Battery booster/jump starter pack

Btw just checked Amazon. Mine is 3.4 years old, one in wife's car is 3 yrs old and one in son's car is 11 months old. All have been used and I only charge mine twice a year.

Mine should be delivered tomorrow. Within the past 3 days, I could have used it twice. Now I probably won't need it for a loooooooong time.

Edit: good to know Slider. I might get one of those to put in my wife's car. The only thing I don't like about it is that it uses an external charger... just something else for me to keep or with.. (or lose).

REconsidering what to put in my wife's car. I'm thinking it might be wise to consider a model that advises of reversed cables. The Clore models do not seem to offer that option. I'd rather keep it simple for her in case she doesn't have any knowledgeable help so she can safely charge her own or help someone start their vehicle.

What would be a good option here? I don't much care for one with all the bells and whistles (air compressor, etc.) Just a solid performer that provides goof-proof connectivity and includes a sealed battery... so the Michelin jumper cables would be out.

My wife (nurse) and 16 yr old both have them and have used them. What's the problem with reverse cables? And I charge ours once a year in October. Mine still had 3 bars in October from the previous October. These things are awesome.

If you are going to rely on only cables I think the Michelin are the way to go. Especially if someone else ends up connecting them on the other end.

But the backup jumper is the best way. I like the having an auxiliary outlet on it, but I don't need the air compressor either.

Most of the time in my shop, I use a custom made booster pack made of 2 Odyssey PC1200 batteries run in parallel. Especially with my race cars that usually have an Odyssey PC680 and aren't run very often, this is probably the only booster pack that that jump start these vehicles from a flat dead battery. Plus I can use my charger to bring these as well as the other Odyssey batteries in my fleet back up to optimal condition. Other than that, I have a little cheap-o Peak 300a pack that I got for $15 at Pep Boys on Black Friday as a reserve.

Slider said:

My wife (nurse) and 16 yr old both have them and have used them. What's the problem with reverse cables? And I charge ours once a year in October. Mine still had 3 bars in October from the previous October. These things are awesome.

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The JNC series are always live and no warning if the cables get reversed. I'd like to take out that complicating element. It *shouldn't* be a problem. But still, I'd rather have my wife (also a nurse) not have to deal with that detail if there is another option that will let her just hook it up and fire up without worry about cable connections being correct.

If I don't turn up another viable option, I may spring for this one anyway.

Stopped by Costco today and picked up one of those PSX2 powerstations for $70. It has reverse polarity detection and has a switch so the leads aren't continuously live. Also has a 1000 amp peak/400 amp starting spec. Not bad. Also includes the AC charger cable too, which is nice.

It's bulkier than my JCN660 (which also came today). In some ways I kinda wish I'd got the JNC300XL instead of the Powerstation.. it seems more compact and is lighter weight than the Costco powerstation. The JNC300XL doesn't include the air compressor either, which I didn't really care for on the Powerstation. Ah well, trade-offs.

Sounds like you got what you needed. I never got anything from Costco I regretted. They've got some good buyers.

The Coscto unit is kind of a chunky monkey compared to what you have. Wish the JNC came with polarity checking and provided the ability to switch the leads on/off.

I finally had to replace my Black & Decker Powermate 400 the other day.
I went with a unit from Northern Tools that has all the bells and whistles (air compressor, 400 Watt A/C converter, DC power, USB port and jump starter)

I use the heck out of these at the ranch jumping ATV's, filling flats away from electricity, powering a water pump to fill tanks, running lights etc.

The selling point on this unit is you can replace the battery instead of having to buy a whole new unit. Cost was $119. They have them on sale now for $99 and there is a coupon for $20 off on a $100 purchase.

No wonder all the motor clubs are hurting for business.
I travel with AAA regular membership and pay a few dollars with my auto insurance.

I've never been tempted to join an auto club. I guess I never saw the benefit.

Randy, you should post up a link to that NT jumpstarter. I'm thinking it's this one:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200422353_200422353

I like the USB port.

I picked up the Stanley unit from Sam's tonight. It also has a USB port in addition to a 12v DC port and the air compressor and LED flash light. A bit more of a sleek design than the PSX unit that Costco carries. 450 instant amps and 900 peak, (Costco PSX has 400 instant and 1,000 peak) so not as much peak as the Costco model, but should suffice for the $54 price tag. Considered the Northern Tool model, but just didn't want to spend another $25. May regret it later, but we'll see how this one does. Best case, I only use it to help out others.

Options are always good! And these last three all sound very good. I still have a Vector jumper but it's only rated at 300A. Maybe for my climate it should be good enough. It has an aux lighter socket as well as a an LED trouble light.

In fact you guys got me so interested in these, I decided to put my on charge tonight, I feel like I've neglected it too long.

http://www.shopping.com/vector-vec010s-jump-start/5RBAPq8b7eXd174ZAlMzXw==/info

I think they are discontinued and I've seen them down close to $30 online. They make more powerful ones also, I really like the overall design. The switches and everything are very good quality, and the handle has like a rubber textured sleeve, very comfortable for carrying.

Nuke83 said:

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Best case, I only use it to help out others.

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My thoughts exactly. And in so doing, also protect the computer-tronics in both vehicles.

I do like that USB port the Stanley has. Ah well. The Costco unit is in the wife's Pilot and the JNC660 is in the RL's trunk.

speedlever said:

I've never been tempted to join an auto club. I guess I never saw the benefit.

Randy, you should post up a link to that NT jumpstarter. I'm thinking it's this one:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200422353_200422353

I like the USB port.

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Thats exactly the one I got. The USB port is great to charge a phone with!. These things are so useful. We even use them to run a series of fluorescent low watt bulbs around the tables at camp when we don't need to run a generator. Another guy uses his to run his CPAP machine during power outages at home. I have also used mine to run a fan occasionally and it works great to power a small TV at football tailgating parties at Baylor football game. (Shameless plug for my Bears!):act024:

If you're looking for a more industrial jump starter, without all the bells and whistles, Amazon has a Clore unit coming up on a lightening deal at 7:59 am PST (10:59 EST) this morning. Other than the jumper, it has a 12v socket, that's it.

Don't know what it will cost on Amazon is $134.41, so likely to be around $99 or so. Sears sells the same unit for $237.11.

If you read the reviews, this thing is the real deal for a no frills performer. Appears that several AAA clubs use this as well as another reviewer who owns a car lot, so I'd expect industrial strength.

Outfitter said:

They have them on sale now for $99 and there is a coupon for $20 off on a $100 purchase.

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what is the promo code for 20 off, if you know ?

Nuke83 said:

If you're looking for a more industrial jump starter, without all the bells and whistles, Amazon has a Clore unit coming up on a lightening deal at 7:59 am PST (10:59 EST) this morning. Other than the jumper, it has a 12v socket, that's it.

Don't know what it will cost on Amazon is $134.41, so likely to be around $99 or so. Sears sells the same unit for $237.11.

If you read the reviews, this thing is the real deal for a no frills performer. Appears that several AAA clubs use this as well as another reviewer who owns a car lot, so I'd expect industrial strength.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...SG1NXCS&pf_rd_i=5550343011&pf_rd_p=1438543682

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I considered that one Nuke83. The thing I didn't like about it was that it has a wall charger, not an internal charger... which is just something else to keep up with. It also has only LED battery indicators and I prefer the gauge. Otherwise, it seems very close to the JNC660 specs.

I wish Clore would update their products to include a USB port as well as polarity indicators and an on/off switch for the leads.