Jump Start Pack recommendations?
Discussion
Greetings one and all,
I'm planning to get a jump start pack mainly for my car a 4 litre TVR but also for the other cars in the family. I'm not talking about the chunky portable lead-acid car battery in a plastic case but the portable peak power Li battery type. It has to be capable of turning over a 4 litre petrol as well as a 3 litre diesel. I'll point out right from the start that I can't afford the likes of a NOCO GB70 which would fit the bill and comes out well in most comparison articles but does have its fair share of bad user reviews. I've been looking at the Topdon JS2000 which seems to get good reviews but the cynic in me thinks that they are just too good. This also applies to the other Chinese-sourced batteries out there. There are lots of sellers on eBay selling the Topdon but are most likely the same seller with different accounts. The glowing YouTube reviews are all by people who have been sent one for free so no surprise that they give it a thumbs-up.(there's that cynic again)
Topdon JS2000
Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably priced starter pack?
I'm planning to get a jump start pack mainly for my car a 4 litre TVR but also for the other cars in the family. I'm not talking about the chunky portable lead-acid car battery in a plastic case but the portable peak power Li battery type. It has to be capable of turning over a 4 litre petrol as well as a 3 litre diesel. I'll point out right from the start that I can't afford the likes of a NOCO GB70 which would fit the bill and comes out well in most comparison articles but does have its fair share of bad user reviews. I've been looking at the Topdon JS2000 which seems to get good reviews but the cynic in me thinks that they are just too good. This also applies to the other Chinese-sourced batteries out there. There are lots of sellers on eBay selling the Topdon but are most likely the same seller with different accounts. The glowing YouTube reviews are all by people who have been sent one for free so no surprise that they give it a thumbs-up.(there's that cynic again)
Topdon JS2000
Does anyone have a recommendation for a reasonably priced starter pack?
Edited by crashbarrier on Monday 4th July 10:19
The problem with the cheap packs isn't the batteries (decent batteries are actually quite common even in the cheapish ones), where they fall down is the control/safety electronics and general durability.
e.g. a cheap one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_F2iq-lHN8&t=...
vs a Noco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAvyRwMhd0w&t=...
You've linked one which claims 2000A, but I bet you won't need anything like that much to turn over a Rover V8, nor will that one likely give anything like that amount of power.
I'd have the £80 Novo 500A. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/NOCO-GB20-UltraSafe-Lit...
e.g. a cheap one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_F2iq-lHN8&t=...
vs a Noco: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAvyRwMhd0w&t=...
You've linked one which claims 2000A, but I bet you won't need anything like that much to turn over a Rover V8, nor will that one likely give anything like that amount of power.
I'd have the £80 Novo 500A. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/NOCO-GB20-UltraSafe-Lit...
Edited by Krikkit on Monday 4th July 10:08
Thanks, Krikkit. I'll take a look at the one you linked and I agree that the Topdon is probably overstating its capabilities. The downside to the NOCO GB20 is that it claims to be good for up to 4 litres and with the possibility of me changing the car at some point(not if my wife is reading this) for something up to 5 litres I may need something bigger. I'll look at the next one up the range.
My post has been moved from a TVR group so I need to edit my original post to make more sense.
My post has been moved from a TVR group so I need to edit my original post to make more sense.
Edited by crashbarrier on Monday 4th July 10:23
I bought this unbranded power pack for professional use from an ebay seller in November 2015. I was very sceptical at first and, whenever I went out to a breakdown, I took my arm-stretcher lead-acid jump pack as back-up. I never once needed it (now long since ditched) as this has never ever failed to start a vehicle. It holds its charge perfectly when not in use and, although I initially kept a log of dates when I recharged it, I stopped bothering after a while as I realised it would be decades before I reached its theoretical limit of 100 recharges.
I opted for this one because it was relatively gimmick free, a 'clean' design and the plastics 'looked nice quality'...in a word, solid.
It goes everywhere with me, on holiday, camping, abroad, we even took it skiing that first winter... I was the most popular man on the snow train from St Pancras to Moutiers that Boxing Day... it was being passed around the carriage to recharge kids' games and adults' laptops! I realise that's not your intended use but I can vouch for its capacity, durability and longevity.
I said it's unbranded but I recently discovered that it's (now at least) marketed by Britpart... only because I wanted an accessory socket lead and the search took me to Britpart where I also found the identical powerpack on sale... 'Booster XS', their part number is DA1239.
Or there appears to be one on the bay atm for £103.50... seller is 'britishspares' (I paid £95 for mine in Nov' 2015).
I'd buy another in a heartbeat... only I don't need to because mine's still going strong
I opted for this one because it was relatively gimmick free, a 'clean' design and the plastics 'looked nice quality'...in a word, solid.
It goes everywhere with me, on holiday, camping, abroad, we even took it skiing that first winter... I was the most popular man on the snow train from St Pancras to Moutiers that Boxing Day... it was being passed around the carriage to recharge kids' games and adults' laptops! I realise that's not your intended use but I can vouch for its capacity, durability and longevity.
I said it's unbranded but I recently discovered that it's (now at least) marketed by Britpart... only because I wanted an accessory socket lead and the search took me to Britpart where I also found the identical powerpack on sale... 'Booster XS', their part number is DA1239.
Or there appears to be one on the bay atm for £103.50... seller is 'britishspares' (I paid £95 for mine in Nov' 2015).
I'd buy another in a heartbeat... only I don't need to because mine's still going strong
Krikkit,
I watched both those videos and apart from being quite fascinating and bewildering at the same time it certainly looks like brand reputation and cost don't automatically equate to long-lasting quality and endurance.
TwinKam,
I'll take a look at the Britpart pack and take your professional recommendation on board. As with most things, this will probably come down to a leap of faith as I drop the cash on one or other and then wait years for an opportunity to put it to the test.
I watched both those videos and apart from being quite fascinating and bewildering at the same time it certainly looks like brand reputation and cost don't automatically equate to long-lasting quality and endurance.
TwinKam,
I'll take a look at the Britpart pack and take your professional recommendation on board. As with most things, this will probably come down to a leap of faith as I drop the cash on one or other and then wait years for an opportunity to put it to the test.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01MG8KDFM/ref...
I bought this one (now unavailable, but linked for info) for £49.
It starts a Range Rover V8 with no problem at all.
I bought this one (now unavailable, but linked for info) for £49.
It starts a Range Rover V8 with no problem at all.
I've had this halfords one for around a year, I bought it "on the day" to use as my Touareg battery died whist we were out shopping so I walked across and got it
Fairly handy bit of kit, has jump started my 3ltr Diesel Touareg a few times and a few other cars to boot
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/tools/garage-equ...
Fairly handy bit of kit, has jump started my 3ltr Diesel Touareg a few times and a few other cars to boot
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/tools/garage-equ...
I own several , I was a fan of noco and have their GB150 which I bought to start my 7.3 diesel and smaller GB40 that I keep at the hobby shop. The GB150 worked well once or twice but started to fail just as the warranty expired which is one year. I contacted noco as I had only used it a couple of times and they told me that I was SOL, but they would be happy to sell me another.
I have a one made by a company called GooLoo that was older and much smaller that I kept at the house. I used it to start my 7.3 when the Noco failed so I decided to buy a bigger version of that instead. The GooLoo also comes with a 3 year warranty.
I have a one made by a company called GooLoo that was older and much smaller that I kept at the house. I used it to start my 7.3 when the Noco failed so I decided to buy a bigger version of that instead. The GooLoo also comes with a 3 year warranty.
It took me a few minutes to decode SOL. 
That's interesting what you say about NOCO and disappointing. As I mentioned earlier even their jump packs have bad reviews. After watching the videos above it's no surprise that the delicate electronics suffer and fail. I've looked at the GooLoo packs as an alternative to the Topdon, their 1200A looks good but from personal experience of cheap Chinese electronics, I am wary of getting a cheap but powerful one.
I think I will end up buying a NOCO in the hope that the elctronics will have had a more thorough testing but I'm financially constrained to one that will be good enough on paper but at the lower end of their range.
That's interesting what you say about NOCO and disappointing. As I mentioned earlier even their jump packs have bad reviews. After watching the videos above it's no surprise that the delicate electronics suffer and fail. I've looked at the GooLoo packs as an alternative to the Topdon, their 1200A looks good but from personal experience of cheap Chinese electronics, I am wary of getting a cheap but powerful one.I think I will end up buying a NOCO in the hope that the elctronics will have had a more thorough testing but I'm financially constrained to one that will be good enough on paper but at the lower end of their range.
The recovery guy that came out to jumpstart my car the other week popped out of his van with one of these.
https://www.mobilesolarchargers.co.uk/shop/details...
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/...
Have now bought one myself.
https://www.mobilesolarchargers.co.uk/shop/details...
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/...
Have now bought one myself.
I've got a chinese branded one from Amazon and it worked ok for the time when I needed it before I replaced the car battery. Now it mainly serves as a heavy power bank.
The chinese brands you see on Amazon come and go so effectively no brand, no comeback. A lot of their reviews are fake as well or bought for. For example, in my package there was a card incentivising the buyer to leave a 5 star review in exchange for a carry case, that sort of thing.
The chinese brands you see on Amazon come and go so effectively no brand, no comeback. A lot of their reviews are fake as well or bought for. For example, in my package there was a card incentivising the buyer to leave a 5 star review in exchange for a carry case, that sort of thing.
Off camping for the weekend tomorrow, just gone to check on my 7 year old, well used but still looking immaculate, 'Britpart' powerpack to see if it has enough charge to run our 2000+ LED lights. And restart the 3.0 V6 if the fridge drains its battery.
Oh look, it's still fully charged despite starting 3 cars already this week...
I agree, that they are all undoubtedly sourced from China including the NOCO but you’d hope that because it is a premium product that they would have the better electronics and batteries just like Apple vs the cheap lookalike chargers, cables, etc. But, having read countless reviews it seems that even the good ones have their problems.
I do like the look of the MSC one especially as it’s the only one that comes with a proper charger and other cables, as well as the GooLoo but I also accept that you don’t have to spend megabucks as TwinKam has found out.
I’m going to be forced into getting one ASAP as I’m going to have to take my TVR off it’s trickle charger when I go on holiday(safety reasons) and I don’t expect the battery to hold its charge and be able to start the car.
Thanks for all the suggestions
I do like the look of the MSC one especially as it’s the only one that comes with a proper charger and other cables, as well as the GooLoo but I also accept that you don’t have to spend megabucks as TwinKam has found out.
I’m going to be forced into getting one ASAP as I’m going to have to take my TVR off it’s trickle charger when I go on holiday(safety reasons) and I don’t expect the battery to hold its charge and be able to start the car.
Thanks for all the suggestions
crashbarrier said:
I agree, that they are all undoubtedly sourced from China including the NOCO but you’d hope that because it is a premium product that they would have the better electronics and batteries just like Apple vs the cheap lookalike chargers, cables, etc. But, having read countless reviews it seems that even the good ones have their problems.
I do like the look of the MSC one especially as it’s the only one that comes with a proper charger and other cables, as well as the GooLoo but I also accept that you don’t have to spend megabucks as TwinKam has found out.
I’m going to be forced into getting one ASAP as I’m going to have to take my TVR off it’s trickle charger when I go on holiday(safety reasons) and I don’t expect the battery to hold its charge and be able to start the car.
Thanks for all the suggestions
Fit a quick disconnect battery terminal, leaving the battery discharged for any length of time does them no favours.I do like the look of the MSC one especially as it’s the only one that comes with a proper charger and other cables, as well as the GooLoo but I also accept that you don’t have to spend megabucks as TwinKam has found out.
I’m going to be forced into getting one ASAP as I’m going to have to take my TVR off it’s trickle charger when I go on holiday(safety reasons) and I don’t expect the battery to hold its charge and be able to start the car.
Thanks for all the suggestions
Like I said, I bought Noco because of what I heard about then but if but if they don't stand by their products, then it's just marketing. Worse still, the unit is sealed completely so there's no way to get into it and repair without cutting the case with a cutting wheel and then having to wrap it with duct tape. It's truly a throw away item.
I've got one of those Noko Li-ion jump starters.
It weighs about as much as a fag packet and charges off a phone charger.
I honestly thought I had my pants pulled down when I got it home and unboxed it because it looked like it would struggle to boot a laptop let alone a car.
But no. It jumped a completely dead 4.2 V8 no trouble at all.
It weighs about as much as a fag packet and charges off a phone charger.
I honestly thought I had my pants pulled down when I got it home and unboxed it because it looked like it would struggle to boot a laptop let alone a car.
But no. It jumped a completely dead 4.2 V8 no trouble at all.
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