Getting ready to move across country and thought about getting a jump box. Anyone have any recommendations? At walmart they have a fatmax 700 peak amp 350 instant. would that work?

 

I've seen those and I can't speak to their effectiveness on anything. It does seem to me that if your engine doesn't start on the first try you're probably done. The amount of energy that can be stored in a little battery is limited. No matter what tricks are used to boost the current.

But please get one and see if it works to start after you've run the battery dead by leaving your headlights on overnight. I'm interested to see your results.

Edwin

 

As long as the intake heaters aren't turning on that should do it.

 

 

I'd really like to see you get 300A through those #10 wires on the alligator clamps. 600A? I don't think so. Sounds like Sears horsepower to me. I really want to see you disconnect your existing battery and start your truck with that.

Edwin

 

I have a 1000 peak amps booster pack and it won't do it. A buddy has a Mac tools pack and it will, even without a battery in the truck. I don't know the size of it.

My uncle has a tiny cigarette pack booster that he says will start his truck when it's completely dead but I haven't seen it do it

 

I've started many dead Duramax engines with that exact one.

But if you say it doesn't work I guess that's good enough for me. I'll just use it to charge my phone..

 

Did you pull the battery out of the Duramax? How does one pull 300A through a #10 wire without letting the smoke out? Seems to defy Ohms law. Maybe the jumper leads are made of some new high temp superconductor I haven't heard about yet.

I can see this giving a boost to a somewhat down battery enough to start a vehicle but 300A. I'll have to see it to believe it. I have 45 years of electronics experience that says it just ain't so.

Edwin

 

Try this. Take a 6 inch piece of #10 wire and put it in series with your starter. Then disconnect the fuel solenoid so your truck won't start and then start cranking. Tell me how long before the wire is nice and crispy. Better yet, hold on to that wire while somebody else cranks it.

Edwin

 

No I haven't tried taking a battery out and starting a diesel. That would be counter productive in my line of work. I've started several diesels that wouldn't even engage the solenoid though.

THAT being said I've had it not work on a battery that was internally separated. I had to disconnect the battery and then I could start (gas engine) the truck.

I'm saying its a super handy little jump start box. Saved me lots of walking around threw the parking lot with my 25#+ snap-on big jump box, trying to find where the inbred tow truck driver dropped a dead car.

Not to mention, I can charge my phone, tablet, laptop with it. Saved me hours of being bored at events I get forced to go to by HER...

 

I hear those little micro packs are pretty efficient.

Having said that, I keep a charged NOCO GB150 in every diesel we have.

It started a drained PS in winter quite easily.

It has pretty skinny cables as well.

 

If the grid heaters kick on you'll need a big jump pack. Especially if its cold out. Found out the hard way on my 1995 CTD. Had to use one on each battery and that barely got it started.

 

I have this unit...
MotoMaster Eliminator 1000A Booster Pack | Canadian Tire

It will not start any of my cummins trucks with a flat battery. That's with the grids disconnected.

I normally have to jumpstart any of my cummins trucks with a running vehicle.

 

antigravity claims it starts diesel up to the 7.3

https://shop.antigravitybatteries.co...-starts/xp-10/

plus my grid heaters are on a toggle switch


Here one of the reviews::
Bill – May 12, 2016:
I bought one xp-10 to use with mainly my 07 dodge diesel. When i had a battery with a dead short i disconnected the battery and connected the micro start directly to the pos and neg cables and it started my truck with no issues. I was so impressed i purchased another one for my dad. After receiving the second one we disconnected both batteries in my truck and only had the micro starts connected and they were able to start my truck. Not only did it start my truck but they both only lost 1 light worth of power.

The xp-10 is a must have if you spend anytime in the sticks. They also hold there charge for an extended period of time vs the competition

 

If you're really set on having battery backup, you can setup a 2nd battery on a charging relay.