Auto Jump Start Battery

[FollySteve]

Many of you probably already know about these but for those who don't, this is the best $95 I've spent in a long time. Really saved my bacon last weekend when I accidentally left the TV interior light on. A must have for boondocking. Works amazingly well. Many models are available but this one had good reviews and also includes a tire inflator and adaptors for powering just about every portable device know to man.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o02_s00

Best

Steve

[JamuJoe]

Great item to carry. I have another model. I've never needed it myself, but have used it to help others many times. Pay it forward, as they say. Arrived at Mora CG in Olympic NP late one day. No sites open as we drove through. Trying one more pass when a woman flagged us. Offered us her site if we could jump her dead battery. Saved the day for both of us!

[Ag&Au]

I have a couple of these. I have found them helpful for several things. I always have at least one when travelling. They are on sale right now for a little over 1/2 price.

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-J...r+jump+starter

It is labeled with its starting amps (300), rather than its Peak amps (600). So it appears to be about the same capabilities as your original post. By the way it does not have an air compressor built in. I always carry a Warn 12V compressor.

Ken

[dznf0g]

Mine just gave up the other day, after....I don't know how many years. I maintain them like AS batteries about once a month. I bought a CAT branded 1000 CCA unit. No compressor, as I also carry a separate one. I bought big in case I want a bit of portable power.

[Ag&Au]

I used mine a few weeks ago at home. We used one to keep our cell phones charged during an extended power outage.

It beats having to take them out to one of the cars to charge them.

Ken

[PasoArt]

When boondocking, can these batteries be connected to the AS batteries to gain a few more amp-hours. That would make portable batteries these even more useful.

[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by PasoArt

When boondocking, can these batteries be connected to the AS batteries to gain a few more amp-hours. That would make portable batteries these even more useful.

Yes, they could. In order to find our how much use they would be for how long, would involve measuring or calculating how much current (amps) the trailer would require to do what you want to accomplish. Multiply the current the trailer needs to draw time the number hours you wish to do this and compare it to the amp hour rating of the battery.

I imagine (but do not know for sure) that these portable batteries are primarily designed for jump starting. Therefore they would be more like using an automobile battery, than a deep cycle RV battery. However they would certainly buy you some time.

Ken

[FreshAir]

When I bought my Honda 2000ie I also bought the auto battery charging cord. Saved me twice in the last 10 years, both while dry camping off the grid. The Honda will charge the dead auto battery enough to start the tow vehicle in 15 minutes. The accessory cord cost me about $15 back then.

Neil

[PKI]

We carry a jump start battery. It serves as a power source for the trailer rear view camera. Tried the compressor, but found it to be less than an effective solution. Better than no compressed air source, but quite slow to build pressure. The primary problem with the system is a poorly configured charging circuit that takes some tweaking to achieve a charge. This system got us through the 2015 season, but will likely be replaced by one of the new compact lithium jump start packs. Interested if anyone has experience with those units. Pat