My kids retrieved the jumper packs with a USB port from their cars to keep their phones alive when a storm came through Tallahassee FL. If you live in a vulnerable area, something to consider. They are not just a single purpose device.
car jumper packs
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I have a lead acid battery power pack that I bought several years ago at Harbor Freight (630 Peak Amp Portable Car Battery Jump Starter and Power Pack). It's worked great on the few occasions I've had to use it, but it's a lot heavier and bulkier than the lithium power packs, and the battery had to be replaced after about five years. If I was going to buy a power pack today I would probably go with one of the lithium packs that others have suggested.
If you buy a power pack, make sure it has reverse polarity protection. Earlier this year I was having some work done at a repair shop. The technician tried to jump start the car, but he put the clamps on backwards. He blew out the main fuse and caused about $800 in damage that had to be repaired at the dealership (which the repair shop reimbursed me for).
If you buy a power pack, make sure it has reverse polarity protection. Earlier this year I was having some work done at a repair shop. The technician tried to jump start the car, but he put the clamps on backwards. He blew out the main fuse and caused about $800 in damage that had to be repaired at the dealership (which the repair shop reimbursed me for).
Koolau
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What I noticed about living in the Islands is that I get less "warning" that my battery is going bad. In colder climes, the tell-tale struggle to start is a good warning that it's time to replace. In the Islands, it's always warm so when the battery struggles to start the car, it may be too late unless one goes directly to Battery BIll's (do not stop, do not pass go... etc.)
Something I've noticed in the past several years: Batteries do not last as long as they used to. Don't know if that's because of the warm weather or just inferior batteries (that cost 3 times what they did 10 years ago.) I actually just had a battery replaced under 2-year warrantee (barely a year old.) I would not want to be without a jumper but YMMV.
Something I've noticed in the past several years: Batteries do not last as long as they used to. Don't know if that's because of the warm weather or just inferior batteries (that cost 3 times what they did 10 years ago.) I actually just had a battery replaced under 2-year warrantee (barely a year old.) I would not want to be without a jumper but YMMV.
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The problem may be that modern cars have a significant current draw even when turned off, communicating with remotes, anti-theft circuits, radios, etc.
Koolau
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I'm sure you are correct. Is that a problem IF one starts and operates the car regularly?
For several months each year, the car sits while I'm off Island. The car only gets started once a month (if that.) I don't feel like I can "insist" on someone doing more than that in my absense. (Although, for the mainland car - which sits for 7 months) I am "paying" my DIL $50/month to drive the car occasionally. I hope she does! I've had problems with that battery as well.
Thanks for the suggestion about current draw. Heh, heh, as long as I get the battery(s) replaced under warranty, I guess it's okay... (I'll feel bad if it turns out to be my fault!)
euro
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DBPOWER Jump Starter 2750A Peak 76.96Wh Portable Car Jump Starter (Up to 10L Gas/8L Diesel Engine) 12V Auto Battery Booster Pack with Smart Clamp Cables, Quick Charger, LED Light Jump Box
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I have this one (Amazon). I have used it a couple of time to jump my Outback - worked like a charm. Supposed to work even for very large engines.
I usually check the charge two or three times a year and typically, find it maybe loses 20% of the charge in, say, 4-5 months. Still PLENTY to start my Outback.
Just bought a couple more for my daughter and son for Christmas presents. My son just had a battery go dead on him in the parking lot at work and could have used this...
People suggest to "just keep an eye out for upcoming battery trouble", but I in MY experience, batteries don't seem to work like that anymore (they used to back in the day). These days, they seem to go from "works perfectly" to "completely dead" without any warning at all.
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Koolau
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Yes, I completely concur. Last three times my battery has died (in past 2 years - total of 2 cars) the "death" has been very sudden. Once, the battery was so dead that it could not be jumped. The other two were easily jumped with the jumper packs.
Sunset
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You could put your car on a trickle charger, which would keep the battery fully charged while you are gone for months.
Koolau
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Yeah, in the old days (when I had a house with attached garage, I would have tried that.) Now I have no access to electricity in our parking structure.
folivier
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Is it in the sun? If so you can use a solar panel like this to keep it charged.
Significant charge/discharge cycles reduce the life of a flooded lead-acid battery. If the draw is minimal, I'd still want it topped off once or twice a month. Sure, you can leave it for longer, let it discharge deeper and recharge less often, but then you're impacting the life of the battery.
They sell on/off switches which sit on a battery terminal. Then you attach one of the battery cables (typically negative) to that. Totally eliminates parasitic loads, but of course all your electronics will have to "reboot" when re-connected. Or just pull the negative lead before layup.
They sell on/off switches which sit on a battery terminal. Then you attach one of the battery cables (typically negative) to that. Totally eliminates parasitic loads, but of course all your electronics will have to "reboot" when re-connected. Or just pull the negative lead before layup.
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Apparently, it's not a big problem in cars that are driven regularly, but battery lifetimes seem shorter today even in cars that get used regularly.
The common availability of free jump-start services in airport parking lots seems to indicate that car batteries discharging while parked is an issue.
For about $20 to $50. you can get one of the battery maintainers and hook it to you car battery for the time you are gone. I have those on my lawn tractor, motorcycle & my truck since it sits a lot in winter, and they will "float" the charger to keep it at an optimun level. I have been doing this since the 90's and have had great sucess. I also keep a lithium jumpbox in both vehicles just in case I need it on the road. I take it with me on the bike when we ride on it for the same reason.
jazz4cash
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I use these solar powered trickle chargers on my riding mower that sits in a shed all winter. Seems to work well even though I don’t have much sunlight.
I had one of those solar trickle chargers on my last truck. Stupid thing had some kind of anti-theft device which drained the battery in a week if I didn't use it. The charger I bought wasn't even close to being powerful enough to keep up with the parasitic drain in the truck. Apparently it was a common problem with that truck model year. Lots of similar complaints on line. Anyway, my point is don't go cheap on the solar charger.
PaunchyPirate
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I just purchased a NoCo jump box to keep in my car. My 2024 Lincoln Nautilus has had numerous electronics issues since I purchased it in March and many owners have had to have batteries replaced to try and solve issues as well as when they just outright fail. My car's electronics had been pretty stable since October after Lincoln issued a software update that resolved a lot of the issues. However, 3 days ago, my car started notifying me it was putting itself in "deep sleep" to conserve battery strength. This is a feature of the car that should only happen when it has sat unused for a significant period of time -- a week or two. But now mine is going into deep sleep after every drive. So far, it has started when I need it to, but some of the electronic elements are also not behaving properly. So... I fear my battery might be dying. I tried to get it into a dealer on Friday, but no one could fit me in. So I'm off to the airport in about an hour where the car will have to sit for 8 days in a cold parking lot while I'm basking in the Caribbean sun on a cruise. Fingers crossed it will start when I get back home after Christmas. Ho Ho Ho!
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We returned from Christmas travel yesterday, and my wife's car wasn't easy to start after only 8 days. It didn't go until I had her turn off the lights. I told her to take my car on a short trip to the supermarket and I will drive it today, with some extra driving to keep it running for 30 minutes before I stop at the gym.
jazz4cash
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Why were the lights on?
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Because the headlights were on the automatic setting and the garage was fairly dark.
So I started today with a dead battery. I was lucky and was able to get a tow truck to come out and jump start my car. We were checking out from an Airbnb from a ski trip, so I suspect the cold had an impact.
I ordered a car battery jump starter and it’ll be here tomorrow. The car is starting fine now, but I’m worried that it might happen when I’m at a less convenient location. Better to have a back-up with me just in case.
Now I get to figure out if my Chase Sapphire will reimburse roadside assistance. I should qualify for a $50 reimbursement, but not sure if I had to go through them or if they’re ok with me finding my own service.
I ordered a car battery jump starter and it’ll be here tomorrow. The car is starting fine now, but I’m worried that it might happen when I’m at a less convenient location. Better to have a back-up with me just in case.
Now I get to figure out if my Chase Sapphire will reimburse roadside assistance. I should qualify for a $50 reimbursement, but not sure if I had to go through them or if they’re ok with me finding my own service.
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Are you replacing the battery?
Probably. I don’t think this battery is that old. I bought and installed it from Costco, so I need to figure out when and if it’s still under warranty.
The jump starter is in case it dies again before I get a chance to visit Costco.
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