# Portable car (Suburban) Jump Starter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 10, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506 "2017-10-10T18:02:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![markg2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@markg2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markg2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/1 "2017-10-10T18:02:17Z")
After I left home yesterday my wife called saying she’d left her car door open all weekend and the battery(s) were dead. She called AAA, they started the car and she kept it running for another 1/2 hour until time for her appointment. I wasn’t sure the battery would have sufficient charge to start after her appointment so I bought 750 A fairly hefty device at Walmart and plugged it in at the place of her appointment. Going forward, I will return the jumper and get her a small lithium ion device she can keep in the car and is manageable. I searched and found a ton of devices. I’m leaning toward “the Aickar 800A Peak 19800mAh Car Jump Starter” for its **safety** features. It’s the only one I’ve come across that will override/not allow you connect the terminals incorrectly which could be a real possibility. Opinions? Mark ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/2 "2017-10-10T18:35:04Z")
Go for it! I’m a fan of the packs that won’t work if you don’t connect them correctly! ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/3 "2017-10-10T18:48:15Z")
I’ve never used one of these, but I see no issues. You might keep some safety glasses with it. If she’ll have to pull back any terminal covers that could have battery acid on them, you might also keep some disposable gloves with it. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 7:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/4 "2017-10-10T19:08:27Z")
[https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TKUPIC?psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015TKUPIC?psc=1) ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/5 "2017-10-10T19:15:56Z")
those cables look pretty thin for 1000 amps… It doesn’t seem to have a 120 volt input so you have to charge the internal battery via a USB port. ---
**Author:** ![markg2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@markg2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markg2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/6 "2017-10-10T19:38:43Z")
“Safety glasses”…excellent point. ---
**Author:** ![GorehamJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/gorehamj/32/24103_2.png) [@GorehamJ](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GorehamJ)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/7 "2017-10-10T19:46:02Z")
I love these things. I recently made the move you are planning, moving from a heavy, large conventional battery jumper to a smaller, lithium unit. markg2 is spot on. My dad and I were jumping a car once and the battery popped. Safety glasses and a cloth over the battery being jumped. ---
**Author:** ![markg2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@markg2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markg2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/8 "2017-10-10T20:15:39Z")
> > > you have to charge the internal battery via a USB port.\>\>\> The unit I purchased at Walmart also had a charging plug the could connect to the ‘cigarette’ lighter. Her burb is too old to have a USB port. I’m not seeing any mention in either jumper of a cigarette lighter charging connector. I guess I was ‘assuming’ they all included it? Do you see mention? Knowing she’ll never remember to purposely charge the unit I was planning on sticking it in the glove-box and keeping it plugged in all the time. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/9 "2017-10-10T20:18:41Z")
> [@markg2](#): > > I was planning on sticking it in the glove-box and keeping it plugged in all the time. Some how that just does not sound like a good idea. I have heard of too many lithium battery fires to do that. You have AAA, that should be enough. ---
**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/10 "2017-10-10T20:19:33Z")
> [@markg2](#): > > I was planning on sticking it in the glove-box and keeping it plugged in all the time. I hope the cigarette lighter turns off with the key out. ---
**Author:** ![pyrolord314](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6a8cbe/32.png) [@pyrolord314](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pyrolord314)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/11 "2017-10-10T20:31:08Z")
> [@markg2](#): > > Knowing she’ll never remember to purposely charge the unit I was planning on sticking it in the glove-box and keeping it plugged in all the time. After it’s charged, I would put it in the trunk and just check the battery gauge every 2-4 weeks. You don’t want this thing to drain out the battery from being plugged in all the time. I think most of these units hold a good charge for awhile, and have a gauge or indicator that lets you know when it’s not holding enough of a charge to jump a battery ---
**Author:** ![markg2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@markg2](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markg2)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/12 "2017-10-10T20:54:07Z")
Point made. I’ll just set a recurring task so ‘I’ don’t forget to keep tabs on the charge. ---
**Author:** ![wavyonwheels](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wavyonwheels/32/17969_2.png) [@wavyonwheels](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wavyonwheels)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/13 "2017-10-10T21:10:19Z")
I was tempted to get one of this type however with the recent spate of exploding Lithium batteries I went with big bulky lead acid ones. I would use caution when charging, not over night when you are sleeping or out of the house. An outdoor area and concrete floor would be nice. I do not know where the unit was made but cheap chinese electronics and dangerous chemistry do NOT make a comforting combination… ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/14 "2017-10-10T21:28:46Z")
I dunno but I suspect it may not be powerful enough for a dead battery. Especially not enthused about running it through the accessory plug and leaving it plugged in all the time. Usually its something that only rarely happens and I have one of those portable things too that I’ve only needed for the lawn mower. When my wife left the trunk open at the airport, it took several attempts and finally the motor club truck to finally be able to start the car, the battery was so dead. Yeah, fire would be another concern. Made in China? ---
**Author:** ![BillRussell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/billrussell/32/3179_2.png) [@BillRussell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BillRussell)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/15 "2017-10-10T21:46:20Z")
> [@markg2](#): > > cigarette lighter a $5 unit will plug into a cig lighter socket and give you a USB charging port. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/16 "2017-10-10T22:03:41Z")
I work at a hazardous waste collection site occasionally, and we get quite a number of those recharger units in, as they have recyclable batteries, I brought one home to see if I could replace the battery in it, have not gotten that far yet. My ac powered battery maintainer for the boat charged up the wifes van in 20 minutes enough to start, I have jumper cables and roadside assistance that 2 calls for my daughter, 1 for me and 1 for the wife has always been between 10 and 30 minutes. My experience with rechargeable batteries, they are great, but only fail when you need them. ps I have an 03 trailblazer, the lights time out if the door is left open, maybe something to look at. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 1:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/17 "2017-10-11T01:07:16Z")
The keyword being peak. Manual says usb recharge time 3 hours with 2A usb port. Holds charge up to 1 year. I was skeptical when they first came out years ago but seem to be prolific now. The link i had has 2000A peak unit. ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/18 "2017-10-11T02:57:03Z")
If the battery is the GM side mount terminal type, I would recommend removing the the small bolts that secure the terminals to the battery and replace the bolts with these. > **[New Gold Plated Short Side Post Mount GM GMC Battery Terminal Tap 226198022079 |...](https://www.ebay.com/itm/new-gold-plated-long-side-post-mount-gm-gmc-battery-terminal-tap-/181489275988)** > > Amplifier Wiring Kits. 5/16" Output Stud. Short Side Mount. Gold Plated. Pricedrightsales was founded in Lincoln Nebraska in 2010 and has continued to grow in size providing great quality products at great prices. | eBay! This will allow whatever jump device you use to get a good connection with the clamps. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/portable-car-suburban-jump-starter/108506/19 "2017-10-11T03:49:55Z")
I bought a Winplus lithium-ion battery jumper from Costco 10 months ago. The largest engine that I have started so far was a 4.6 L V-8, I had my doubts, this jumper fits in my shirt pocket. I use it a few times a month, recharge it every other month. It doesn’t need frequent charging, it has never been below a 3/4 charge level.