Thread: Lithium Jumper Packs

Originally Posted by Celtoid

There is a USB plug in the top glove box?

I've owned 2 D4s and never knew that .... or is it post 2013 build?

2014 build and it was probably a $900 option ....

Originally Posted by Celtoid

There is a USB plug in the top glove box?

I've owned 2 D4s and never knew that .... or is it post 2013 build?

Easy to fit one in there...

Originally Posted by Tombie

Easy to fit one in there...

Glovebox usb.jpg

Better set up too.

The factory one is something like 0.4a and not sufficient to charge any device.

A couple of years ago I bought one of those lithium jump starters, one that was suitable for diesel engines, used it once, worked fine, recharged it up and stuck it under the front seat, went to use some months later and it had swollen up and was useless. I now use its nippy little case to carry my battery drill.

Originally Posted by matti4556

Projecta Intelli-Start 12V 1500A Lithium Jumpstarter | Supercheap Auto

Wowza. For $600+ 4kg and only a 12 month warranty that'd want to be bloody good. Oddly enough whenever I've needed assistance, or needed to give assistance I've been able to find another vehicle to put the jumpers on. They don't die with age and with sufficient cable cross section they'll pretty much start a bus.

I love the idea of a Lithium jump starter, but I've seen too many up in smoke to believe any of them are really reliable long term. Most of them seem to use either cheap mosfets in the switching/bms or they use cheap cells which die just outside of the warranty period (if you're lucky). Ok for putting a surface charge on a viable starting battery, but that's about it.

That Projecta looks the business but I'd have to work hard to justify $600 vs a pair of good jumpers.

I've used a Ryobi one+ battery in series with a 21W incandescent to put a surface on a flat battery, but if it'd had dropped a cell I'd have been SOL even with most of the cheaper jump starters.

If a battery drops a cell etc, most modern vehicles won’t run even with a jump start.

About 2 years back I had to assist a guy whose battery was flat. I was actually parked next to him. NRMA was going to be well over an hour. I didn't have jumper leads but had an idea. I always try to "multi-use" items I always carry. I always carry my tyre air compressor, a 10 metres Anderson plug extension and Anderson to battery clamp adapter. (I use this for pumping up car and van tyres as needed.

Anyway, I ran anderson extension from traxide plug at rear of car to front of adjacent car, plugged in battery clamp adapters and ran my car to put some charge into his battery. Ran for 5 mins, disconnected plugs and he started straight up. Putting in 50 Amps (or whatever) for a few mins is often enough. Cables were barely warm.