cjhillman
Posted a lot
1979 Capri (Rolling Project) 1985 Escort mk3 (Daily)
Posts: 1,580
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I bought one from a stand at Race Retro last year. I've used it a few times when I've been having a problem starting one of the cars and dropped the battery down too far for it to crank (it's a slow cranking engine at the best of times, and newly rebuilt so fairly "tight"). Seems OK, obviously only time will tell whether it lasts as long as my old "full size" one did.
The make I bought was Enigma "Mini series", and it comes with various phone charging things that aren't relevant to me. My only criticisms are minor - the on-off switch is one of these where you press it once for something, another time for something else, and it times out rather than powering down, rather than just having a "proper" switch. And the carrying case that comes with it is a bit big, just because it's got room for everything including the mains adapter. When I have it in the car I have a much smaller zip case and just have the block, the battery leads and (more recently) the mains adapter, mainly so I don't lose it.
ETA - looks like this is the one. It was cheaper than that at the show, probably a special price.
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I bought a cheap one last year for about £35 and i used it often as i have a battery drain and often forget to flip the battery disconnect ...
It worked really well and started the car up a treat everytime. Would start the car 10+ times on a single charge no problem. I accidently connected it up the wrong way round to the car in my frustration one dark morning before a show and now it won't charge. So its a big paper weight right now.
Need to get a new one, and I'm going to make sure i get polarity protection ...
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1973 MK1 2600 Capri - Located in Texas 1976 3.0S Capri - X-Pack long term Project 1978 2.0S Capri 1984 Transit County MK2 4x4 LWB 2.5DI 1985 2.8i Special Capri (v8 5.0L) 1986 2.8i Special Capri 1987 280 Turbo Technics Capri 1993 1.8TD P100 - Beater, parts collector 2008 BMW 320i Touring - Daily
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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I've had this one for about a year now: www.amazon.co.uk/FSTgo-Guluman-16800mAh-Portable-Flashlight/dp/B07K852GJ5/ref=sr_1_38?ie=UTF8&qid=1549284899&sr=8-38&keywords=car+jump+starter+power+pack and it's had some usage starting 2.3 Saabs, 5 cylinder Volvos, V8 Range Rovers, even trying to start the RV (6.5 diesel) until I realised it was the starter motor that was stuffed. I've had no issues with it so far. The market is flooded with them now - the Guluman was one that had been around long enough to actually get some (good) reviews and at the time was about twice that price... Supposedly has reverse connection protection (although I've not been daft enough yet) but it does "shut off" sometimes - just needs disconnecting and reconnecting to the battery again. Not a biggie when you know.
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Last Edit: Feb 4, 2019 13:03:38 GMT by Phil H
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jpr1977
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 656
Club RR Member Number: 18
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I have the same Gulman one as above, its handy to have and has started all kinds of things from mini's to big Diesels with no great problems. Buried in the small print is that they wont start anything with a very dead battery (less than 3v or suchlike) as a self protection measure but that's never been an issue so far...
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Last Edit: Feb 4, 2019 13:19:38 GMT by jpr1977
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,314
Club RR Member Number: 72
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Been wondering about these devices myself for a while & could not get my head around how that tiny thing could start a car lol! Will have to add to my gadget "wishlist"
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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I have the same Gulman one as above, its handy to have and has started all kinds of things from mini's to big Diesels with no great problems. Buried in the small print is that they wont start anything with a very dead battery (less than 3v or suchlike) as a self protection measure but that's never been an issue so far... There needs to be "something" in the battery - 5 minutes on a "normal" charger got enough volts in for the jump pack to work
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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They are of varying qualities but generally they are fine. Lidl do the smaller ones. From what I've seen they are great on smaller engined stuff and double up as a battery bank. However, on anything over 2 litres and it being cold, you will struggle. I went all out and got a Noco Genius Boost HD GB70. I may have got the GB40 like you are debating but I also wanted something that could jump start anything! I understand the GB40s can still do that. For me, it's the fact that: -We use them at work without issue -My garage uses them on recoveries without issue -They are great protection circuits in so as to not surge the electrics. The GB70 has been great for me. I've not jumpstarted my own cars with it (sod's law!), but it's come in handy for others where smaller ones have failed! It also doubles up as a 12V charger. Superb for when you are running an air pump to pump the tyres up around the car, inflating an airbed at a campsite, keeping a chiller running without destroying the car battery and as chunk and dickdasterdley remember, superb when all of you forget to bring any form of decent lighting to to RRG's camping! Well, I didn't, honest! But I'd probably get a GB40 if I were buying again. But no doubt, bar the 2CV, the M3 especially will require some cranking power!
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Last Edit: Feb 4, 2019 21:32:47 GMT by ChasR
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I bought a Noco gb40 late last year as my Toyota camper battery had flattened and wasn’t sure what the problem was, my camper has the 3.2 V6 engine and the little gb40 started it 11 times and after the 11th time was still only down to 75% charge, a few times there wasn’t even enough power in the battery to do central locking ! There is a facility on it for very flat batteries ( less than 5 volts ?) I’m definitely sold on it , it’s impressed me no end :-)
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moglite
Part of things
Posts: 815
Club RR Member Number: 144
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Interesting thread - I built a powerpack 10 years ago with a big lead acid battery and an inverter. Which worked well for family camping trips. But the battery is U/S now, and it looks like it is time to down-size, 'cause it is flipping heavy, and the kids have grown up.
I think I'm going to try the TackLife T8 Max.
It comes with a 12V out via cigarette lighter - which will be handy Also the croc leads appear to be connected via a slightly cumbersome box, but via an EC5 connector - common in the RC vehicle world. So it could be cheap to make up custom leads to an inverter or fridge etc.
There are leads available for the NoCo but the cost adds up.
It also has a boost button for cars with a close to zero voltage battery, and a case.
It seems it would work well as a USB power pack too, with two USB quick charge sockets.
My Amazon finger is itching :-)
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1967 Morris Oxford Traveller 1979 Toyota LandCruiser BJ40 1993 Daimler Double Six 2007 Volvo XC70 2.4D
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adam73bgt
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,856
Club RR Member Number: 58
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I bought a Noco GB40 last year, it happily jump starts my BMW which although is only a 2.0 straight 6, does usually require quite a hefty battery to start and the one in the car is pretty flat! I've used it a couple of times over the past few months and I've had no reason to recharge it yet, super portable to just chuck in the boot of a car as well, I'm definitely impressed with it
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Interesting thread - I built a powerpack 10 years ago with a big lead acid battery and an inverter. Which worked well for family camping trips. But the battery is U/S now, and it looks like it is time to down-size, 'cause it is flipping heavy, and the kids have grown up. I think I'm going to try the TackLife T8 Max. It comes with a 12V out via cigarette lighter - which will be handy Also the croc leads appear to be connected via a slightly cumbersome box, but via an EC5 connector - common in the RC vehicle world. So it could be cheap to make up custom leads to an inverter or fridge etc. There are leads available for the NoCo but the cost adds up. It also has a boost button for cars with a close to zero voltage battery, and a case. It seems it would work well as a USB power pack too, with two USB quick charge sockets. My Amazon finger is itching :-) The Nocos tend to come with the leads. Mine has the following: -USB lead to Micro USB -12V Cable -12V Socket to charge the pack from a 12V socket -Female 12V Socket to provide power to other devices. That's come in quite handy for me! The only extra I bought was the case. At £10 for a genuine solid case it was hardly a dealbreaker and helps to keep the accessories all in one place. It's also much easier to zip up than a mate's Anti-Gravity XPS-10. A shameless plug with a shot :
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Last Edit: Feb 5, 2019 18:41:36 GMT by ChasR
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Do these things have like a limit on how many times you charge them I bought a few from ebay one was flueon ( think that's how its spelt) and bought couple others but they say a number of charge cycles or something I remember it vagually and after some time they stopped working , but are the GB40\GB70 better or do they have a,charge cycle thing
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Feb 13, 2019 10:24:44 GMT
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I think all rechargeable batteries have a limit on how many charge cycles they will take, don't they? My old "big" jump starter pack only lasted for a certain time, though that was about 15 years or maybe more. Hence car batteries, laptop batteries, only last so long. I don't have the manual to hand for mine so I can't check.
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 979
Club RR Member Number: 13
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Feb 13, 2019 20:54:14 GMT
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They are of varying qualities but generally they are fine. Lidl do the smaller ones. From what I've seen they are great on smaller engined stuff and double up as a battery bank. However, on anything over 2 litres and it being cold, you will struggle. I bought one of those, mostly for the battery bank with camping in mind. Check want you're buying as the bank is lower than the carefully worded advert suggested. It's good on the 1.3lt acclaim. The turbo 1.6lt herald is hit and miss. Granted, I'm using it in the engine bay on "not ideal" terminals, the battery is in the boot and it has been flatter then a motorway hedgehog at the time. They're cheap, good to get you out of trouble and everyone who has seen it wants one. I always advise not to assume it will get you going every time. I'd imagine almost everything needs that caveat though.
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I think all rechargeable batteries have a limit on how many charge cycles they will take, don't they? My old "big" jump starter pack only lasted for a certain time, though that was about 15 years or maybe more. Hence car batteries, laptop batteries, only last so long. I don't have the manual to hand for mine so I can't check. I think your right but I got a cheap on of eBay and it only lasted a few months which was a pain, but maybe I kept using it for other bits like phone charging, however my big jump pack off ECP has lasted a while and is still going strong dispite having to put a new switch in for the air compressor but its wear a tear and covered in duct tape like it's carrying it's battle wounds it still keeps going
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Feb 14, 2019 10:44:25 GMT
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I've tried to make sure I stick to the "rules" - one thing they mentioned was about making sure it gets charged every three months, for example. And I've got it at home in the warm over winter while I'm not using it, so it doesn't get too cold.
I guess it's like anything else, the quality of the cells used inside it will vary.
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Wilk
Part of things
Posts: 528
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Feb 14, 2019 18:15:07 GMT
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Bought one off Amazon around 2years ago to replace my aged Clarke 4000. Mini pack cost £60. Wouldn't turn my sons Landy over never mind start it, even though the specs showed it starting an American V8 from flat
Seller gave me my money back but then wanted me to change my review. I DID change it but only to say the seller refunded my money.... wouldn't buy another unless someone proved they're up to the task
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If it can be fixed with a hammer, then it must be an electrical fault
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Feb 14, 2019 19:07:08 GMT
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When I was buying mine, the guy on the stand showed me the various specs as to what it should be able to cope with, but made a point of "rounding it down" - he said the specs from the manufacturer were a bit on the optimistic side, and he'd rather talk it down than have disappointed customers.
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Feb 14, 2019 21:42:01 GMT
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