12V Battery Jumper Recommendations?

[bpreynolds]

The carbs on the 950 took it personally the other day when I left it uncovered outside at work for about 9 hours while the temps dropped quickly from 50F to a really windy and cold 30F.   Normally starts up on first wack even but this time it drained the battery.  Once charged fully and coming off the tender, bike started without a hint of an issue.  Gonna load test the battery later today as that may be the ultimate culprit.  Meanwhile, I'd like to look at getting a super compact jumper/battery bank  I could carry with me if needed.  Anyone have any recommendations?  I see some of them can be had for as little as $34 on ebay but dunno if I'd trust those necessarily. 

[sturgeon]

[...] Meanwhile, I'd like to look at getting a super compact jumper I could carry with me if needed.  Anyone have any recommendations?  I see some of them can be had for as little as $34 on ebay but dunno if I'd trust those necessarily.

I have these, and have used them. On sale until the 27th ...

https://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-357-jumper-cables.aspx

[Kiwi_Roy]

Some of the speaker cables make good jumper leads, you really don't need more than about #8

When on a camping trip with several bikes if everyone has one of the M/FM battery tender cables on their battery a 3ft cable with the same both ends can plug between two bikes.

Update
Sturgeon posted some good ones.

[sturgeon]

When on a camping trip with several bikes if everyone has one of the M/FM battery tender cables on their battery a 3ft cable with the same both ends can plug between two bikes.

You've done this successfully without blowing a fuse? 

[bpreynolds]

I have these, and have used them. On sale until the 27th ...

https://www.bestrestproducts.com/p-357-jumper-cables.aspx

Thanks much for the cables recommendation but I'm actually looking for a jumper itself like this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/112056915253

[sturgeon]

Do you short your alligator red clip to chassis with one end hot?

I usually connect it to my right nipple, why do you ask?

[bpreynolds]

Ahem.  Waiting on those jump starter recommendations 

[sturgeon]

 

Ahem.  Waiting on those jump starter recommendations 

Ahem. See my reply above. You'd be hard pressed to make a set for that price.

Edit: missed your bit about the battery. I have one of those as well, but it wasn't cheap. It's capable of starting my truck. Multiple times. Works very well. Can't remember the brand, but if you're interested I can look at it when I get home. It's saved us more than once when we've come back after a 2-week canoe trip to a dead battery at a remote put-in with no cell service.

Must be one of those Canada/US terminology diffs. When I read 'jump start', I think cables with alligator clamps at both ends.

[Demar]

I have this XP-1 jumper kit.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antigravity-Batteries-XP-1-Micro-Start-Personal-Power-Supply-Jump-Pack-Charger-/141716195557?hash=item20fef188e5:g:Y8IAAOSwLVZVoT~S&item=141716195557&vxp=mtr

It's really good. I started my daughter's Ford Focus on the first try from a dead battery. I carry it on all my bike trips. It will fire up a motorcycle air compressor no problem. I use it to recharge my cell phone at the camp site. They are cheaper now as I paid $135 a few years ago.

[pehayes]

I have a cheap Rockford unit I bought off the Internet.  Used it several times to jump vehicles.  Works a treat.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[sturgeon]

Turns out that mine (mentioned above) is also a Micro-Start XP-1. I've had it for a while; I see there are now 5 different models of varying capacity. Specs are here ...

http://themicrostart.com/

[Kiwi_Roy]

Must be one of those Canada/US terminology diffs. When I read 'jump start', I think cables with alligator clamps at both ends.

I fell for that too, in Northern Canada you wouldn't think of not having jumper cables and a block heater. I even had a battery heater on my old Ford, at -40 the battery acid freezes and the tires have flat spots that bump, bump down the road for quite a way.

[sturgeon]

I fell for that too, in Northern Canada you wouldn't think of not having jumper cables and a block heater. I even had a battery heater on my old Ford, at -40 the battery acid freezes and the tires have flat spots that bump, bump down the road for quite a way.

Where I grew up, heavy diesel equipment was never shut off all winter. It'd never start again outside.

[jas67]

I just installed one these:
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/antigravity-micro-start-battery-harness-kit

On both my Ducati Monster, who's battery is completely inaccessible, and my F800GT, who's battery is inconvenient to get to.




The blue connector plugs into most of the compact Lithium jump starter units.
DON'T use your regular tender lead.   You'll blow the fuse, or, if you have a big enough fuse, you'll met the wiries.

The black adapter pictured allows this to be used to connect a battery tender.

[sturgeon]

That's nice, especially the SAE adaptor. I'm lucky in that all my current bikes have relatively easily accessible batteries (and power outlets). Both big beemers have an additional positive battery stud just for jump-starting, since only the negative terminal is accessible.

[Wayne Orwig]

Ahem.  Waiting on those jump starter recommendations 

I use a $35 one that I got from WallyWorld. It works well, and WallyWorld will replace it about anywhere I go, if I have an issue.
One problem with these, is that they will NOT work well, when they get really cold. Yet that is when you are likely to need it the most often. So keep that in mind.

As mentioned, I have made jumpers cables for my motorcycles using heavy awg speaker wire. Very flexible, so it is easy to pack.

[Demar]

One problem with these, is that they will NOT work well, when they get really cold. Yet that is when you are likely to need it the most often. So keep that in mind.

These micro start PPS are called Personal Power Supply. If it's really cold out you might be able to shove the PPS down your pants to warm it up. Maybe that's why it's called a Personal Power Supply.

[swooshdave]

These micro start PPS are called Personal Power Supply. If it's really cold out you might be able to shove the PPS down your pants to warm it up. Maybe that's why it's called a Personal Power Supply.

Is that with or without nipple clamps?

[twowings]

These micro start PPS are called Personal Power Supply. If it's really cold out you might be able to shove the PPS down your pants to warm it up. Maybe that's why it's called a Personal Power Supply.

And just think of the admiring looks from the ladies...

[Tom]

I have one of those type of battery jump pack.  I carry it my jacket and the jumper cable are under the seat.  Great back up. 

[bpreynolds]

I use a $35 one that I got from WallyWorld. It works well, and WallyWorld will replace it about anywhere I go, if I have an issue.
One problem with these, is that they will NOT work well, when they get really cold. Yet that is when you are likely to need it the most often. So keep that in mind.

As mentioned, I have made jumpers cables for my motorcycles using heavy awg speaker wire. Very flexible, so it is easy to pack.

Thanks for all the input, everyone.  I ordered one this morning.  As per the jumper working in the cold, won't be much of a worry for me as the few times I've had issue with the carbed 950 starting have been after sitting outside in the cold for 8 or more hours.  During that time, the jump starter would be with me inside at work or packed well inside gear during touring; however, it would be doubtful I'd ever need it while on tour except in the mornings and even then it would be coming directly out of my hotel room to the bike.

I load tested my battery last night.  Coming directly off the tender it would read 12.8 or so.  While starting it would come down to about 9.6 which seems to be very close to the bottom baseline recommendation before replacing.  Thoughts?

[Dean Rose]

You need a new one.


Dean

[Wayne Orwig]

I load tested my battery last night.  Coming directly off the tender it would read 12.8 or so. 

Do you mean you had a battery tender connected, disconnected it, and measure 12.8V? It probably should read over 13V in that case.
Or do you mean you measured 12.8V at the tender connector after it had sat for a long time? That is normal.

You need to load test it for better info. Or turn on just the headlight for 3-4 minutes if you can, and measure it. Or just get a battery.

[Rusnak_322]

I have this XP-1 jumper kit.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antigravity-Batteries-XP-1-Micro-Start-Personal-Power-Supply-Jump-Pack-Charger-/141716195557?hash=item20fef188e5:g:Y8IAAOSwLVZVoT~S&item=141716195557&vxp=mtr

It's really good. I started my daughter's Ford Focus on the first try from a dead battery. I carry it on all my bike trips. It will fire up a motorcycle air compressor no problem. I use it to recharge my cell phone at the camp site. They are cheaper now as I paid $135 a few years ago.

careful with these - there have been a lot of fakes on eBay and Amazon that look just like the real ones but have cheap batteries that can catch fire.

you can google it to see how to tell if yours is real.

[bpreynolds]

Do you mean you had a battery tender connected, disconnected it, and measure 12.8V? It probably should read over 13V in that case.
Or do you mean you measured 12.8V at the tender connector after it had sat for a long time? That is normal.

You need to load test it for better info. Or turn on just the headlight for 3-4 minutes if you can, and measure it. Or just get a battery.

I mean I would take it off the tender, turn on the bike (with light), and it would read somewhere around 12.8ish.  While cranking it started the bike up immediately but while cranking it did flash around 9.5 as the lowest number I could read before bike started.

You need a new one.


Dean

Thanks for the word.  Looks like I am probably headed in that direction.

[Demar]

careful with these - there have been a lot of fakes on eBay and Amazon that look just like the real ones but have cheap batteries that can catch fire.

you can google it to see how to tell if yours is real.

Thanks for posting this. After a little research I saw the fakes online. I bought mine before the fakes were available. Make sure you get the real deal.

[Tom]

I have one from Cobra Electronics.  Little more pricey then Costco started carrying another brand for around $40.  The Cobra one works well.  I carry that as a back up for the cell, flashlight and jump start battery.  Great for the bike and touring.   I jump started 3 vehicles one day and it still had enough juice for a couple more.  Just make sure to disconnect after starting up a vehicle.  They caution that you can kill the battery with the charging system if left on.