Maybe possible, if you use 2 in parallel?
Probably a bad idea but I’ve successfully used a 3Ahr battery to jump my truck. Works fine.
I have jump started a car using a 3S lipo pack with no problems
I have a cheap Harbor Freight jumper pack that has worked fine. I’ve never run tests to check capacity, but it’s a couple years old and has saved me 4-5 trips to jump my wife’s CRV (apparently the 2012’s had a charging issue that was taken care of last year with a recall, she’s been fine since except when she forgets to shut the car completely off while she sits and talks on the phone for an hour with the fan and stereo running).
It’s a 5 in 1, item number 96157. I’ve used 4 of the 5 functions (never needed to use its built-in light, I have used AC sockets, DC sockets, jump starter, and pump), and surprisingly never been frustrated or let down by it. A rare occurrence with electrical products from Harbor Freight.
KKW, tried the item number on harbor freight but got no results, do you have a direct link?
Edit, is it this one?
I’m guessing that’s the current iteration of the model I have. Here’s mine.
I got interested until I read this. I would really like to have one for VW Passat 1.9 tdi.
Hey Circa,
About a year ago I purchased the Antigravity Micro-Start XP-1. Using it as a power bank to recharge a first generation iPad, it would only charge it to about 89%. But using it to jump start our car (Nissan Ultima 4 cyl), motorcycle (750cc) or a friends boat with a 350 cu.in. marine engine, it was effortless.
What was interesting about the boat was both batteries were completely drained from a malfunctioning bilge pump switch that was stuck in the “On” position. I connected the micro-start and the engine turned right over.
What I don’t like about this power bank is the great amount of parasitic drain of the unit. It seems to drain itself sitting on the shelf very quickly. So unless you keep a very close eye on it, chances are, when you need it, it’ll take hours to recharge before you can jump start something with it. This is the one I have in the following link.
I’m curious whether those lipo battery starters use a 3S or 4S configuration as well as what protection circuitry they use.
Richie, did you happen to measure the output voltage of the power pack?
On the jump-starter side with the clamps installed and right off the charger, I get anywhere from 11.85v - 12.05v
I screen shotted this off of Afterpartz product page (then poorly edited it using an online tool :X):
It kind of implies that the cheap, generic ones, don't even use a circuit protection. That was also one of my concerns.
Since this thread got some attention, wonder if anyone would do a (small)group buy to try to get a good one cheap? I could email a seller to see what they could do. I'd like to get one for about $30.
The good ones won’t have a problem with small diesels. The PowerAll unit I linked has no problem turning v8’s & medium sized diesels.
Most of them cant jump start a diesel above 1.6… My diesel is 2.2 so… XP
They work, if you need them often, great. If not, its a waste of time. I have a second car, and easy access to plenty of battery retailers if needed. I also have a good charger if its a case of something being left on to drain it overnight etc. I have mates with them, and they need to be put on charge more often than being ready when needed so Id prefer to just charge the battery a bit, my charger has a start function too anyway. Alternatively, Id just grab a cheap battery and leave it on the charger/maintainer and jump from that.
Apart from that, Id be wondering why the battery is flat and rectify it. Then again I dont live where it gets frigid cold either, maybe that makes a difference.
If with no boost circuit then it is 4s at 3.4v
Using lifepo4 which has the highest peak current
I think'? Compared to icr and imr. Sla batteries need a
Floating voltage from 13-14v so lifepo4 is a better candidate.
I just bought a jump starter power bank from RadioShack. It’s compact but really save my frozen battery, for my 2014 Odyssey
Yeah, they do work, in much the same way as getting a boost from someone works. I don’t think you’re starting the engine from the power bank alone, or even very much of it. The wires just aren’t thick enough to take the kind of current needed to start an engine (hundreds of amps). What the power bank does is give your main car battery a surface charge from which the engine is able to use to turn over.
You’d need some 4-gauge wires from the power bank if you wanted to use it to start directly. And, the power bank’s internal battery would have to be able to provide hundreds of amps.
Nope.
If those things can start a 5 liter V8, they can start everything a normal person drives.
I have one I got from Amazon for about $50. It has saved my butt many times because my battery was slowly failing and if I listened to the radio at lunch w/o the motor on it wouldn’t start at the end of the workday. Had it checked several places. No, it’s fine. Finally , I couldn’t start it with the little kit and had a difficult time jumo starting from a large truck. New battery - no further problems. So, while not the best construction, it paid for itself many times over.