Recommendation -- portable battery jumper

[Huw Powell]

>> Can anyone recommend a portable battery jumper/booster (or whatever
>>  they're called)

> Whats the matter with a good set of jumper cables?

They require firing up another vehicle and bringing it over.  Messy and 
time consuming.

I have spent many years up here in messy, snowy NH, often with 3 
vehicles in the parking lot, counting the plow truck (and random cars 
resting in the field all winter).  Cleaning and moving cars into "jump" 
position is a royal PITA.  Years ago, I bought a 200A booster thing, 
which could start anything, but required being plugged in and wheeled 
around (which is icky in 8" of snow).

A couple of years ago I did what all the auto shops started doing when 
they became available - I bought a $50 or so booster pack at pep boyz 
(smaller than the ones shops use, but they often have to use them a lot 
over the course of a day).  It has never let me down, has charge 
indicator lights and a small built-in light, is EASY to use, I repeat 
EASY.  Even worked on the semi-POS Blazer I just picked up to plow this 
winter (crappy GM side-terminal battery!)

> If you insist on having a "battery booster", buy a battery, a battery
>  charger, and jumper cables. Probably will cost the same as some
> prepackaged "Booster" gizmo, but will be more versatile and far more
> powerful. Interstate battery is about $75 battery charger is about
> $15 Jumper cables are about $25 for a decent set - heavy gauge wire,
> fine stranded.

Double the cost, and no convenience advantage.  The booster pack has a 
handle and built in 3' or so cables.  EASY to use.  And seems to work ok 
on cars with dead-dead-dead batteries, as well.

-- 
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi

http://www.humanthoughts.org/