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These seem to have improved a lot since last time I looked so I'm thinking of retiring my jump leads and buying one. The Noco ones seem to be recommended but looking at the spec they seem to be much more expensive than comparable ones, or even ones with a higher current/capacity. Is it like the old chinese lights and you get what you pay for, or do noco spend more on marketing?
I can’t answer your value question but I do have one of the Noco ones I bought from Halfords (thank you STW member discount) and it has worked for starting cars and though not really the best thing for the job also doubled as a power bank when at a festival for a weekend. USB C charging on the version I have is a handy feature too. On the grounds that it has done what it was supposed to I’m going to recommend it.
I got a Noco recently and did notice they were more money for the specs than others. Would like to think that's due to higher quality, but possibly not. The clamps are certainly strong.
Probably won't use it for ages now. Only bought one because it came to my attention that I hadn't successfully jump started anything with my Halfords leads in quite some time. Upon closer inspection the leads looked a bit corroded, and then snapped off in my hands. Guess it got a bit damp in the boot.
I have the Noco Boost Sport GB20 - lower capacity, but it's been used a couple of times on other people's cars, not mine. It currently lives in my van. Mainly bought as a backup if we accidentally flatten the battery on the van when camping in it. The van's electronics shut any lights off after a short delay, even with doors open.
Only issue, is Noco are American. Their chargers are made in China though !
I also have a Noco one, the GB40. Has worked as required except on a battery that had a completely dead cell.
There are a fair few reports of failing Nocos online, so I'm not sure they're any more reliable than other brands. I've got a Topdon JS2000 which has had a fair bit of use and abuse, but they seem to be a bit more expensive than when I bought mine so there may be better options.
I have one of the halfords advance ones. it's a few years old now but starts an old diesel absolutely fine when needed. you get maybe 4 or 5 jumps out of it.
it's a decently quick powerbank too.
Interesting. I have never used one successfully, of any make, either on my van or anyone else's cars
Jump leads and push starts have been much more reliable.
I have had a Voltcraft CJS11 for a few years.
It wasn't cheap but it has worked really well. The Mrs does a lot of short journey's and kills batteries in the winter. It has jump started within seconds every time.
The Lidl one I have works just as well as the old (swollen and so binned) one I bought back when lithium packs were new things. 3 year warranty, too.
Interesting. I have never used one successfully, of any make, either on my van or anyone else's cars
Jump leads and push starts have been much more reliable.
A common misconception with these is that they'll provide enough power to jump the car (in the same way as connecting jump leads might, although using the donor in this way is also asking for trouble).
Instead they deliver a very quick charge to your (flat) battery and then offer an additional boost as you crank.
The instructions for my Noco are specific about this - let it dump energy into your car's battery for 30 seconds and then have a go at starting.
Yep, they're not the same as an oldschool booster or a jump start, which gets more important when the battery's really flat. Sometimes they just will refuse to "connect", sometimes they won't be enough to turn it over, and it can get a bit trickier with the car electronics too. Basically you can tell at a glance that there's no way it's shoving full starting current through the little jump leads even if the pack could do it.
They're still cool, though,and still very useful. Most times unless you've got a totally failed battery or you've left a light on for ages they'll do the job. Still useful to have a big hoofin pack or jumpleads for proper flats though (I saved an old battery)
I've a Noco (bought when we thought the Septics were possibly sometimes still on our side) - it's bailed me out already after having been away on work for 12 days, coming home to a dead as a door nail car.
Bought on the hope that it would be less shonky amd less likely to ignite than a no-brand-no-known-responsibility Chinese tat.
I have a 2000A Utrai pack I bought off Amazon. That has been used to jump start cars and my Trafic van. FWIW I didn't have to connect it for 30 seconds or whatever beforehand, it worked right away.
I'd question whether I needed one.
A monthly full charge with a decent battery charger suits me while a standard calcium battery for my van is about half the price of a jump pack
Add a charger and jump leads and I wouldn't be spending much more than a battery pack alone
Thanks for the replies all. Its first job would be to start the mrs works van that has been sitting out the front without enough power to unlock the doors for a few months. There's a drain on it somewhere but they won't do anything about it and I thought it might give her a bit of reassurance. I think i'll stick with the jump leads for now.
The instructions for my Noco are specific about this - let it dump energy into your car's battery for 30 seconds and then have a go at starting.
My no name pack has been great just connected and started with no waiting.
My NOCO GB20 has been used multiple times on several cars. Has been flawless. I’ve also used it as a charging pack. I’m a fan. Lived in the boot of a mini in Ireland and had also started a CRV diesel.
I got one of theseLittle Yaber jobs during lockdown when our cars could go for weeks without moving. It small, fits in the glove compartment, easily fired up a 1.8 turbo engine, holds a full charge for ages and a bump start from a completely dead battery seems to drain no power from it at all. It also doubles up as a power pack. Cheap as chips too
I'd suggest whatever Mr Hewes on Youtube uses; if it'll start a Chieftain Tank it'll start pretty much anything.
If you do get a NOCO (and I’m not saying you should) it’s worth getting the slightly more expensive GBX version instead of the GB version as it has the updated circuitry inside and usb-c pd for fast charging of the device.
I bought one in case I accidentally flattens the van on the side of the Strathpuffer climb in the snow this year. I didn’t need it but started 2 vans and a car with it since.
Yep, they're not the same as an oldschool booster or a jump start, which gets more important when the battery's really flat. Sometimes they just will refuse to "connect", sometimes they won't be enough to turn it over, and it can get a bit trickier with the car electronics too.
Flat batteries were a regular issue when I was working for SFS/Cazoo, ‘cos sometimes a vehicle might have been sitting in storage for months. We had big heavy-duty battery packs that usually did the trick, but occasionally there’d be a vehicle that just wouldn’t start - I can remember several where we’d have two battery packs, plus another vehicle, preferably a diesel, sat alongside with jump-leads, and still not get the bastard thing to start! There was a Mercedes that was bricked due to a flat battery, had to be dragged onto a flatbed truck and taken to a dealership! Several times we had to get a breakdown truck in, and once a Renault not only wouldn’t start, we couldn’t even get into the car because the car couldn’t be unlocked! Not even with the mechanical lock key. So much for modern technology… 🤪
and once a Renault not only wouldn’t start, we couldn’t even get into the car because the car couldn’t be unlocked! Not even with the mechanical lock key.
I saw a video of this with a Trafic (I guess a Vivaro would be the same). The battery is in the passenger footwell too, so there's no point in forcing the bonnet catch either.
The fix was to pop out one of the side indicator repeaters, remove the bulb, attach the battery pack to the wires and, hey presto, the door can be unlocked!