Lithium jump starter

[zoidberg]

I have one of those 'lithium jump starter' units by Ring which is intended to crank up my ageing diesel estate.

It occurs that it might be a useful device to ferry out to the boat when I visit, on the offchance that the engine start battery is a bit depleted or feeling its age. One could make sure the jump starter thing was fully charged on the drive down to the boat.

Any experience? Any pros/contras?

 

[stuartwineberg]

Yep, always take one on longer trips. Never used in anger on the boat but kicked over a dead 2litre diesel x trail many times. They hold charge for a very long time. I wouldn’t worry about it being absolutely topped up and I believe lithiums prefer not to be fully charged

 

[Tranona]

Yes they do the job - but you should never need it on a boat if you have a properly set up system of dedicated start battery and house battery, split charging plus a means of connecting the house battery to the engine in an emergency. I have had such a system on all my boats and never needed anything other than the dedicated start battery.

 

[KevinV]

As Tranona says - if your start battery needs that help then it's time to replace it, not mask the problem

 

[sarabande]

If you are thinking of having a multi-tssking battery as a transportable power source for eg any number of contingency appliances such as water pump, disc cutter, searchlight, medical apparatus, I'd ɓconsider buying a racing car battery, as the energy density is much higher. I.e. for any given mass, tnphe racing battery will give more Ahours.

 

[zoidberg]

All reasonable comments, but I already HAVE the Ring jump starter device. It weighs about 0.5kg and is very easy to sling into a drybag for transport out to the boat.
Should I find, as does happen, that the boat's batteries are very down, the idea is that this Ring thingy might/could/should start the 479cc little Beta diesel.

Of course, if I - or a pro - then finds the installed batteries are kaput....

 

[Daydream believer]

If you are thinking of having a multi-tssking battery as a transportable power source for eg any number of contingency appliances such as water pump, disc cutter, searchlight, medical apparatus, s.

I bought one expecting to do that (actually as a starter battery for my RC planes) However, I found that it will only work if actually clipped to a battery. One cannot just clip it to, say, the bilge pump & expect it to work.
In spite of Tranonas comments about having a proper system & never making having a problem it is possible to leave the batteries cross linked & run them down by mistake one day. I am sure many have done it so a backup is handy

 

[dunedin]

...
Should I find, as does happen, that the boat's batteries are very down, ......

As others have said, perhaps need to solve the root issue, as others have never found this problem.
A decent starter battery is a must. Then find out what is draining it when away from boat. Isolated battery should stay charged for months.
And/or add a solar panel.

 

[Dellquay13]

I’ve got one of the recent Lidl ones, just in case. It was purchased ostensibly as a battery backup for work test meters, but I always had it in mind as portable enough to take to the boat too.
I have never had battery issues onboard, but it is good to know I have another starting backup and a portable 12v supply. It can charge my phone too.

 

[RivalRedwing]

I've had a couple of these a few years ago, probably 2019. they both died after about 6 months despite no use (don't ask me the name, they came from China via Amazon, second was an exchange for the first) have they become more reliable?

 

[Neeves]

We have one - but it also offers an emergency source of light, flashing or 'on', it will pump up tyres (they are intended for cars ) but will also pump up an inflatlible (though what size, no idea). They are very useful if you carry one to the boat - despite what Tranona says - as not having been used on the boat (because of what Tranona says) - as they will start the car if you forgot to turn the lights off - etc. You have 2 starter batteries - but you only need one emergency device.

In any event engines don't start for a variety of reasons and you can rule out the battery if you use your device.

Our device has a digital display and little red flashing LED (the latter tells you it has, some, charge). The digital display tells you percentage charge (of theoretical max) and also defines tyre pressure. The tyre pressure display'electronics' allows us to pump up a tyre to a preset pressure. How accurate any of this might be - never worried about it.

We never had an inflatable but have used it to pump up a tyre and have used it to start a car.

2 for the price of one.

So invest - when you need it - its worth the effort of carrying it around.

They are a bit like a spare tyre or a LR, an expensive 'option', seldom used but essential when needed.

We bought ours from Timu - they have a more sensible returns policy than Aliexpress et al

I think if you have a new boat they would be unnecessary - a mature yacht and older car - its cheap insurance.

We check the retained charge, when we remember and top it up if only a little bit degraded.

Jonathan

 

[Stemar]

ISTM that batteries die. Usually, they give notice of their imminent demise but, quite often on a car, the first warning is the first cold morning of autumn. Nope, not going to play. If that happens to the boat, it's likely to be that cold morning when you have limited time to get to the crane for lift out, but it could also be on the last sail of the season, on a beautiful, crisp morning in a quiet anchorage, when the domestics have been drained running the heater, too.

I can't see any downsides to carrying one, in the fervent hope of never having to use it, like many bits of safety kit. Just check that it will start the engine once or twice a year.

 

[PaulRainbow]

In spite of Tranonas comments about having a proper system & never making having a problem it is possible to leave the batteries cross linked & run them down by mistake one day. I am sure many have done it so a backup is handy

With a "proper" systems, such as Tranona describes, the batteries should only ever be linked for an emergency, after which they should immediately be separated again. The typical way that batteries are linked and forgotten is when people use 1-2-B switches on the Both setting and forget to change it.

 

[Daydream believer]

With a "proper" systems, such as Tranona describes, the batteries should only ever be linked for an emergency, after which they should immediately be separated again. The typical way that batteries are linked and forgotten is when people use 1-2-B switches on the Both setting and forget to change it.

I do not have a 1-2-3 switch but I do have a dedicated switch separate from the other 2 switches. They are under the chart table & the linking switch is black the others are red. By mistake one day I reached under & flicked the wrong one instead of the domestic one & linked all 3 batteries. Over the weekend I accidentally left on some lights plus nav lights & electronics, after a pre cruise test, as I was called for a sudden emergency. One can guess the rest. So from 3 fully charged brand new AGMs one of which was a red flash starter I went to leave at 05-00 hours with zilch in all batteries. But soon solved once the engine started. Fortunately I had an hour spare so stuck it on shore power & got enough in the starter that way. Ever since I have had a small battery pack as a backup.
Do not tell me I am the only idiot who has done something similar.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I do not have a 1-2-3 switch but I do have a dedicated switch separate from the other 2 switches. They are under the chart table & the linking switch is black the others are red. By mistake one day I reached under & flicked the wrong one instead of the domestic one & linked all 3 batteries. Over the weekend I accidentally left on some lights plus nav lights & electronics, after a pre cruise test, as I was called for a sudden emergency. One can guess the rest. So from 3 fully charged brand new AGMs one of which was a red flash starter I went to leave at 05-00 hours with zilch in all batteries. But soon solved once the engine started. Fortunately I had an hour spare so stuck it on shore power & got enough in the starter that way. Ever since I have had a small battery pack as a backup.
Do not tell me I am the only idiot who has done something similar.

Perhaps leave the emergency key on a piece of string next to the switch, not in it.

I doubt you're the only one to do something similar

 

[RogerJolly]

I do not have a 1-2-3 switch but I do have a dedicated switch separate from the other 2 switches....

Wow, that's the 'holes lining up in the swiss cheese' disaster scenario right there.

 

[Ammonite]

I don't see the need for one with my current SLA setup which allows me to combine the banks but I was intending to buy one as and when I replace the house bank with LifePO4 which may not be up to starting the engine depending on the size. I could lug the AGM for the thruster from the bow but that's not great if I need to start the engine in a hurry.

 

[PaulRainbow]

I don't see the need for one with my current SLA setup which allows me to combine the banks but I was intending to buy one as and when I replace the house bank with LifePO4 which may not be up to starting the engine depending on the size. I could lug the AGM for the thruster from the bow but that's not great if I need to start the engine in a hurry.

Engine starting with Lithium can be difficult, due to BMS limitations.

 

[Refueler]

I bought one expecting to do that (actually as a starter battery for my RC planes) However, I found that it will only work if actually clipped to a battery. One cannot just clip it to, say, the bilge pump & expect it to work.
In spite of Tranonas comments about having a proper system & never making having a problem it is possible to leave the batteries cross linked & run them down by mistake one day. I am sure many have done it so a backup is handy

I have a Li jump pack and yes - it needs a battery connected to get the charge block to activate. Its why most also tell you in the manual to wait ~10 secs after connecting before turning key.

I have bought mine as back-up to start any of my cars (3) as well as carry on any of my boats just in case (3 with starter / engines).

As you say - in spite of T's comment - s*** happens and even the best people have a moment of no start !!

 

[RogerJolly]

I bought one expecting to do that (actually as a starter battery for my RC planes) However, I found that it will only work if actually clipped to a battery. One cannot just clip it to, say, the bilge pump & expect it to work.
In spite of Tranonas comments about having a proper system & never making having a problem it is possible to leave the batteries cross linked & run them down by mistake one day. I am sure many have done it so a backup is handy

I've run into this with my Lidl one. Wanted to power a dinghy inflator.

The jump lead plug, going into the power bank, incorporates a block of electronic gubins. Maybe the detection logic is in this, so it could eliminated by just find a straight plug of same format and terminating jump leads with that.

Or there's units with an override button (eg Noco), maybe this would do the trick (am a bit 'once bitten...' now).

Or there's the 'racing car' battery suggestion above (or motorbike I guess). Guess it would need a dedicated charger though, where starter pack has USB charging.