Car Jump Starter

Merlin5

Merlin5

Merlin5

Soldato
Joined
17 Aug 2009
Posts
18,840
Location
Finchley, London
Hi guys. I've done some research on jump starters and checked out various ones and decided I want to buy a Noco GB40. It seems to be well regarded, reliable, holds its charge, has a boost function and seems about as small and compact as I'll find. I can buy it for £89.98 from GSF Car Parts.

However, I'm now thinking about space in my car and keeping less machines. I currently have a Ring RTC4000 tyre inflator in my glove box. It works very well but I'm wondering if I might be better off buying one of those jump starter/tyre inflators all in one machines and just keeping that in the glove box instead of the Ring one I have. I'm thinking Yaber, Ring? Or any others you'd recommend that aren't too big?
 
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I know I'm not answering your question, but why the glove box? I have a tyre inflator, jump starter, LED hazard light, Mechanix gloves, and a small 1st aid kit all tucked into the space around the spare wheel. Granted it's not great if the boot's full but that's a rarity anyway.

To get closer to answering your question, I'd say going with separate devices is better. A Jack of all trades is master of none, plus two smaller devices is easier to pack/store than one biggie.
 
Personally I wouldn't bother keeping a jump starter in the car, unless you regularly park up away from home without driving for long periods of time (maybe parked at the airport etc?). 9/10 a flat battery will happen when you come out to the car at your house in a morning.

Equally, at £90 for a jump starter - it may just be worth putting that towards replacing the battery if you believe it to be old, or struggling to start etc.

With tyre inflator, personally I would have it in the car, but that's only because neither of my cars have a spare wheel, so I have one as part of a mobility kit with slime etc. If you've got a full spare kit, then imo an inflator isn't necessary.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I do agree about separates rather than jack of all. The thing is, I have an old Toyota Auris with limited space. I've just been out with a tape measure. The glove box can take a good size unit but there's really nowhere else in the car to store it. I've looked under the mat where the spare wheel is and there's no space to put anything.
 
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Armageus said:
Personally I wouldn't bother keeping a jump starter in the car, unless you regularly park up away from home without driving for long periods of time (maybe parked at the airport etc?). 9/10 a flat battery will happen when you come out to the car at your house in a morning.

Equally, at £90 for a jump starter - it may just be worth putting that towards replacing the battery if you believe it to be old, or struggling to start etc.

With tyre inflator, personally I would have it in the car, but that's only because neither of my cars have a spare wheel, so I have one as part of a mobility kit with slime etc. If you've got a full spare kit, then imo an inflator isn't necessary.
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Twice this year (once was last night at home and once when I was leaving a cemetery) I left my lights on for over two hours and the battery was dead. It happened to be outside my house and I called out Start Rescue to jump me. But I was on my way out and so had to cancel it. My battery is a Varta, probably 3 or 4 years old now and never lets me down apart from when I leave the lights on! I think I should replace the battery as it's probably got some dead cells. But for those times when I might accidentally leave my lights on I would need to have a jump starter with me.
 
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Merlin5 said:
But for those times when I might accidentally leave my lights on I would need to have a jump starter with me.
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You need a better routine for making sure you haven't left your lights off then. The Japanese have routines where they point at things in order to remember to do it. If you're forgetful, every time you get out the car you need to first point at the light switch to make sure it's off, then get out and point at the lights to double check. People might think you are mad, but your battery won't go flat. :cry:
 
Merlin5 said:
Twice this year (once was last night at home and once when I was leaving a cemetery) I left my lights on for over two hours and the battery was dead. It happened to be outside my house and I called out Start Rescue to jump me. But I was on my way out and so had to cancel it. My battery is a Varta, probably 3 or 4 years old now and never lets me down apart from when I leave the lights on! I think I should replace the battery as it's probably got some dead cells. But for those times when I might accidentally leave my lights on I would need to have a jump starter with me.
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Sounds like you'd be better off paying an auto electrician to wire in a buzzer to your light feed / door open switch
 
The problem with draining batteries with stuff like parking lights / cabin lighting / other small battery drains is that they'll significantly damage the battery as they drain it to 0%.

Yes the car will start with a jump, but every time this happens you reduce the capacity and cold cranking power of the battery, drastically reducing reliability and the first time you'll notice this is when there's a proper cold snap.

So problem one is as @Armageus says, solve the issue of leaving lights on. Stick a post-it to the window telling you to check, and check every single time you leave the car until it becomes muscle memory, like putting on a seatbelt when you get in a car.

If someone else is doing it, then get a buzzer installed.


As for jumper, I've got some cheapo thing that I bougbt off Amazon for £45 or something. I've started plenty of bikes and a few cars with it and it's been fine.

I don't see the point in a compressor as it simply inflates a tyre that is already punctured, unless you have goo which again only works for like 5% of punctures.

Definitely don't waste space in the glovebox for this though, that's for sweeties, jonnies and your Glock.

Also also, make sure to charge this stuff every few months as they will drain and become utterly useless when needed.
 
Diddums said:
The problem with draining batteries with stuff like parking lights / cabin lighting / other small battery drains is that they'll significantly damage the battery as they drain it to 0%.

Yes the car will start with a jump, but every time this happens you reduce the capacity and cold cranking power of the battery, drastically reducing reliability and the first time you'll notice this is when there's a proper cold snap.

So problem one is as @Armageus says, solve the issue of leaving lights on. Stick a post-it to the window telling you to check, and check every single time you leave the car until it becomes muscle memory, like putting on a seatbelt when you get in a car.

If someone else is doing it, then get a buzzer installed.


As for jumper, I've got some cheapo thing that I bougbt off Amazon for £45 or something. I've started plenty of bikes and a few cars with it and it's been fine.

I don't see the point in a compressor as it simply inflates a tyre that is already punctured, unless you have goo which again only works for like 5% of punctures.

Definitely don't waste space in the glovebox for this though, that's for sweeties, jonnies and your Glock.

Also also, make sure to charge this stuff every few months as they will drain and become utterly useless when needed.
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My Glock is ready and loaded. :cry: Yeah I think I'll just buy a dedicated jump starter without the inflator for similar money to what you paid. I've been measuring inside my glove box and while it comfortably takes my Ring RTC4000 tyre inflator it doesn't seem like it'll fit anything bulkier than 11.5cm wide, and all the 2 in 1 machines I've been looking at including their carry cases won't fit. I guess I can just put it on the floor behind the passenger seat, I rarely have anyone sitting in the back.
 
I have one of these GOOLOO A3:


It has started my large diesel 2.8 crd without issue, pump lasts a good few rounds of tyres before charging, and build quality is great. Would recommend.
 
NVP said:
I have one of these GOOLOO A3:


It has started my large diesel 2.8 crd without issue, pump lasts a good few rounds of tyres before charging, and build quality is great. Would recommend.
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Yes, that's one on my shortlist. I wanted one that has the safety override boost function which this one does. Can you tell me what the dimensions are with the carry case on?

My glove box can fit the length of any of these machines but the height of my glove box is just over 11.5cm so I need to be able to slide the unit in comfortably. I'm wondering if the width or height of your Gooloo with the case, whichever is the shortest size, is about 11.5cm or less? I've googled the dimensions which are apparently 15cm × 12.6cm × 5.9cm so that should easily fit, I just wondered if it's much bigger with the carry case, although I think it comes with a soft nylon bag rather than hard case so probably won't make much difference?
 
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I'll measure when I'm back home in a couple days. The bag is soft, but it does have an additional compartment at the front to store the leads and adapters and stuff so it's about an inch and a half thicker than just the device.
 
NVP said:
I'll measure when I'm back home in a couple days. The bag is soft, but it does have an additional compartment at the front to store the leads and adapters and stuff so it's about an inch and a half thicker than just the device.
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Thanks. Actually, I've got a shallow drawer under the passenger seat which I think could store the leads and accessories.
 
My ring one lasted approximately 18 months.

Replaced with a Gooloo. Not the one linked above.But managed to jump start a car not started in around 3 years with only 80% charge.
 
iamgigglz said:
I know I'm not answering your question, but why the glove box? I have a tyre inflator, jump starter, LED hazard light, Mechanix gloves, and a small 1st aid kit all tucked into the space around the spare wheel. Granted it's not great if the boot's full but that's a rarity anyway.

To get closer to answering your question, I'd say going with separate devices is better. A Jack of all trades is master of none, plus two smaller devices is easier to pack/store than one biggie.
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Just remember, Electric boots don't open when you have a flat battery.
 
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