Portable Jump Starter/Pwr Pack

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Mad_Hatter

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Any recommendations on portable jump starters/pwr supply's??? Ideally I would like to have a USB port or two and a 12vDC port. Don't really need an air compressor or light as I already have that covered.

Looking for units in the 0~$150 range.

Any recommendations? Pros/Cons?
 
I bought this one a year and a half ago and posted about it then. Since then I have charged it once after jumping 3 cars, 1 lawn tractor, powering my power probe for about an hour and powering the Tech 2 with the 12v lighter socket adapter, the batter was down 10%.

The feature this has is pre heat, in cold conditions it really makes a huge difference, it pre heats its battery so it produces full output in the cold. there was a guy on you tube that tested about 10 jump boxess incl NoGo and found this one the lowest specs for output but in reality it was the most powerful when he tested it, then he took it outside in minus weather used the pre heat and started a dead F150 with it. The video is gone, wonder why?

I highly recommend this unit, it has done everything I have needed it for and then some without any trouble and it really holds a charge for a very long time, it comes with a nice hard shell case.

https://www.bestbuyautoequipment.co...starter-power-supply-p/kkc-jnc318-02.htm
 
I have the same one as Trav, its been solid except for me somehow turning on the light through the case... and it discharging to 11%

I run my air compressor off it frequently and its not ideal for that(have to use jumper clamps for my viair) but totally usable.

The preheat feature is a must if you are using it outside in the winter and have it stored in the car.. lithium batteries are much more affected by cold than standard lead-acid type.
 
The unit I had that finally died on me is a JNC. It didn't "fail" it just got old/too many jumps I think. It's gotten to the point it won't hold a charge. I bought it like 7yrs ago so I can't complain, I def got my money out of it. But it was the old SLA type with no USB, no 12v out - just a jumper. So I'm looking to get something more modern.

So I'm learning that the Li-Ion battery types are the way to go if you're gonna be charging/discharging a lot???

The pre heat thing... that's the first I've heard of this. (makes sense) Is this a feature for both SLA and Li-ions??

Originally Posted by ssamaroo01
This is the one that I bought last year. It has come in handy for family and friends with dead batteries. Really compact and powerful. No cons so far

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0759HXYSV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tx. I will def check out any units ppl say they've had good experiences with.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Mad_Hatter

The pre heat thing... that's the first I've heard of this. (makes sense) Is this a feature for both SLA and Li-ions??


No its only on Li-ion type, its not practical on a lead acid,also not as needed, Li-ion batteries are much more affected by the cold.
 
I vote for old-style J-N-C SLA jumper pack. They now have the bells and whistles you desire.

I've found that none of the Li-ion jumpers can put out enough (safe) energy to start my cars time after time.
 
Originally Posted by spavel6
I vote for old-style J-N-C SLA jumper pack. They now have the bells and whistles you desire.

I've found that none of the Li-ion jumpers can put out enough (safe) energy to start my cars time after time.

Yeah my old JNC was a workhorse. Heavy as heck (I think it was a 16 or 18ah sla) but it could jump my V6 if it had to, no problem. These newer jumpers are tiny in comparison..and they don't seem to come with a built in 12v receptacle. I wouldn't have a problem using a sla again for jumping only but I'd also like to use the new unit as a power supply and I know sla's don't do well for that...so I think li-ion it has to be. So now to decide which one.

Anyone use the *Stanley " jumper/power supply? It has a 12v built in, no adapter needed.
 
Originally Posted by spavel6
I vote for old-style J-N-C SLA jumper pack. They now have the bells and whistles you desire.

I've found that none of the Li-ion jumpers can put out enough (safe) energy to start my cars time after time.


I think you are probably right but a few questions. Where will it be left and whose car do you envision jumping? (Your own or a stranger). If your own, you know how big an engine it is and its requirements for a battery.

I have a JNC jump pack that is pretty large as far as capacity (and weight). I typically have it at home where its warm. A jump pack with a SLA battery that was in your trunk at 0F will not help much. If it was warm and toasty from being inside it will help a lot.

Jump cables do not get effected by being cold so they are ideal for jumping someone else or if you need a jump then getting someone with a working car to help you.

If I am home and figure out I left the lights on, then charging the battery with AC charger is my preferred way to go,

Dual batteries in my truck are also great.

But as technology progresses I will look at alternatives to the heavy SLA battery.
 
With modern alternators being ECM controlled I get a bin leery of jump starting off my car, it wouldn't take much of a screw up to do a lot of $$ damage.
 
Originally Posted by Trav
With modern alternators being ECM controlled I get a bin leery of jump starting off my car, it wouldn't take much of a screw up to do a lot of $$ damage.



What kind of screw up? Any decent one that I have seen and use will not work with reversed polarity and alerts the user.

What else could go wrong? Poor regulation of voltage?

I am referring to the Li on types.
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by user52165
Originally Posted by Trav
With modern alternators being ECM controlled I get a bin leery of jump starting off my car, it wouldn't take much of a screw up to do a lot of $$ damage.



What kind of screw up? Any decent one that I have seen and use will not work with reversed polarity and alerts the user.

What else could go wrong? Poor regulation of voltage?

I am referring to the Li on types.



Maybe Trav is referring to jump starting off his car to another car? I think I read once that if the receiving vehicle is "started" while the cables are connected to the car providing power, it can (somehow) mess up the electronics on newer cars??? I think the same (messing up the electronics) can happen even if the cables are inadvertently connected in reverse for even a second.

Check this👇 video out... I've actually seen this happen (not the whole car in flames but the insulation was burning) in person with 2 cars in a grocery store parking lot (I didn't stick around to find out why, I just happened to be leaving the store when it occurred). I'm not sure "why" this happens but my suspicion is it must be hooking up the cables wrong, but in this case the woman in this video, she says she's certain she hooked it up right..so dunno.

https://youtu.be/F3bu0TN_0eE
 
Last edited:
Originally Posted by Mad_Hatter




Maybe Trav is referring to jump starting off his car to another car?[/quote]

Thanks, yes that exactly what I meant. Car to car with cables, that is one of the reasons I bought one of these little buggers to keep with me. I used it this past weekend to jump a guy at Home Depot.
 
Originally Posted by Mad_Hatter
The unit I had that finally died on me is a JNC. It didn't "fail" it just got old/too many jumps I think. It's gotten to the point it won't hold a charge. I bought it like 7yrs ago so I can't complain, I def got my money out of it. But it was the old SLA type with no USB, no 12v out - just a jumper. So I'm looking to get something more modern.

So I'm learning that the Li-Ion battery types are the way to go if you're gonna be charging/discharging a lot???

The pre heat thing... that's the first I've heard of this. (makes sense) Is this a feature for both SLA and Li-ions??

Originally Posted by ssamaroo01
This is the one that I bought last year. It has come in handy for family and friends with dead batteries. Really compact and powerful. No cons so far

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0759HXYSV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tx. I will def check out any units ppl say they've had good experiences with.
If you have a JNC-660, I would put a new battery in it, I love mine. Aftermarket ones are available for sub-$50.
 
Originally Posted by bullwinkle
f you have a JNC-660, I would put a new battery in it, I love mine. Aftermarket ones are available for sub-$50.

No, it's the smaller 300xl. I thought about just replacing the battery and that's doable but I think I just want a newer unit with longer cables and the built in usb ports. (the built in volt meter on the 660 is nice)... For a basic jumper, the 300xl has been more than up to task (whoever makes the JNC brand makes a solid unit imo)...But so far you guy's have given me some solid choices and knowing that the smaller li-ion units actually work is good to know.
 
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