Portable Jump Starters - Any good?

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:34 pm

My Z4 had a new battery in December 2016, but when I used it on Monday it wasn't too keen to start.

I hadn't used it for a week, but it has sat longer than that before!

Anyway I wondered about a solar charger, but the time of year it's going to need charging there isn't usually much sun.

And as I've no garage I can't use a mains charger.

This is the sort of thing I'm thinking of:- https://www.amazon.co.uk/12000mAh-Porta ... RID=2A1QX0

So I'd welcome any feedback anyone may be able to give from using these sort of devices.

Beatman · Post by **Beatman** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:02 am

I've got one, can't remember the make, (out in the wife's car). But works everytime, and holds charge for months.
Also good to run small devices from.

road warrior · Post by **road warrior** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 8:46 am

Looking at the thickness of the leads I think it would help a Low Battery but not a flat battery as its ability to start any car is limited to the amount of current the cable can carry.

bladeowner · Post by **bladeowner** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:00 am

I've got a similar one. Only had to use it once (due to my fault) but it started the car fine from a flat battery.

un1eash · Post by **un1eash** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:46 pm

I've been given this one to review on vine, hard to fully test it as don't have a car with a flat battery but hopefully one day will come in use.

Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H263BF7/ ... sCbCQTGSGM

Bottom · Post by **Bottom** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 4:55 pm

I've got a lead acid based one from good old Maplin (RIP) I used if for starting my boat after it had been lying up over the winter months. I've used it a couple of times for the Z4 and once for my Freelander 2 when I left the lights on by mistake.

Works fine, charge it once a year or so and it holds charge fine in my garage till I drag it out again. Mine also has a built in air compressor for tyres and a work light for dark evenings and a USB port to charge your iPhone!

Something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Car-Phone-Ch ... jump+packs

un1eash · Post by **un1eash** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 7:34 pm

My dads got the all singing and dancing halfords jumper starter with compressor and 240v inverter, its big though and weighs a ton. The portal units are the size of a small book.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:08 pm

un1eash wrote: ↑Thu Jan 24, 2019 12:46 pm I've been given this one to review on vine, hard to fully test it as don't have a car with a flat battery but hopefully one day will come in use.

Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H263BF7/ ... sCbCQTGSGM

I wish I had known - I could have tested it for you a couple of weeks ago when the battery in my E91 died!

Oh well, it looks like it'll be worthwhile getting one - the Z4 battery shouldn't ever be flat, just a bit discharged. I prefer not to use it when the roads have been salted, and anyway I put winters on the E91 for those conditions!

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

road warrior · Post by **road warrior** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 9:14 pm

road warrior · Post by **road warrior** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 8:29 am

Not completely relevant but, I have always regarded jump starting the worst option as it puts a lot of strain on things, (and gives Christmas lights too) so I prefer a booster situation, I have a 20amp battery charger with home made extension leads that will pick up a battery in 15/30 mins enough to start the car. And my blue zed now sits on an auto battery conditioner with extended leads. I also keep topped up a spare battery for more urgent needs with some serious jump leads for a faster transfusion of power.

Post by **srhutch** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 2:16 pm

I would try and stop the battery from going flat in the first place. Once it's gone flat a few times you'll probably have to get a new one.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Fri Jan 25, 2019 10:17 pm

I know a charger would be better, but like I said at the beginning that isn't an option!

To get power to it from my house the lead would have to go half-way along my front garden and across 2 neighbours' allocated spaces. Seeing as everyone from neighbours to postmen to take-away menu deliverers walk across my garden as a short-cut to the next house in the road, it'd only be a matter of time before one of the cheeky f*ckers tripped over it!

So it looks like solar charger and power pack for a belt and braces approach.

And just use it more anyway!

road warrior · Post by **road warrior** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 12:54 am

Under the assumption you don't have power drain somewhere a solar panel will be fine.

TitanTim · Post by **TitanTim** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 11:33 am

If there are spells where the car isn't being used much then I would have thought it would be much better using a battery conditioner such as CTEK regularly than leaving the car to sit with the battery discharging and then trying to kick it back into life with a jump starter, I imagine it will kill the battery much sooner doing it that way.

My Z3s battery lasted 13years using a CTEK charger when the car wasn't used much.

Tim.

road warrior · Post by **road warrior** » Sat Jan 26, 2019 11:38 am

Yes Tim but Mr tidy had already explained he can't provide mains hence the convo about Alternative power

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