Portable battery charger/jump starter

[Methodical]

Hello all. Researched the above topic but came up empty. I am in the market to purchase a portable battery charger/jump starter for the household vehicles (Car sat battery low now). I am looking at one that is 2/10/25 with 75 amp starting capacity. Are these specs good enough or should I be looking for larger numbers If not what are the minimum charging/starting specs should I look for?

Thanks

 

[Badazgt.]

i posted over theere at corral for ya

 

[Methodical]

Thanks

 

[blksn955.o]

My father-in-law ownes a snap-on franchise and they sell something like this. I am sure it is not cheap but snap-on is not autozone either.

 

[HISSIN50]

Al, I have a Vector charger with those specs. I haven't used the 'start my dead battery' feature though. It does have a count down when you activate that feature (so ostensibly one does not over-do it, nice if a non-car person uses the charger).

Overall, I really like it. It's fully electronic and can work to desulfate batteries. It has its own cooling fan and does self-diagnostics. I just set it at 25 amps and let it work its way down to 2 (it has a digital screen). It beeps every time it jumps a echelon (like at 10 amps, 2 amps, etc). You can do gel batteries with it and it tells you the battery voltage.

50 bucks well spent IMHO.

 

[blksn955.o]

HISSIN does it have a trickle charge?

I have been looking for something with a trickle charge to put on the optima in the winter since it just sits with the batt. undone. I have read alot of issues with optima's sitting over winter.

50$ would be a real nice price for something with a trickle charge.

 

[Methodical]

I just purchased the "Powered on Board" charger (2/10/25) from Sams Club tonight for just under $50. I am about to charge my Optima Yellow Top. Seems these batteries need some run time to keep living.

Hissin, I compared this one to the Vector and it looks the exact same and has the same specs. I wonder if Vector made these for Sams. Lowes wanted about $75 for the Vector and some online stores actually wanted upward of $100. When I compared the specs and the looks, it was the $46 unit from Sams for me.

Thanks for the info fellas

 

[Methodical]

What kind of battery is the Optima Yellow Top: Wet cell, AGM or Gel?

 

[blksn955.o]

I think optima's are a gel covered mat rolled into the "sixpack" design.

 

[Methodical]

I did some research and found out that the Optima batteries are: Spiral Wound AGM batteries

FYI: Good site on car batteries: http://www.batteryfaq.org/

 

[HISSIN50]

Nice pick-up Al. That's a good unit you got (that sounds a little funny ).

As you've seen, it doesn't float that I recall. I use 5 dollar float chargers when I need to - nothing fancy for me. They're a necessity for the motorcycles.

 

[Methodical]

Nice pick-up Al. That's a good unit you got (that sounds a little funny ).

As you've seen, it doesn't float that I recall. I use 5 dollar float chargers when I need to - nothing fancy for me. They're a necessity for the motorcycles.

Hissin, are you referring to "Float charge" on the battery? If so it can be floated, according to Optima's spec sheet, but only at 1 amp maximum and my charger is 2 amp minimum. So I guess you're right - it can't be floated. However, if you're talking about the charger, the unit I have can do a Float charge.

Yeah it does sound funny. I was at a loss when I saw the battery choices on the charger Wet, Gel and AGM.

 

[HISSIN50]

Hissin, are you referring to "Float charge" on the battery? If so it can be floated, according to Optima's spec sheet, but only at 1 amp maximum and my charger is 2 amp minimum. So I guess you're right - it can't be floated. However, if you're talking about the charger, the unit I have can do a Float charge.

I stand corrected. I guess if you leave the unit connected and powered indefinitely, it will float charge (though at double the amps we like for gel or bike batteries). I never leave mine connected (it just doesnt seem like a great idea to leave something like that powered up indefinitely). I once let it run for almost 48 hours straight (battery desulfation) and I was wonky about even doing that.

I have remote quick-release leads for the little trickle chargers I have. It's nice to keep the batteries topped up and not have to pop the hood or seat (bike). I dont mind needing two different mechanisms for charging.

 

[Methodical]

I stand corrected. I guess if you leave the unit connected and powered indefinitely, it will float charge (though at double the amps we like for gel or bike batteries). I never leave mine connected (it just doesnt seem like a great idea to leave something like that powered up indefinitely). I once let it run for almost 48 hours straight (battery desulfation) and I was wonky about even doing that.

I have remote quick-release leads for the little trickle chargers I have. It's nice to keep the batteries topped up and not have to pop the hood or seat (bike). I dont mind needing two different mechanisms for charging.

I agree I won't leave it connected because as you stated I am a little concerned about leaving something like that connected and not be at home.

I used the 10 amp setting to charge the battery since I was not in a hurry. Woke up this moring and saw the "FUL" on the display. Now, I am good to go.

About the remote quick release, that sounds slick. Do you have any pictures.

Oh do you keep your portable charger/jumper in your car or is it just a garage tool. I'm thinking of buying just a portable jumper because I do not give jumps anymore, especially after burning up my alternator, alarm system and radar detector. Fortunately, the equipment was replaced under warranty.

Again, thanks for the help and information

 

[HISSIN50]

I agree I won't leave it connected because as you stated I am a little concerned about leaving something like that connected and not be at home.

I used the 10 amp setting to charge the battery since I was not in a hurry. Woke up this moring and saw the "FUL" on the display. Now, I am good to go.

About the remote quick release, that sounds slick. Do you have any pictures.

Oh do you keep your portable charger/jumper in your car or is it just a garage tool. I'm thinking of buying just a portable jumper because I do not give jumps anymore, especially after burning up my alternator, alarm system and radar detector. Fortunately, the equipment was replaced under warranty.

Again, thanks for the help and information

No pics of the remote quick release connectors. It's not glamorous at all. It's the same style of connector used for lawnmower batteries, etc. They use them on Deltran chargers too (if you expand the pic on the site, in the bottom right corner is one leg of the connector. That's the style I like). Any connectors will work but I like having the positive wire insulated (not a bad idea to put a fuse on it too). Note that I only use this for my less-than 1 amp trickle charger. I wouldn't dream of using this with the Vector (and I bet the Vector would spit a code. It's real sensitive about bad or insufficient battery connections. That's cool if you use it on a friend's car and you dont know if they keep their connections clean).

I keep the Vector charger in the garage. I figure I wont find an outlet when I'm out and about and the unit would get beat to crap while hitting bumps in the road. I like your idea about having a jump-pack in your trunk though. I've considered getting one of these. Let me know if you get one and what you think of it. I havent gotten one just because I didnt want to spend very much and I am not sure how they handle heat (my interior has been over 150*F in the summer).

 

[Methodical]

...I like your idea about having a jump-pack in your trunk though. I've considered getting one of these. Let me know if you get one and what you think of it. I havent gotten one just because I didnt want to spend very much and I am not sure how they handle heat (my interior has been over 150*F in the summer).

Will do and thanks for the info

 

[Methodical]

FYI: The Sams Club battery charger is in fact a Vector battery charger (VEC1095APOB)

 

[HISSIN50]

FYI: The Sams Club battery charger is in fact a Vector battery charger (VEC1095APOB)

I'm sorry - I thought I mentioned that before (we both have the same charger from the same store. It's the Vector I refer to). I've seen that same charger packaged under several different names.
I figure it's gotta be decent to have a 5 year warranty.

Thanks for the charge pack info if you get one of those. I honestly would need to research what's best in terms of having enough amps and all that. I've seen somet that are 'boosters' but when your battery is dead, that's like sharting and calling it a fart.

 

[Methodical]

I'm sorry - I thought I mentioned that before (we both have the same charger from the same store. It's the Vector I refer to). I've seen that same charger packaged under several different names.
I figure it's gotta be decent to have a 5 year warranty.

Thanks for the charge pack info if you get one of those. I honestly would need to research what's best in terms of having enough amps and all that. I've seen somet that are 'boosters' but when your battery is dead, that's like sharting and calling it a fart.

Yeah I will start doing my research to . I've done a little but more is needed (i.e. epinion, amazon and various review sites). If you find some info do share.

Take care