portable car charger/jump starter?

bowenx · 05-28-2018, 07:37 AM

Hello OT,
I am trying to help my elderly neighbor in his search for a battery jump starter.
He has a newer subaru outback with the push start and more bells and whistles than he is used too. On more than one occaision i have been called to jump start his car due to him leaving something open or not correctly shutting the car down.
Thankfully he does shut it off but doesnt always have it in park.
All that being said, he would like a jump starter he can hook up in case of an emergency to start his car. His wife is in an assisted living facility and may need to go there at a moments notice.
I have continued to tell him to call me at any hour if there is an emergency. He has also used up his "free" jumps from AAA.
I looked up several kinds and am not sure what a good option is. He says he wants something cheap...but from the reviews if you go too cheap you get what you pay for.
Do any of you have first hand experience with a jump starter/booster?
Thank you

id10t · 05-28-2018, 07:46 AM

Our campus police department have a few (they no longer physically assist, may have had something to do with one of them almost kinking the hood of my 356 trying to "help")

I'll drop the chief a phone call tomorrow and ask what brand they are using

Something else that may work is to give him a lawn mower battery - small enough to be picked up and moved from a trunk, etc. but enough to give a jump start.

pwd72s · 08:01 AM

My old Craftsman charger has a "jump start" feature...think I paid $29.95 on sale years ago. I'm thinking a search could find similar today. Can he get an extension cord to the car?

Did a quick search..this looks close to my old sears unit...

https://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-SE-5212A-Automatic-Handheld-Battery/dp/B0009IBJCQ/ref=lp_15707061_1_25_sspa/140-0345408-7002174?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1527522987&sr=1-25-spons&psc=1

Oracle · 05-28-2018, 08:00 AM

Sadly, they all suck, I'm the 3rd one and after 1-2years the battery is so weak they're useless...

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

I have one of these. Works great! https://www.amazon.com/Nekteck-Multifunctional-Portable-External-16800mAh/dp/B00VIN920M/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1527524383&sr=8-5&keywords=nekteck+jump+starter

KNS · 05-28-2018, 08:28 AM

Our daughter is off at college and keeps one in her car: Noco Genius Boost GB40. It holds a charge a long time and you can get several starts out of it.

It saved her butt one freeing winter day when campus security would not help her jump start her car. She hooked it up (I was one the phone with her) and it started right up. She keeps it in her glove box.

Steve Carlton · 05-28-2018, 08:38 AM

We found regular ones don't last under extended use, but I don't think your neighbor needs a commercial grade one.

I believe they flow a tremendous amount of energy and you need to minimize how long they're connected, so it might be a good idea to get one with a button to start/stop the energy flow, especially if your neighbor might not be quick about starting the car.

bowenx · 05-28-2018, 08:42 AM

Thank you for the replies.
I might go with a plug in model that has the jump option as that will likely always be ready. I would be concerned he would forget to keep it topped up. I like the idea of a self contained unit...but i would be more on top of it.
I will keep poking around as for each one that has great reviews there are also several comments that make me 2nd guess.
Thanks again

jpk · 05-28-2018, 04:57 PM

The little lithium ion battery ones are surprisingly capable and will hold a charge for a long time - just plug it in overnight every 6 or 8 months and it's never let me down when I needed it. $50 or $60 on amazon will get one.

Brian 162 · 05-28-2018, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNS

Our daughter is off at college and keeps one in her car: Noco Genius Boost GB40. It holds a charge a long time and you can get several starts out of it.

It saved her butt one freeing winter day when campus security would not help her jump start her car. She hooked it up (I was one the phone with her) and it started right up. She keeps it in her glove box.

I have the same one. I've used it to jump start my neighbor's cars. I use it on road trips to charge the phones (usb port).

look 171 · 05-28-2018, 09:12 PM

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Antigravity-Batteries-Micro-Start-XP-10-HD-HEAVY-DUTY-650A-Lithium-Jump-Starter/162684329585?epid=19012175894&hash=item25e0bdde71:g:YDUAAOSwyXNaARkp

I bought one of these, The heavy duty one, from the sales guy at cal speed way at a resent Porsche event. This is their heavy duty one that will start a diesel truck. He claims the diesel mechanics uses it. My kids uses it to charge their game or phones. So far, I have had to use it yet.