Jump Box Recommendation

[RTR]

Looking at buying a new jump starter box as my old harbor freight one bit the dust after 6-7 years. We have a couple at work that are the NOCO Brand. One is a 2,000 amp and the other is a 3,000 amp compact jump box. They recharge via a usb cable and have usb charging ports also. Comes with a soft carry case and very compact. I can get them at 15% over their cost and like the looks of them but wanted some opinions.

I'll be occasionally using it to jump off old gas tractors (seldom a diesel tractor), gas powered vehicles, and ATV side by sides at the farm. Thinking about the larger 3,000 amp model for $300.00

 

[charlie n]

amazon has several on sale. I bought a 5000 and wouldn't get anything smaller.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Looking at buying a new jump starter box as my old harbor freight one bit the dust after 6-7 years. We have a couple at work that are the NOCO Brand. One is a 2,000 amp and the other is a 3,000 amp compact jump box. They recharge via a usb cable and have usb charging ports also. Comes with a soft carry case and very compact. I can get them at 15% over their cost and like the looks of them but wanted some opinions.

I'll be occasionally using it to jump off old gas tractors (seldom a diesel tractor), gas powered vehicles, and ATV side by sides at the farm. Thinking about the larger 3,000 amp model for $300.00

I have had a Micro-Start XP-10 for at least 10 years maybe more it has jumped 100’s of cars and trucks. The last year are so it’s gotten weak it still works but on the weak and finicky side. I do not like that I have to plug the cables into the jumper the connection is a weak point any added connection is a place for failure. Another thing I did not like is the button to turn it on it was a P.I.T.A. I see they did change that. The Micro I want does not come with a charger WTF!. I did extend the cables on the Micro, I been looking at a Noco GB150 the reviews are terrible mostly about how their warranty sucks. I have 6 to 8 Noco battery chargers I like them if I got a Noco jumper I may shy away for the GB150 just because of the bad reviews.

I was gave a Utrai 2000A it works but short winded you have to keep it charged up. What makes it hard to get away from the Micro is its got a many a mile on it and other than the button to activate it its worked flawlessly. I've jumped up to 15 vehicles without recharging it.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Looking at buying a new jump starter box as my old harbor freight one bit the dust after 6-7 years. We have a couple at work that are the NOCO Brand. One is a 2,000 amp and the other is a 3,000 amp compact jump box. They recharge via a usb cable and have usb charging ports also. Comes with a soft carry case and very compact. I can get them at 15% over their cost and like the looks of them but wanted some opinions.

I'll be occasionally using it to jump off old gas tractors (seldom a diesel tractor), gas powered vehicles, and ATV side by sides at the farm. Thinking about the larger 3,000 amp model for $300.00

I don't use a jump starter because I've damaged my alternators in the past.
Does jump starting a car damage the alternator? Yes. Car jump start is a simple process, but it can damage your alternator if you do it too often.
I don't use one anymore. I will remove battery and charge it inside a warm place.
Cheaper than replacing the alternator.
A friend used a jumper starter to get his car started. Eventually he had to replace the battery and alternator.

Each to their own. I don't won a jumper starter.
I carry a AAA, but never had to call AAA for a jump.

 

[Oregon Tractor Jack]

I have several NOCO boxes quite happy with them. They are more expensive, but I think they are worth it.

OTJ

 

[Blackhole49]

JNC. We have 3 660's. Oldest 10 years old. Don't use every day, but never damaged an alternator. I use mine to run my 12 volt trailer winch also. This is the last car I dragged up with it.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

My main jump box is a Harbor Freight 1700/3400 Amp 12/24V selectable. The biggest one they sell. It's heavy but it'll roll ya over when nothing else will.

If money were no object, I would invest in the Goodall JP-12-1000.

I had one of those little gadget boxes. It lasted about a month. Wouldn't charge again after the first use. By then it was too late to return it.

 

[ss55]

Looking at buying a new jump starter box as my old harbor freight one bit the dust after 6-7 years. We have a couple at work that are the NOCO Brand. One is a 2,000 amp and the other is a 3,000 amp compact jump box. They recharge via a usb cable and have usb charging ports also. Comes with a soft carry case and very compact. I can get them at 15% over their cost and like the looks of them but wanted some opinions.

I'll be occasionally using it to jump off old gas tractors (seldom a diesel tractor), gas powered vehicles, and ATV side by sides at the farm. Thinking about the larger 3,000 amp model for $300.00

If the old unit was up to the task when it was working good, consider just replacing the battery instead of the whole unit. I found a replacement 7Amp-Hr sealed lead acid battery for about 30 dollars for my aging jump box.

 

[scootergmc]

I'm not a jump box owner yet, but I personally know many people who are and have a lot of experience. Using their experiences:

1. Buy bigger amps than what you "need."
2. Noco has the best reputation, and generally the highest price.
3. Cheaper ones can perform better in the short run, but they tend to peeter out faster or break.

When I buy one shortly, I'll buy the largest amp box I can get from a reputable manufacturer. I wish Noco had a larger box.

 

[cumminstinkerer]

I don't use a jump starter because I've damaged my alternators in the past.
Does jump starting a car damage the alternator? Yes. Car jump start is a simple process, but it can damage your alternator if you do it too often.
I don't use one anymore. I will remove battery and charge it inside a warm place.
Cheaper than replacing the alternator.
A friend used a jumper starter to get his car started. Eventually he had to replace the battery and alternator.

Each to their own. I don't won a jumper starter.
I carry a AAA, but never had to call AAA for a jump.

Not to be a smart azz but typically only delco style (mind you style, multiple brands) have the issue of alternator damage, there is no current limit built into the regulators, again on the self contained style, and they will push max current that the alternator itself can generate out on a dead jumped battery once running, usually results in smoked diodes or regulator, failed alternator! I do completely agree jumping is about the worst you can do to any alt system with a dead battery, give them some charge first even if not totally up but get some charge in the battery first! Interestingly a chrysler style alternator, which I believe is a Bosch design, with the external regulator has a limit built into the regulator so that it won't sit a max output to the point of burning up the reg or the diodes, do the regs fail? yes, do they take more wires than a delco style? yes, but I have never seen one smoke the diodes or regulator for a doing a dead jump start! I have smoked a few regulators in a Delco style from doing a total dead jump when no option was available! I have switched all but two of my tractors to the Chrysler style and have done total dead battery pull starts and never smoked either the alt or the reg, and every time, knock on wood, after some run time the batteries have come back up and functioned fine, have a pair in my 1030 that I know are pre 2008 and still working that have had the pull start a few times! never have hurt the alternator, excluding the time a robin built a nest in the belt right by the pulley ( that severely over tensioned the belt and actually broke one mounting ear off, not sayin its the right answer for all nor that you cant jump one and get away with it, just sharing my experiences.

 

[JoeM(GA)]

I have a NOCO too, guess I’ve had it 2-3 years, never had a problem with i, have been amazed what it will crank

 

[SkipperII]

JNC. We have 3 660's. Oldest 10 years old. Don't use every day, but never damaged an alternator. I use mine to run my 12 volt trailer winch also. This is the last car I dragged up with it.View attachment 100685

Ok; now I'm jealous. I had a '56 Victoria Hdtp, when the wife and I were dating, white over green, 312 , 4BBl. . Spun a rod bearing, couldn't afford to fix it due to college tuition and books. I traded it for a '55 Olds. One of those, "If I knew than, what I know now."

 

[John in Ct]

Jump+ Carry. It is a small car battery.

 

[Fixingfarmer]

The 2000 noco has been fine for me it won’t do a completely dead semi but everything else has been done I’ve been naughty and ran the 12 volt super C off if for 4 years now not buying a battery just using it to start and then the junk battery and alternator keep it going. Most big tractors around here only have about 2000 cca of battery anyway usually 2 around 1000 batteries so if your just giving a little boost it’s sufficient and very handy fits in the center console of the pickup where there’s a charging port for it

 

[Hobo,NC]

The 2000 noco has been fine for me it won’t do a completely dead semi but everything else has been done I’ve been naughty and ran the 12 volt super C off if for 4 years now not buying a battery just using it to start and then the junk battery and alternator keep it going. Most big tractors around here only have about 2000 cca of battery anyway usually 2 around 1000 batteries so if your just giving a little boost it’s sufficient and very handy fits in the center console of the pickup where there’s a charging port for it

I want! the big'N but I don't wont! to spend another 100 plus to gamble, I keep looking at the GB70 as it will fit my needs. A diesel with a dead dead battery will give most any jumper a fit BTDT it will eat up jumpers and spit them out.
I have several junk wrecked vehicles with a good motor I like to jump them off several times a year just to run them. The battery's are grave yard dead my Micro has are did have no problem getting them started.

My bud that runs a truck shop uses a Matco a big'N he swears by it I have seen it not jump a grave yard dead Diesel.

This is just one of those tools than work amazingly well.

 

[Red Dave]

Not to be a smart azz but typically only delco style (mind you style, multiple brands) have the issue of alternator damage, there is no current limit built into the regulators, again on the self contained style, and they will push max current that the alternator itself can generate out on a dead jumped battery once running, usually results in smoked diodes or regulator, failed alternator! I do completely agree jumping is about the worst you can do to any alt system with a dead battery, give them some charge first even if not totally up but get some charge in the battery first! Interestingly a chrysler style alternator, which I believe is a Bosch design, with the external regulator has a limit built into the regulator so that it won't sit a max output to the point of burning up the reg or the diodes, do the regs fail? yes, do they take more wires than a delco style? yes, but I have never seen one smoke the diodes or regulator for a doing a dead jump start! I have smoked a few regulators in a Delco style from doing a total dead jump when no option was available! I have switched all but two of my tractors to the Chrysler style and have done total dead battery pull starts and never smoked either the alt or the reg, and every time, knock on wood, after some run time the batteries have come back up and functioned fine, have a pair in my 1030 that I know are pre 2008 and still working that have had the pull start a few times! never have hurt the alternator, excluding the time a robin built a nest in the belt right by the pulley ( that severely over tensioned the belt and actually broke one mounting ear off, not sayin its the right answer for all nor that you cant jump one and get away with it, just sharing my experiences.

Over the past 50+ years of jump starting dead batteries, I have yet to fry an alternator, and many if not most have been GM Delco alternators. But then I learned a long time ago to match polarity before hooking it up.

I've been using a JNC 660 for the past dozen years or so and it has performed perfectly every time it was needed. It will even start a diesel engine.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

If the old unit was up to the task when it was working good, consider just replacing the battery instead of the whole unit. I found a replacement 7Amp-Hr sealed lead acid battery for about 30 dollars for my aging jump box.

The ones the OP is talking about are the small handheld jump packs. They have lithium batteries, not replaceable.

 

[John in Ct]

I hooked my JNC in series with a car battery and easily started my Cat 215 that was sitting for years with 100% dead batteries.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

Not to be a smart azz but typically only delco style (mind you style, multiple brands) have the issue of alternator damage, there is no current limit built into the regulators, again on the self contained style, and they will push max current that the alternator itself can generate out on a dead jumped battery once running, usually results in smoked diodes or regulator, failed alternator! I do completely agree jumping is about the worst you can do to any alt system with a dead battery, give them some charge first even if not totally up but get some charge in the battery first! Interestingly a chrysler style alternator, which I believe is a Bosch design, with the external regulator has a limit built into the regulator so that it won't sit a max output to the point of burning up the reg or the diodes, do the regs fail? yes, do they take more wires than a delco style? yes, but I have never seen one smoke the diodes or regulator for a doing a dead jump start! I have smoked a few regulators in a Delco style from doing a total dead jump when no option was available! I have switched all but two of my tractors to the Chrysler style and have done total dead battery pull starts and never smoked either the alt or the reg, and every time, knock on wood, after some run time the batteries have come back up and functioned fine, have a pair in my 1030 that I know are pre 2008 and still working that have had the pull start a few times! never have hurt the alternator, excluding the time a robin built a nest in the belt right by the pulley ( that severely over tensioned the belt and actually broke one mounting ear off, not sayin its the right answer for all nor that you cant jump one and get away with it, just sharing my experiences.

You are right, I burnt up 3 alternators on my 70's vintage caddy.
I read the directions on the replacement alternator. It said NEVER run the car on a Dead battery.
All my vehicles are GM so I follow the old rules.
I watch the age and condition of my batteries and replace them before they go completely dead.
I also test all my batteries with a conductivity tester.
I don't own a jumper box.

 

[Hobo,NC]

JNC. We have 3 660's. Oldest 10 years old. Don't use every day, but never damaged an alternator. I use mine to run my 12 volt trailer winch also. This is the last car I dragged up with it.View attachment 100685

I have brought jumper packs like JNC they never held up : ( its what you get for not paying the price for a JNC. JNC has been known as the gold standard of jumper packs as they are praised across the board by a many a user. My mico owes me nuttin I would like to get another that's easier to use, To move up a JNC looks inviting.