Caveat Emptor - Lithium Ion Jump Starters.

[HOTFR8]

These Mini Jump starter things with the Lithium Ion Battery.
Have a look at the video link below and the photo. Caveat Emptor.

View media item 50016
Check out the video below:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=309_1422118759

A Nurse friend advised me about with the Strobe lights contained in many of these packs can also cause photosensitive epilepsy.

 

[Showkey]

This has shown up on several sites and forums.........

The other sites explained the car was running and charging the pack from the cars charging system. Lithium batteries just like the ones on your drill or screw gun must be charged very carefully with only the approved charger.

The user failed to follow the instructions..........the battery pack should not be connected to a running car........you start the car ( jump it) and then disconnect within 30 seconds.

That said..............There are many different brands of these battery packs.........recently many very cheap clones of the original design have "popped" up .........quality may vary.


User error......when all else fails read the freakin instructions

 

[JCQuick]

yep as others have said it must be disconnected quickly and if its like the one we have why was the light on ?
I say user error

 

[Lx460]

Lithium is no doubt, dangerous.

Why does my doctor make me take it 3 times a day?

 

[HOTFR8]

Many of these Lithium Jump Starters are coming out of China. Company that sent that information to me had one on the shelf to test and the battery failed completely after six months as it could not be recharged. I have seen many of them at trade shows and most of them I would say come from China hence the wording Caveat Emptor.

I have had one of these for about 20 years.

Still going well and has been very handy for me many a time.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Old School - Nothing beats lead acid batteries for price and durability !

 

[Fishplate]

Why does my doctor make me take it 3 times a day?

Because you're dangerous as well?

 

[sb7979]

Old School - Nothing beats lead acid batteries for price and durability !

and nothing beats lithium ion or polymer for size, weight, capacity, discharge rate, charging time, lack of memory, etc.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I could do the same with just about any two batteries of non equal capacity.
Whoever put that on the vehicle and walked away needs charged with excessive stupid and sent to retraining camp.

They are more dangerous, and you sure shouldn't submerge them, but the instructions are pretty clear as to use..

We don't know if that ******* even had them hooked up backwards to a fully charged battery.

Lithium is no doubt, dangerous.

X2. Li batteriers aren't inherently dangerous, they have pretty strict usage instructions though. All the Li R/C batteries I have all say not to charge them unattended and to place them on a non-flammable surface like a ceramic plate while charging...

Tommy

 

[Wamerjamer]

and nothing beats lithium ion or polymer for size, weight, capacity, discharge rate, charging time, lack of memory, etc.

Not to get a fight started or anything,but lead acid don't have the memory thing do they?If they do then I've screwed mine up 'cause I charge mine any old time I think of it.BTW mine is the Diehard 1150. It is the only compressor/inverter
combo unit I've had where the air gauge and the thermal cut-off actually work.

Would anyone have a recommendation on a quality lithium unit?
I think I'd like try one out.

Randy

 

[rowerwet]

The danger with li batteries is when they do a thermal run away and burn, they create their own oxygen.

 

[sprchrgd1]

Not to get a fight started or anything,but lead acid don't have the memory thing do they?If they do then I've screwed mine up 'cause I charge mine any old time I think of it.BTW mine is the Diehard 1150. It is the only compressor/inverter
combo unit I've had where the air gauge and the thermal cut-off actually work.

Would anyone have a recommendation on a quality lithium unit?
I think I'd like try one out.

Randy

Most jump boxes are only good for a short period of time. The batteries used in these are a very poor quality. People tend not to charge them properly and they crystalize rather easily just like any normal lead acid battery. You may be able to bring it back to life by desulfating it. Sometimes it works sometimes not. Maybe shorted internally (no fix).

 

[Squankum]

You know what's also dangerous? Once that engine is jump started, you can wind up crashing your car!

 

[ebonyswan]

Li-ion do not have memory effect. That was primarily a ni-cad thing.

 

[csargents1546]

If I remember correctly on the instructions with mine it says to disconnect after thirty seconds of starting car. And not to charge it throught the leafs as this may cause an explosion as in the video.

 

[Rt jam]

and nothing beats lithium ion or polymer for size, weight, capacity, discharge rate, charging time, lack of memory, etc.

As a tow truck driver. I'm going with the lithium ion booster pack.

I get the odd hard to start car that requires a few minutes of charge time or the draw is too great for the compact booster pack. In that case I use the truck with booster cables but for everything else, the booster pack is just too convenient.

 

[ricepudding]

OP's Video:
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.liveleak.com/ll_embed?f=cea58893a9a3" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


I had a 6500mah 2cell (7.4v) lipo pop on me once. Lots of smoke and fire. It happened after I had hit a rock with my RC truck at high speed (talking 60mph here). The battery was flung out, ripping open one of the cells.

Here's a video of a Lipo Safety Bag. Its basicaly a fire resistant fiberglass bag, ment to contain the fire of a lipo pack. I have three of them myself.

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dfQiCGK_nw8?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


And here is a video of a battery catching fire:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fF9fhlr9S5s?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[HOTFR8]

The warning in my original topic was about Chinese made Jump start packs.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

My wife gave me on of the small jump packs for . A few weeks for
we happened to be in Lowe's, I stopped at a display for them, just to see what
they were all about. A friend had told me his son bought on and was amazed
at how well it worked.
Come morning I opened a present and guess what, I now have one.
I've been amazed, it works GREAT. My old truck doesn't get driven but maybe
once a week, it the winter time the cold will kill the battery, the little jump
pack will start it every time.
The same for my PA, when I forget and leave one of my ham radios on over
night, it'll kill the hell outa the battery, the jump packs starts it every time.
Mine came with a cigaret lighter plug, the instruction say it can be left plugged
in to keep it charged.
I didn't like the idea of that so I just bring it in and charge it using the wall wart.
I think I'll stop charging it inside the house, might be a better idea to do it
outside where if it catches fire it won't burn the house down.
We sure don't need another fire caused by a piece of chinese junk...


LLAP.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Where the heck did those things come from????

 

[HOTFR8]

Where the heck did those things come from????

Trade shows now are full of them. Chinese cheap made copies and many others. Thing is if you buy one and use one just watch how you use it.
I have read and heard after 6 months they can fail and will not take any charge. If you have one never leave it charging whilst you are away.

 

[anndel]

After hours or research and reading information here, I just bought a JNC 660. Thanks everyone for sharing your info and/or experiences.

 

[HOTFR8]

Anndel, Can you post a photo of what you purchased and tell us what you think of it please.