OFF topic.....anyone have any experience with a small suitcase type batt jumper?

[TAJ45]

guess that's what I'd call them. Something portable is needed to jump my mower. My last battery spoiled me as it lasted 5 seasons......the replacement didn't make it into the second very far.

So I'm thinking of one of those suitcase style jumper rigs and have a lot more versatility.

I don't want to run down to the parts store and snag something that has a life of a couple of years and be paying 2x what a replacement batt would be for the mower.

Anyone have any opinions as to brand, $$ threshold for one that will last and last (pipe dream?).

 

[Alex Wheeler]

If your just using it for the mower, a cheapie should be ok. At the shop when we need them to jump totally dead cars vehicles I have found only the best (expensive) seem to do the job and last more than a year.

 

[Lapua40X]

I'm not sure whether you're looking for a portable emergency quick start battery or a battery charger with a quick start feature.
The Schumacher XC103 100/30/12/2-Amp Battery Charger is less than $100,
and in the same price range you might like the Cobra Electronics Jump Starter Powerpack .
NAPA Auto Parts carries the Booster Pac Portable Power Supply ( Part Number: SOR ES5000 )
Riding mower? Your post doesn't say.
Careful - avoid jumping a dead battery to start your engine and trying to run it relying on the alternator to "charge" the battery. That usually ends up with a burned out alternator (they're designed to maintain the top charge only, not to charge the dead battery)

 

[Charles]

keep a float charger on the battery when not using, will increase battery life

 

[Duster_360]

^^+1....I used to buy a motorcycle battery every 2-3 yrs when the battery started getting unreliable to start my bike. Now I keep the battery on a float type charger (Battery Tender) and I've just replaced the last one after 7 years.

 

[butchlambert]

I'm not sure whether you're looking for a portable emergency quick start battery or a battery charger with a quick start feature.
The Schumacher XC103 100/30/12/2-Amp Battery Charger is less than $100,
and in the same price range you might like the Cobra Electronics Jump Starter Powerpack .
NAPA Auto Parts carries the Booster Pac Portable Power Supply ( Part Number: SOR ES5000 )
Riding mower? Your post doesn't say.
Careful - avoid jumping a dead battery to start your engine and trying to run it relying on the alternator to "charge" the battery. That usually ends up with a burned out alternator (they're designed to maintain the top charge only, not to charge the dead battery)

Pay attention to what Lapua40X and zfastmalibu have to say. We never start a vehicle of any kind after replacing an alternator without charging the battery. Yeah I know a lot of you have an might not have experienced a problem. Our jumper boxes are rechargeable. They all seem to have a gel cell battery. If we jump with one we leave it on for a few minutes to ease the load on the alternator.

 

[KevinL]

I am with butch.
But if you put a small trickol charger on your lawn mower tha will NOT over charge it will last you 4 or 5X longer than with out.
Any small batt that is not constantly yoused has a vary short life span unless maintained (trickol charger)
good luck

 

[TonyR]

I'll get you on-topic. I have had one of those things for about 4 years. I think I bought it at PepBoys. I use it mainly to power my chronograph but it has also boosted a Chevy Suburban diesel and powered the pit sound system at a big match at Lodi, WI, maybe the 2011 FCNC, after their battery died in the middle of a match. Still works fine. So you are now "On-Topic"

 

[mattlewis]

My Walmart carries three or four different levels. Being a true Tim Allen disciple, I bought the biggest one they make. It's still going strong after 2 years and I think it is a Schumacher brand. I have no idea how good the little built in compressor is, but I've powered a lot of stuff with it at deer camp, and jump started several vehicles. I even used it as a trolling motor battery one time on my boat.

 

[butchlambert]

My Son just said we bought our latest one from Matco. It is 2 or 3 yrs old. He has replaced the battery that came in it with a battery we bought from our Interstate Battery distributor.

 

[TAJ45]

Many thanks guys for ALL the posts and especially those directly related to the OP. I don't mind extra first hand info at all.

It would seem the Schumacher is the "gold std" so far. I did find some on Ebay stalled out around $35 that are bought in bulk from the big box stores, returns etc w/ no box but 'sposedly czeched out. FWIW it would seem you can get into the big one for less than a C note w/o breaking a sweat......

Again, everyone, thanks.