Lithium Ion Jump Packs

[Ducky's Dad]

I have at least three Li jump packs, two from Anti-Gravity and one no-name Chinese knockoff. They have typically worked OK, with a couple of exceptions. Current problem is that my expensive Anti-Gravity XP-10 (66 watt/hours) swelled its battery and split the case wide open. This seems to be a common problem with these units. Mine is way out of warranty, but I submitted a claim form to Anti-Gravity and they offered a 40% discount on a replacement unit. I will probably take them up on that offer because I need a pack for another vehicle. For the PW, I'm thinking about a NOCO GB150 at 88watt/hours or a NOCO GBX155 at 99 watt/hours, but am looking for feedback from those who have used the big NOCOs. The GBX155 is new and very expensive (well over $400 with tax and hard case). Did not find much info with a Google search. I had three small NOCO solar panels and they were pretty much useless, so trying not to compound previous mistakes. Thanks.

[Mule]

I've got a Noco GB40... small for the truck, big for the bikes... but it'll start either and it's conveniently sized for either.
Had it for a couple years now. The USB charging is nice; i've used that pack to run an IP camera off-grid for a day. I've also used it's brute-force mode to prime fuel and oil pumps on sleds, as a 12v source.
I'll probably end up with a bigger Noco when I get a new pickup.

[Ducky's Dad]

Thanks. I just used my small AntiGravity yesterday to run a small Viair compressor to top off tires on a friend's hybrid Lexus. The SUV's battery was buried somewhere under a seat or something and I didn't want to screw with hybrid electrics, so out came the jump pack. The Chinese knockoff unit looks just like the AG (different color case) and it wouldn't do anything with the compressor.

[ramv]

So this may seem silly but when I spoke to some of the larger battery suppliers (lithium RV batteries, not larger companies) they didn't recommend even their starting batteries for V8s. I have the AG one in my KTM and will put one in the side by side when the time comes. Big concerns of theirs was amp draw... Oddly enough I carry a homemade if you will AGM jump pack. (34/78 AGM with Warn quick connect booster cables in a plastic tool box.)

I have an older AG jump pack that I used on the KTM a lot until I discovered the AG battery started so much better than L/A in that application. Obviously on the compressor application, all would be good choices.

[btsbarton]

I've got a Noco GB40... small for the truck, big for the bikes... but it'll start either and it's conveniently sized for either.
Had it for a couple years now. The USB charging is nice; i've used that pack to run an IP camera off-grid for a day. I've also used it's brute-force mode to prime fuel and oil pumps on sleds, as a 12v source.
I'll probably end up with a bigger Noco when I get a new pickup.

I had the NOCO GB40(rated to 6.0L gas and 3.0L diesel) with my Chevy Colorado (3.6L V6) and it worked great a number of times.
I upgraded to the NOCO GB50 (rated to start up to 7.0L gas/4.5L diesel) when I got the Ram. Haven’t used it on my truck yet, but we were able to use it to start the 6.7L Powerstroke Diesel in our work truck! Fits nicely in the RamBin floor storage.

[Ducky's Dad]

I just received my replacement XP-10 with the 40 percent discount for my swollen battery. New one is an XP-10 HD. Seems that only difference from the regular XP-10 is heavy duty clamps, but they claim 650amp cranking, up from 600amp. Still thinking about a NOCO 150 or 155 for the PW.

[Mule]

So this may seem silly but when I spoke to some of the larger battery suppliers (lithium RV batteries, not larger companies) they didn't recommend even their starting batteries for V8s. I have the AG one in my KTM and will put one in the side by side when the time comes. Big concerns of theirs was amp draw... Oddly enough I carry a homemade if you will AGM jump pack. (34/78 AGM with Warn quick connect booster cables in a plastic tool box.)

I have an older AG jump pack that I used on the KTM a lot until I discovered the AG battery started so much better than L/A in that application. Obviously on the compressor application, all would be good choices.

Different batteries have different construction for different applications.
I wouldn't use a telco array of 2v wet cells to start a truck. I also wouldn't use a starting battery to run anything low-current long-term.

Just because $thing puts out 12 volts and quacks like a battery, doesn't mean it's the right tool for the job.

[KevinABQ]

I’ve read that you can use starter batteries to run systems fairly long-term but you have to only discharge them to like 10% to not kill them in short order. But I’ve never tested that. I have had my truck alarm kill starter batteries dead.

[SeppW]

I have a NOCO GB-70, a second one. The first one I kept in the truck year round, recharged every six months, About a few months after it went out of warranty it would not charge. Spent about $50 on the 56W power adaptor and did nothing. NOCO will replace boosters out of warranty for about 50% off the MSRP or whatever they are pricing at a given time.

I think the heat in the summer killed it being in truck. I bought another at half off. I keep it house when not out in truck. Seems to be doing okay keeping in the house where the the temperature is constant.

[btsbarton]

I have a NOCO GB-70, a second one. The first one I kept in the truck year round, recharged every six months, About a few months after it went out of warranty it would not charge. Spent about $50 on the 56W power adaptor and did nothing. NOCO will replace boosters out of warranty for about 50% off the MSRP or whatever they are pricing at a given time.

I think the heat in the summer killed it being in truck. I bought another at half off. I keep it house when not out in truck. Seems to be doing okay keeping in the house where the the temperature is constant.

Good to know they do a discount if it fails out of warranty.
I do the same thing; keep it in my truck year round, charge every 6 months (fall and spring)…Seems pointless to just keep it at home unless you take it in and out each time you go anywhere.

[Ducky's Dad]

If I can't keep it in the truck, it doesn't do me much good. AG suggested that 6-month charging intervals were too long. Recommended 2-3 months, but manuals I have read say 6 months.

I took a bunch of old ni-cad and l-i batteries for recycling to the battery specialist I use. His observation was that my AG battery failed because they use Chinese cells (he is Chinese). He uses only Japanese and South Korean cells for the battery packs he builds or repairs.

[SeppW]

I have a NOCO GB-70, a second one. The first one I kept in the truck year round, recharged every six months, About a few months after it went out of warranty it would not charge. Spent about $50 on the 56W power adaptor and did nothing. NOCO will replace boosters out of warranty for about 50% off the MSRP or whatever they are pricing at a given time.

I think the heat in the summer killed it being in truck. I bought another at half off. I keep it house when not out in truck. Seems to be doing okay keeping in the house where the the temperature is constant.

Good to know they do a discount if it fails out of warranty.
I do the same thing; keep it in my truck year round, charge every 6 months (fall and spring)…Seems pointless to just keep it at home unless you take it in and out each time you go anywhere.

It is. But it's not my DD either, stays parked most of time.