Forum Discussion

Bob_Vaughn's avatar
Bob_Vaughn
Explorer
Oct 26, 2016

Jump Packs

A few years ago after I purchased my 5th wheel I added a second battery but did not get a good ground so my front legs would not go up and down......I came up with the bright idea to get a jump pack just in case I needed power to run the legs up and down. I plugged it in and charged the battery. I stowed it away and basically forgot about it. I recently needed it to jump start my daughter in laws car and it was stone dead. So I plugged it in and let it charge for days on end. Nothing happened it would not charge.......It is so dead it will not charge.....I am now wondering if I should have left it plugged in? I am going to buy another one and need to know if it will hurt it to leave it plugged in all the time......
Seeking Advice
  • Trackrig's avatar
    Trackrig
    Explorer II
    Oct 26, 2016
    I don't leave mine plugged in - I wouldn't chance the cheap charger in them from over charging the battery. I charge mine every 3 - 4 months and it lasted 6 - 7 years. Then I went down to our electrical specialty shop. Fridgid North, and bought a new battery for it.

    Bill
  • BuckyBadger's avatar
    BuckyBadger
    Explorer
    Oct 26, 2016
    Mine said right on it keep it plugged in. I didn't now it's trash.
    My next one I'll hook a maintainer to it
  • B_O__Plenty's avatar
    B_O__Plenty
    Explorer II
    Oct 26, 2016
    You can take it apart and just replace the batteries in it. Don't know if that is cheaper or not. Mine died after a few years and I gave up on it. Easier for me to just have some jumper cables.

    B.O.
  • austinjenna's avatar
    austinjenna
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2016
    You can take it apart and just replace the batteries in it. Don't know if that is cheaper or not. Mine died after a few years and I gave up on it. Easier for me to just have some jumper cables.


    I did the same thing and it is cheaper than buying a whole new one. It was just a few screws to get to the battery, its just a 12v battery in there, unplug it, get the number off it and let google do the work
  • Stefonius's avatar
    Stefonius
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2016
    austinjenna wrote:
    You can take it apart and just replace the batteries in it. Don't know if that is cheaper or not. Mine died after a few years and I gave up on it. Easier for me to just have some jumper cables.


    I did the same thing and it is cheaper than buying a whole new one. It was just a few screws to get to the battery, its just a 12v battery in there, unplug it, get the number off it and let google do the work
    x3 - I pulled the battery, got a new (higher capacity) one from Batteries Plus and put the thing back together. Cost me about $20, compared to the $100 plus for a new jump box.

    My jump box has a 400 watt inverter, two 12 power ports, a compressor, a light and two USB charging ports. If it was just a box with jumper cables on the side, I would probably have thrown it out and started over.
  • theoldwizard1's avatar
    theoldwizard1
    Explorer II
    Oct 27, 2016
    Lead acid batteries do not like to be charged, even on a maintainer, for months on end. The simple solution is plug your maintainer into a cheap mechanical lamp timer and set it to run 1-2 hours per day. Your battery will last much longer.
  • beemerphile1's avatar
    beemerphile1
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2016
    I have a rechargeable flashlight in the car that stays plugged into a receptacle that is only hot when ignition is on. It charges while driving but not when parked. You could do the same with a jump pack.
  • PAThwacker's avatar
    PAThwacker
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2016
    I have a Schumacher AGM 18ah battery
    Jump box. Has all the toys and I use the jump cables to operate slides, run pumps, and jump truck. Very useful toy in the shed that goes on every camping trip.
  • Bob_Vaughn's avatar
    Bob_Vaughn
    Explorer
    Oct 27, 2016
    Stefonius wrote:
    austinjenna wrote:
    You can take it apart and just replace the batteries in it. Don't know if that is cheaper or not. Mine died after a few years and I gave up on it. Easier for me to just have some jumper cables.


    I did the same thing and it is cheaper than buying a whole new one. It was just a few screws to get to the battery, its just a 12v battery in there, unplug it, get the number off it and let google do the work
    x3 - I pulled the battery, got a new (higher capacity) one from Batteries Plus and put the thing back together. Cost me about $20, compared to the $100 plus for a new jump box.

    My jump box has a 400 watt inverter, two 12 power ports, a compressor, a light and two USB charging ports. If it was just a box with jumper cables on the side, I would probably have thrown it out and started over.

    I went to batteries plus this morning and they wanted 78 bucks and told me they were loosing money at that price. Bull ****....when he sold my my computer battery he told me the same thing.....you do not stay is business selling stuff at a loss.....so Batteries Plus just lost a frequent shopper.....
  • Stefonius's avatar
    Stefonius
    Explorer
    Oct 28, 2016
    Bob Vaughn wrote:
    Stefonius wrote:
    austinjenna wrote:
    You can take it apart and just replace the batteries in it. Don't know if that is cheaper or not. Mine died after a few years and I gave up on it. Easier for me to just have some jumper cables.


    I did the same thing and it is cheaper than buying a whole new one. It was just a few screws to get to the battery, its just a 12v battery in there, unplug it, get the number off it and let google do the work
    x3 - I pulled the battery, got a new (higher capacity) one from Batteries Plus and put the thing back together. Cost me about $20, compared to the $100 plus for a new jump box.

    My jump box has a 400 watt inverter, two 12 power ports, a compressor, a light and two USB charging ports. If it was just a box with jumper cables on the side, I would probably have thrown it out and started over.

    I went to batteries plus this morning and they wanted 78 bucks and told me they were loosing money at that price. Bull ****....when he sold my my computer battery he told me the same thing.....you do not stay is business selling stuff at a loss.....so Batteries Plus just lost a frequent shopper.....
    78 bucks for a sealed lead acid battery? That is definitely bull stuff. You made the right choice walking out!

About RV Tips & Tricks

Looking for advice before your next adventure? Look no further.25,101 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 14, 2025