Jump start/power pack/compressor

[davidfox]

I seem to remember an article on these last year in one of the Mags, anyone remember which one got the best writeup? I got one for Christmas and it was faulty and got sent back, the supplier has said they are out of stock and do not expect to have any more, which is supplier speak for 'These are rubbish, you are not the first to return this pile of c...' I have since seen reviews on said piece of kit and they were not good. I have googled other power packs and the reviews are mixed, some raving about them and others saying that they are rubbish, in pretty much equal numbers, so any help would be appreciated.

 

[Atlanta_31]

Hi, we use snap on power pack, there isn't a compressor on it but there is a ciggy lighter socket so you could run one off that, the power pack is good. would recommend it.

 

[awol]

I got one from Maplins for £19.99 (IIRC) as a last resort for donk starting if my 2x110Ah batteries managed to get empty. So far it has worked perfectly - lives under the pilot berth and has never been needed. Useful for checking mast lights while the stick is off the boat.

Voltmeter still reads just over 100% charge after 2 years - should I cycle it a bit?

 

[pvb]

I got one from Maplins for £19.99 (IIRC) as a last resort for donk starting if my 2x110Ah batteries managed to get empty. So far it has worked perfectly - lives under the pilot berth and has never been needed. Useful for checking mast lights while the stick is off the boat.

Voltmeter still reads just over 100% charge after 2 years - should I cycle it a bit?

I know I'm a bit slow, but help me out here. How do you know it has "worked perfectly" if it's "never been needed"? And can you expand on your "just over 100% charge" claim?

 

[Cymrogwyllt]

I've had one for a few years now. No prob at all. Again a £19.99 job from *censored* It happily holds charge for many months on end and I routinely use it to top up the tyre pressures checking with a separate gauge as the dial one on the unit is not marked as clearly as I'd like.

Mine is sealed lead/acid so no cycling needed, just a top up charge every now and again. Running the battery down to very low is likely to do far more harm than good

 

[awol]

I know I'm a bit slow, but help me out here. How do you know it has "worked perfectly" if it's "never been needed"? And can you expand on your "just over 100% charge" claim?

Well the reason I bought it was so I could always start the engine and that has been the case since I've had the thing. Bit like going out with an umbrella keeps the rain away.
The built in voltmeter is marked in volts and also with red/yellow/green sectors with % markings to indicate charge. The needle, when activated, sits slightly above the 100% mark which coincides with 12.79 (? or something like that) volts.

 

[Stu Jackson]

It's a philosophical thing.

The best answer I've heard for using one is that you can take it home with you if you need it for your car.

I've always thought that a properly designed and maintained boat electrical system should include a house (domestic) bank and a reserve (start) bank built in with proper switching and charging. Then, it's all there, and properly maintained, is ready for use.

Usually have enough to drag down to the yacht as it is!

 

[Jim@sea]

Power Packs at £19.99 ?. You get what you pay for. These power packs are more suitable for the boot of a car. All you have got inside them is a tiny battery, coupled to a pair of jump leads, a torch head, and a compressor. If you have room in your boat buy another battery which fits the smallest diesel car or van and a pair of jump leads.

 

[alan_d]

Power Packs at £19.99 ?. You get what you pay for. These power packs are more suitable for the boot of a car. All you have got inside them is a tiny battery, coupled to a pair of jump leads, a torch head, and a compressor. If you have room in your boat buy another battery which fits the smallest diesel car or van and a pair of jump leads.

But that would probably cost you more, would be more difficult to store, less convenient as a portable source of 12 volts for e.g. dinghy inflator, and wouldn't have a cig. socket for running your chartplotter etc. in an emergency or at home in the winter. Have never needed it to start the engine, but if I did it would probably be to boost an almost-good-enough start battery, and in any event I only have a 20hp engine, which can be turned over fairly easily with the decompressor open.

 

[planteater]

I think mine cost more than £20 but it wasn't a major expense. It's got enough umph to start a 1GM10 in a crisis. I've also fitted a cigar lighter plug to the bilge pump so that it can be used with the pack if required.

Definitely a worthwhile piece of kit.