Jump Starter Packs
Gday all, just been looking into those jump starter packs you can buy to give your battery a jump when no one else is around to give one to you.
Just that a couple of times i have been caught out in the middle of nowhere and my car battery died. Managed on most occasions to roll start(whenever am out on my own with the 4x4 in the middle of nowhere always park in a position to push/roll start car), but it still is a massive inconvenience.
Could put a dual battery system, but also like the sound of it for jumping the boat if i ever get caught out. Has happened twice, once at boat ramp, once out on water. Had to take the top off and pull start it. Again massive inconvenience.
Just wondering if anyone has used one or has one? What do you reckon about them? What size/amp should i look at getting for my 4x4? What brand is a good one? Or any alternate recommendations?
Cheers, Buz.
Feral
Posts: 1508
Date Joined: 01/11/06
the jumper packs are a great
the jumper packs are a great idea but they will never replace a dual battery system .. they are not nearly as strong as a good battery and they dont last as long .. ive got dual batteries im botht he car and boat (plus a jumper pack in the shed) but i would never rely on it to be charged all the time and to be strong enough.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18068
Date Joined: 11/03/08
dont get a cheep one if you
dont get a cheep one if you go that way as they just dont last. they are a good idea to carry but pay a bit more and get a good one , do your homework on them and get one suited to your needs
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Frank F
Posts: 481
Date Joined: 17/03/09
Battery packs
I have a 60AH Thumper battery pack that I use to run my engle fridge. It will run it for 3-4 days and comes with Anderson plug attachments. The accessories that it comes with are jumper cables that plugs in, has all the cabling to set it up in your car as a duel battery system, has 12 volt sockets with are fused and has a digital volts gauge. This one will start a 6L Diesel engine. The battery is a AGM battery so it won't get damaged on the boat. It is expensive but it is a awesome unit. The cheapest one is $395. Here is a link.
http://shop.ebay.com.au/merchant/australian.direct.4wd.outdoor_W0QQ_fromZR46?_nkw=thumper&_sacat=0
Paul G
Posts: 5215
Date Joined: 12/12/07
I have one from KMart and it
I have one from KMart and it is great ,I have used it a few times on the cars and it has always got the power to start them I do carry it on the boat for backup ,but I have duel batteries so its never been tryed on the water ,I give mine a charge once a month ,to keep it toped up .
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kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
like u said get the dual
like u said get the dual batteries but any resonable jumper pack should be alrite
Dinkum Auto Electrical A/C & Mechanical Unit 10/16 Kent way Malaga 0438755754 Also Mobile
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GrahamM
Posts: 648
Date Joined: 19/01/09
I also have had a cheap one
I also have had a cheap one from Kmart wich works most of the time to jump something but when the battery is really flat it wont start a car and i had to resort to jumper leads just food for thought ( i would buy a better quality one next time )
synthos
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 23/06/07
dual/thumper
I have just had simialr thoughts and got a dual battery system quoted from arb but ist aboiut $890 tad pricey for that much I can also just simply get a Thumper I have been eying off a 90ah pack u cant beat size :) wich has a sine inverter on it so u can power electricals via normal plug
but pricey
http://www.homeof12volt.com/shop/index.php/page/shop/flypage/product_id/232/category_id/b58213cf9473d6d8fac88ee65263b183/offset/0?ps_session=b41f903654d78f8fd56f3dcb3c594a73
Thumper can as was said before be wired in and comes with the kit seems simple enough ish ;)
They also charge apprantly in 2-3 hours to max
http://www.homeof12volt.com/shop/index.php/page/shop/flypage/product_id/231/category_id/b58213cf9473d6d8fac88ee65263b183/offset/0
smaller unit
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
that is a expensive dual
that is a expensive dual battery system
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wadetolley
Posts: 2258
Date Joined: 27/06/08
make
Make sure you get the bigger pack to jump start your 4wd. I have a mid sized one. tried jumping my Nissan Navara 3l td..but it didnt have enough balls.
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
yer the diesels take a bit
yer the diesels take a bit more juice to start
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Open 7 days except when we are fishn For all your auto electrical needs
synthos
Posts: 522
Date Joined: 23/06/07
mmm
The 105AH thumper ? :) cheaper but no inverter then again how much is a powered site these days and all mobiles charge of USB pretty much
Buz
Posts: 1555
Date Joined: 28/08/07
Cheers for the ideas and
Cheers for the ideas and recommendations guys.
Like i said i am more looking for one so i can use it on all my vehicles and boats. Eg: pointless getting a duel battery system put in my car then going in my girlfriends car somwhere and her battery dying. Plus i dont see the point in putting a duel battery system in my car as i never run any fridges or anything. It would literally be just for power to start the car/tinnie if the battery died.
I have a duel battery system in my dads big boat, so all good there, but only have one in my tinnie, which is where i was caught out both times.
Have looked at the thunper, but thought they are a bit to pricy for again just a back up to jump start.
Have seen some of the ones at Super Cheap Auto. They have one that says its a 1900amp one, suited for 4x4's $129.
Is that a good price for one? Are the SCA brands ok?
Cammos
Posts: 606
Date Joined: 30/06/09
I got the cheapest SCA one
I got the cheapest SCA one for about $80. Had enough in it to start the old 70hp Johno when the kids left the radio on for a week.
Ericl
Posts: 476
Date Joined: 02/05/11
Reviving a very old thread
Hi
Looking at a Lithium power pack as backup and I imagine they have come a long way since this thread.
2 that I amlooking at are Rooboost and Gooloo. Has anyone had any experience with either of these\
Cheers
Eric
Don't spend all your money on beer, boats, and fishing. Save some to spend foolishly
pelagicyachts
Posts: 1322
Date Joined: 23/02/11
Hi Ericnot with any of those
Hi Eric
not with any of those - i have a black and orange one about the size of a VHS tape (for those who remember) like the ones sold at itech world - they are good for starting (claimed at least) a 5 litre diesel - i have used it to jump start a v6 diesel (BMW) and it worked fine but the one jump took it down from full charge to about 1/4 (so its an emergency only tool)
I also bought one in china (SHenzen) when i was there 3 years ago - it cost $40 aussie and works just as well but if you dont keep it constantly charged (cig lighter plugged in all the time) i had it in my carry on (to reduce weight in my main case!) and interestingly when i went through customs they advised that if it was in main luggage they would have confiscated it but carry on is ok because they are known to start fires!!! - ffffk me! yep fire in the hold is no good but fine in the cabin!
Septimus
Posts: 146
Date Joined: 14/11/10
ITECH?
Sorry to hijack thread, but, anyone used/had issues with the iTech ones - they are meant to be good?
Browndog
Posts: 590
Date Joined: 10/04/12
Thunder Lithium
Have used a pair of the small Thunder brand lithium jump packs to start a Kenworth with 15L Cummins engine - wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it first hand. Kenworth was 100% flat - couldn't even get the dashboard to light up, and the two little Lithium units fired it up straight away. I wouldn't reccommend them for doing this - they got real hot and not sure if they were damaged from this or not. Mate uses them to run an engel for day trips, gets around 12 hours from something about the size of two packets of smokes.
I've been impressed with them, would be fine for emergency use. We sell them at work, link below (not where I work, just a random link from google to show which one)
https://perthpro.com.au/product/thunder-12v-lithium-jump-start-battery-pack-tdr02011/
avatinni
Posts: 141
Date Joined: 06/06/10
I have the i tech 2000 amp
I have the i tech 2000 amp one & used it a couple of times when a jumper leads failed. It Started the car with ease.
big john
Posts: 8762
Date Joined: 20/07/06
Yep
They are a good bit of kit.
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timboon
Posts: 2961
Date Joined: 14/11/10
I've got an Thumper jump
I've got an Thumper jump starter pack, paid a heap for it years ago... Was ok for what I wanted, kind of like running a dual battery but removeable for use in my camp sites to run a fridge and freeezer...
Inside the pack there is 5 small batteries all linked, they have a small little tab where each wire is connected and soldered, one of the tabs on one of the batteries snapped off and is unfixable...
While I had a few years out of it I wouldn't go down that road again, Its not hard to buy the same batteries and rig up your own set up with a couple of different size anderson plugs...
Lots of people overlook a good dual battery system and opt for something that is more of a visual penis compensator...
Massive muddys, shiney snorkel ( that wont ever be needed ), max trax with holder , shovel holder, massive lift, 3" exhaust for that throaty 3L diesel etc etc
A good dual battery system is a must have item if you get off the beaten track solo or with crew that don't know what they are doing, especially if you want a fridge full of 3 deg piss...
I'd be saving your pennys and getting a reasonable quality dual bat system and also a small compact good quality jump starter if you want to take it on the boat...
Just my two bobs worth
Ericl
Posts: 476
Date Joined: 02/05/11
Thanks for your replies
Hi and thanks for the replies.
I have decided on the RooBoost 1500- Amp unit.
Rob, I do have 2 batteries. One played up the other day so replacing both. Got a good deal on Bosch Marine batteries (HCM27-750). But I still thought it would be nice to have an unconnected backup for double security
Cheers
Eric
Don't spend all your money on beer, boats, and fishing. Save some to spend foolishly