Portable battery jumper pack for the MH

GMJ

GMJ

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Up until my battery went flat and I went to jump it with my BoltPower D28, I was well impressed with said Bolt Power. It's a still a great bit of kit and as rare as hens teeth now (and mine is new and unused!!!) so it seems however the jumper leads are not long enough to reach the battery connection points in the Ducato engine bay.

So whilst it is a nifty piece of kit its not much use for the MH...or at least the Ducato based MH's.

So I am after a small, portable battery jumper kit to carry in the MH. I have one of the large yellow jobbies with torch, compressor etc all attached but I'm after something a bit smaller, compact and lighter.

Do any of you folks carry such a thing?

If so I'd be all ears.

Thanks
 
What model Ducato do you have? I'm struggling to understand how you can't reach the jumper points.
 
colinm said:
What model Ducato do you have? I'm struggling to understand how you can't reach the jumper points.
Click to expand...
The D28 has very short leads. The distance between the earth point and the remote +ve terminal would be a stretch. d28a.jpg
 
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Thanks.

It doesn't quite reach: short by a few inches.

I had a look to see if there were extended leads available but couldn't find anything. I emailed Bolt as well but don't hold out much hope tbh...
 
FWIW, I was going to recommend the Noco GBX45 pack I bought from Amazon a few months ago. Although it's now priced at £134.96, it was quite a bit less expensive then. However, I suspect you won't get any real additional functionality as it has short cables also.

I wonder whether getting a decent set of jump cables and using one to extend either the +ve or -ve of your Bolt Power would work...
 
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mistericeman said:
Couldn't you get it on the remote positive and the negative on a large lump of engine nearby?
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GMJ said:
Possibly, if I knew what I was doing....
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GMJ he has a good point. All of the chassis and all of the engine are good earthing points. So find something that is bare metal and that will do the same job as the earth point. I'm exercising my memory but can't recall what is near that remote terminal, butr there must be something. Just don't use anything with paint on it or less than a cm thick.
 
Had one these for 3 years and has been excellent.
Fortunately never used in anger on my motorhome but used it to start numerous cars and one motorhome. Also useful to charge mobiles, ecigs etc with the included cables / connectors.

Antigravity Batteries - Micro-Start XP10

Pocket sized Lithium-Ion 600 Peak Amp Jump Starter & Portable Power Supply, Jump starts petrol,Diesel Cars,Trucks,Motorcycles,Boats etc.
www.antigravitybatteries-uk.co.uk
 
Thanks for all the suggestions.

Some of the products are very expensive. Halfords seem to do a range at under 100 quid which is where I'd like it to be if I get one...

Jump Starters & Battery Booster Packs | Halfords UK

Fight back against flats with a jump starter from Halfords. Our battery jump starter power packs will get you back on the road in no time. Buy online or instore.
www.halfords.com www.halfords.com

I'll certainly check out the suggestions on earthing points though as this would seem to be the best solution.
 
We have one of these, used three times on sons van on one charge in the past. Seem to be out of stock but similar available

Roypow portable car jump starter, battery charger and Power Bank with LED indicator and USB charger, 400A design, 8000 mAh : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

Roypow portable car jump starter, battery charger and Power Bank with LED indicator and USB charger, 400A design, 8000 mAh : Amazon.co.uk: Automotive
www.amazon.co.uk

Looking at the photo...the leads look short on this too
 
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I got a similar looking power pack free from ebay. It was sold as lithium but when it arrived it was the same weight as the lead acid one I was replacing (over 2lb) and had a voltage output consistent with lead acid not lithium. I complained and got an immediate refund and told not to bother returning the pack.

If the leads are too short for engine bay connection you could probably do it directly to the battery.
 
On a X250 the two jump start connections are 280mm apart, about same distance as the main battery, the nearest bit of 'bare' metal doesn't appear to be properly earthed, not sure on X244 or X290.
 
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GMJ said:
Thanks for all the suggestions.

Some of the products are very expensive. Halfords seem to do a range at under 100 quid which is where I'd like it to be if I get one...

Jump Starters & Battery Booster Packs | Halfords UK

Fight back against flats with a jump starter from Halfords. Our battery jump starter power packs will get you back on the road in no time. Buy online or instore.
www.halfords.com www.halfords.com

I'll certainly check out the suggestions on earthing points though as this would seem to be the best solution.
Click to expand...
FWIW, I have a Halfords 17Ah lead-acid jump start pack -- probably the ancestor of the 6-in-1 unit they're selling for £77.49. It wouldn't jump start the van (2.8 Ducato iDtd), which is why I bought the Noco. I still use the Halfords unit, but as a 12v power pack for Astronomy etc. -- a bit like a poor man's Jackery.
If you decide to get a Noco, it's worth noting they seem to be cheaper on Amazon. HTH
 
trevskoda said:
I would want to know why the starter batt is going low, have you no solar or a switched link from the hab batts to the starter batt.
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Its a good Question. I have a 2017 Autototrail Comanche and it has a changeover switch built in I think as it does flick between the 2 (vehicle and hab batteries) when we are using the MH on hookup. On the occasion of my vehicle battery failing it was because I left the control panel all for a week or so but it did cross my mind as to why the vehicle one drained and not the hab batteries.
 
GeoffL said:
FWIW, I have a Halfords 17Ah lead-acid jump start pack -- probably the ancestor of the 6-in-1 unit they're selling for £77.49. It wouldn't jump start the van (2.8 Ducato iDtd), which is why I bought the Noco. I still use the Halfords unit, but as a 12v power pack for Astronomy etc. -- a bit like a poor man's Jackery.
If you decide to get a Noco, it's worth noting they seem to be cheaper on Amazon. HTH
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Had a jump start pack in previous (stolen) van which I only ever used for my laptop .
Searching on Google just now , haven't come across one which has laptop connections
 
alcam said:
Had a jump start pack in previous (stolen) van which I only ever used for my laptop .
Searching on Google just now , haven't come across one which has laptop connections
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FWIW, I have a power supply for my laptop that plugs into a 12v "cigar lighter" socket. So perhaps better to search for a car charger for your laptop and get a power bank with a 12v socket?

Edited to add: If you know what you're doing and know the output voltage and current, you could also make up your own power supply using a suitable buck converter.
 
GeoffL said:
FWIW, I have a power supply for my laptop that plugs into a 12v "cigar lighter" socket. So perhaps better to search for a car charger for your laptop and get a power bank with a 12v socket?

Edited to add: If you know what you're doing and know the output voltage and current, you could also make up your own power supply using a suitable buck converter.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that , will have a look .
p.s. the bit about knowing what I'm doing doesn't , unfortunately , apply to me !
 
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