Booster/Jump Pak fix

[Roadking16]

Walking through the garage this week I noticed the charging lights were out on my jump pack. I replaced the battery three years ago. I wiggled the charging cord and the lights blinked.

I ordered a new cord from Amazon for $22. I also opened the back up and noticed the solder holding the cord receptacle was loose. Got the micro torch out and re-soldered it. Good as new.

This pack is over 20 years old. It has jumped everything from my gasoline antique semi trucks to Harley Davidson motorcycles.

A new pack costs $140 plus.

 

[LiketoFix]

I'm all about resurrecting and fixing things in this throw a way society that we're living with. For me I like to evaluate my projects naturally as far as trying to determine the projects outcome including time and expense. I'm at the point in my life getting closer to retirement and I have several projects on the shelf and will probably never get to them all! I do admire your fix here with your Battery charger. So here's where I'm at with mine. Same older style about 15 to 20 years old and even though portable is a little heavy to lug around as I get older vs. today's modern light weight compact jump starters. I replaced the Battery once years ago and it probably needs another. In my mind I contemplate putting another Battery in,(about$100 bucks), or just upgrade to the newer light weight ones which my wife already purchased
and keeps in her car. Decisions and choices just never end as that's life. The old School in me has a hard time discarding the older jump starter. LOL!!! Batteries like everything else used to be cheaper but as everything keeps changing and not for the better we keep trying to find better solutions.

LtF

 

[Roadking16]

I'm all about resurrecting and fixing things in this throw a way society that we're living with. For me I like to evaluate my projects naturally as far as trying to determine the projects outcome including time and expense. I'm at the point in my life getting closer to retirement and I have several projects on the shelf and will probably never get to them all! I do admire your fix here with your Battery charger. So here's where I'm at with mine. Same older style about 15 to 20 years old and even though portable is a little heavy to lug around as I get older vs. today's modern light weight compact jump starters. I replaced the Battery once years ago and it probably needs another. In my mind I contemplate putting another Battery in,(about$100 bucks), or just upgrade to the newer light weight ones which my wife already purchased
and keeps in her car. Decisions and choices just never end as that's life. The old School in me has a hard time discarding the older jump starter. LOL!!! Batteries like everything else used to be cheaper but as everything keeps changing and not for the better we keep trying to find better solutions.

LtF

You can get a new battery for about $40 off of Amazon. As I get closer to retirement (7 months), I need things like this to keep me occupied. I can’t sit and watch TV. I most likely go to work part time as an auto mechanic to occupy my time.

 

[LiketoFix]

You can get a new battery for about $40 off of Amazon. As I get closer to retirement (7 months), I need things like this to keep me occupied. I can’t sit and watch TV. I most likely go to work part time as an auto mechanic to occupy my time.

I agree with you on that! Regular TV is a Joke! I gotta keep moving also and I do. I'll check into the Battery on Amazon. That's the reason I didn't pitch it!
Thanks,
LtF

 

[JRC3]

If I'm reading this right, the cord and battery will cost $62. For $90 you could buy one of these. https://www.harborfreight.com/450-p...um-ion-jump-starter-and-power-pack-62749.html



I've had one for a few years now, Christmas gift I was skeptical about. Used it dozens and dozens of times. I've used it to move stuff with dead batteries and bad gas before, you know, something you have to restart 12x to move it 20'. These things simply work and they are small and portable. Mine sits under the truck seat and ready at a moments notice to even jump someone else's clunker stuck at a gas pump. I gave up on those big jump packs and haven't regretted a single thing about it.

 

[Bill Bowman]

If I'm reading this right, the cord and battery will cost $62. For $90 you could buy one of these. https://www.harborfreight.com/450-p...um-ion-jump-starter-and-power-pack-62749.html



I've had one for a few years now, Christmas gift I was skeptical about. Used it dozens and dozens of times. I've used it to move stuff with dead batteries and bad gas before, you know, something you have to restart 12x to move it 20'. These things simply work and they are small and portable. Mine sits under the truck seat and ready at a moments notice to even jump someone else's clunker stuck at a gas pump. I gave up on those big jump packs and haven't regretted a single thing about it.

I just grabbed this one with a 25% off coupon. Glad to hear you have had positive (no pun intended) results.

 

[unslow1]

That's fine if you want to jump start something and nothing else. I have both types because they have different uses.

 

[PCustoms]

That's a bit gnarly....

 

[nadogail]

Good work on finding and fixing the problem. Weather you buy a new battery or replace the Jump Pack is going to be one of those questions that, no matter which choice you make I guarantee someone will tell you that their way was better.

 

[tyromeo55]

Had a Diehard model I had at work for many many years (it stayed there when I left) It would randomly beep/scream and kill batteries every 2 or so years. after the second battery replacement I wired a lead to the exterior and would just use a small external battery tender (750mA). to my knowledge it still has that battery in it 6+ years later. The unit gets used weekly.

Was just gifted a similar model (dead). With a new battery it will also get the Battery tender mod

Be careful with lithium boosters. Had one spontaneously catch on fire. Workers caught it smoking and got it outside thank goodness.

 

[Bert_]

I figure about 60% of the time a problem with electronics is either a cracked solder or a dead capacitor.

 

[Odd-job]

One of these days I need to get my battery conditioning desulphator charger on my JNC's battery to help keep it fresh. Battery jumpers are one of those items that you need it to work when you need it to work.

Probably need to crack the case or wonder if I can just connect the charger to the jumper leads.

 

[Roadking16]

If I'm reading this right, the cord and battery will cost $62. For $90 you could buy one of these. https://www.harborfreight.com/450-p...um-ion-jump-starter-and-power-pack-62749.html



I've had one for a few years now, Christmas gift I was skeptical about. Used it dozens and dozens of times. I've used it to move stuff with dead batteries and bad gas before, you know, something you have to restart 12x to move it 20'. These things simply work and they are small and portable. Mine sits under the truck seat and ready at a moments notice to even jump someone else's clunker stuck at a gas pump. I gave up on those big jump packs and haven't regretted a single thing about it.

I have had bad experiences with Harbor Freight power/electrical tools. A year ago, I bought a HF circular saw. It broke on the very first cut.