is 350 amps enough for jump starting a Jeep 4.0L? They also make a 500 amp unit.
I like that they're compact and rectangular, therefore easy to pack.

My dad has a big yellow booster from Harbor Freight. I've used it twice when I killed my Miata battery by leaving the marker lights on, once for a 4.7L WJ when I did the same thing, and ran my laptop on it for hours during Hurricane Ike, and it's still going strong. The problem with that unit is the big irregular-shaped casing.

 

[ryguy]

I bought one of these http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96157 recently and have been very happy with it.

 

[maXTERRA]

I've got one similar to the yellow one from Cornwell Tools like 7 or 8 years ago. Used it a ton over the years, and it is still working like a champ, so no complaints. Pretty handy, though a little bulky and heavy.

The goal is to have a second deep cycle battery added to the back of the X when I open up the trunk area larger (in it's own compartment) and feed it thru a isolator and with a jumper relay. Then if it the main goes dead, you flip the switch to the jumper relay so you can start your rig up.
I had this same setup on another truck and ran all the sound system and extra lighting & accessories off the second battery. Saved me a couple of times....

 

[matt s]

I have the Husky one. Pretty good unit. Has jumpers, led light (handier than you'd think), power inverter, and dc out. It also has an air compressor but that part is basically useless for anything other than a football.

It has a nice digital readout and the ability to charge from either a wall socket or the car.

 

[matt s]

I should note that I got my father one of the smaller type from Shucks for his birthday. It's a 600amp one. While it works on a tired battery, it had trouble with a couple different boats/vehicle he has. They were all completely drained to start with, my unit was able to crank them.

Note to self: Don't go cheap again on Dad's next birthday.

 

[lwg]

I really like the shape of those B&D units. Would fit nicely in the DII "Toy Boxes". Although I can't seem to find the dimensions on the B&D site...

Been thinking about getting one of these in leu of a second battery. Much simpler and more versatile.

 

[gary in ohio]

Those little chargers are ok if you need pep up a dead battery but they are not going to start a stone cold vehicle with a low battery. most of those only have a small 7Ahr gell cell int them. DOnt care how big the cables to the batteries are, you not gong to pull that much current for any legnth of time out of the batteries.

 

[Mighty Dodge Ram]

I received the Craftsman model as a gift. I'll be trying it out this weekend on my dead motorhome. :smilies27

 

[lwg]

Those little chargers are ok if you need pep up a dead battery but they are not going to start a stone cold vehicle with a low battery. most of those only have a small 7Ahr gell cell int them. DOnt care how big the cables to the batteries are, you not gong to pull that much current for any legnth of time out of the batteries.

I disagree. The shop I work with uses a really cheap and small version of these to restart customers trucks who are dropped off for various reasons. Many times the batteries are completely dead. They have the potential to work just fine. The assumption is that you don't have a bunch of dead cells in your battery, if so your likely screwed unless your in town.

 

[99wj]

theese work great, i've had the "autozone china cheapo" ($28) one in my truck for a while, i used it every day for about a month when i had a bad alternator, starts the V8 right up every time.

 

[winkosmosis]

I disagree. The shop I work with uses a really cheap and small version of these to restart customers trucks who are dropped off for various reasons. Many times the batteries are completely dead. They have the potential to work just fine. The assumption is that you don't have a bunch of dead cells in your battery, if so your likely screwed unless your in town.

The yellow Harbor Freight one works on a completely dead Miata. Of course that's a 1.8L engine.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Costco has one for $65 with an 18AH battery

Walmart has one for $75 with a 21AH battery largest I have found.

I have one that is 5+ years old with a 19AH battery that will not die. At least the battery part, I smoked the compressor bad when I forgot about it running until I saw the smoke thought something was on fire:Wow1:

 

[dms1]

I bought mine from Pep Boys, it works great and can be charged from AC or 12V cigarette lighter.

 

[Shilo]

The yellow one is generically made and sold under many different brand names. I used to have a 950amp one (with those useless compressors in it) but after it failed to start my dead flat Jeep I upgraded to a 1500amp one. Last month the 1500amp started 3 small trucks and 4 x 2.8l diesel vans before it indicated that it needed to be recharged.

Have it stored strapped to the spare wheel recess in the rear of the Cherokee and use its cig lighter plug to run camping lights, battery chargers etc. Ran a 30amp wire from the accessory fuse down to it so it is constantly being topped up when driving on a camping trip. Probably not the best use for its battery life but very handy and much cheaper then running a dual battery system.

Most of its use is in starting other peoples vehicles as it is much easier just grab the starter pack then trying to position vehicles so cables will reach. Because of this and to be sure it will always start your 4.0l I would recommend getting the highest rated one you can afford.

 

[david despain]

i have the 350 B&D

i got the smaller black and decker one at home depot a few months ago. i am satisfied with it given that i understood its limitations when i bought it. i LOVE its compact dimensions, but i would have gotten the bigger one if they would have had it there, i have never seen that one before. one of its biggest drawbacks is that it has to be charged from a wall outlet, no provision for lighter socket charging. and that means no way to use it for any 12V accessories, not really a big deal for me but it would be nice to be able to keep it topped up in the vehicle. it works great for jumping a car that has had its lights left on in the parking lot or one with a weak battery. much easier than dragging out cables or getting to a battery that you cant get your engine compartment close to.

unfortunatly I have never been able to find a jump box that has everything I want and nothing i dont. all I would like is a 19 amp hr batt, a cigerette socket and a 400 watt inverter and some decent led lighting. i dont want an aircompressor or a radio or a clock. i will keep looking i guess