Jumper Packs

[RichardK]

Anyone had experience with Jumper Packs, I get into some remote areas and I would like to add a Jumper Pack to my kit for use around camp and as an emergency backup.
I generally look for quality not cheap price as I like to have kit that gives good service and I can rely on.

[HangOver]

Anyone had experience with Jumper Packs, I get into some remote areas and I would like to add a Jumper Pack to my kit for use around camp and as an emergency backup.
I generally look for quality not cheap price as I like to have kit that gives good service and I can rely on.

Hi
If you are talking about those portable power thingys with jumper cables I got one from kmart, cheap and rubbish.
"buy cheap, buy twice"
I would recommend just buying a second battery. Much more power, more reliable and cost about the same.
But the packs do look nice


Just my two cents, maybe others have had better experiences?
Steve

[Aussie]

I bought one of those red jumper pack thingo's with the jumper cables and little analog test gauge "with built in torch". POS wouldnt jump start a morris minor with FA Compression

[mns488]

don't mean to hi jack but what about a bushranger power pack or engle power pack.

does anyone know if they are suitable to carry in the car... fumes and all?

[cewilson]

As already mentioned the cheap ones are crap. But if you get hold of a decent one they are great. We use them flat out at work and never have a problem as a rule. And we use them to start everything from Commodores to Mack Fleetliners.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

i dont think they are meant to start anything with a dead flat battery......
if the battery just wont crank the car......then you hook up the BOOSTER pack
and it just gives it that little bit more oomph.....just enough to get it started......
all they have in them is a small 12v battery......similar to what is found in home alarm systems
and UPSs on computer systems...........



a better option would be.....
spend a bit extra and install a second battery with an isolator......you can run accessories off this......
and then if you need to jump start the main in the morning for some reason.....you can use the second battery for that.....
it should still have enough charge in it for that bit of boost even if you were using it all night......

i have this setup.......a battery cost me $70 and around $120 for the isolator (from drivesafe).....
all i needed was a few short lengths of wire which i had sitting around and a bit of time to install it all.....
simple job.....and i never looked back.....

it also got me out of trouble when my battery died.....i just swapped the leads over and was on my merry way.....
(because i didnt have any jumper leads )


i also had one of those jumper packs from supercrap......its great when you dont need it.....
but when you do need it the battery is dead.....
and yes.....i did always carry it......and i did keep it charged....

[stevo]

do not buy them from super cheap! we had one at work that could switch from 12 or 24 volt and it could jump start a truck with dead batteries and you could carry it with one hand,I have the thumper brand have had it for 6 years that could jump start cars with dead batteries run the fridge and lights when camping etc.

[Michael2]

Why not just carry a good spare battery? If you want to get fancy, put it in one of those plastic marine battery boxes (about $15). You've already got jumper leads, but you can drill some holes in it and wire in a cigarette lighter socket for 12V power. A charge lead from your battery will keep it charged while you drive.

I made one up and fitted the Traxide battery management box to the inside of the lid. Then a 6mm wire ran from the battery to where I stowed the box. I did that so I could use it in the SIII and the RR, but now the Traxide is in the Defender which has 2 Batteries.

[RichardK]

I've already got a second battery installed in the D3, however there is little room in the area they give you and I can only fit a 55AH battery there.

The Idea of a Jumper Pack is to support a light or shower around camp as well as an emergengy starting battery.

CEWilson: What is the brand of the good one you use?

Michael2: At the moment that is where I am heading as I can put a 100 + AH battery into one of the containers that have all the bits you have mentioned, they are around $85.

Has anyone had experience with the Bushranger 4000?

[Jamo]

Richard,

I've got an Outback Thumper 40AH pack.

The jumper leads are detachable and connect to the pack via an Anderson plug. Also has one cig lighter typ socket and two hellas.

You can get these ones from 24AH up to 100AH I think.

I carry it in case the main and aux batteries fail and I need to start. I't also good when I run into others needing a jump as I'm not connecting my car to theirs.

Great piece of kit.