We bought a 1,000-amp portable car starter when our tow car mysteriously wouldn’t start and we did not want to be stranded again. Turns out the shop had not wired the car to be charged from the motorhome as our previous car was. By the time we found out the cause, we had a dead battery and a new car starter!
Fortunately, we have not had to use the power pack to start our car since then, but we have helped a lot of other people start theirs. The best part has been discovering that we can use the power pack to charge up our devices when boondocking. It has plenty of power to run a small USB fan too.
You can recharge the battery with a car or motorhome through the DC charger port and the included 12V plug or any 110V extension cord.
Ours also has a maintenance-free AGM battery. Some have air compressors too. It is important to follow the directions and recharge after use and every two months when not in use. There are also lightweight lithium-powered starters available.
Here’s a power pack just like ours.
##RVDT1709
Good tip!
And a note to those who have a diesel, you’ll need more amps. I’ve only had to use it once, but it works, and I’m very glad I had it. (I’ve used it many times for charging my cell phone.)
I have this unit.
“AUTOGEN 2500A Peak 21000mAh Lithium Car Jump Starter, Jump Box (Up to 8.0L Gas & Diesel Engines) with USB Quick Charge 3.0, 12V Auto Battery Booster, Power Pack Portable Charger”
Usually a big waste of money and space.
Yes you needed one yesterday, but that need is gone. Think of the last time you needed one.
I’ve never. My brother bought one,has since passed and i thought, maybe ill take it. It wouldn’t charge. Ill buy a new battery, it would cost as much as a new unit. It had an air compressor. The cylinder was the size of a nickel. How many days are you going to wait while it pumps up a tire. My opinion, save your money.
There are smaller units available that actually CAN start a diesel, and can be stored in a corner of a closet. I’ve got one and have used it.
We carry one of these at all times. In addition to the few times one of us has hit a light and it drained the battery over night, I’ve used it multiple times to help others with dead batteries. It is so frustrating to wait to get into a camp site and the person occupying the site has a dead battery and is waiting for a jump. Cheap insurance for less stress. We also have one with a compressor and I use it when I need a few pounds added due to cold weather overnight.
I have one and it is a handy thing to have. I originally got it as my classic car is 6 volts and needed a 12 volt source to power modern things like a phone or GPS. Since then it has been a very handy thing for charging phones, powering my CPAP while boondocking, and many other things that I never considered when I bought it. Well worth the $70 spent at Harbor Freight.
Interesting thought to use it to power a CPAP. Do you have the humidifer and heated air hose on your CPAP?
We use a different battery pack to power a CPAP machine when boondocking but always have to turn off the humidity when using. The humidity takes too much power. He does not have heated hose.