Thinking about buying a jump box in case of dead battery, how many amps do I need to get? Thanks for your help!
Quote from: Bryan on February 17, 2015, 10:08:55 AMThinking about buying a jump box in case of dead battery, how many amps do I need to get? Thanks for your help!
Bryan, I don't have details (I won't be there until a couple of days pass) but the guy I rent storage space from has "party" buses with big sound (read "high-wattage") sound systems. His drivers (aka Dept. of Education officially designated "low-intelligence area") are always leaving the sound systems running; they are wired up to pull directly off one 12V start battery with no Vanner. He has to go out and jump them all the time. He puts a small jump-box on one of the start batteries (24V system) and it fires the buses up right away.
ISTM that a jump box is a good thing.
I've never been clear on 'jump boxes' (battery boosters, as they're called here). Are they just a spare battery, a charger and a set of jump leads in a single convenient unit (in which case they just replicate components I'm sure we've all already got) - or do they do something 'special' such as maybe using a capacitor to give an extra kick? And if you do buy one, presumably they have a fairly finite life 'cos that little-used battery inside isn't gonna last that long...
Dunno if I should own one or not :-\
Jeremy
Inside a jump box is usually an AGM battery, or maybe a Lithium Ion battery, specifically designed for high current and long storage life. Will they jump start a bus? Maybe, if it doesn't actually need much. You won't replace or recharge an 8D with something you can carry with one hand. On the other hand, you might not need too much boost.
Brian
Thanks guys! Just wanted to respond to boost this conversation back to the top of the forum.. Maybe someone else may have some insight?