Best Portable Jump Pack ?

[Gary Fowler]

If you can find the twinweld (just like the oxyacetylene hose) welding cables they make awesome jumper cables. The Heat treating companies use this type cable that is #2 welding cable, note this is not 2/0 but #2 welding cable that is rated for 150 amp continuous load at 150 feet. THe insulation is a very flexible rubber that is not at stiff as the regular welding leads. I made a set of these that I kept for 20 years of so, but lost in a move once. I guess the movers liked them. I used the heaviest duty clamps I could find and they were about $15 each and this was in 1978. Cable was free from my contractor that was doing some work on the job and had a short 30 foot piece of the twin weld cable. THe cables were long enough to reach from the front of my truck to a truck behind me so I didnt have to go front bumper to front bumper. This was handy if you needed to jump a car on a roadway as you could just pull up behind it, pop your hood and run the cables the length of the vehicle in front. NO MORE turning around to face traffic.
Alternate to having a free source of cable, #4 welding cable will provide plenty of ampacity for jumper cables for most applications (also works good for welding whip cable) and would be much cheaper than #2.

 

[patrick_g]

and also check into the cutoff switch for the powerstroke. Hopefully there's a kit made, sounds like I need one.

I suspect no kit. All it consists of is a switch rated for more current than the fuel cutoff solenoid uses. You cut the wire to the solenoid and insert the switch. For convenience you add extra wire to allow locating the switch in a convenient location, like in the cab.

This will seriously reduce wear in the engine due to dry starts and should really pay back on the small investment.

Even better for your engine is a preluber which lubricates your engine prior to cranking. They come in different levels of sophistication with a really good DIY one I could describe if anyone is interested.

Pat

 

[jenkinsph]

Scout,
The Sears DieHard Platinum batteries are rebadged Odyssey batteries. They are the same thing for a lower price. The batteries you need for your Powerstroke sell for $189.95 plus core at Sears. Get the Group 65 DieHards.

The DieHard Platinums are made by Odyssey but the DieHard and DieHard Gold are made by Johnson Controls.