Battery Jump Starter recommendations?.

[Keithmac]

It's not a very common occurrence but it does happen front time to time so a jump starter would be good for "get us out of the poo" situations.

I have mentioned a battey tender (Optimate, Norco or CTek) but there's a few reasons why they would not be ideal. Plus either the Van or Minibuses will not be near to accessible 240v outlets.

Summer they are out all the time but coming into Winter they are laid up for a while and we do like to have some time off over Christmas.

The Gooloo 4000's do seem to get some very good reviews.

Thanks for all the comments.

 

[Kram]

I had a noco GB70, about 2000 amps I think or whatever the measurement is. Was ok, but now got a gooloo 4000gt and it's much better for less than half the price. Presume it's due to it being twice the size rather than intrinsically better, I'm sure any make of 4000a would be just as good, as the saying goes there's no replacement for displacement!

Quoting the peak amps (chinese amps, just before fire) number, is not very useful. The only real measure if a good one, is the battery capacity, in Ah or mAh. Many of these jump starters dont advertise that number as they are trying to sell rubbish small ones as a " 60000A starts everything" lie.
The better ones will be above 20Ah or 20,000mAh but the largest I have seen listed was around 28Ah.

 

[AVI_8]

I’ve got a Noco, can’t remember the model number but it was one of the better models, managed to start a BMW 2.0D zero times, and failed on a BMW 3.0D as well, it did manage to rescue a 5.7 mercruiser stuck in the middle of Loch Lomond for someone else so it wasn’t a complete failure, my thoughts on the Noco, not man enough for a diesel with high compression.

 

[4String.]

Noco gbx 45 for me.

Great piece of kit, works every time I need it. Sorted my starting issues by replacing both batteries but I keep the Noco charged (and checked regularly) in case I need it. And it's surprising how often I help someone out who has a flat battery.

I looked into getting a booster that would start a Wartsila Sulzer RTA 96 - C but as I have a Transit Custom with a 2.2 diesel it seemed like overkill....

 

[addjunkie]

I looked into getting a booster that would start a Wartsila Sulzer RTA 96 - C but as I have a Transit Custom with a 2.2 diesel it seemed like overkill....

That will be 30 bar ish air start…..a two stroke.

 

[Dcal]

I bought a Noco GB40 from Halfords. It never managed to start a 1.9 diesel.
I'm sure it was faulty and I was probably unlucky, but I lost faith in the make.

I returned the Noco and bought a Goolo GT400S bundle on line for less money, and it has started everything I've tried including a completly flat Transit that wouldn't even put a dash light on.
It has a boost button that allows this but when it turns the feature off, after 30secs or so, the engine stalled so I needed jump leads as well which I can't blame on the jump pack.
Overall it's a a great unit.

If I remember they were both around the £130 mark.

 

[JOEPRO]

My Noco GB40 started my 5.5L V12 today



Then also started a 5L V8.

Very impressive.

 

[johnny7]

I bought this from the bootsale many years ago, It's never failed to start a car with just a flat battery!

I've not had to use it over the last couple of years, Last time it was on my sons Octavia, He bought a seat warmer and forgot to turn it off!, Thing was that I couldn't get the passenger door to open so I could pop the bonnet as there wasn't clearance to pull the lever!, Managed it eventually and got the car started!

The starter still works but the 'Charged' light doesn't seem to come on any more but still gets the three red lights on!

John..

 

[skotl]

My Noco GB40 started my 5.5L V12 today

View attachment 483184

Then also started a 5L V8.

Very impressive.

Got a Noco GBX45 £125 on a Halfords trade card (£145 RRP), and it has no problems with my 4l V8.

I bought a Noco GB40 from Halfords. It never managed to start a 1.9 diesel.
I'm sure it was faulty and I was probably unlucky, but I lost faith in the make...

Gotta be faulty, I'd think

 

[dobbslc]

My GB40 started this,



With one of these in it.


V8 air cooled petrol.

 

[skotl]

My GB40 started this,
View attachment 483277


With one of these in it.

View attachment 483274View attachment 483275
V8 air cooled petrol.

You win

 

[Kram]

Yaber started my dads little Kia.

Odd problem, the car was fine up until now, , he'd just been on a long drive, stopped at Lidl for shopping and was flat when he returned, with the starter solenoid clicking, nothing left on.
I gave it a short boost before turning key, started instantly, disconnect starter, waited 30 secs turn off and see if it restarts, it did all good.
We know his batteries getting old and the capacity is now too low for the stop start feature. Perhaps time for new battery.

 

[Dcal]

View attachment 484577

Yaber started my dads little Kia.

Odd problem, the car was fine up until now, , he'd just been on a long drive, stopped at Lidl for shopping and was flat when he returned, with the starter solenoid clicking, nothing left on.
I gave it a short boost before turning key, started instantly, disconnect starter, waited 30 secs turn off and see if it restarts, it did all good.
We know his batteries getting old and the capacity is now too low for the stop start feature. Perhaps time for new battery.

I'd say so.
That's the exact same symptoms as my battery as it died.
Once I replaced the battery it's been fine.

 

[JOEPRO]

View attachment 484577

Yaber started my dads little Kia.

Odd problem, the car was fine up until now, , he'd just been on a long drive, stopped at Lidl for shopping and was flat when he returned, with the starter solenoid clicking, nothing left on.
I gave it a short boost before turning key, started instantly, disconnect starter, waited 30 secs turn off and see if it restarts, it did all good.
We know his batteries getting old and the capacity is now too low for the stop start feature. Perhaps time for new battery.

Test the battery? If you don't have a tester take it to an autoparts store they will test it for you. Don't guess if the battery is bad or not it's easy to know for sure.

 

[Kram]

Yes I will bring in and do a discharge/ charge test with the lipo charger. If its significantly under spec we will replace.


I should say, he had phoned RAC at 9pm and he was told they wouldnt get to him before 1-3am. That is unacceptable in my opinion. Took me a little over 40 mins from home.

 

[Dcal]

Test the battery? If you don't have a tester take it to an autoparts store they will test it for you. Don't guess if the battery is bad or not it's easy to know for sure.

That's what I did and they said it was fine.
I spent weeks wondering if the car would start or not and checking for intermittent parasitic drain and disconnecting the battery at the airport carpark because it was a lottery if it would start or not after three days and buying a Noco jump starter that turned out to be faulty but thinking it was some other problem.

Changed the battery and zero issues since.