portable jumpstarter ？

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Yeah I have used them.
They take too long.

What do you mean they take too long? Are we talking about the same thing?

These jump packs use a set of jumper leads and work the same as a normal jump pack except they fit into your pocket. You connect it up and start the engine.

Simon

[Stubby79]

If you want something that won't weigh a lot and can hold it's charge, it's probably worth it. It's peace of mind in your glove box.

If you don't care about weight, then there's the older sealed lead acid versions. If you go months and months between charges, you might find it dead though. Plus I don't think they care for much below freezing temps.

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

The wires at the starter are beefier than the wires at the cigarette lighter for a reason. This isn't just spam, it's dangerous.

The wires are adequate for their purpose. Can you please explain what is dangerous about charging the car battery via the lighter socket that is protected by a fuse (generally 15A) that is sized to protect the wiring?

If you are trying to jump start a car via the lighter socket then you are stupid and doomed to failure.

Simon

P.S. did you even read the instructions in the first photo?

[Fat Charlie]

I've seen too many people who think the answer to blown fuses is to replace them with larger fuses.

Stupid and doomed to failure is right.

[RedDevil]

Maycool had a first post about the same subject on InsightCentral too:

Do cigarette lighter jump starters work? - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

So, inquisitive new poster or a spambot?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by LittleBlackDuck

Can you please explain what is dangerous about charging the car battery via the lighter socket that is protected by a fuse (generally 15A) that is sized to protect the wiring?

Charging the car battery and jump starting are two different things. If you tried to jump start through the lighter (or aux power in my car), that 15 amp fuse would blow immediately.

It'd be like trying to jump start the car with a 10-15 amp trickle changer. But something like that would be useful for a hybrid, like my Insight, where if the 12-volt battery goes dead, you can't get power from the IMA battery.

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Charging the car battery and jump starting are two different things. If you tried to jump start through the lighter (or aux power in my car), that 15 amp fuse would blow immediately.

It'd be like trying to jump start the car with a 10-15 amp trickle changer. But something like that would be useful for a hybrid, like my Insight, where if the 12-volt battery goes dead, you can't get power from the IMA battery.

Same situation in my Lexus and Toyota hybrids. Only hitch is that the lighter socket may not be live all the time, and thus cannot backfeed to the battery. It could cause damage on some of the newer vehicles. USE CAUTION!!!

Simon

[vskid3]

Am I the only one seeing the last picture? It looks like you can clamp it to the battery like a regular jump box and start the car that way. Still might not be good enough for a stone-cold dead battery and large engine, but would probably be fine if the battery is just on its way out. I think there's some poor translation or too much dumbing-down in the instructions.

[Daox]

Originally Posted by RedDevil

Maycool had a first post about the same subject on InsightCentral too:

Do cigarette lighter jump starters work? - Insight Central: Honda Insight Forum

So, inquisitive new poster or a spambot?

He is a spammer, but I removed his link and it provoked good discussion so I left it.

[LittleBlackDuck]

Originally Posted by vskid3

Am I the only one seeing the last picture? It looks like you can clamp it to the battery like a regular jump box and start the car that way. Still might not be good enough for a stone-cold dead battery and large engine, but would probably be fine if the battery is just on its way out. I think there's some poor translation or too much dumbing-down in the instructions.

Nope. I have a similar box and commented that I have jump started a Lexus V6 with it. They are a great tool.

Simon