How often do you charge your jump box?

[Elkins45]

I checked my emergency jump box today and it was at 1% charge. The last time I usedit was back in the spring when I started my mowers and it was at 99% when I pulled it out of the bag. I charged it after use but it’s been stored outside in a vehicle since then. I was a little surprised it had lost all its charge in six months. I guess I need to check it every couple of months going forward.

 

[97prizm]

I checked my emergency jump box today and it was at 1% charge. The last time I usedit was back in the spring when I started my mowers and it was at 99% when I pulled it out of the bag. I charged it after use but it’s been stored outside in a vehicle since then. I was a little surprised it had lost all its charge in six months. I guess I need to check it every couple of months going forward.

Can they be rebuilt after they lose to much capacity? I've always wondered.

 

[f355spider]

Can they be rebuilt after they lose to much capacity? I've always wondered.

Depends on the power source. The older, large boxes are pretty easy to replace the batteries, as they are standard lead acid gel cells.
The newer, smaller lithium are probably not, as the cases are glued shut and the lithium cells have welded tabs on them, which is hard to find with the tabs on them, and difficult to weld/solder on yourself.

Ultimately, these things are cheap enough to be considered disposable after a few years and just get a new one.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Depends highly on the make. Best to watch a You Tube video like Project Farm. I generally try charge it once a month or prior to a long trip.
.

 

[TmanP]

I have a reminder on my phone to charge mine quarterly. It's never been lower than ~3/4 charge on those intervals, so I'm comfortable with that.

 

[4wd]

About twice a year - it only drops a bar on the light scale …
Jumped the lawn tractor this week very easily … So handy !

 

[Elkins45]

It’s charging really slowly, so it may have met a premature end. It’s only a couple of years old.

 

[Oillover]

Never.
If I need to boost something, I use booster cables.
Nothing to recharge (there's enough battery-powered items in this world already).

 

[Donald]

I checked my emergency jump box today and it was at 1% charge. The last time I usedit was back in the spring when I started my mowers and it was at 99% when I pulled it out of the bag. I charged it after use but it’s been stored outside in a vehicle since then. I was a little surprised it had lost all its charge in six months. I guess I need to check it every couple of months going forward.

What is the battery type? SLA or LiIon? The LiIon can go months (but not years) without a charge and good for staying in trunk in cold weather.

A SLA needs to be charged about every 2 months and not so good to help start your car if it's been in your trunk and it's -20F outside.

Best is 2 AGM batteries under the hood.

 

[supton]

I try to remember to charge mine every couple of months. That reminds me, I have a bad battery, and have used the jump box a couple times this month--I should go plug it in.

Only have had it a couple of years. I guess once it gets out to 4 or so years, time to pick up a second one? As a spare. Cars today seem to crank with almost nothing required, so as long as the box works, it should be fine--even a low battery might get the job done. But I suspect this items just up and quit when the end comes (much like everything else these days).

 

[I<3oil]

When it gets down to 70-80%. I check them probably once a month.

 

[Astro14]

Can they be rebuilt after they lose to much capacity? I've always wondered.

Depends on the jump box - I have one with a sealed lead acid battery. After six years it stopped holding a charge. I took the case apart and measured the battery - and realized that the different models were all the same internally - with space blocks to hold the smaller battery sizes. I measured carefully, bought a bigger battery, for about $40 on Amazon, and put it back in service.

To the OP - I check every couple of months. The SLA loses charge in that time. The Li-Ion do not.

 

[Elkins45]

This one is LI. It eventually charged to 99 percent. We’ll see again in a month.

 

[mitsuman47]

This one is LI. It eventually charged to 99 percent. We’ll see again in a month.

What brand and how old is it?

 

[meep]

I’d say every January, but the jump boxes do get used some. So I fully charge after use and stuff it back in the storage cubby. If not used (wife’s car) then every spring.

 

[Elkins45]

What brand and how old is it?

Some meaningless Chinese brand and it's two years old.

 

[Ronsant]

I used to work for this company https://projecta.us/collections/jump-starters
They are designed in Aus made in China. Have patented tech that recharges after use. You leave it connected after starting the vehicle, and the power reverses and charges up the device. Takes about a minute.
I used my 1220 today to jumpstart some guys truck outside of Harbor Freight. Worked just as designed.

If I don’t use it, I charge it up via usb once a year.

 

[RobbS]

I have the GOOLOO GT4000 , Project Farm winner. I have to charge it every two years they say. Every time I check it,it is at 100% full. I've recharged it after using it before. I have used it with a 12V impact wrench set to replace a flat tire. GOOLOO makes great stuff.
GT4000:
Starting Current -800Amps
Peak Current -4000 Amps
12.0L max gas engine capacity
10.0L max diesel engine capacity
-40 degrees F automatic heater function

 

[mitsuman47]

I have the GOOLOO GT4000 , Project Farm winner. I have to charge it every two years they say. Every time I check it,it is at 100% full. I've recharged it after using it before. I have used it with a 12V impact wrench set to replace a flat tire. GOOLOO makes great stuff.
GT4000:
Starting Current -800Amps
Peak Current -4000 Amps
12.0L max gas engine capacity
10.0L max diesel engine capacity
-40 degrees F automatic heater function

I have the same one. Every time I check it, it is still at 100%. I have questioned the accuracy of the display. It has also been an amazing dead battery deterrent. Zero battery problems for my three vehicles or anyone I’ve come across since I’ve owned it.

Same with my generator for the house. Bought it 4 years ago, and I’ve been able to use it for a whopping one hour.

I am oddly disappointed.

 

[cb450sc]

I do mine twice a year. This post reminded me to get it charged before winter