Jump start at Costco

[volunteers]

Saw this one at Costco at $59. Anybody had experience with it?

 

[pacemade]

That thing is pretty cool.

 

[pepgj]

There are scads of usb jump starter power pack gizmos on Amazon. You might want to check there first. It's a product category that seems to have been dogpiled on by manufacturers.

 

[theoldwizard1]

No brand name ! Save your receipt !! Costco usually stands behind the stuff they sell.

 

[Chuckster in NJ]

These will NOT start a dead battery in a car...... It will add a "boost" to a battery that is not capable of turning over a car but has some power left in the battery.
Try it and if you don't like it return it! Costco is known for EZ returns.

 

[W_E_S]

Don't actually expect it to work as advertised. Especially if you have a V8.

 

[Wrenchinfool]

I have experience with the matco one jumped a few dead batteries with it, batteries so dead no lights

 

[theoldwizard1]

These will NOT start a dead battery in a car...... It will add a "boost" to a battery that is not capable of turning over a car but has some power left in the battery.
Try it and if you don't like it return it! Costco is known for EZ returns.

Don't actually expect it to work as advertised. Especially if you have a V8.

If the battery is "dead DEAD" you are probably correct. When using any one of these jump packs the best thing to do is connect it and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Longer is better.


Rockford Pocket Power Jump Starter RFDPPJS2976DLX got high marks from Eric O at South Main Auto.

 

[jason1]

I've used one like this (not this exact one) to start a 454 motor with no battery connected.

I definitely wouldn't expect it work consistently on that though.

 

[boomerangg22]

This one is 49.99 at tooltopia and free shipping

http://www.tooltopia.com/rockford-8005.aspx

 

[jwx]

I love my matco one, I've been eyeballing these cheaper ones a lot lately as I'd like to get one for Gf and other family members.

 

[Farmall450]

Don't actually expect it to work as advertised. Especially if you have a V8.

Reponut had a similar one on youtube that was amazingly powerful.

 

[ajchien]

How long do these things hold a charge?

 

[theoldwizard1]

How long do these things hold a charge?

More than 6 months, but typically they suggest you recharge somewhere between 3 and 6 months.

 

[ambenz]

The neighbor got one and he used it on one car, he has, with a weak battery, the neighbor loves jump starter, it looks like the one you posted.
I was actually engaged in looking for a remote power pack like the one below before I saw the neighbors jump starter...

So now, I don't know if I want the the one you show in this thread or what I was originally had in mind.
I suppose I need to know the differences, the similarities, and any special applications I want to use it for.
Running a I pad with videos, charging while camping off grid, running a inverter if needed.
Is size an issue, is heat an issue.....

 

[djb2]

The traditional style uses sealed lead acid (SLA) / valve regulated lead acid batteries. The need to be physically large and heavy to supply the jump starting current, and have significantly more capacity than required for one round jump starting.

The new style uses very high discharge rate lithium batteries. They can supply current at a rate that would leave them discharged in under a minute. A relatively small battery can supply the current needed to start a car, albeit only for a few seconds. They also have a lower self-discharge rate, and perform well even when mostly discharged, so you can expect them to work even if not charged for a year or two.

 

[xjfish]

This one is 49.99 at tooltopia and free shipping

http://www.tooltopia.com/rockford-8005.aspx

Has anyone used this one? I have one wrapped up under the Christmas tree for my dad. I hope it is decent.

 

[ADSR]

genius boost FTW.

 

[ProCharger]

These things are much more powerful than some are giving credit for. The one the op linked is a smaller one though, I would look for something in the 15k-18k milliamps. They definitely pack the punch to start v8's.

 

[[email protected]]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MQ5Z5F2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have this one and it has started ram 2500-3500 with Cummings in them in MI in the winter. The key to them is the battery in the vehicle has to have some charge to activate the jump box otherwise if you turn the jumper on and off a few times it will activate to jump. The car

 

[Davefr]

I just bought one at Costco and hopefully it'll start my generator. I gave up on buying these small lead acid batteries. They seem to go bad about every year.

Does anyone know if you can use these without an existing battery in the circuit? I don't see why not but haven't tried yet.

 

[boomerangg22]

I just bought one at Costco and hopefully it'll start my generator. I gave up on buying these small lead acid batteries. They seem to go bad about every year.

Does anyone know if you can use these without an existing battery in the circuit? I don't see why not but haven't tried yet.

no you can not

 

[morgantm]

Theres videos all over Youtube of guys unhooking the car battery cables and jumpstarting the car straight off the jumpstarter back, bypassing the battery.

It might not work with every jumpstarter but it is possible with some.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Theres videos all over Youtube of guys unhooking the car battery cables and jumpstarting the car straight off the jumpstarter back, bypassing the battery.

It might not work with every jump starter but it is possible with some.

if that doesn't work leave the weak battery in place to start but do not leave the jump starter on line after it starts.

 

[[email protected]]

One thing you have to be careful with them. My snap on dealer was selling some and there was a major recall on them as they were catching fire when chargeing. The one I have is made by antigravity battery's who has been a leader in the tech (they also make lithium battery's for cars and motorcycles)

So just be aware of the cheaper ones and monitor them when charging.

 

[WhiffySpark]

One thing you have to be careful with them. My snap on dealer was selling some and there was a major recall on them as they were catching fire when chargeing. The one I have is made by antigravity battery's who has been a leader in the tech (they also make lithium battery's for cars and motorcycles)

So just be aware of the cheaper ones and monitor them when charging.

Most blow when they're left connected to a running car.


Snapon isn't carrying antigravity and they stopped fixing them. Snapon came out with their own for the same price

Mine stopped charging idk why. I took the credit and brought a battery charger instead

 

[tremek]

Don't actually expect it to work as advertised. Especially if you have a V8.

Started my Dodge Ram 3500 with a cummin Diesel is -20C

the truck has 2 batteries i tried my charger in start mode 100amp and half full snap-on booster pac at the same time on each battery
the charger was on for 30min. i left work to get something i come back charger is put away im like wtf. so i say lets try that silly booster thing. put it on got in the truck started right up. I was in shock myself

 

[[email protected]]

Most blow when they're left connected to a running car.


Snapon isn't carrying antigravity and they stopped fixing them. Snapon came out with their own for the same price

Mine stopped charging idk why. I took the credit and brought a battery charger instead

Snap on was carrying a off brand and those are are the ones that has a major recall. And they would catch fire when charging not when connected to the car.

 

[Dhagan887]

Dad has one of the small iPhone sized ones from lowes. Unhooked the battery in his gas truck and it started it no problem.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Snap on was carrying a off brand and those are are the ones that has a major recall. And they would catch fire when charging not when connected to the car.

You're right. I swore it was anti gravity. It's actually Rockford

 

[RaceBannon]

Bought two likwnthisnone and both have worked great mine I've jump started an F150. My wife has one at her school and they have jump started several cars. I now have them for my kids cars.

 

[W_E_S]

Started my Dodge Ram 3500 with a cummin Diesel is -20C

the truck has 2 batteries i tried my charger in start mode 100amp and half full snap-on booster pac at the same time on each battery
the charger was on for 30min. i left work to get something i come back charger is put away im like wtf. so i say lets try that silly booster thing. put it on got in the truck started right up. I was in shock myself

I call BS on this one, bro. I would love to see a video of this.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I call BS on this one, bro. I would love to see a video of this.

It'll do it as long as there's a little juice in it. I boosted several Cummins when I had mine

 

[Boldsmobile]

Maybe we can have guys that have tried one but had it not work post up. I'm interested in real world examples of what is beyond its capability.

Not speculation, theory or opinion.

I have a regular jump box but have thought about down sizing when it's time to replace.

 

[WhiffySpark]

When it's completely dead to the point where your headlights won't come on, it's not going to work

 

[ProCharger]

When it's completely dead to the point where your headlights won't come on, it's not going to work

Referring to just the cummins/diesels or vehicles (more than likely V8's) in general?

 

[WhiffySpark]

Cars In general. I turned over a 4 cyl once or twice that had a bad battery, but I didn't count on it. It's a good tool to have you should be fine keeping one in the car

 

[ProCharger]

Cars In general. I turned over a 4 cyl once or twice that had a bad battery, but I didn't count on it. It's a good tool to have you should be fine keeping one in the car

Mine, not sure how to make hot, done a few days ago. Battery completely disconnected on a 2007 Toyota Tundra 5.7 V8 in 34 degrees, truck had not been run all day. Took me a few attempts trying to keep a good connection on the positive leads as there are 2 I had to stack and keep a good connection on but once I got them tight together no problem. If i had a 100% dead battery where I did not have to disconnect the leads from the terminal it would have been a no brainer.

 

[CJM8515]

I dont like them, potential fire hazard and they basically will jump maybe 5 cars and you are done in most cases. If the battery is totally stone dead it may not even jumpstart it. They are more handy to charge your phone or something imho.

Ive worked in the towing and repair industry a LONG time, everyone and I mean everyone uses jump n carry. Id say about 90% use the standard JNC660 and the others might use the next model up. In a given day I will jumpstart 10-15 vehicles on the road and not need to charge the pack (although you can charge it off a running vehicle). My own personal JNC660 I left sit for over a year and then finally it was to weak to start a V8 and charging it off my truck for 5 mins it fired up the V8.

We are talking thousands of jumps on some of the ones at work, zero failures. BUT its a different concept. It can power stuff, can jumpstart everything short of a fully stone dead diesel (6.6 duramax is no issues, forget a 7.3, 6.0 or cummins however unless you have a pack on each battery).

For most its overkill and too large, Ill happily use it however.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Mine, not sure how to make hot, done a few days ago. Battery completely disconnected on a 2007 Toyota Tundra 5.7 V8 in 34 degrees, truck had not been run all day. Took me a few attempts trying to keep a good connection on the positive leads as there are 2 I had to stack and keep a good connection on but once I got them tight together no problem. If i had a 100% dead battery where I did not have to disconnect the leads from the terminal it would have been a no brainer.

That's awesome. I'm not a fan of disconnecting the battery though never seems like a good idea to me