Autowit SuperCap 2 Lite 12V Batteryless Jump Starter for $91.99

hinny

Mar 1, 2021

4,784 Posts

Joined Jul 2015

Mar 1, 2021

hinny

Mar 1, 2021

4,784 Posts

What if the car battery is completely dead? How do you charge this?

ohsnapz

Original Poster

Mar 1, 2021

455 Posts

Joined Jul 2009

Mar 1, 2021

ohsnapz

Original Poster

Mar 1, 2021

455 Posts

They say battery never fully drains but alternative is use the cigarette adapter or usb power bank to charge enough to start engine

cheapo81

Mar 1, 2021

204 Posts

Joined Nov 2009

Mar 1, 2021

cheapo81

Mar 1, 2021

204 Posts

You would have to hook it up to a good battery. Someone else's car

jd45123

Mar 2, 2021

1,228 Posts

Joined May 2014

Mar 2, 2021

jd45123

Mar 2, 2021

1,228 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank jd45123

There is also a "Big Brother" to this with 800 Amp (vs 700 Amp here).

For info:

1st Generation jump starters were lead acid battery base
2nd generation are the lithium battery based
3rd generation are the super capacitor based

Super Capacitor based have the following benefits:

They don't need to be charged --they can use the residual power of a low battery to power up the super capacitors enough to jump the car. 800 amps for the Autowit SuperCap 2
Can be charged by a low battery, charged battery on 2nd car, cigarette lighter on another car, from a USB wall charger, even from a USB powerpack
Unaffected by high or low temps (will work in -40 - 160 degree range
Last a long time (10-20 years before the capacitors will deteriorate)
No danger of causing a fire like a lithium battery.
The autowit will even show if your charging system is working (if volts are over 12 while running, it is charging)
Maintenance free --just toss it in your trunk and forget about it until it is needed

There are some negatives though

Can not use it as a USB charger to charge or power a phone etc
Will not charge a 100% dead battery (probably is a safety feature where electronics will not fire off unless there is a slight charge on battery)
Will not work on large diesel engine --over 4.0 L say (since this releases charge from Super Capacitors and Diesels need to power up glow rods then turn over the engine)

One thing to keep in mind is the charge time. On a good battery (say another car or a car with just a low battery, one that will click the starter but not enough to turn it over) will take 1-3 minutes to charge. But the deader a battery, the longer the wait. A really low battery, say 4 volts, will take 25-30 minutes to charge. And, a 5 volt usb wall charger will take 25 or so minutes to charge. The Super capacitors will hold the charge for a day or 2 (but can easily be recharged anytime it is needed)

Look up Autowit The Autowit SuperCap2 is on https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B086L29DL9?psc=1 (Note: It is $149 but they currently have a 10% off coupon. Sometimes they have a 20% --there is also a smaller version available for 119)

Here is a video that explains difference https://youtu.be/ZMfo4mk3eIw

Note, some will point to the Project Farm review but this test is not relevant to a super capacitor based jump starter. His test sees which will try to start a large diesel the longest. A supercapacitor is not a battery, it discharges enough to start a car or small diesel. It's electronics will stop the load after a certain time, so its not going to keep trying to start a large diesel like a battery. Also, his test assumes you are using a freshly charged new jump starter. Try his test with 2 year old items that have been sitting in a trunk and see results. The super capacitor would be the only one that would work. Even if you freshly charged all the batteries up, it would still probably win since the lithium batteries would not hold a full charge anymore (if any). Also his cold test is flawed since he freezes the item then lets it warm up. In reality, you are not going to be able to warm up your jump starter if you are stuck in -20 weather.

Project Farm test is good if you want to know how good a fresh charged starter will last, not a maintenance free item stored in a trunk of car during summer and winter for years until needed. His test is for someone living on a farm that has the it near a barn and needs to start a tractor near the barn say. Not someone who is stuck in a parking lot on a cold day that left the dome light on while they were inside at work all day and needs to grab something that has been sitting in trunk for a while.

4

1

fithos

Mar 7, 2021

2,606 Posts

Joined Jan 2009

Mar 7, 2021

fithos

Mar 7, 2021

2,606 Posts

Quote from jd45123

:

There is also a "Big Brother" to this with 800 Amp (vs 700 Amp here).

For info:

1st Generation jump starters were lead acid battery base
2nd generation are the lithium battery based
3rd generation are the super capacitor based

Super Capacitor based have the following benefits:

They don't need to be charged --they can use the residual power of a low battery to power up the super capacitors enough to jump the car. 800 amps for the Autowit SuperCap 2
Can be charged by a low battery, charged battery on 2nd car, cigarette lighter on another car, from a USB wall charger, even from a USB powerpack
Unaffected by high or low temps (will work in -40 - 160 degree range
Last a long time (10-20 years before the capacitors will deteriorate)
No danger of causing a fire like a lithium battery.
The autowit will even show if your charging system is working (if volts are over 12 while running, it is charging)
Maintenance free --just toss it in your trunk and forget about it until it is needed

There are some negatives though

Can not use it as a USB charger to charge or power a phone etc
Will not charge a 100% dead battery (probably is a safety feature where electronics will not fire off unless there is a slight charge on battery)
Will not work on large diesel engine --over 4.0 L say (since this releases charge from Super Capacitors and Diesels need to power up glow rods then turn over the engine)

One thing to keep in mind is the charge time. On a good battery (say another car or a car with just a low battery, one that will click the starter but not enough to turn it over) will take 1-3 minutes to charge. But the deader a battery, the longer the wait. A really low battery, say 4 volts, will take 25-30 minutes to charge. And, a 5 volt usb wall charger will take 25 or so minutes to charge. The Super capacitors will hold the charge for a day or 2 (but can easily be recharged anytime it is needed)

Look up Autowit The Autowit SuperCap2 is on

This is a fantastic write up and comparison. Applause

This is what happens to some of the battery pack jump starter I have. When I needed them some of them wouldn't work. Some because of not enough charge. Some have full charge but failed the moment you crank the engine or after one or 2 cranks. I mean the battery gauge goes from 4 bars no 0. Battery in those jump starter must be weak from age (not actual usage).
Now I carry both when I go camping/fishing. Just out and about I only need the capacitor jump starter.

edxmon

Mar 14, 2021

1,594 Posts

Joined Aug 2008

Mar 14, 2021

edxmon

Mar 14, 2021

1,594 Posts

Got one!

PSA: A certain Top Cashback website is offering 5% back at Tanga.

Autowit SuperCap 2 Lite 12V Batteryless Jump Starter for $91.99

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