Jump boxes are cool, but a set of quality jumper cables will last forever and never fail.
Never say never because that definitely happens they do and have failed.
I've taken to using my hoe made jumpers when my jump box isn't strong enough which has only happened twice in as many years and that was only due to me not charging them after using them 20 times
I live on a fairly busy city road. I think a car dies in front of my house every other month or so. Several times in the last year, some folks have broken down with bad alternators, right in front of my house.
I watched as they struggled with jumping the dead vehicles. Because the charging system wasn't working, it would die within seconds… even with "great cables"!
I went out and hooked up the jumper pack to the battery, turned it on, closed the hood, started the car, and told them to get home.
Every time, they got home. All that to say, these work as a secondary "emergency" battery when needed. Luckily for me, no one has ever kept the batteries I've lent out.
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.
Actually you can know when it's going bad. I have a Solar BA5 battery tester I got from Amazon. They no longer sell it but there are similar devices. You clip it on your battery then you select what type of battery you have, then you enter in either cranking amps or cold cranking amps. These values are printed on the battery, hopefully still legible. The device will then either tell you it needs to charge, it fails and needs to be replaced, or it will tell you how cranking amp your battery produces. If your battery is labeled 800 CCA and the device measures 520, then you know your battery may soon not be able to start your car.
That said, like you, I simply replace my battery every 2 to 3 years whether I need one or not. I don't like them falling at the worst times, I.e. vacation road trip
Jump boxes are cool, but a set of quality jumper cables will last forever and never fail.
Quote
from palz
:
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.
It's all about the convenience of not having the need for another vehicle to jumpstart a dead car......you can still have your jumper cables as a last resort.....hate trying to wave/stop a vehicle on the roads and ask favors from strangers if my car dies when a portable pack will goivd you that boost that quick back to the road.....it is then your responsibilty having a jump pack to periodically check and recharge it over time
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.
Apparently, if you drive an EV you're not supposed to use your car to jump another car as it may mess up your battery (although receiving a jump is ok). It's nice to carry a portable jumpstarter to help out others.
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.
I had a failing battery but needed to get to work. Used one of these to start at home, then at work, and got a new battery on the way the way home. The battery was about a year old (replaced under Warranty) so I was not expecting this but glad I had this. Please tell me what I should have done instead?
Actually you can know when it's going bad. I have a Solar BA5 battery tester I got from Amazon. They no longer sell it but there are similar devices. You clip it on your battery then you select what type of battery you have, then you enter in either cranking amps or cold cranking amps. These values are printed on the battery, hopefully still legible. The device will then either tell you it needs to charge, it fails and needs to be replaced, or it will tell you how cranking amp your battery produces. If your battery is labeled 800 CCA and the device measures 520, then you know your battery may soon not be able to start your car.
That said, like you, I simply replace my battery every 2 to 3 years whether I need one or not. I don't like them falling at the worst times, I.e. vacation road trip
Do you check your battery daily? Seems easier to spend $50 on a jumper that also has many other uses
I had a failing battery but needed to get to work. Used one of these to start at home, then at work, and got a new battery on the way the way home. The battery was about a year old (replaced under Warranty) so I was not expecting this but glad I had this. Please tell me what I should have done instead?
And you knew no one with a jumper cable that could have helped you out?
That's the way we did it in the old days. We helped each other. Even strangers were willing to help.
My experience with these, from people who bought these, is they never work when you need them. Cheap Chinese junk. Waste of money. I used to see a lot of these jumpers at Goodwill, which tells you everything. Goodwill stopped reselling them because of complaints.
I replace my car batteries regularly (about every 4 years). I keep the old one on a trickle charger, just in case I run into your situation. Happened once, but it turned out there was corrosion on the inside of the negative cable. Easy fix and on my way.
Glad you had a positive experience with yours but that's not the norm.
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.
"Either your battery is failing"
Your failure to understand is answered in your own post. Your battery fails, you need a jump. Not everyone can drop everything to swap a battery that second or have secondary vehicles to go buy one, or may want to take it to a shop. If it's 5am, your not going to go knocking on neighbors doors. Just because your life experiences and setup don't warrant the use case, doesn't mean everyone else's doesn't too.
I live on a fairly busy city road. I think a car dies in front of my house every other month or so. Several times in the last year, some folks have broken down with bad alternators, right in front of my house.
I watched as they struggled with jumping the dead vehicles. Because the charging system wasn't working, it would die within seconds… even with "great cables"!
I went out and hooked up the jumper pack to the battery, turned it on, closed the hood, started the car, and told them to get home.
Every time, they got home. All that to say, these work as a secondary "emergency" battery when needed. Luckily for me, no one has ever kept the batteries I've lent out.
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.
I can get a car battery to last many years beyond it's warranty by keeping a jump pack in the trunk and dealing with the occasional jump start. This filled the pop starting sized hole in my heart,once switched to automatic vehicles, and realized you are supposed to replace car batteries.
I can get a car battery to last many years beyond it's warranty by keeping a jump pack in the trunk and dealing with the occasional jump start. This filled the pop starting sized hole in my heart,once switched to automatic vehicles, and realized you are supposed to replace car batteries.
Anyway, you sound like an asshole.
If giving my thoughts on what I see as a senseless product, makes me sound like an asshole, then anyone wasting money on a battery jumper, instead of spending that money on a better battery, makes them sound dumb.
Reading comprehension is not your forte and you don't understand basic car maintenance.
In the past 3 years, I replaced 2 alternators on my kid's cars, because they failed, stranding them in the middle of nowhere. If you know anything about cars, a battery jumper would have done them no good.
I have 4 kids. Not once have I had to replace or jump their cars, because of a failed battery. Why? Because they replace their batteries every 4 years, whether they need them or not! Also, they don't buy the cheapest battery they can find. Instead of wasting money on a useless gadget, they put that money towards a good battery.
You are straight up wrong. I have used one of these jumper packs as a spare battery to limp people home with a bad alternator MULTIPLE TIMES. It will provide enough electricity to spark your plugs, power your steering, and assist your brakes, which will get you home, provided you aren't far away. Imagine, someone doing something you haven't personally done!
You look like such a fool in this thread, it's a shame you don't use your knowledge for good instead of admonishing people.
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Never say never because that definitely happens they do and have failed.
I've taken to using my hoe made jumpers when my jump box isn't strong enough which has only happened twice in as many years and that was only due to me not charging them after using them 20 times
I watched as they struggled with jumping the dead vehicles. Because the charging system wasn't working, it would die within seconds… even with "great cables"!
I went out and hooked up the jumper pack to the battery, turned it on, closed the hood, started the car, and told them to get home.
Every time, they got home. All that to say, these work as a secondary "emergency" battery when needed. Luckily for me, no one has ever kept the batteries I've lent out.
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.
That said, like you, I simply replace my battery every 2 to 3 years whether I need one or not. I don't like them falling at the worst times, I.e. vacation road trip
Apparently, if you drive an EV you're not supposed to use your car to jump another car as it may mess up your battery (although receiving a jump is ok). It's nice to carry a portable jumpstarter to help out others.
I had a failing battery but needed to get to work. Used one of these to start at home, then at work, and got a new battery on the way the way home. The battery was about a year old (replaced under Warranty) so I was not expecting this but glad I had this. Please tell me what I should have done instead?
That said, like you, I simply replace my battery every 2 to 3 years whether I need one or not. I don't like them falling at the worst times, I.e. vacation road trip
Do you check your battery daily? Seems easier to spend $50 on a jumper that also has many other uses
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That's the way we did it in the old days. We helped each other. Even strangers were willing to help.
My experience with these, from people who bought these, is they never work when you need them. Cheap Chinese junk. Waste of money. I used to see a lot of these jumpers at Goodwill, which tells you everything. Goodwill stopped reselling them because of complaints.
I replace my car batteries regularly (about every 4 years). I keep the old one on a trickle charger, just in case I run into your situation. Happened once, but it turned out there was corrosion on the inside of the negative cable. Easy fix and on my way.
Glad you had a positive experience with yours but that's not the norm.
Your failure to understand is answered in your own post. Your battery fails, you need a jump. Not everyone can drop everything to swap a battery that second or have secondary vehicles to go buy one, or may want to take it to a shop. If it's 5am, your not going to go knocking on neighbors doors. Just because your life experiences and setup don't warrant the use case, doesn't mean everyone else's doesn't too.
I watched as they struggled with jumping the dead vehicles. Because the charging system wasn't working, it would die within seconds… even with "great cables"!
I went out and hooked up the jumper pack to the battery, turned it on, closed the hood, started the car, and told them to get home.
Every time, they got home. All that to say, these work as a secondary "emergency" battery when needed. Luckily for me, no one has ever kept the batteries I've lent out.
Anyway, you sound like an asshole.
Anyway, you sound like an asshole.
In the past 3 years, I replaced 2 alternators on my kid's cars, because they failed, stranding them in the middle of nowhere. If you know anything about cars, a battery jumper would have done them no good.
I have 4 kids. Not once have I had to replace or jump their cars, because of a failed battery. Why? Because they replace their batteries every 4 years, whether they need them or not! Also, they don't buy the cheapest battery they can find. Instead of wasting money on a useless gadget, they put that money towards a good battery.
You look like such a fool in this thread, it's a shame you don't use your knowledge for good instead of admonishing people.
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