Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

by **woytovich** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:00 am

Does anyone have any experience using one of those portable jump starters and a 12v power source while camping? I am particularly interested in running a few LOW amp LED lights for just a short time at night... while getting settled for bed for example... maybe 30 minutes max each might. Trips are never more than 5 nights.

Let's assume a draw OF 24 WATTS or so max (that's a LOT of LED light)...

(amps=24/12)

...so that is 2 amps x .5 hrs x 5 nights = 5 amp hours.... do I have that ABOUT right?

I don't use the trailer often enough to make a full blown deep cycle/converter-charger electrical system worthwhile... I just want to have some interior lights that are an upgrade from a flashlight...

I have another thread discussing the "solar shed light" option but those units seem to be poorly constructed for the most part...

Mark

Mark

by **05liberty** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:26 am

I have used one for a couple of seasons . I ran my fantastic fan for two nights and a sat radio with computer speakers for two days and still had power left so some LED lights should be no problem !

by **woytovich** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:34 am

Thanks... any "better" brand to look for? I don't want to spend $300 (for that I'd go full bore electrical system)

by **Dale M.** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:51 am

Jump start packs are nothing more than a small 12 volt sealed cell battery.... Such extras as a light or air compressor or some other frivolous accessory is just fluff to the initial purpose.... Supplying 12 volts...

If you only want to small battery a $29.95 (on sale at NAPA) "garden tractor" battery may do you just as well...

Dale

by **woytovich** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:57 am

I thought about a small battery... (I already own a Battery Tender that could keep it charged...) but I do like the idea of the portable, all-in-one unit that I can just plug in (anywhere, like at a "borrowed" outlet if the unit need recharge when away from home) to charge and grab and go when I need it. Plus the jump start feature is nice for non-camping times...

by dh » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:06 am

Just my $0.02, but look for one with a 12v cigerette style outlet on it for easier connectivity.

by **bobhenry** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:43 am

$100.00 Wasted ..... I bought this one and babied it and it still won't hold a charge.

What a waste of money. I later bought a group 24 wally world special auto battery for $41.00 and without a battery tender I lost it after 2 years. I will probably go this route again but will have a tender next time. Those tap a lites are nice looking and handy if you really want to go the inexpensive route. I even took one apart and with a little ingenouity was able to install a auto dome light for 12 volt and a 4 - 7 watt christmas bulb holder for 120 volt and still maintain the touch feature for the internal batteries. You will need to remote switch for the 12 volt and 120 AC functions.

by **Wobbly Wheels** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:51 am

I used one of those for years till the battery finally wore out...it was a "Portawattz" with an 18 A*h battery and it had a 300W inverter on board that was the spitting image of one of the consumer-grade Xantrex units. It would run a string of LED rope light and a 6" PC fan for a weekend as well as driving a 26" LCD and a satellite receiver for a hockey game (hey, it's the about ONLY time I watch TV while camping: priorities, lol)

Another advantage of the 12V socket is that (on mine at least) a male-male cable let me charge it from the truck's 12V socket. It also had an Anderson coupler on it (high-current DC) with a short set of jumper cables attached to it. I bought another connector and made up cables to the camper shell I was using at the time so I could just plug it in to power the lights etc.

I still use the inverter and I kept the meter/charge circuit as well for "future use". Lol, bit of a packrat that way I guess !

Found a pic of the one I had - if I needed another, I'd have no hesitation about buying another one of these:

by dh » Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:11 pm

IMHO black and decker took a dive in quality when Wal-Mart started selling thier stuff, and not just in the stuff they sell at evil-mart either. I have my grandfathers old B&D circular saw he got in the 70's, still works no problem, the one I bought in '07 had the bearing go out after a few years of LIGHT use.

by **woytovich** » Fri Jun 10, 2011 9:29 pm

Wobbly Wheels wrote:I used one of those for years till the battery finally wore out...it was a "Portawattz" with an 18 A*h battery and it had a 300W inverter on board...if I needed another, I'd have no hesitation about buying another one of these...

Except it seems they are no longer available.

I want to keep it simple: Jump start, 12v outlet, no inverter, no compressor, no light necessary. Just good quality battery and recharging circuitry... anyone?

by dh » Sat Jun 11, 2011 12:57 am

When I worked in the tire/lube shop at evil mart we had a walmart special jump pack. It was there when I started, and there when I quit 5 years later. I think it was branded prestone, but don't hold me to it. We stored it plugged in, and used it to jump cars to get them in the shop, never deep cycled it.

by **Lgboro** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 5:41 am

I've tested my led lights (40 10mm leds) with a Schumacher starter unit and have run the lights for 2 twelve hour spans without recharging. They cost around a hundred bucks so I think I would spend the hundred on a more permanent system even if I designed the system to easily upgrade later. You could put an outside 12 volt plug to allow for light a a picnic table, etc.

http://s26.photobucket.com/user/len1907 · by **len19070** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:42 pm

I think the real question is, is one of these devices a deep cycle battery?

In most cases the answer is no.

Should anything but a deep cycle be used for any length of time be used for this. No.

Will they work? Yes.

Can they be used for many other things? Definitely Yes.

How long? not very. (Maybe 2 years or so)

Are they worth using? If you can get one cheap enough and Pro-rate your cost/use over the years.

Will a regular Deep-cycle Battery work better? Yes! and it won't cost much more and will last a lot longer. (3+ times longer).

Convenience + versatility + Cost-- VS - -Longevity.

Do I own one of each? Yes.

An opinion.

Happy Trails

Len

by **woytovich** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 1:54 pm

My "continuous" use of these will truly be limited to AT MOST 3 sessions of 5 evenings each per year.... with the power usage I mentioned: 24 aH for each session AND I will usually have an opportunity to plug in to recharge as needed - daily if need be.

I think the versatility element out weighs the longevity element in my case.

That said, finding a portable pack that includes a deep cycle would be ideal.

I guess I could build a home made one with the smallest deep cycle I can find + a Battery Tender + a case and some wiring and 12v power plugs... hummmm

Mark

by **woytovich** » Sat Jun 11, 2011 2:02 pm

Does an "agm" battery provide "enough" deep cycle properties to significantly add to the "longevity element?

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02871987000P?sid=IDx20070921x00003j&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=21-118992269-2

Seems like it:

http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm#AGM,%20or%20Absorbed%20Glass%20Mat%20Batteries

Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Portable Jump Starter for 12v power source?

Portable Jump Starter for 12v power source?

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