Portable starter pack?

[fred88]

Any recommendations please.

Just want something to get the systems up and running and get to Ready mode in the event of a fully flat Battery.

Amazon Prime if possible. 

[TonyHSD]

I am not a specialist about these because I don’t get often Battery  problems but I usually like the cheap and cheerful Aldi stuff for tools with infrequent use. Check your local Aldi and Lidl first and if nothing found then type in Amazon car Battery starter pack charger 👍

[Heidfirst]

the Aldi/Lidl (whilst no doubt good value) will be middle aisle specials & as such only available for a short period during the year.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/product-group-tests/92728/best-mini-jump-starter-packs

[Corolly Poly]

The Gooloo's on Amazon get decent reviews and can often be had for just over £30 on a deal - about £35 now for the base model.

I picked up a Noco GB40 which is a step up in quality for £60 on eBay last week.

 

[fred88]

OK, thanks for the advice all. I'm hoping this won't  be a regular thing but after my flat Battery experience on Sunday its all the Green Flag guy used to get me up and running. After my experience I think every Toyota Hybrid driver should have one quite honestly,  especially if they're a low user.

[fred88]

As suggested the Aldi / Lidlington stuff is out of season so giving the Gooloo GE2000 a try. £89.99 from Gooloo or £29.99 on eBay - new, apparently and as far as I could tell it's not refurbished. 🤞

[Woofwoof]

Hi

I volunteer for a community assistance support group where we help with flat batteries and similar.

Weve found Noco to be the best.

[fred88]

Thank you, I'm under no illusion that I've bought a "budget" bit of kit, but I'm hoping that it won't be used much.

[Chainbreaker]

I'd get a reputable make such as NOCO or similar, I looked at the amazon/ebay ones but most of them are generic chinese ones which I'd stay a million miles away from since they have poor QC and Battery management systems (Some of them don't even have one!) and are a definite fire hazard if you leave them in the car! 

Not worth the risk if you ask me to save 10 or 20 pounds.

[Cyker]

Be careful with eBay ones - The amount of fakes floating around on there and Amazon is incredible    

 

[tfc]

I bought one off Amazon about 4 years ago and I've only charged it up twice, once when I bought and again June this year even though it still had 69% SOC. 

I tried it out on my i30 diesel by disconnecting the earth cable off the Battery and jumping it to the live on the Battery and earth to the vehicle body so the Battery is isolated , the jumper had about 72% SOC and I started it about 4 times it would of done a lot more. Its very rare to have Chinese batteries hold there charge it has surprised me, did a little video

  https://youtu.be/Q71nAD9E2uM

 

[fred88]

Thanks for the advice and words of caution. In fact the one for £30 was indeed a Gooloo lookalike, but the £35 one I've purchased is a "genuine" Gooloo which are a Canadian company although their products, like Noco (whose production is in Vietnam, Malaysia and China), are probably made in China. 

[Jas2001]

I do wonder though how safe it is to leave these portable starter packs inside cars during really hot summer days. Even the Noco ones stipulate a maximum storage temperature of 50 degs Celsius. But info from the internet suggests car interiors can reach up to 60 degs Celsius.

[fred88]

Good point.

Also, been Googling Gooloo a bit more and I think that trying to determine where a company is based is not straightforward these days! I doubt very much that they are a Canadian company as I stated above. 

[Cyker]

9 hours ago, Jas2001 said:

I do wonder though how safe it is to leave these portable starter packs inside cars during really hot summer days. Even the Noco ones stipulate a maximum storage temperature of 50 degs Celsius. But info from the internet suggests car interiors can reach up to 60 degs Celsius.

As long as it's not running and is not in direct sunlight, they should be okay in this country.

If it was like parts of the USA or the Mediterranean then I'd be a lot more wary!!

 

[fred88]

Came across a review of jump starters on YouTube if anyones interested.

 

[Heidfirst]

there is a Stanley 1 atm on offer at Morgan Computers for £40 (or also even cheaper from somebody on ebay)

[Red_Corolla]

For hybrids, no need to study performance reviews too closely. They only need something to provide a bit of a crutch for the flat lead-acid Battery and close a few relays so that the big one can take over. Doesn't need to be capable of turning over a R-R Merlin. Focus on what you believe will be dependable rather than being seduced by something that shows particularly strong performance in comparisons.

[fred88]

10 minutes ago, Red_Corolla said:

For hybrids, no need to study performance reviews too closely. They only need something to provide a bit of a crutch for the flat lead-acid battery and close a few relays so that the big one can take over. Doesn't need to be capable of turning over a R-R Merlin. Focus on what you believe will be dependable rather than being seduced by something that shows particularly strong performance in comparisons.

Agree, just thought folk might be interested. 

[fred88]

Forgot to mention - it includes a review of  Noco and a Gooloo device.

[jthspace]

11 hours ago, Red_Corolla said:

For hybrids, no need to study performance reviews too closely. They only need something to provide a bit of a crutch for the flat lead-acid battery and close a few relays so that the big one can take over.

You are right, it's just enough to boot the equivalent of a small computer, probably a couple of PP3's would be enough (although I'm not going to try 😂)

[J2024IE]

On 8/27/2024 at 1:09 PM, fred88 said:

Any recommendations please.

Just want something to get the systems up and running and get to Ready mode in the event of a fully flat battery.

Amazon Prime if possible. 

interested in this too, considering noco booster , can anyone recommend a noco model for Rav4 Hev?

[Red_Corolla]

1 hour ago, jthspace said:

You are right, it's just enough to boot the equivalent of a small computer, probably a couple of PP3's would be enough (although I'm not going to try 😂)

I thought about 8xAAs 😂

In reality, it's important to consider the flat Battery itself: A flat 12v Battery will impose a significant draw on a healthy one, and that will be the biggest demand to overcome when connecting a booster or jump leads to a hybrid. It does need to be a fit-for-purpose jump starter, just for that reason.

[Red_Corolla]

1 hour ago, J2024IE said:

interested in this too, considering noco booster , can anyone recommend a noco model for Rav4 Hev?

The smallest and cheapest in their range will be far more capable than what you require for your HEV. 👍

[jthspace]

I bought a "cheapo" Amazon lithium Battery pack/booster when I had a Mitsubishi PHEV which would flatten its 12v Battery at the drop of a hat.  It was half the size of the Yaris Battery, more like a big motorcycle one. I sold the car on 2018. I still have the same booster and recharge it twice a year. I've used it to charge mobiles, power an led USB torch head etc as well as boot the Mitsubishi.  It has also been used to start my 1993 MX5 when it had a flat battery. Also a Citroën Picasso C3 which had been left at Tilbury docks for 4 months as we were cruising.  I believe it has 18650 lithium batteries and is "supposed" to be rated at 35000 mAh but who knows.  

Sits in the glove box of the Yaris but also comes on road trips in the MX5's as emergency juice for almost anything. 

Very similar to this.....

Amazon link £29