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Mini Jump Starter

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kctyphoon

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Jun 9, 2014
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i personally dont trust those mini things.

one thing to keep in mind is that usually the amperage advertised as "peak amp" is usually about twice what the actual amperage is.. so "1800 Peak Amps", is usually a 900 amp box.. (for the regular sized ones anyway)

i have the Diehard 1150 jump box for home (and a Stanley but the Diehard is better). i really like it.. it has the jump box with a replaceable battery you can buy from ebay for like $36 if it ever fails, two 12v power ports, one USB, two 110 power outlets with a 400 watt inverter, compressor/inflator, and a light.. comes in really handy and i never expected to use it as much as i do for other things.. great for charging phones during power outages, and the inverter option is a great way to use a LED floodlight outside without having to run 200' of extension cords.. for a normal car, i think this is a great tool despite some negative reviews from people online that dont underatnd how it works.. i think it cost me around $100.

all that being said - if i had to buy another one, this is what i would buy.. Home Depot just started selling these (in the store anyway). its a 1000 amp (not "peak" amp) CAT jump box.. its $150 but looks well worth the cost..
http://t.homedepot.com/p/CAT-1000-Amp-Pro-Portable-Jump-Starter-CJ3000/205431815/

anyway - i keep a regular jump pack in the trunk of Honda and in the back seat of my f350 i have had to use both of them ...
 
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shockwave

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Oct 23, 2012
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Marietta,ga
Antigravity makes some good mini jump boxes

But astro tool just came out with a new one that looks nicer I believe there is a thread started on them
 

E.Marquez

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Jan 11, 2010
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499
Location
Kempner Texas
I have 4 jump start packs.. Two are identical and used at work to start a fleet of motorcycles used for training, sitting in a cold conex in the winter ***** the life out of a lead acid battery. so I use these two jump boxes as a "booster".
attachment.php

I keep one plugged in at the shop and the other at the range ready for use. Swapping them out when I service the bikes weekly.

I also have JNC300XL
attachment.php

For use in the shop....love it, have started several bikes and used it to turn over many others in a two week period before it needs recharging.

And lastly I have a Lithium Ion powered jump pack for travel. .. and test rides and what have you.
attachment.php


Tiny little thing that will fit in your jeans pocket.. but it has a lot of cranking power.. I have started my cold F350 Powerstroke with it. And many a bike.
 
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FiendFX

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Antigravity makes some good mini jump boxes

But astro tool just came out with a new one that looks nicer I believe there is a thread started on them

What I have notice, most of them uses the same "product" and just label it as their own name.

12000 mah
400 watts PEAK

and they are all red.
 

Astro_Pneumatic_Tools

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Oct 30, 2013
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South El Monte
What I have notice, most of them uses the same "product" and just label it as their own name.

12000 mah
400 watts PEAK

and they are all red.

If this helps: our 7785 is actually 17,000mAh, 650 amps peak, and charges Macbooks @ it's unique 16V setting with the included Macbook type cable.

Currently no where in the world are you going to find this design and features until someone copies ours.

http://www.astrotools.com/index.php...ter-power-supply-with-macbook-power-cord.html

__________________
Chris P.
Product Manager
Phone# (800)-221-9705
image.php
 

shockwave

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Messages
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Marietta,ga
What I have notice, most of them uses the same "product" and just label it as their own name.

12000 mah
400 watts PEAK

and they are all red.

I have one of the early antigravity pps kits and it's black not red great for cars I have the bigger one for the shop and both work great
I know they just upgraded the cables since welded fuse goes out a lot

The astro kit looks to be there own where all the others are rebrands not sure of oe supplier
 

dclassical

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Sep 25, 2008
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From the picture it seems to be the old Macbooks or at least not the MB 15" I have (different plug, bought a month ago).
 
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FiendFX

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Nice, but is it just for diesels? Is it safe on gasoline vehicles?


If this helps: our 7785 is actually 17,000mAh, 650 amps peak, and charges Macbooks @ it's unique 16V setting with the included Macbook type cable.

Currently no where in the world are you going to find this design and features until someone copies ours.

http://www.astrotools.com/index.php...ter-power-supply-with-macbook-power-cord.html

__________________
Chris P.
Product Manager
Phone# (800)-221-9705
image.php
 

CJM8515

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Mar 8, 2014
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Those mini ones dont have enough peak amps for larger vehicles or using it more than 2-4x or so before recharge. I use the industry standard clore JNC660. I jumped 40 cars the other day before it finally gave up on me. Pay careful attention to the cable thickness (carry more current), clamp size and quality and overall peak amps.
 

E.Marquez

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Messages
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Kempner Texas
Those mini ones dont have enough peak amps for larger vehicles or using it more than 2-4x or so before recharge. I use the industry standard clore JNC660. I jumped 40 cars the other day before it finally gave up on me. Pay careful attention to the cable thickness (carry more current), clamp size and quality and overall peak amps.

Would it not depend on the intended use?

You bet if I was a used car salesmen trying to start 40 cars on a cold monday morning, id get something that was not designed to be the lightest weight, smallest package, uber portable... But heck if I was trying to start 30 cars at a time with a jump pack, it would be one that was made for it.. and a micro lithium jump pack is not it...

My JNC300 is perfect for bikes (what I jump start) and like you I thinks its the **** for what I use it for... but would be under powered if I ran a Heavy duty truck lot and needed to start a bunch of medium and heavy duty diesel engines each day.
 

ishiboo

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Oct 27, 2010
Messages
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Location
Oshkosh, WI
I have the Noco... I've found the Noco stuff to be really high quality. That said, for many uses I think these packs work fine, but if you think it's physically possible to replace a huge battery with one that fits in your pocket, you're going to be disappointed.

If this helps: our 7785 is actually 17,000mAh, 650 amps peak, and charges Macbooks @ it's unique 16V setting with the included Macbook type cable.

Currently no where in the world are you going to find this design and features until someone copies ours.

http://www.astrotools.com/index.php...ter-power-supply-with-macbook-power-cord.html

__________________
Chris P.
Product Manager
Phone# (800)-221-9705
image.php

THAT is a pretty darn cool product!
 
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CJM8515

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Would it not depend on the intended use?



You bet if I was a used car salesmen trying to start 40 cars on a cold monday morning, id get something that was not designed to be the lightest weight, smallest package, uber portable... But heck if I was trying to start 30 cars at a time with a jump pack, it would be one that was made for it.. and a micro lithium jump pack is not it...



My JNC300 is perfect for bikes (what I jump start) and like you I thinks its the **** for what I use it for... but would be under powered if I ran a Heavy duty truck lot and needed to start a bunch of medium and heavy duty diesel engines each day.


I totally agree. But I will say those little jump packs don't pack enough punch in some cases and if your gonna depend on something why not something that's proven?
 

WhiffySpark

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Oct 22, 2009
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It's funny how people comment on stuff they have no experience with. Only things they've read on the Internet
 

dr_clyde

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Holland, MI
I have the little Versapower one from Matco. Not sure who the OEM is. I bought it for motorcycle trips so I could charge my phone in the pannier and start the bike if I leave the lights on or something. I have used it very successfully to start a couple cars on one charge in the winter cold. It was like $200.

I haven't started my 2500HD 6.0 with it yet, but I'd be willing to wager it would do it.

Would buy again.

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/MINIJUMP/VERSAPOWER-MICRO-POWER-SOURCE-AND-JUMP-START/
 

E.Marquez

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Kempner Texas
It's funny how people comment on stuff they have no experience with. Only things they've read on the Internet

It would be nice if you would quantify your statement and position by saying what posted responses you take issue with.

Drive by derogatory posts that don't have any support, nor even say what they are referring to are at best unhelpful to the group.
 

volleyball

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Aug 29, 2011
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NY, not NYC
Anyone have one that is a couple of years old? Wonder about ability and battery life as they age. I had a ni cad unit not able to hold a charge even though it was never used.
How long is the recharge time for those lightweight units?
 

CobraRed

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May 30, 2014
Messages
670
I've had mine for 8 months, still going strong. After 3 months it still had 4/5 charge lights without being used or charged.

Takes 4 hours or so to fully charge, supposed to be able to be recharged 1,000 times.
 

zach79

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Aug 25, 2015
Messages
6
Antigravity makes some good mini jump boxes

But astro tool just came out with a new one that looks nicer I believe there is a thread started on them

I was thinking about buying Micro Start XP10 from Antigravity Batteries you have mentioned. Do you have experience with them?
I have read some of these reviews and found this one quite a good. But still I would like to hear some other experience.:dunno:
 

92integra

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Jul 11, 2013
Messages
857
my 2 cents is if you want a jump pack you want that damn thing to start the car not maybe start the car so dont waste you time with these sissy lala pocket sized barely enough to charge a cell phone "jump packs".

jnc 660 is pretty much the industry standard as you may have gathered at this point. if anyone can post up the known rebranded version that would be awsome..... been wanting a jnc660 for some time now just havent pulled the trigger.
 

CJM8515

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my 2 cents is if you want a jump pack you want that damn thing to start the car not maybe start the car so dont waste you time with these sissy lala pocket sized barely enough to charge a cell phone "jump packs".

jnc 660 is pretty much the industry standard as you may have gathered at this point. if anyone can post up the known rebranded version that would be awsome..... been wanting a jnc660 for some time now just havent pulled the trigger.
Mac and snap on are just rebranded JNC660s lol.

You can get it shipped to you on amazon for like 120 which isnt bad. Newer ones have plastic clamps which are a tad nicer. I have ones in various states of broken at my house as well :) Some welding wire and cable ends and Im back in biz should one break. Or I could swap batteries.
 

6-Speed

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Mar 6, 2012
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These are the ones I use. Both work well. The long 46" cables on the JNC660 are a plus and really extends its reach.

 
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shockwave

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Oct 23, 2012
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Marietta,ga
I was thinking about buying Micro Start XP10 from Antigravity Batteries you have mentioned. Do you have experience with them?
I have read some of these reviews and found this one quite a good. But still I would like to hear some other experience.:dunno:

These are really good I have had mine for over a year and still works I have the xp1 and the larger one aswell but do not recharge everyday let the cells go down overcharging wears these out quick
 

zach79

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Aug 25, 2015
Messages
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These are really good I have had mine for over a year and still works I have the xp1 and the larger one aswell but do not recharge everyday let the cells go down overcharging wears these out quick

Thanks! this is encouraging :) The thing is I like compactness and multi-function of mini jump starters. Micro start XP1 has also a good rate but I prefer XP 10 because of 600 peak amps.
 

Finky198

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Feb 25, 2014
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North East
if you want true peace of mind one that will work when you need it the most, buy a Jnc its the best option, the 660 is good the 950 is a beast. Im going on 6 years with my original Jnc950 jump pack and 100s of starts... form little honda civics to big mack trucks and heavy equpiment

One thing I will say is the bigger jump packs will turn over a motor Multiple times which is sometimes necessary the mini Pack have a very limited reserve and might only give you enough power to give it 1 or 2 goes at it ( in my experience with both)

I have used the JNC 950 close to 300-500 jumps throughout the years i have NOT had 1 vehicle or piece of equipment that didnt Start

its hard to argue with 0% failure rate
 
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zach79

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Aug 25, 2015
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@Finky198 thanks for suggestion but I have just bought Micro Start XP10 and have to say it is great! I mean I just got it and tested it as a power bank and jump started and he did a great job! I shall see what happens in future but first impression was very positive.
 

94EG8

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Apr 5, 2015
Messages
248
JNC660, we have a couple of them at work that get used daily, I bought one for home as well since they worked so well. It's by far the best booster pack I've ever used especially considering how small and light it is.
 
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