I fail to understand the point of having a jump starter in your car. Either your battery is failing, your charging system is bad, or you carelessly leave your lights on. Why not fix the underlying issue? In 30 years, I've never had to jump start my car. Other cars, maybe a couple times, but that's why I carry a good set of jumper cables. As far as using a jump starter on other equipment, scooters, etc., that's what trickle chargers are for.
Thank you for your teaching. It gives a lot of input regarding the product. You myst be very lonely
Agreed. I'm just saying I'd suggest everyone put their money toward good cables first. Then once you've got those, if you want a jump box too, consider that a supplemental/additional option.
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03-15-2024 at 08:06 AM.
I was once a huge advocate of these lithium jump packs. That is until a couple of times when I needed it, I found the pack did not have enough charge to start my vehicle. I've owned about a half dozen of these things from various manufacturers including a SD favorite, Anker. All of them would eventually not hold enough of a charge after about a year left in the car. I've even tried keeping it plugged in to charge while in the car year round. Same result. You might be wondering why I would need a jump pack so often but that's because I usually sit in my car with the radio on and the engine off while waiting for people, i.e. the wife.
I've switched to a super capacitor type jump starter and have been super happy. It doesn't require that you keep the pack charged and will work as long as you have even the slightest bit of charge left in your car battery. This is the one I purchased.
Autowit Super Capacitor Jump Starter https://a.co/d/i3Xy5wV
It goes on sale for about $100 every now and then if you check the camel.
I did give my input on the product. It's pointless. Being a retired auto mechanic, the only input I have seen from others about having a jump starter, is their failure to maintain their cars properly. And as the previous commenter said, they don't work when you need them, unless you spend the cost of a new battery. To me, that's dumb. But hey, if you have money to burn for another gadget, more power to you (pun intended). If common sense makes some of you all butthurt, too bad.
Interesting. One would think that someone like you, as a retired auto mechanic, would appreciate a jump starter like this. There's no such thing as perfect preventative maintenance. And your solution to carelessly leaving a light on is what exactly? To not make careless mistakes? Be real. One should be encouraged to have redundancies in place, and having a portable jump starter is a good thing.
Agreed. I'm just saying I'd suggest everyone put their money toward good cables first. Then once you've got those, if you want a jump box too, consider that a supplemental/additional option.
I keep both in my car. A small battery self contained as the first option and great cables. Used the battery once for a stranger and it meant I didn't have to use my cables. Also have AAA as a last option.
Some of you guts must be boyscouts. Always prepared. And if you havnt had a dead battery in 30 years on ANYTHING you own your just smarter than everyone else and have a lot of free time. Shi# happens. Get a jump box so you don't get stuck somewhere by yourself. And it's always a great idea to have cables too.
Yeah gotta agree with Thrifty here in my personal experience. I haven't used my cables since keeping a cheapo jump pack in each car 🤷 Great being able to do it yourself, and it's way more convenient to help a stranger or neighbor out as well.
Count me in. Haven't used my jump cables since I got one. I keep one in each car. I've had 4 total. The first I ever bought was a cheap no name brand when it was a brand new concept. It worked for about 2 years before it stopped holding a charge.
The one in my van is still going strong after 8 years. We don't even keep it plugged in all the time. Just when we use it for jumping or to inflate a ball/bike tire.
The one in my car would be 9 years old but about 3 years ago I loaned it to somebody and they bought me a replacement rather than return it. It's great that they are fool proof that way. I can't tell you how many people I've encountered that don't know how to use jumper cables…
A friend of mine swears they are the greatest invention in the last 20 years and has given them to all his family members as gifts. Loves that he doesn't get called to jump them anymore.
I was once a huge advocate of these lithium jump packs. That is until a couple of times when I needed it, I found the pack did not have enough charge to start my vehicle. I've owned about a half dozen of these things from various manufacturers including a SD favorite, Anker. All of them would eventually not hold enough of a charge after about a year left in the car. I've even tried keeping it plugged in to charge while in the car year round. Same result. You might be wondering why I would need a jump pack so often but that's because I usually sit in my car with the radio on and the engine off while waiting for people, i.e. the wife.
I've switched to a super capacitor type jump starter and have been super happy. It doesn't require that you keep the pack charged and will work as long as you have even the slightest bit of charge left in your car battery. This is the one I purchased.
Autowit Super Capacitor Jump Starter https://a.co/d/i3Xy5wV
It goes on sale for about $100 every now and then if you check the camel.
I fail to understand the point of having a jump starter in your car. Either your battery is failing, your charging system is bad, or you carelessly leave your lights on. Why not fix the underlying issue? In 30 years, I've never had to jump start my car. Other cars, maybe a couple times, but that's why I carry a good set of jumper cables. As far as using a jump starter on other equipment, scooters, etc., that's what trickle chargers are for.
You don't know your battery is failing until it fails. I don't think you can monitor battery health accurately enough to detect a failing battery ahead of time, can you? I just had a 4 year old battery refuse to start or even crank in subzero weather but it started fine otherwise and AutoZone scanned it and said it was in great health. I replaced it and haven't had an issue in cold weather since.
Come to think of it these jump starters didn't jump that truck in the cold either. But they've gotten me out of a pinch other times, that's for sure.
I plan to just replace my batteries on a schedule now, I guess. I have seen people who've used the same battery for eight years but I figure I'll just change mine every 3-4 even if it's a waste of money.
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Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank shrike1201
I've switched to a super capacitor type jump starter and have been super happy. It doesn't require that you keep the pack charged and will work as long as you have even the slightest bit of charge left in your car battery. This is the one I purchased.
Autowit Super Capacitor Jump Starter https://a.co/d/i3Xy5wV
It goes on sale for about $100 every now and then if you check the camel.
Started my dead 24hp mower and dead mustang battery just fine.
Interesting. One would think that someone like you, as a retired auto mechanic, would appreciate a jump starter like this. There's no such thing as perfect preventative maintenance. And your solution to carelessly leaving a light on is what exactly? To not make careless mistakes? Be real. One should be encouraged to have redundancies in place, and having a portable jump starter is a good thing.
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I keep both in my car. A small battery self contained as the first option and great cables. Used the battery once for a stranger and it meant I didn't have to use my cables. Also have AAA as a last option.
Count me in. Haven't used my jump cables since I got one. I keep one in each car. I've had 4 total. The first I ever bought was a cheap no name brand when it was a brand new concept. It worked for about 2 years before it stopped holding a charge.
The one in my van is still going strong after 8 years. We don't even keep it plugged in all the time. Just when we use it for jumping or to inflate a ball/bike tire.
The one in my car would be 9 years old but about 3 years ago I loaned it to somebody and they bought me a replacement rather than return it. It's great that they are fool proof that way. I can't tell you how many people I've encountered that don't know how to use jumper cables…
A friend of mine swears they are the greatest invention in the last 20 years and has given them to all his family members as gifts. Loves that he doesn't get called to jump them anymore.
I've switched to a super capacitor type jump starter and have been super happy. It doesn't require that you keep the pack charged and will work as long as you have even the slightest bit of charge left in your car battery. This is the one I purchased.
Autowit Super Capacitor Jump Starter https://a.co/d/i3Xy5wV
It goes on sale for about $100 every now and then if you check the camel.
Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.
Come to think of it these jump starters didn't jump that truck in the cold either. But they've gotten me out of a pinch other times, that's for sure.
I plan to just replace my batteries on a schedule now, I guess. I have seen people who've used the same battery for eight years but I figure I'll just change mine every 3-4 even if it's a waste of money.