Do jumper boxes work??
 

You almost can not find decent jumper cables,

everyone now sells "jumper boxes".

I still use my old jumper cables, but, I was wondering,

Have you had success with a jumper box?

Weak battery boost?

Dead battery boost?

Small engine boost?

Large engine boost?

Other uses for a jumper box?

Thanks

I have 2 of them. On GT batteries and the such, they are excellent. On a vehicle battery, if it will crank but not turn over, ya... they pretty much work. I haven't saw one that will take care of a flat out dead battery, keep your jumper cables!

I have used a number of them and the cheaper ones are really just for warm weather motors but as a auto tech we use them 5-10 times a day to jump . have used them on mostly 4 & 6 cly it beats having to drag another car out there . I had one from harbor Frt. that had a inverter built in that was handy

128

I use a cheap 2 wheel dolly, old car battery and jumper cables to make my own jump box.




Randy

Jumper boxes basically have small motorcycle/lawn tractor batteries inside, good for a small power need.
In my opinion not worth the cost.
I built a set of 20' double 0 copper welding cable jumpers 30+ years ago. ( and they are heavy)
There is no waiting for some dead battery to charge up with these, just hook up, and start the engine.
I see these sometimes offered for sale on evilpay but due to the price of copper, they are pricy.
They are invaluable around the farm.
For what you pay for a jumper box or junk jumper cables multiple times, you can get a really good set of heavy cables that will last a lifetime.

But you first have to break there legs so the they will not walk away on you.:beerchug:

We have 3 in our shop, one trys to stay in the delivery truck to pick up dead mowers. Work great hold a nice charge they come in real handy, not to mention they jump off the owners son's truck every day, cause he was too cheap to buy a batt for about a month.

We have used jumper boxes to start dump trucks at work a few times. Granted, they were not completely dead, but i was surprised that it worked. I have a carquest jumper box that i keep at home. Iv had it for about 6 years now, and it will start everything in my yard. Its a little heavy, but its convenient when you dont have another vehicle to use jumper cables. Jumper boxes are nice, but there will always be a need for a good set of jumper cables.:American Flag 1:

I have a jump n carry and I love it because it will crank the cubs over without using a battery charger!

Here are a couple of pics of the one i bought yesterday. so far so good.Haven't had to really work it yet.:biggrin2:

That is one I have. It's started everything from a Cub Cadet to my Son's 68 Chevy pickup. It gas been a good one so far.

I have one for starting the cubs in cold weather. Since the starter battery sits in the warm basement it works real well. It would be hard to get a vehicle close enough for cables but I do have a pair of good cables.

I know this is an old post but I saw it and figured I would respond. I have to agree with gcbailey with the exception of take care of a flat dead battery. My Uncle has a jumper box that weighs more than 50lbs, it takes care of 12v and 24v batteries. It has a 1200CCA rating on it and the cables are 4 gauge. Next time I get over his house I'll get a picture of it.

-Charles

I feel they work well
 

I've had a cple of them don't remember make of first one, 2nd one is a sears die hard with built in compressor, inverter, inflator/deflator. I've had it a cple years. The last time I worked it hard, I used it 2 crank a v4 wisconsin that didnt have a battery on it at all. Cranked very hard! come to find out the engine was nearly seized! I was highly impressed with it. Nice having a small portable compressor around as well. Thanks...Roy:biggrin2:

8 years ago I made my own , that since grew legs & ran away 4 days after building this is basically all off the shelf supplies : slave cable ends x2 , a good set of jumpers ( to be cut so buy them long 25-30 ft) a good battery & a battery tender. This set up cost me about 125 bucks but , the replacement one cost about 300 ! I made improvements slave cable ends make it so you can connect or disconnect ends for added length or straight out jumpers & nobody will take this one it weighs 80 - 100 lbs but it will start any thing ( most of lbs is the free marine grade deep cycle battery) other slave cable ends are on my cars & van , universal jumping & this also runs my trailer winch !:American Flag 1:

Forgot to mention a battery tender installed on the marine battery keeps it charged !

Once again went to grab my jumpv box.... Gone, jumpers ,..gone car battery dead junk cables still in shed , got to work but boy am i pissed::bash2::bash2::bash2::bash2::bash2::angry:

The problem with jump boxes is that you have to USE them! You can't just let them sit around on charge all of the time, that will ruin the battery just like any other cordless tool.

What gmbadgley said is exactly what happened to mine. I had it for 3 months, never used it, took it on vacation with us a a precautionary measure, used it one to pump up a basketball, came home, put it on the corner of th shop bench plugged in an charging, and toast. Dead as dead can be. Still have every part of it and would love to have it work, but was cheaper to buy good cables at farm auctions and place in all the vehicles along with a few hand tools.

I have a set of homemade cables like this and they work great. Had them maybe 15 years. Not cheap to make but you get what you pay for.

Jumper boxes are okay for some applications I guess but when the battery goes dead, you get to spend all that money all over again.

I like the home made idea. From what I know of a battery tender is they only charge if they need to and preserve the life of the battery rather than constantly charging which ruins the battery? If this is the case I think I will make my own.

Jumper packs are awesome but you get what you pay for. I worked at a junk yard for a period of time and we would clamp them onto the battery cables with no battery there, lower the hood, start the car and drive it. The ones they had was a large one and the one I was given as a gift is awesome for the cubs and boosting but I don't think it amps has enough to stand in as a battery.

Is there a specific brand you should look for or is a jumper box a jumper box.

I would recommend Solar brand like the es5000 I have 3 of them and they work great. I have purchased cheaper ones and the don't seem to hold up or get the job done.

We bought that one and so far I'm impressed.