jump box

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Mar 7, 2011 | 05:20 AM

murph1

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Joined: Aug 2005

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From: southeast mi

jump box

went to tractor supply the other day to look around.I noticed in the clearance section a bunch of these
IP-55:

on sale for 19 bucks....I don't think that it is big enough to jump my truck ,but the guy at TSC says it is....anyone know about these "jump boxes" or is it to small to waste my money on...might be handy to jump the boat,or riding mower....
what do you guys think?

Mar 7, 2011 | 06:45 AM

Ford_Six

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Joined: Oct 2002

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From: The Big, Oregon

It looks worth about every penny of $5. Two big things to look for are a master on/off switch, and the ability to stow the cables.
I have one of the gray ones from Harbor Freight that my father in law put a better battery into and it does fairly well. It still won't kick over a frozen vehicle, but does decent.

Mar 22, 2011 | 10:06 AM

21411

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Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 549

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From: chicago burbs

i've never seen one work when it needs too. carry cables and a cell phone.

short story i helped the cops help people at college i went to. (just on my way out trying to be a nice guy) cop didn't know how to jump car, pack was dead, and i had nothing better to do. im just saying.

Mar 25, 2011 | 06:48 AM

shorebird

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Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 11,537

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From: Long Beach, Ms.

I use a 1700 amp box that I bought from Mac Tools.
I paid $220 for it.
I have started Cummings diesel motors with it.
It stays plugged in to the 12v power point of my tow truck.

BTW; I have found the same box on line for about $175.

Mar 25, 2011 | 07:18 AM

monckywrench

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Joined: Apr 2001

Posts: 2,220

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We/ve used them for years at my friends used car lot. I always keep one charged at the house. Have jumper cables too, but jump boxes can work fine with marginal batteries.

Dead (as opposed to "weak") do less well on trucks. Small car engines work better.

Great for lawn tractors etc!

Mar 25, 2011 | 10:12 PM

frederic

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Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 6,214

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From: New Jersey

I carry a spare junkyard battery with me and charge it every month for a night on my automatic charger. I've never had good luck with those portable emergency jump systems, but I think it's because the two I've had weren't charged very often, only after they were used.

Gel-Cell Pb batteries need to be trickled to remain useful.

Mar 26, 2011 | 09:33 AM

cmpd1781

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Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 20,589

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From: Charlotte, NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by shorebird

I use a 1700 amp box that I bought from Mac Tools.
I paid $220 for it.
I have started Cummings diesel motors with it.
It stays plugged in to the 12v power point of my tow truck.

BTW; I have found the same box on line for about $175.

Need to find one of those.

Not only something strong enough for my own truck....But one to use at work......When we use our cars to 'jump' another car, we have to flip the 'kill' switch to disconnect which powers the radio, computer, and other peripherals.....which means all that stuff has to be turned back on...and the computer logged back on.....when you're done 'jumping'.

A good jump box would avoid all that. Not to mention having to push the 'dead' car around if it's parked in a manner where you can't pull up next to it, or in front of it, to jump it with cables.