Jump starters

[Tringa]

Does anyone have any experience of using or knowledge about jump starters for cars?

I have a second car that is miles away from home and is stored in a garage. The last time I was there it needed jump staring. Fortunately, it was due an MOT and as this was going to be done by the local garage they did the jump starting.

I was thinking of buying a jump starter so I could do the starting myself if/when it needed it again.

There seem to be loads online from physically very small devices that I'm surprised can hold enough charge to start anything to whacking huge, and expensive, ones.

Some say they can start a car when the battery is virtually dead, which makes me think other cannot do this. While most reviews are favourable there seem to a fair percentage(eg about 10%) that are pretty damning.

Grateful for any views about these devices

Thanks

Dave

 

[boyfalldown]

I had a car years ago where the alternator had failed. One of these worked well to start until I could get repaired

 

[LeeRatters]

I have a Sealey something 65...?? SL65?? Was about £75 iirc

I have a high compression, 2.1, almost race spec engine on a high torque starter in my Mk1 Escort and it's started that easily many times! Even when turning the key on the battery (which is in the boot) has resulted in just a click!

 

[LeeRatters]

Schumacher® Jump Starter Power Pack 600A | SL65S | Sealey

2 Year Guarantee - Slim pocket-sized 12V jump starter pack, compact/lightweight, high amperage output. Capable of starting 12V vehicles up to 4-cylinder engine.

www.sealey.co.uk

I think I bought it through eBay though.

 

[Jannyfox]

I bought one of the NOCO ones from Halfords last year when my Defender's battery stopped charging due to some knackered wiring, thankfully all sorted. It wasn't cheap but it's one of the higher power ones as it had to turn over a 22 year old 2.5l diesel when trying a start on the battery just resulted in a clicking solonoid. The jump starter fired him up easily without taking much charge out..

 

[plamen_gb]

I bought a Chinese version of the NOCO quite high power and at around half the price didn't have an issue with a 2.2 Diesel engine on a Merc CLA. For some reason they no longer sell them on Amazon though

 

[AndrewFlannigan]

I've tried a Buture branded unit and it won't work when the car's battery is trully knackered. I keep a cheap 12V from a scrapper on a NOCO charger for that contingency. If the battery is just a little tired, the Buture unit will get me out of trouble (and it does have a surprisingly useful torch built in).

 

[TCR4x4]

I have the trekpow 1500a from amazon that seems to have disappeared off the site now, but it jumps my 2.5l diesel discovery from so flat even the central locking doesn’t work without issue.
It’s also jumped several other cars and vans without issue.

 

[kendo1]

I have one for when my car decided to discharge its battery every now and then, untill I bought a new battery.
I still keep it in the car for emergencies, spare light/torch, phone charger - for camping trips, holidays etc.
They are very very useful, and yes, they do the job easily and first time.
I had one of the larger ones - probably nicad -several years ago and it never worked.

 

[nilagin]

Your not really doing your battery any favours by allowing it to go flat. It isn't even advisable to allow a brand new battery to go for longer than two weeks without the vehicle being used or the engine started and allowed to run for at least 30 minutes to try to get some charge into the battery. You'd probably do better to take the battery home and put it on a trickle charger to maintain the charge. Or if you have electricity in the garage, put it on trickle charge there instead.

 

[Garry Edwards]

I've got one sitting in the back of my car along with all of the other things that I carry "just in case". My car is an off-roader that certainly can't be pushed to start, and although I carry jump leads they only work if there's another vehicle to take the power from. It's used mainly as a farm vehicle that does a lot of towing, so it also carries tow ropes, a winch, heavy duty tool kit, rachet straps, trolly jack, snatch blocks and so on, so adding this tiny little starter as well was a no-brainer.

I bought it because my car battery went flat for some reason and I can't afford to risk the car not starting when I need it to. Mine is a "BIUBLE 68800mAh Car Jump Starter Rescue Pack Booster Battery Charger Power Bank" via Ebay, less than £50.

And yes, it can also recharge my phone etc and includes a torch.

 

[Tringa]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Dave