Car Jump Starter batteries/kits

[AndrewMeronek]

20240512_125942.jpg

There's a good argument to add one of these to most musicians' tool boxes - those who need to use a POV to get to and from gigs on a regular basis. The ability to quickly recover from a dead battery can be pretty valuable, as I found out yesterday. Fortunately, one of the other musicians was around and had one of these (the NOCO GB40 on the left), which meant we didn't even have to figure out how to use traditional jumper cables with our weird hybrid and electric vehicles.

[Kdanielsen]

I agree. I have one because, somewhat ironically, my plug in prius prime battery dies all the time. It’s super handy.

[Doug Elliott]

I carry jumper cables, 2 guage. And drive a stick shift so I can clutch start if necessary.

Also for changing tires - a floor jack, a long breaker bar, impact wrench, foot tire pump, lights, and now a tire plug kit which I had to buy recently when I got a flat on I-95 at midnight in the rain and my spare was flat too. Fortunately I was right near an exit with a truck stop where I bought the plug kit, and it worked.

[GabrielRice]

Yup.

When my previous car was behaving very strangely (it turned out to need an alternator, which I decided not to do and traded in for a newer car instead) I was very glad to have a fully charged jump starter in my trunk.

Doug, remind me next time I see you to tell you about the time I tried to drive across the country in a VW bus that needed to be clutch started every time. That was the least of its problems.

[elmsandr]

I agree. I have one because, somewhat ironically, my plug in prius prime battery dies all the time. It’s super handy.

The *low voltage battery *. They died from some stupid sympathetic loss after key off, like a bad radio or something. On hybrids and EVs, all they need the LV battery for is to wake up (close contractors) on the HV battery.

Had a Cmax that did the same thing, kept a little “type S” jump kit in the glove box. Made life a lot better.

Cheers,
Andy

[JLivi]

I carry jumper cables, 2 guage. And drive a stick shift so I can clutch start if necessary.

Also for changing tires - a floor jack, a long breaker bar, impact wrench, foot tire pump, lights, and now a tire plug kit which I had to buy recently when I got a flat on I-95 at midnight in the rain and my spare was flat too. Fortunately I was right near an exit with a truck stop where I bought the plug kit, and it worked.

I keep a Ryobi tire inflator in my trunk. Never thought to toss my tire repair kit in there too!

[whitbey]

Clutch start. Yup.

Had a 1985 VW Jetta. Had a bad flywheel and on warranty they replaced the starter several times. They ran out of starters. Drove that for several weeks without a starter. I would park at the high spot in parking decks. I think I knew every hill to park on in the metro Detroit area.

[Burgerbob]

I keep a small one in the truck at the moment- ULTRA handy for jump starting, way easier than trying to get another car around the front. Just had to use it several times on the '00 Accord... put a new battery in that and won't have to worry about jumping for a while.

[baileyman]

https://shop.dynaplug.com/products/dynaplug®-pro-xtreme

The best plugger I have found. Last fall in Manhattan Beach found some staples in my tire--13 leetle tiny punctures. This took care of it, though I had to order more plugs! The car made it back to Boston. I have an inflator in the boot, too.

[Kdanielsen]

I agree. I have one because, somewhat ironically, my plug in prius prime battery dies all the time. It’s super handy.

The *low voltage battery *. They died from some stupid sympathetic loss after key off, like a bad radio or something. On hybrids and EVs, all they need the LV battery for is to wake up (close contractors) on the HV battery.

Had a Cmax that did the same thing, kept a little “type S” jump kit in the glove box. Made life a lot better.

Cheers,
Andy

Mine usually dies because the headlights stay on as long as you sit in the car (with it off). Its very annoying.

[OneTon]

Doug’s post has “lights.” Don’t forget the flash light. It is a catalyst. Out on I-35 in the dark I could not see my hand in front of my face.

[Doug Elliott]

These are a great deal if you can find them. USB-C recharge. 4 light levels, but beware - the brightest runs the battery down very fast.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-1200- ... /325178798

[OneTon]