Jump Starter Power Pack

[Alb]

Bought one of these a couple of days ago from Amazon:
Amazon product ASIN B09CZ9QV41
It has good reviews and is rated at 1500A peak so should be useful on both EV and ICE vehicles.
Reduced by 29% at the moment so only £49.99 delivered with Prime (mine was delivered 6 hours after ordering!).

Chances are I'll never need to use it in anger but it's a good bit of insurance at a reasonable price.

 

[Rolfe]

My dilemma is that I bought a 12v lead-acid jump-starter pack at the end of 2018 which is still in good order. I honestly don't know if these lithium batteries were available then and I just didn't notice on the shelves at Halfords, or whether they're newer than that. (I was looking to replace a similar failed lead-acid battery, and didn't really look for alternatives.) It's much bigger than these things, and heavier. But can I justify buying something completely new?

It's a good price though.

 

[Cocijo]

These small LiOn are great packs to keep in your car. They need minimal maintenance and charging and can provide the jump needed in an emergency. If you need to you can also charge other items like your phone from them in an emergency I have them in all my cars (usually under the seat. They even work with the 16v LiOn battery fitted to Teslas now (although they don’t produce the voltage they produce enough to switch in the HV pack).
I’ve had no experience of the lead acid type jump packs that you mention but lead acid do need a lot more care and maintenance at a higher charge than LIon.

 

[Rolfe]

It's true, they need charged from the mains to keep them ready for action. It just goes against the grain to retire something that's still in good working order and has seldom been used.

 

[Cocijo]

You’ll always get some interest if you put it on eBay. Think of it as an upgrade.

 

[Rolfe]

Now there's an idea!

 

[Lovemyev]

Chances are I'll never need to use it in anger but it's a good bit of insurance at a reasonable price.

Your totally right !.
If you have one, you are not likely to require one !.
But if you don't ......... You will ?.
That's just how it goes unfortunately Alb ?‍.
I bought one way back in 2019 when we first purchased our ZS EV and it rides with us everywhere.
The irony here of course, is that the pack has been used on a good number of ICE cars with flat batteries, but never on an EV as of yet.
Strangely, if I offer help somebody with a flat 12 volt, they tend to shake their heads when they see the small booster pack in my hand.
Then total amazement when it jump starts their car !.
Of course they then intend to go out and buy one.

 

[Cocijo]

I believe that the breakdown services now also prefer to use these devices And have done for some time.

 

[Rolfe]

How long is "some time"? How long have they been available for?

 

[Cocijo]

I would guess at 8 years+

 

[Rolfe]

In that case it's likely I simply didn't notice them on the shelves at Halford's when I bought the lead-acid model. I was in a hurry and looking to replace an old lead-acid jump-start kit, and just picked up the equivalent item without noticing if there were any alternatives. That was late 2018.

 

[Lovemyev]

In that case it's likely I simply didn't notice them on the shelves at Halford's when I bought the lead-acid model. I was in a hurry and looking to replace an old lead-acid jump-start kit, and just picked up the equivalent item without noticing if there were any alternatives. That was late 2018.

If they where available back in 2018 then they would have been very expensive I guess !.

 

[Rolfe]

Well, I don't know, because I didn't see any and didn't look to see if there were any.

 

[wandle MG4 trophy]

Don’t forget to recharge your jump starter from time to time. My cheapie from Halfords had dropped by 25% in about three months.

 

[Lovemyev]

Don’t forget to recharge your jump starter from time to time. My cheapie from Halfords had dropped by 25% in about three months.

Good advice !.
Same could be applied to anybody who is carrying the optional space saver wheel on the other MG models.
Check the tyre ? pressure from time to time.
Both are useless if allowed to go flat ?.
If your booster pack has a higher output, then even storing it at 80% SOC will provide more than enough power to jump start even an ICE car TBH.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Well, I don't know, because I didn't see any and didn't look to see if there were any.

May not have been in stock when you were there.