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Does anyone use or have any experiences with any portable battery jumpers? I have a battery charger for the garage and a beast of a portable battery charger I bought many years ago, but I'm looking to get something that is more convenient. With lithium-ion batteries, there are now portable battery jumpers that are small enough to fit a glove box. My question is, do you have one? Have you used one? Are there particular features that I should look for?
I saw someone post on Facebook about using it at a speed event. This guy used it to start (among other cars) a late model ZR1. However, I'm concerned about their stated limit of 6.0 L engines. Has anyone used this one or have any alternatives? I'm going to check CCA and see what they have to offer.
My wife and I both have one, but it's not the glove box variety. She has used hers several times, while I have only used mine maybe once on a lawn mower. (she is always helping people even though I tell her not to for safety reasons)
Thanks. I couldn't find it when I looked at their website.
What worries me with that one is the power. Only 200 amps. The one I found is 400 amps is suppose to be for engines up to 6.0 L. I was hoping someone had some real world experience with one of these and could let us know if 200 or 400 or 600 amps were needed.
I have a concern, but not the knowledge to know if t applies in this situation.
A skilled member here, a retired electrical engineer, advised me to use care with battery chargers, as most all emit a square wave that the computers don't like, and if exposed to this wave form, can cause problems.
I had been charging my battery off the top posts while it was still connected via the side posts, thinking the battery would cushion the voltage, because it was kind of a problem to remove the posts, and other cars didn't mind similar treatment.
My concern with a jumper is the electrical wave form generated, which I do not know. FRom a battery it might be a regular wave shape, and not the hazardous square wave generated from a transformer, and probably is ok.
Just a detail you might check. I don't think anyone cares enough to investigate a non problem like this.
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Several years ago while at the St. Jude's check presentation, the battery in my C5 decided to go bad. Luckily, forum member Savewave had a portable jump box in his car and was able to successfully jump start my car.
For Christmas that year, I got as a gift a Peak Portable Power System 300. It has 600 peak amps and while not able to fit in a glove box, it is pretty portable.
I have a concern, but not the knowledge to know if t applies in this situation.
A skilled member here, a retired electrical engineer, advised me to use care with battery chargers, as most all emit a square wave that the computers don't like, and if exposed to this wave form, can cause problems.
I had been charging my battery off the top posts while it was still connected via the side posts, thinking the battery would cushion the voltage, because it was kind of a problem to remove the posts, and other cars didn't mind similar treatment.
My concern with a jumper is the electrical wave form generated, which I do not know. FRom a battery it might be a regular wave shape, and not the hazardous square wave generated from a transformer, and probably is ok.
Just a detail you might check. I don't think anyone cares enough to investigate a non problem like this.
A portable battery jumper doesn't produce any type wave. It's a continuous (until it runs down) 12v just like the battery.
I have a concern, but not the knowledge to know if t applies in this situation.
A skilled member here, a retired electrical engineer, advised me to use care with battery chargers, as most all emit a square wave that the computers don't like, and if exposed to this wave form, can cause problems.
I had been charging my battery off the top posts while it was still connected via the side posts, thinking the battery would cushion the voltage, because it was kind of a problem to remove the posts, and other cars didn't mind similar treatment.
My concern with a jumper is the electrical wave form generated, which I do not know. FRom a battery it might be a regular wave shape, and not the hazardous square wave generated from a transformer, and probably is ok.
Just a detail you might check. I don't think anyone cares enough to investigate a non problem like this.
Thats right, DC electricity is not a sine wave, it would be a straight line if you had a scope hooked up. . Inverters, which convert DC to AC do produce a square wave but theres no ac power in your car except the alternator but its rectfied into dc. Now i would not use a boost charger on your car because they boost the voltage up to 19 volts on tbe boost mode. There may be ones that dont that cost more.
Anyway i am a new member, i have an 84 and 85 vette. i do most if the mechanical work in them but am an electrician by trade I.B.E.W
The one I have would not fit in the glove box, and certainly not a C5's glove box. It also has a very nice air pump with gage. I've never used the jump function, but the portable air pump is so handy, I use it even in the garage, all the time.
The one I have would not fit in the glove box, and certainly not a C5's glove box. It also has a very nice air pump with gage. I've never used the jump function, but the portable air pump is so handy, I use it even in the garage, all the time.
My buddy has one of the small ones, it could fit in your pocket. I saw it jump a totally dead PT Cruiser. I was amazed. Most of the ones I've seen have USB ports to charge phones and a short set of jumper leads that plug in . I think lowes has them for $99.
11-13-2014, 12:23 PM
Portable Battery Jumper
