Portable battery jump starter advice?

[jymbee]

My aging Sears portable jump starter-- which I never liked in the first place-- is pretty much dead. Looking for a good replacement. The clamps on my old one suck. Have to manually help clamp down sometimes. Any advice as to what models you can recommend as a replacement?

 

[Mendonsy]

I have a Black & Decker Electromate 400 that is about 10 years old. It was cheap when I bought it from their outlet store and (so far) it has worked fine. Murphy's Law says now that I have told you, it will fail soon.

 

[Big Barn]

I have a Black & Decker Electromate 400 that is about 10 years old. It was cheap when I bought it from their outlet store and (so far) it has worked fine. Murphy's Law says now that I have told you, it will fail soon.

Yup.

 

[newbury]

What are you trying to do with it? Start your Massey or a diesel truck?

 

[RNeumann]

NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Amazon.com: NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB4 1 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter: Automotive

These have a good reputation and the Lithium battery should last for several years. We have several in use.

 

[jymbee]

What are you trying to do with it? Start your Massey or a diesel truck?

All of the above-- and more. GMC diesel pickup, cars, JD diesel 748 tractor w/ mower... Plus neighbor's cars that call in the dead of the winter with dead batteries.

 

[jymbee]

NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter Amazon.com: NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB4 1 Amp 12V UltraSafe Lithium Jump Starter: Automotive

These have a good reputation and the Lithium battery should last for several years. We have several in use.

That's interesting. I did see those much smaller Lithium units but knowing nothing about them I just assumed that they were too small to be very powerful. Kinda' dates me I guess.

If they work as advertised the more compact size would be a big plus over the big lead based models. I assume the serveral you have in use have worked well for you? One drawback might be what looks like very short cables.

On a related topic-- don't any of these things come with an easy way to connect to batteries with side terminals? Or perhaps some after-market product that would make connecting easier? Those blasted side terminals are a real PITA IMO when trying to get a solid connection! :thumbdown:

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
That's why even GM has done away with them, at least on their pickups. :thumbsup:

 

[thepumpguysc]

I bought 1 from Northern tool for 80.00 on sale it worked great.. something like 800cca I started many, many diesel tractors w/ it..
It ended up growing legs.??
I needed 1 real quick while out on the road a few months back & ended up going to Harbor Freight.. I got 1 w/ a coupon that was only 50-60.00.
It hasn't let me down yet.. lots of tractor starting.. built in USB, spot lite & an air compressor..
1 suggestion tho.. buy the BIGGEST ONE u can afford..
I take mine out in the boat w/ me, just in case.. "I" haven't needed it, but I've gotten other boaters out of some real tight spots w/ it..

 

[RNeumann]

They work very well! They make different sizes, so if you need more juice you can upsize. Lithium does a better job all the way around. Embrace it!
We don’t jumpstart fire engines with them (6- 12v batteries) but we jump everything else. And with the vehicle computers and every other wiz bang that uses a battery we are jumping vehicles all the time.