Portable jump starters

[sgtsandman]

The Audew 1000A seems to be working well and is quite compact. I believe it’s one of the one Project Farm tested and I’ve seen other good reviews on it.


Audew 1000A Peak Portable Car Jump Starter (Up to 6.0L Gas or 4.5L Diesel Engine) Auto Battery Booster, 12V Car Jumper, Power Bank Power Pack with Dual USB Ports and Flashlight https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G74CY3K/?tag=959media-20

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

I bought one of those on Amazon too and keep it in the truck with a plug kit. Chinese brand for like 30 bucks but the dang thing works great. It has a digital setting so you just set the PSI you want and it turns itself off when it's done. Been working perfect for 4 years now and I use it all the time. If it died tomorrow it was still well worth the cost. Sometimes cheap Chinese stuff works...

https://www.amazon.com/EPAuto-Portable-Compressor-Digital-Inflator/dp/B01L9WSTEG/?tag=959media-20

If I paired it to a 4 tire inflation/ deflator kit think it would do all 4 at once without burning up? If so I'm ordering one tonight

 

[Dirtman]

If I paired it to a 4 tire inflation/ deflator kit think it would do all 4 at once without burning up? If so I'm ordering one tonight

Lol no. It takes it 5+ minutes just to fill one 27" tire from say 15psi to 32psi. Trying to fill 4 tires at once would probably take all day and overheat it.

It's just a good little emergency pump or for a quick top off, nothing more.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Lol no. It takes it 5+ minutes just to fill one 27" tire from say 15psi to 32psi. Trying to fill 4 tires at once would probably take all day and overheat it.

It's just a good little emergency pump or for a quick top off, nothing more.

Looks like I'm still saving for a arb haha

 

[wildbill23c]

My big snap-on jump box is getting old so I wanna replace it. I'm looking at getting one of the newer compact jump starters cause I only use it for emergencies anyway and it would be nice if it fit in my center console. The snap on box is too big to actually carry around all the time in a regular cab truck.

So, do these little things work good enough for an emergency jump? Any brand/model recommendations that don't cost a fortune? Amazon has a ton of them for 100 bucks or less but I'm leary.

Suggestions? The two that caught my eye are a "Tack life 800amp" that says its good for up to a 6.0 gas engine for $75. Or a "Noco boost 1000amp" also good for up to 6.0 engines for $90?

I have the Tack Life 800amp Lithium Jump pack....it works great. I've charged it once since I've had it in 2 years. I used it once to start my 91 Ford Tempo to drive it around into the driveway from out back so a guy could get to it with a tow dolly....the jump pack ran the car I didn't have a battery in the car at all. I had to start the car about 5 or 6 times with it because well, my attempt at replacing the head gasket went south and caused further problems it was only sort of running it would die if I let off the accelerator....so 5 to 6 times starting the car then driving it a few hundred yards around the property and into the driveway. I think it ran it down to about 89% that time. I've used it a couple times to jump start my Bronco 2 and my Ranger after having battery failures. Used it to jump start a lawn tractor a while back for a friend, and used it to test start the engine in an 86 Ford Ranger a while back that I thought about buying.

That Tack Life seems to work very well, although it seems to have some weird charging issues, mine never charges to 100%, it stops at 99% no matter how long its left plugged into the charger. It works great, and maybe that's just how its designed to not fully charge who knows its some cheap Chinesium stuff anyhow....if it dies I'd probably buy another one. It comes with all sorts of ports on it for USB charging, a direct 12V barrel type port for 12V cigarette lighter adapter that comes in the kit too. I don't use it hardly at all but well worth having if you are out somewhere and need a jump, nobody knows what jumper cables are anymore and nobody seems to want to help other motorists, so its always best to have your own way to jump your vehicle. I've actually thought about dual batteries in my Bronco 2, more or less for amateur radio stuff, but as a 2nd starting battery as well if needed with a switch to go from A/B/AB for emergency starting if I needed it, but until then the Lithium Jump Pack works great.

 

[ryan]

I have an anker one in the wife's car that has worked well so far. she hasnt needed it but has let people use it before. also handy if you need a random cell charge. I went with the anker because it has good protective case and I trust the brand. All those amazon ones make me nervous. I had a random one from amazon catch fire on me one day, that was a treat

 

[Dirtman]

I ended up ordering the Tack Life 1000 amp. It had really good reviews and was on sale for $69.99. I'll let you guys know if I wasted my money or not.

 

[2drxploder]

I have tach life one. It works. Had for a year used about dozen times, even cranked my 6.0 powerstroke when bats were weak on a cold day.

 

[broncc]

Small jump packs are really scary. You basically have an enormous lithium battery capable of delivering 100s of amps in a plastic shell. The cheap ones are terrifying because they cheap out on the expensive safety hardware. Lithium batteries are effectively a pouch of gasoline with an air-sensitive heating element in them.

Amazon.com: autowit SuperCap 2 12-Volt Battery-Less Portable Jump Starter (Up to 7.0L Gas, 4.0L Diesel Engine) Built-in SuperCap, No Need of Regular Charge, 10 Years Lifespan, Extremely Weather Operating: Automotive

Buy autowit SuperCap 2 12-Volt Battery-Less Portable Jump Starter (Up to 7.0L Gas, 4.0L Diesel Engine) Built-in SuperCap, No Need of Regular Charge, 10 Years Lifespan, Extremely Weather Operating: Jump Starters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

This is a bit more expensive than your budget but it does not use lithium technology. Lithium does not work well in extreme cold and is downright dangerous in hot car temperatures. The autowit requires a slightly different technique to start your car but is less prone to failure.

 

[Dirtman]

I looked up the capacitor style jumpers. I like the concept, the problem is they simply don't work unless there is still enough juice in the cars battery to load up the capacitor. If the battery is truly dead they are useless. Plus they don't work as a power pack for charging phones etc.

If your scared of lithium batteries just remember, there's probably one sitting a half inch away from your balls right now.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I have a NOCO, works great for me.

I have mainly used it on my tractors, 226CI gas and smaller. Works awesome for that.

 

[G8orFord]

You won't go wrong with a NOCO. The rest I cannot comment on. Some are probably pretty good for the price, others probably not.

I've got a couple of the NOCO GB150's (3000 amp) and I've yet to see anything they wouldn't start, even with a practically dead battery. It does need minimal feedback voltage to activate, but most all of them do. Most AC chargers these days won't charge a completely dead battery. If there's not some voltage feedback, they simply won't turn on.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I looked up the capacitor style jumpers. I like the concept, the problem is they simply don't work unless there is still enough juice in the cars battery to load up the capacitor. If the battery is truly dead they are useless. Plus they don't work as a power pack for charging phones etc.

If your scared of lithium batteries just remember, there's probably one sitting a half inch away from your balls right now.

I am only scared of clowns and fat chicks.

 

[Mightyfordranger]

I bought that Noco one you mentioned. First time I used it was on my mom's Volvo she left in my yard. Battery was so dead it wouldnt even run the odometer. Once I figured out how to make the thing work it started it. 2.5L 5cyl. Struggled a bit but did it. Has fancy hazard lights on it strobes and such. That's the 1000amp Juan.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Looks like I'm still saving for a arb haha

I was looking at compressors myself. I had thoughts of doing and air tank and compressor but I think I'm just gonna do a compressor. I should have bought this one while they were still in stock. I check every other day or so and nothing for a few weeks now... as soon as they come back I'm gonna snag one.

Amazon.com: ALL-TOP Heavy Duty Portable 12V Air Compressor Kit Inflate 180L (6.35Ft³)/Min Max 150PSI Metal Heat Dissipation ensures Duty Job for Pros Includes a 1680D Rugged Carry Bag for 4x4 Vehicle: Automotive