Have you guys had any good/bad experiences with the compact kits to jump-start your vehicles?

(Thinking about putting one in the granddaughter's car I purchased for her, but don't want her to depend on it for emergency starting if it won't be dependable!)

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/4770021364/p/1

Im planning on a Noco myself https://www.amazon.com/gp/prod...=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

NOCO and Audew seem to be well liked here, several threads on the topic:

https://sigforum.com/eve/forums...935/m/8740074564/p/1

I just ordered two Audew ones after reading threads here and watching some reviews. 20,000mAh version I think.

Still waiting for them to arrive, but long overdue item I meant to buy long ago.

Find out which of them- if any- are not made in China, then go from there.

"NOCO"? That sounds like anything you see on Amazon that comes from a company whose name ends in "star"- Chinese crap. Apparently, "star" is one of the few English words they know.

I would recommend a different approach to the problem.
Make sure the battery is relatively new and terminals, wiring, etc. looks good to minimize the chance of a problem. Then, in case she leaves something on and runs it down or other issue, have a AAA or insurance roadside protection rider.
Otherwise its just another potential problem in itself that she may not be able to deploy for use when needed.

How times have changed. Can't tell you how many times over the years I've pulled out a simple pair of jumper cables and jumped off a dead battery for someone in need. Even had someone do it for me once when I had a battery fail out of the blue.

I found this review the most helpful ...




Link to original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8A2nIMUWA

... so I'm strongly considering the TOPVISION
Link: https://www.amazon.com/TOPVISI...=8-2#customerReviews

quote:

Originally posted by 220-9er:
I would recommend a different approach to the problem.
Make sure the battery is relatively new and terminals, wiring, etc. looks good to minimize the chance of a problem. Then, in case she leaves something on and runs it down or other issue, have a AAA or insurance roadside protection rider.
Otherwise its just another potential problem in itself that she may not be able to deploy for use when needed.

^^^ Honestly, I like this advice best. See the thing is with those small lithium jump starter batteries is they only last a matter of seconds on a straight up dead battery before they're depleted.

Might work if someone left their lights on for example and ran their car battery down, BUT if there are mechanical issues with a vehicle and someone cranked and cranked till the vehicle battery went dead, then these starter batteries aren't going to be much good.

On the other hand, jumper cables might not be effective either depending on the mechanical issue. But at least with jumper cables, if they don't jump the vehicle off in seconds, there's still time to evaluate mechanical issues as needed and try jumper cables again at will.

If I do get one of these lithium starter batteries, I'll still keep jumper cables in the vehicle too. And really, the battery and cables are only there to help others in distress. In the last 30 years or so, I've only needed to be jumped off once. I had a 12V cooler that drained my vehicle battery.

Review

NOCO is a USA multinational company, HQ in Solon Ohio, the family members still run the company, 500+ employees and $54 Million a year revenue.

They hold the patent on portable vehicle battery jumpstart apparatus with safety protection...

Linko to NOCO

A friend carries one with him in his car, and on motorcycle trips, its saved the bacon a few times when batteries have gone bad while driving, either through faulty charging systems or a cell that drops.

The good thing about these is you don't need to rely on someone else to stop and help, which means you get a good samaritan or perhaps someone nefarious...

There are units that you simply plug into the cigarette lighter to jump the car, which would mean they wouldn't have to get out, open the hood or trunk to connect the jumper...

They have flashlights, usb connectors to keep the phone charged, in the situation where someone loses car battery power, and the phone isn't fully charged.

And as with anything, training is key, whatever you do, run through some training scenarios where she deploys it herself...

Yep, some of them have a bunch of addons. Maybe if I needed lights, ports, charging systems or to cook a meal, I'd get a generator LOL ... or a motor home.

As of last Christmas, my lady friend and myself both have NOCO units in our cars. I don't want to depend on a "Good Samaritan with jumper cables", or deal with AAA. I have one of the bigger, heavy units with a wet cell in it that I have put in one of my cars from time to time, but I like this concept much better. I hope that I never have to use it, but if I do, hopefully, it will bail my butt out and get me home.

NOCO makes good stuff, I’ve had one of their units for a couple of years.

I have the Noco 2000 amp jump box and it has started my Tundra when all it would do is click without it. After jumping it off it still had 80-85% charge left on it.

Good information and good advice, as usual. Thanks!

(You would think a 76 yr old man would be smart enough to do a thread search first - but you are putting way to much faith in a 76 yr old man.

Whatever you buy make sure the clamps or cables will fit the terminals. When I purchased my new Tiguan I had to find a starter with clamps that fit the battery.

I bought one about six months ago. It came in handy recently as my battery decided it was nearing the end of its life.

A few things to know. If your battery is really low it may have to sit charging you battery for a little before it will start. If your battery is just a little undercharge like mine was when I used it it will start right up.

They do have some limitations but for the size, I think they are great to have.

My Father in law is a genius. He went NOCO, I went NOCO. Works great. It jumps batteries much faster than jumper cables. Buy with confidence. Pickle Rick.

He's asking about his granddaughter here. His granddaughter might be the most responsible woman on earth but in my experience getting a jump box or rechargeable jump box is wasted on the youth since they're not going to really maintain it. You'd be better off getting her a set of cables and a AAA subscription.

quote:

Originally posted by rocket72:
He's asking about his granddaughter here. His granddaughter might be the most responsible woman on earth but in my experience getting a jump box or rechargeable jump box is wasted on the youth since they're not going to really maintain it. You'd be better off getting her a set of cables and a AAA subscription.

Very astute observation, rocket72. Yes, she is tremendously responsible - but she is also 17 yrs old! I will definitely supply those two items, but I am a doting old grandfather who likes to cover all the bases for his granddaughter.

She has never uttered a cross word, or sarcastic remark, or demonstrated "teenage attitude" toward her grandfather in those 17 years. Rare teenagers like that deserve to be doted upon!