'Jump Pack' questions/opinions??

[Mobuck]

With all the machines/engines/batteries here, I've been hauling a medium to high capacity 'jump pack' in the farm pickup for a couple years. Anticipating the unit's demise, I'm looking at a replacement--one that uses either Ridgid or Milwaukee cordless tool batteries since I have both. I've been reading owner comments on both company's sites and getting contradictory replies from both.
Obviously, some of the consumers have little to zero knowledge of what the jump pack is intended to do so their input is questionable. Does anyone here have hands on experience with the Ridgid or Milwaukee jump start units?

 

[contender]

Mine is not a battery operated one. Mine is electric, and I keep it plugged into an outlet in my "shop".
I need to look into one that uses batteries like you do,, except I'd have to get one that accepts DeWalt batteries.

 

[Mobuck]

Since I always carry an 18V impact wrench and swap out batteries every 2 weeks even if it hasn't been used, a booster that uses the same battery as the impact is common sense. No need to keep/maintain another battery especially during cold weather. In addition, having multiple batteries would help now and then--sometimes the old diesels need to get wound up more than once.

 

[kentucky yeti]

I'm no help with your quest. I use a 1200 amp handheld model that fits in my pocket- I used it yesterday to start my neighbor's 160hp New Holland tractor with a dead battery (no gauges or lights). It will start one for usually 4 times before it needs recharging via USB. Plus it will charge my phone and it has a flashlight. I've used it for years after my big old Stanley jumper pack died on me.

 

[thor's daddy]

I'm no help with your quest...

A link to said beastie would be helpful (or at the very least a brand and model number). Unless you're really dead set on that part about not being helpful...

 

[Richard76]

I have only one tractor and when it gets cold if I'm not going to use it for a while ( it doesn't snow ) I try to remember to park it within 50' of an outside outlet and put a trickle charge on it. I think I should look into one of those as well.

 

[kentucky yeti]

A link to said beastie would be helpful (or at the very least a brand and model number). Unless you're really dead set on that part about not being helpful...

Sorry, guy. I assumed everyone had access to Amazon and could type in keywords like battery jumper starter portable, or go to Tractor Supply, Walmart, etc…. They’ve been around for years. Since I don’t know his budget, and there’s a world of difference in price between a Milwaukee 12v, Milwaukee 18v, and a Ridgid 12v and 18v battery as he mentioned getting- I didn’t mention a specific jumper. These jumpers start at $30 and go up to $150+.

 

[krw]

I'd look at a NoCo 2000A jump starter on Amazon for $199. And if I had to use it much, I would buy a new battery. I bought new 4DLT battery this week

 

[hittman]

I plug this in to charge it maybe twice a year for 10 minutes just to keep it fully charged. I’ll never use the old style units again.
——————————————-

https://antigravitybatteries.com/products/micro-starts/xp-10-g2/

• Jump-Start most any Vehicle. Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, much more
• Start Diesel Trucks up to 7.3L and gas engines up to 10 Liters!
• Charge Phones, Tablets, Laptops, 12V devices and USB devices (Apple or Windows)
• DC (12v) OUTPUT, Type C USB IN/OUT and Type A QC USB
• Type-C PD 30w Super Fast Charging (3 hr recharge)
• 600A starting current / 3000A peak
• 16,000 mAh capacity (59.2 Wh)
• Bright LED Flashlight built-in
• 9.6 x 4 x 1.4 inches (245x104x36 mm)
• Carry Case and all Accessories included

 

[coachk64]

This thread intrigued me so I went to Amazon myself and looked at what was available. I found a 5000A jump starter from a no-name Chinese company for less than $30. I went ahead and ordered two of them, one for me to keep in my truck and one to give my youngest son, since he (like me) tends to drive old used vehicles and might get use out of one of these. I'll try to let you know my thoughts once I get it.

 

[WAYNO]

I received one of these cheap chinese jump starters a couple years ago as a gift. Wouldn't even start my riding lawn mower.

I recently bought the WolfBox, highly rated. Haven't had a dead battery to try it out yet.

I have used the NoCo and its performance was quite unbelievable, in a good way.

 

[Killer Bee]

for farm and fleet, I recommend a good set of high current cables 2ga or better.

I managed a 9500 piece utility company fleet and all of our service trucks are equipped with quick connect style like these.

https://www.buyersproducts.com/product/booster-cables-with-quick-connect-500

none of those pocket gadgets are going to reliably crank heavy equipment with dual gp31 batteries, especially with weak or worn batteries and/or any sort of other starting issues, including cold diesels, requiring extended amount of cranking.

I'm sure they work great in
residential neighborhoods to start light trucks and sedans with otherwise healthy cranking systems that may have left their lights on or whatever.

but seriously heavy duty applications require high capacity and high delivery that most consumer automotive gadgets can't deliver.

growing up on a farm and having been a heavy equipment mechanic-manager 35yrs, never owned anything but a good set of cables. the set I carry in my daily driver are probably 30yrs old and have jumped hundreds of trucks and machines.

there's some things that just don't need reinventing, jump starting is one of them.

good luck!

 

[Joe Chartreuse]

Those little jump packs and those that use tool batteries have done me zero good. Now I carry a fully charged PEAK jump pack / compressor/ AC power supply in the vehicle. Jumps anything, and good for 3-4 hits on a full charge. Shumacher makes their version almost identical. I've had this one at least 3 years and still works like I bought it yesterday.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I'd look at a NoCo 2000A jump starter on Amazon for $199. And if I had to use it much, I would buy a new battery. I bought new 4DLT battery this week

THIS THIS THIS THIS ... we use jump packs all the time and we sell the 1000 A and 2000 A versions of the NOCO because they partnered with GM and they even have a GM part number (we can get a 3K amp version with a GM number too but it doesn't sell as overkill for most). NOCO sells them in 500 A increments. I just bought a 2000 with GM points and another guy has the 3K.

BIG NOCO on Amazon

 

[blume357]

I bought one of the popular jump starters (Noco Boost X BBX45) after my basic 12 volt battery one failed me and a friend had one of those and jumped me off... worked good on a car a few months ago... then I left the lights on in my van over night and totally killed the battery and pulled this NOCO out and it would not do a thing.... seems it looses it charge over a month or so. Indicator lights on it showed a half charge but when I tried to use it it just flashed at me.

I'm very interested in one that would use Milwaukee 18volt batteries... I have a few of those.

 

[SWR]

Go to "Project Farm" on YouTube. He recently completed a comprehensive test on these and had a couple real winners. Excellent testing and channel content

 

[GasGuzzler]

I bought one of the popular jump starters (Noco Boost X BBX45) after my basic 12 volt battery one failed me and a friend had one of those and jumped me off... worked good on a car a few months ago... then I left the lights on in my van over night and totally killed the battery and pulled this NOCO out and it would not do a thing.... seems it looses it charge over a month or so. Indicator lights on it showed a half charge but when I tried to use it it just flashed at me.

Did you read the instructions? Come on, be honest.

I did the same thing when I borrowed the co-worker's NOCO and learned from him. If the battery you are jumping off is 100% dead you have to push and hold the "!" button until the white indicator light turns on. The pack has a built in anti-reversal setting to prevent shorts and it doesn't turn on the battery unless it see some parent voltage. If the jumpee is dead DEAD there's nothing to sense and you must put the pack in BOOST mode or whatever it's called.

Hope that helps next time. Sorry for the super negative post again.

 

[JiminMaine]

There is a pretty good test of a bunch of jump pack here. H doesn't like the one that use cordless drill batteries.

 

[gnappi]

I'd look at a NoCo 2000A jump starter on Amazon for $199. And if I had to use it much, I would buy a new battery. I bought new 4DLT battery this week

I've had a NoCo for years and it will start anything, it fits in a kid's padded / cooler lunch box, holds a charge a long time.

 

[Richbaker]

I plug this in to charge it maybe twice a year for 10 minutes just to keep it fully charged. I’ll never use the old style units again.
——————————————-

https://antigravitybatteries.com/products/micro-starts/xp-10-g2/

• Jump-Start most any Vehicle. Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles, much more
• Start Diesel Trucks up to 7.3L and gas engines up to 10 Liters!
• Charge Phones, Tablets, Laptops, 12V devices and USB devices (Apple or Windows)
• DC (12v) OUTPUT, Type C USB IN/OUT and Type A QC USB
• Type-C PD 30w Super Fast Charging (3 hr recharge)
• 600A starting current / 3000A peak
• 16,000 mAh capacity (59.2 Wh)
• Bright LED Flashlight built-in
• 9.6 x 4 x 1.4 inches (245x104x36 mm)
• Carry Case and all Accessories included

View attachment 89717

I have this one, works great.

 

[blume357]

Did you read the instructions? Come on, be honest.

I did the same thing when I borrowed the co-worker's NOCO and learned from him. If the battery you are jumping off is 100% dead you have to push and hold the "!" button until the white indicator light turns on. The pack has a built in anti-reversal setting to prevent shorts and it doesn't turn on the battery unless it see some parent voltage. If the jumpee is dead DEAD there's nothing to sense and you must put the pack in BOOST mode or whatever it's called.

Hope that helps next time. Sorry for the super negative post again.

That's probably what it was even though I think I tried that....
What instructions?
The instructions for these things are pretty lame... I think this is the unit that came with one of those super small instruction books that really has no instructions just warnings and disclaimers and if I recall 32 different languages... not making this up.
Now I need to go get the dern thing and relook at the 'instructions' printed on it.. which is the most confusing mess if I recall. I suspect like most modern technology "once you actually get it then you got it" but that first hurdles is a big one if you were born say before 1970.

 

[gjgalligan]

I bought a battery powered unit 20 -25 years ago, kept it charged up. Never used it and now it won't take a charge. Inquired in getting a replacement battery but obsolete.
Since I had never had a use I just passed on buying another.
Jumper cables still work.

 

[krw]

That's probably what it was even though I think I tried that....
What instructions?
The instructions for these things are pretty lame... I think this is the unit that came with one of those super small instruction books that really has no instructions just warnings and disclaimers and if I recall 32 different languages... not making this up.
Now I need to go get the dern thing and relook at the 'instructions' printed on it.. which is the most confusing mess if I recall. I suspect like most modern technology "once you actually get it then you got it" but that first hurdles is a big one if you were born say before 1970.

Don't put yourself through the stress and pressure. Get a set of jumper cables

 

[Mobuck]

Unfortunately, 'jumper cables' aren't always the correct answer.
1: With equipment stacked in a shed, often it's impossible to get within 20' of the dead/weak battery.
2: Jumper cables pretty much require a second vehicle or ?? to work OR dragging a fresh battery close enough to jump.
3: #2 requires having a good, charged battery just sitting around--not something most folks have.
4: All of the above require time and manpower which is often not available or inconvenient.
My hope is to have something that doesn't depend on it's own, proprietary internal battery to work. It doesn't seem that the Milwaukee is capable of meeting my expectations. Some/many of the customer reports made a big deal of the unit's light. I don't need a flashlight, I need a powerful jump pack that uses a battery I already have right there in the pickup.

 

[GasGuzzler]

I bought a battery powered unit 20 -25 years ago, kept it charged up. Never used it and now it won't take a charge. Inquired in getting a replacement battery but obsolete.
Since I had never had a use I just passed on buying another.
Jumper cables still work.

That was likely lead acid. They are Li-ion now and can hold a charge for years in a much smaller package. My 2000 amp jumper is the size of a large sub sandwich.

Don't put yourself through the stress and pressure. Get a set of jumper cables

They don't help when you're alone. I have carried cables for 24 years and use them regularly to help others or jump another of mine off ... but by myself it does no good and at work it's a PITA to get my keys, get my truck, pull to the car I am jumping, get the cables out, jump it off then reverse all that. Carrying something out there and driving it back in with no clean up saves time and time is money.

 

[Killer Bee]

for equipment stacked in a shed, don't you have to move the others blocking it anyways?

I disconnect/remove batteries from equipment not in use for extended times or use house chargers on otherwise healthy batteries during off season.

bad batteries get replaced immediately. roughly 5 years is typical, just factor it in with other maintenance costs and fuel. life is much to short to waste time like that. operating equipment that depends on jump starting is extremely frustrating. it's much better on your sanity to just replace bad batteries.

for stubborn or cold natured equipment, most jumpers don't regenerate like a running machine with a charging system. another frustration I don't need if I'm trying to get something started that doesn't want to cooperate. at least with a steady supply of cranking juice, I can focus on the real problem, not running back and forth for something to crank the engine I'm working on.

as far as parking, yah I get it, we have three buildings arranged similar to this. invariably something in the back needs to come out, but whatever else is blocking it has to be started anyways for it to move. implements, planters, trailers, etc. don't get parked in front of trucks and tractors.

I can use a set of cables a dozen times or an hour straight if needed and they never have to be charged or replaced, and they're just as easy to connect to a battery as cables off of a portable tool. I always have something or somethings running to get here so that's never an issue.

like I said, there may be a place for them in town where people only own one car or whatever, but I can't justify the expense, storage, and handling hassle when I've got a couple dozen perfectly good batteries to jump from already.

and lastly, cables always work, always. the last thing I need is another thing to break, fail, wear out, run down, etc. I'm up to my shoulders in that already.

I'm just simple like that but everyone has their own way of doing business. good luck!

works every time

 

[blume357]

I have a set of cables in all three of our vehicles,... well actually only two, my wife's Ford Hybrid Fusion does not.... but I've always found a booster battery is a heck of a lot easier than having to drive close to the vehicle and hooking up the cables... if I had the time and such then is makes since ... to do this and not even try to jump off the vehicle just let the battery get charged... but the way my life as been for the last 40+ years I've pretty much needed to be going....

 

[krw]

Well ya'll missd the sarcasm. If You can't read insructions and understand how to use a 'jump pack', only thing left to use is jumper cables

 

[Mobuck]

I guess another aspect of the use of jumper cables is the wear/tear on the jumping vehicle's battery/alternator. My old 98 K3500 has been the primary 'jumper' most of it's life. To the best of my memory, it's had 5 alternators, 3-4 sets of cables (because the ends were burned/melted by the jumper cable clamps), maybe 8-10 batteries, and far more drive belts than normal--most of this as a result of using jumper cables IMHO. I'm currently using 'daul post' batteries so the jumper cables have a better contact.

 

[GasGuzzler]

My 2007 Sierra has had more than 8 batteries...and three alternators. Only on the second set of cables.