Battery jump boxes are cool and handy!

Racer88

Racer88

Big Kahuna Admin
Staff member
Exchange Privileges
Joined
Feb 26, 2022
Messages
13,312
Reaction score
14,961
Points
168
Location
USA! USA!
I got to be the hero saving the day again today.

I stopped for gas. While I was fueling up, I saw a pick-up at another pump with a 2nd pick-up pulled up nose-to-nose. They had jumper cables connecting the two, with the dead battery being the truck at the pump. Apparently the dead truck was still not turning over fast enough to get started. So, the donor truck dude was revving his engine while the dead truck took a break from trying.... presumably to give the dead truck a bit of a charge before trying again.

Then they tried again. And again, the dead truck was just barely turning over and then click. It just wasn't getting enough juice from the donor truck.

I was done fueling, so I went over and offered to get my jump box out.

1723594329725.png


They accepted, so I grabbed the Noco jump box out of my Outback and hooked it up. Pressed the power button. It went through the "analysis" and the ready light came on in a few seconds. I told the dead truck guy to give it a go. It cranked fast and started immediately! Very cool! Dead truck guy was very pleased.

I then flipped my cape over my shoulder and flew off into the sunset! :cool:
superman flying GIF by Clay Rodery
 
Last edited:
Nice. I've got one of those but haven't had the chance to use it yet. Always found it hard to believe such a small thing could do a jump but there you have it! Also handy for the flashlight and USB outlet.
 
Miltonboro said:
Nice. I've got one of those but haven't had the chance to use it yet. Always found it hard to believe such a small thing could do a jump but there you have it! Also handy for the flashlight and USB outlet.
Click to expand...
I've used it twice to jump other people's cars. Works a charm. I agree... it's hard to believe this small box can jump a car easily... many times on one charge.
 
Racer88 said:
I've used it twice to jump other people's cars. Works a charm. I agree... it's hard to believe this small box can jump a car easily... many times on one charge.
Click to expand...

I've been through a few of those old school ones with the lead acid AGM batteries in them that weighed 40 pounds. I do not miss them! And they did not last long or fit in my glove box. Gotta love Lithium Ion batteries!
 
Great job Racer!

Have you taken a close look at modern jumper cables? They are mostly insulation. I wonder if that is why they did not have sucess with them.
 
Alex said:
Great job Racer!

Have you taken a close look at modern jumper cables? They are mostly insulation. I wonder if that is why they did not have sucess with them.
Click to expand...
Not sure what you mean.
 
Racer88 said:
Not sure what you mean.
Click to expand...
He likely means many jumper cables sold at places like Walmart and even auto parts chains utilize thinner gauge wire because better cables that transport the donor battery's electric current better are much more expensive. I forget the gauge of the jumper cables I've carried in my vehicles for over 20 years, but they were the heaviest gauge available at the time.

I'm long overdue to update to one of those NOCO Boost jump boxes like you have! (y)(y)
 
Last edited:
BeerHunter said:
He likely means many jumper cables sold at places like Walmart and even auto parts chains utilize thinner gauge wire because better cables that transport the donor battery's electric current better are much more expensive. I forget the gauge of the jumper cables I've carried in my vehicles for over 20 years, but they were the heaviest gauge available at the time.

I'm long overdue to update to one of those NOCO Boost jump boxes like you have! (y)(y)
Click to expand...
Oh, I see. Yeah... I've seen really good (thick gauge) jumper cables costing as much as $200.

And maybe that's why the jumper cables weren't working for those guys yesterday. Not enough juice getting to the dead battery car.
 
Yes, @BeerHunter is right. There is very little metal in jumper cables these days. Here's a set that has 4!!! strands of aluminum wire in each cable. How much current will they support? I am guessing not much.
20240814_075339.jpg
 
Alex said:
Great job Racer!

Have you taken a close look at modern jumper cables? They are mostly insulation. I wonder if that is why they did not have sucess with them.
Click to expand...

Haha, yes, I've got a set of those, the insulation is the diameter of a finger but it's like 12AWG inside, and they're super stiff below 40degF, no idea where I got them
 
Last edited:
I recently heard about these jumper cables. Prepare to PAY, though!

Quality Jumper Cables

store.polarwire.com store.polarwire.com

At that price point, it makes more sense to get a really good jump box.
 
Last edited:
I have the same unit. It's awesome. I have used it a number of times. I have other NOCO gear. Trickle chargers. VG quality.
 
Those things are so awesome! I used to work at Amazon and we had the mini sized ones about two cell phones thick . They would get 5 to 7 jump starts per charge. We used them every day during the summer in Phoenix. I need to buy one of those for my car, soon. Jumper cables take up too much space in my tiny trunk.
 
MikedaddyH said:
Those things are so awesome! I used to work at Amazon and we had the mini sized ones about two cell phones thick . They would get 5 to 7 jump starts per charge. We used them every day during the summer in Phoenix. I need to buy one of those for my car, soon. Jumper cables take up too much space in my tiny trunk.
Click to expand...
This one is a fair bit bigger than that. But it will crank over a 6.5-liter diesel or an 8.5-liter gas engine. 2500 amps. I pretty do everything "over-kill." :) But I've also got the room in the cargo area of the Outback.
 
Racer88 said:
This one is a fair bit bigger than that. But it will crank over a 6.5-liter diesel or an 8.5-liter gas engine. 2500 amps. I pretty do everything "over-kill." :) But I've also got the room in the cargo area of the Outback.
Click to expand...
Looks pretty cool. I've had some situations where jumper cables didn't work. It could also prove useful if you can't readily find someone to jump from. I've always been taught to hook the negative of the charged cable to the engine block/chasis of the car as opposed to the negative terminal of the battery. It looks like this unit more or less recommends hooking up to the negative terminal - is that how you use it?
 
brian said:
It looks like this unit more or less recommends hooking up to the negative terminal - is that how you use it?
Click to expand...
Correct... you connect this directly to the two battery terminals. The cables are very short.

Here are some photos to give perspective on size.
Noco-jump-box.jpg
 
I found those NOCO starter bricks invaluable. I would often be away from my home base for a month or more. Invariably, I would forget to lift the battery terminal on my vehicle(s), so when I came home they were dead. My boat battery was always dead whenever I wanted to use it. No power at the dock. NOCO to the rescue. I later installed a battery disconnect switch on the boat and the problem went away.
 
Last edited:
@Racer88 prompted me to get one. I hope I never need it, but given my history with car batteries I suspect I will.
 

Share this page

Back
Top