Best Jump Start box?

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ThirdeYe

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I've been looking at getting one of those portable jump starters for my car. Preferably one that has a built in AC power outlet and a tire inflator. I have absolutely no idea what to look for though, as I've always just used jumper cables. Anyone have any advice as to what to look for? I've heard mixed reviews about the Duracell ones... A Black & Decker I saw intrigued me, that allowed you to jump start your car right from the cigarette lighter? Do those work pretty good?

Thanks!
 
You can only boost a weak battery through the cigar lighter. The odds of it working are slim to none.

The lighter would either be cut from the circuit when the key is on crank, or its 20 amp fuse would blow if the car were sucking substantial power from the jumper box.

The best jump box is a fullsize battery and jumper cables. These "power station" gadgets are good for the accessories, mediocre for actual jumping.

Though you can keep them inside easily... so if you live somewhere cold, the warmer battery is more active and it might be just the push you need at -25'F.
 
Steve,

Those cigarette plug jumper cables in a blackbox are mainly switchers that "elevates" the output side of the voltage to past 13.6V DC (pulsed) to give your slightly "tired" battery a kick just enough for the starters to turn over the engine (instead of giving you that famous "click...tak..takk...tak..." sound where the solenoid failed to fully engage.

It will certainly not start a battery that is tested to be weak/faulty/with at least 1 dead/highly sulphated cell.

Q.
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i just replaced my wifey's 04 camry factory OE battery (5yrs+ old, made by Johnson Controls) with a fresh one from Walmart (the Energiser Maxx 108mnth one) at the first sign of weak cranking (just had our first snowstorm 2 days ago). with all the electronic gadgets such as pwr windows, locks, remote trunk locks, etc. I cannot afford to loose any power during winter months and/or gets stranded or slowly killing off my Nippon Denso alternator.

Q.
 
My battery in my car is from 2005, and it seems to be working fine for the most part but ever since I got the car, it'll randomly crank slow in the winter maybe once or twice, but every other time it starts up perfect. It did this even 2 years ago, not sure why. It's an OEM Acura battery.
 
The integra battery is pretty small - does not take too much of a screw-up (like leaving on the dome light a bit too long) to suck a good percentage of the energy out of an older battery.

My biggest issue with the real jump starters do not have a good spec for the battery interface - and the "part number" replacement batteries are priced over $100, when the units are priced at $150 or so for a good one.

I was looking at them, and the one that was the best from my research was the Clore Automotive ES2500KE 12 Volt Portable Battery Booster Pack. It is about $150-160... but the battery from online vendors is $123.

For that price, you can keep a spare group 49 battery in your trunk and replace it at least twice.
 
That's a good point and I thought about that. The only thing is, I wouldn't be able to keep the spare battery charged, unless I purchased a trickle charger or something.
 
pull it inside. with no load on it, it should hold charge for a good time. A group 49 battery (MB diesels amongst others) has a big reserve capacity...

Its not like you won't have to top up a jumpstarter too...
 
Most jump-start boxes have a 12 volt, 17 amp hour sealed lead acid battery. These batteries tend to have a pretty low self-discharge rate, compared to wet cells.

I can get these batteries for around $35. That's most of the expense of a jump-start box right there.
 
I'm looking at a Black & Decker 450 amp one with a flashlight & air compressor for $80 on Amazon. I don't really need the compressor but it would be nice to have the built-in flashlight in case of emergencies. I think 450 amps should be more than enough for most cars or small trucks...

benjamming - How much was the black Clore that you bought? The one with 770cca? Where did you get it?

Thanks everyone.
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Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
I'm looking at a Black & Decker 450 amp one with a flashlight & air compressor for $80 on Amazon. I don't really need the compressor but it would be nice to have the built-in flashlight in case of emergencies. I think 450 amps should be more than enough for most cars or small trucks...

benjamming - How much was the black Clore that you bought? The one with 770cca? Where did you get it?

Thanks everyone.
55.gif



I got one of those as a Christmas gift in 2007. It works well for what it is. It will start the car if the battery is not completely gone and you need a boost.

My boy probably left the lights on in the Camry so it wouldn't start last Friday. My wife shares this with me Friday night, so I try it out, and it started the car right up.

I probably hadn't charged it in about a year, and was at the same temperature as the garages (50's).

I carried it with me when I took the car for some shopping, but didn't need to use it.

So it does work. However, my one niggle with it is the port for the charger is a bit finicky, so I have to fiddle with cable to recharge the battery inside.

So it does
 
Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
benjamming - How much was the black Clore that you bought? The one with 770cca? Where did you get it?


$220 from ntxtools.com including shipping
Remember that it is made in USA. The SLA is shown to be made in USA as well.
 
If the compressor has a built-in gauge with auto shut-off, get it! It is really great to dial the gauge for 35lbs and hook up the compressor and let it stop inflating right on the dot. I will not buy any tire inflator without that feature.

- Vikas
 
Vikas - That sounds like a really nice feature! I doubt for $80 that this built-in compressor has that feature.

javacontour - Have you left the box out in below freezing temps and still able to use it? I'd plan on leaving it in my car whenever I leave somewhere and that includes below freezing winter temperatures for hours on end.
 
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