Recommend a jump start pack

[wesleyjohn]

i've got a cheap one, won from a bingo hall on the coast don't know what size the battery is, but its got pump, light, short leads and 3 12v sockets. i charge mine when i remember, i used it a lot when i used to race 110 pit bike's, as the battery on them is tiny, this made it a lot easier to start them from cold with the elec start button. its started a few cars, and as someone said above, its good just to have in the house for a 12v socket to run stuff like sat nav and test other things. it only lives in the car if going camping or anything like that.

 

[the civil one]

Are you after a toy or the Real Deal.

I have a couple of Commercial ones.
No toys on em , they are just Jump starters 12/24
I have recently come across a "Custom Build Company " that have made
me some commercial Jump Leads , Extra long and super strong .
You just know the quality is Right.
They will custom make you a Jumper set to your needs.
Not Cheap , the Last one i Bought was Eur800.00 . But i need it.
I have a Good used one for sale , 12/24


www.jtmpower.ie

 

[Steptoe]

I have a Good used one for sale , 12/24

Tell me more - I've 12 and 24 volt vehicles.

 

[Rolf]

I'm thinking about buying a jump-start pack. This sort of thing:

I bought one that looks exactly like the one in your picture - off ebay for about £20 brand new a few years ago - still works fine and started the bike off it a couple of weeks ago.

 

[gary-postman]

Juimp Start Pack

Hi Greg

I had a problem with my Polo not starting due to flat battery. After killing a battery due to lack of use I tried a solar power unit which I paid less than £13 for, a replacement battery for the Polo was £90. So far it has been a success. The ebay number is: Solar Power Panel Battery Trickle Charger Car Van Boat, Item number: 160201751748.
It is working for me and may be worth a try.

Regards

Gary

 

[Greg Masters]

I've now ordered one from a Fleabay vendor for £20 delivered - the exact same unit that Halfords are selling for £39.99. I'll see how much I use it and may get a better one in due course.

Greg

Only had the thing a few days when SWMBO rings to say that she's left her lights on all day and her car won't start. Thinking that it's a good job I'd bought a jump-start pack, I throw it in the back of my car and head off to find her. Open bonnet, connect terminals and tell her to fire her car up - what happens? Feck all!

What a useless pile of junk I've bought! To make matters worse, one of the big crocodile clips falls off, so I take the unit back home, put some more charge in the battery and recrimp and solder the clip back on. Back to SWMBO's car, and still feck all!

Eventually, I take the battery out of her car, take it home and put it on a fast charger for a couple of hours. Refitted, the car fired on the button.

To be fair, the car battery was absolutely flat and, I suspect, it was just sucking the charge straight out of the jump-start pack. But maybe I should get one with a bigger battery!

Lesson learned!

Greg

 

[MikeP]

Greg,

Sorry to hear that the jumper pack is shite (only just spotted this thread).

About one-in-five cars we get in and chuck in the bailer has one of those things in the boot. I've never found one yet that will hold a charge that will start a car.

I've often thought about getting a jumper but as Phil says, the decent ones are bloody pricey.

We also find some quite decent jump-leads. Next decent set will have your name on them if you want?


My own solution has been to keep an old battery that was getting sluggish. I have a decent charger that also functions like an Optimate and just 'minds' the battery once charged. It's enough for home starts etc. but not something I'd carry in the boot (mind you, sods law dictates that a booster pack in the boot will be dead when you need it).

PS. You can get a better charge into these packs by using a standard battery charger, just connect-up the clips to each other.

 

[Manch]

I had the same dilemma last year so I spoke with some friends "in the trade" and they all said buy the Snap-on one. Approx £200 OUCH!!

 

[ebbo]

Auto Express did a group test Feb 06, http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/products/64254/power_packs.html
The Halfords Portable Powerpack 200 came out winner at £69.99 (then)