12v Power Pack usefull or not on a boat

[Binman]

These power packs can be used for jump starting a not totally flat battery, and running 3.6.9 volt items ie Radio, phone, DVD player, torch, hand held vacuum cleaner, for inflation, there must be other uses, How do you rate them for boat use.

 

[RichardS]

These power packs can be used for jump starting a not totally flat battery, and running 3.6.9 volt items ie Radio, phone, DVD player, torch, hand held vacuum cleaner, for inflation, there must be other uses, How do you rate them for boat use.

There have been a number of posts where they have not been charged enough when needed or have ceased to function for some other reason. I'd be concerned about something I couldn't rely on. A 1 -2 type switch or a set of long jump leads (like I have) would seem to be a better bet.

Richard

 

[prv]

When we got the new boat which has no starting handle, I thought a jumpstart pack seemed like a sensible precaution. I ended up with a bare gel battery of the same size, to save a few quid. Starting to wonder if it's unnecessary clutter given that I have a well-designed, well-built, and well-understood electrical system so am quite unlikely to end up with both banks flat unexpectedly.

Pete

 

[Cloven]

When we got the new boat which has no starting handle, I thought a jumpstart pack seemed like a sensible precaution. I ended up with a bare gel battery of the same size, to save a few quid. Starting to wonder if it's unnecessary clutter given that I have a well-designed, well-built, and well-understood electrical system so am quite unlikely to end up with both banks flat unexpectedly.

Pete

Agree with these comments. Carried one for years and only used it once to start a mates car. I now have a fully charged small Red Flash battery as a back up plus just had a switch to link my start and domestic batteries in case of an emergency.

 

[peter2407]

Depending on which one you have, and how you keep it charged, they may be useful for USB devices so that you avoid inverter drain etc. I would probably agree that a spare fully charged regular battery is probably a better bet for emergency charging. An AA engineer reckoned they are good, but only cos theirs are both kept plugged all the time in the van and are industrial strength. I bought a halfords job. Waste of money.

 

[Otter]

Useful for an electric start outboard or a very small diesel but useless for a large lump like ours. Getting the system right so you don't have a flat starter battery or having on board emergency charging is a more seaman-like solution.

 

[sailorman]

Depending on which one you have, and how you keep it charged, they may be useful for USB devices so that you avoid inverter drain etc. I would probably agree that a spare fully charged regular battery is probably a better bet for emergency charging. An AA engineer reckoned they are good, but only cos theirs are both kept plugged all the time in the van and are industrial strength. I bought a halfords job. Waste of money.

I have a Halfords @ home, it is very good.
i have noticed that the weights vary enormously so therefore so does the size of the battery inside it. ours is now 2 yrs old & used it on Monday to assist the mower to start

 

[sailorman]

Useful for an electric start outboard or a very small diesel but useless for a large lump like ours. Getting the system right so you don't have a flat starter battery or having on board emergency charging is a more seaman-like solution.

Our Halfords cost £50 on a deal, starts swmbo`s 1.9 diesel with no trouble on the coldest of mornings

 

[Daydream believer]

Our Halfords cost £50 on a deal, starts swmbo`s 1.9 diesel with no trouble on the coldest of mornings

I am glad about that because I have linked my starter & domestic batteries to give me more battery use for the extra electrical nav items I have fitted. So i now have the Halfords one as an emergency if I use too much of the battery bank

 

[sailorman]

I am glad about that because I have linked my starter & domestic batteries to give me more battery use for the extra electrical nav items I have fitted. So i now have the Halfords one as an emergency if I use too much of the battery bank

It is recommended that you charge them every 8 weeks & after each use. Also some have very short leads

 

[prv]

Depending on which one you have, and how you keep it charged, they may be useful for USB devices so that you avoid inverter drain etc.

Assuming you mean a typical 12v -> 240v inverter, what does that have to do with USB devices? And why would I want to run them off a separate battery that needs to be recharged, rather than off the boat's normal power system like everything else?

Pete

 

[sailorman]

Assuming you mean a typical 12v -> 240v inverter, what does that have to do with USB devices? And why would I want to run them off a separate battery that needs to be recharged, rather than off the boat's normal power system like everything else?

Pete

new battery jump start packs have various sockets to run ancillary equipment & you can even pump up yer fenders too

 

[prv]

new battery jump start packs have various sockets to run ancillary equipment

I know, but why would I want to do that, and run my jump-start pack down, rather than just plugging them into the boat like every other piece of electrical equipment on board? I don't run the heads light off a separate portable battery, nor the gas alarm, so why the phone charger?

And "inverter drain"? What inverter?

Pete

 

[sailorman]

I know, but why would I want to do that, and run my jump-start pack down, rather than just plugging them into the boat like every other piece of electrical equipment on board? I don't run the heads light off a separate portable battery, nor the gas alarm, so why the phone charger?

And "inverter drain"? What inverter?

Pete

some have inverters too

 

[prv]

some have inverters too

Ah, so you "avoid inverter drain" by using a unit with an inverter?

Pete

 

[Poignard]

I have carried one on the boat for a couple of seasons but the only time I used it was when I returned from a few week's cruise to find my car battery was flat!

 

[Binman]

12v Battery pack

Here is some pictures of one I brought in local auction for £29 inc tax My 9ft Grp dingy has a pole with navigation light on it, ideal when using at night and this battery pack will run it. I am hope to use my boat in earnest this season, and will be relying on a Honda 5hp with charging leads to keep my battery topped up all the time, I also have a 12volt solar panel which will be connected at all times. Going on the replies so far, about 50% think they are a useful assesorie.

 

[Daydream believer]

It is recommended that you charge them every 8 weeks & after each use. Also some have very short leads

I will do . As for the leads I am not sure if I will connect to the battery so I can use the starter switch & the glows or straight to the engine . If I do the latter then I might not be able to go through the pre heat stage. However, if I go via a flat battery bank will the batteries draw all the power first?

 

[jakeroyd]

My boat only has one battery so I do keep one on board.
I can hand start the engine, it's a little 1GM10.
it's only a cheapie but seems to stay charged.
not enough for a larger engine though I fear.

 

[chuzzlewit]

I use mine to power vacuum cleaner. drill, lamp for dark recesses. dinghy air pump .