Power Pack

[JPSmit]

This week I had to get a new battery in Mrs JP's Mini. Not a big deal except that I put the charger on the battery for about 3 hours with no result (I ended up calling CAA) Now it may have been that the battery was that dead but, I also wonder if the charger was also dead.

This leads me to wonder about power packs - Most of them look like this:

But a lot of the traditionally shaped ones seem to also have things like compressors (which I don't need)

But, recently I have also seen the more compact ones like this:

Has anyone had experience with these? any thoughts?

 

[mezy]

Hi JP I haven't personally but if it is lythuum my friend has one in his glovebox, has used it quite a few times to start people's cars. He swears by it.
The advantage of lythuum is it will not go flat when not used, unlike sealed lead acid batteries

 

[NutmegCT]

I've used mine for over ten years. Tire pump and battery substitute for starting. Never had a problem.

JUS500IB | blackanddecker12volt

www.blackanddecker12volt.com

I'd think that regardless of size or configuration, it's the amperage, not lead-acid vs lithium, that counts for emergency starting.

JP - I don't think the devices in your photos are meant to be used for charging a low car battery. Jump starts only.

Tom M.

 

[JPSmit]

Thanks Tom - sorry I didn't clarify I mean it for jump starts not charging

 

[mezy]

The top one is sealed lead acid battery, Had them in the past, if you dont keep them on charge they slowly drain out when you need it, the darn things flat, to a point they will not charge up again, I personaly would not give one of these types of boosters garage space.
The bottom one is lythium, holds charge for long periods of time, always ready to go, I have lythium drill batteries that have stood for six months and still fully charged.
the top one is 2000 amps when fully charged, the bottom one is 750 amps, hense the difference in price,

 

[equiprx]

This week I had to get a new battery in Mrs JP's Mini. Not a big deal except that I put the charger on the battery for about 3 hours with no result (I ended up calling CAA) Now it may have been that the battery was that dead but, I also wonder if the charger was also dead.

This leads me to wonder about power packs - Most of them look like this:

View attachment 83468
But a lot of the traditionally shaped ones seem to also have things like compressors (which I don't need)

But, recently I have also seen the more compact ones like this:

View attachment 83469

Has anyone had experience with these? any thoughts?

I bought one of the lead acid type nearly thirty years ago, with the useless compressor and light attached.
Bought it at 'Twice as Nice' for about $30.
Always kept it connected inside the garage so I almost never used it.
I never knew what the Amp/Hr rating was and the owners book doesn't say.
Mostly got used when wife or neighbors forgot to turn their lights off.
A couple of months ago it went dead.
Turned out the AC/DC internal charger was dead.
I also have a smaller Li Ion one I keep in the car but it rarely is powerful enough if the car battery is very dead.
Also no Amp/Hr rating on it or the ops book.
I almost never need one for myself but isn't that always the way it goes.
As soon as I remove it from the car my battery will crap out.

 

[CaptRandy]

Put jumper wires from a hot battery to the posts of the "dead" battery and hook up the charger. See if it takes a charge for a short while before you remove the jumpers. Remove the jumpers and see if it still is registering a charge.

 

[JPSmit]

Put jumper wires from a hot battery to the posts of the "dead" battery and hook up the charger. See if it takes a charge for a short while before you remove the jumpers. Remove the jumpers and see if it still is registering a charge.

Old battery is gone already - new one in place and all is well with the world

 

[gonzo]

The Lithium Battery boosters are the way to go. They could sit for many months and retain full charge to booster many times. I have one from Fanttik https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09CTJMLQP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and it successfully jump-started two cars with completely dead batteries. The Fanttk replaced an older Sears powerpack which never really worked and wasn't so portable.

You have many choices of Li Battery Boosters; generally, price dictates quality.

 

[JPSmit]

thanks this is very helpful - I appreciate the input to narrow my choices