This is an item I have had for some time now, and was a requested Christmas present that one of the kids got for me. It has been invaluable. Basically an evolution of Jump Leads, it will get the majority of domestic vehicles with a flat battery up and running again in short order. We always carry Jump Leads as a default piece of in-car travel gear, but they are bulky and also reliant on having another vehicle to hand. Many years ago we got a device about half the size of a briefcase which was a big battery with Jump Leads attached to it. It had to be charged from the mains, but was incredible useful (and also well used). It, too, is big and bulky, and inconvenient to keep in the car all the time. I then stumbled across this little device – basically a mini version of our large battery jump-starter.
The actual main device can fit into a large pocket, so is very portable, but it does come in a case with an array of cables. Not only will it start your car, but it also will charge any USB devices you have, and it has a built in torch. On top of all of that, you can charge it from your cigarette lighter (12 v) socket whilst driving, so you don’t have to rely on finding a mains socket. We keep ours fully charged, but to try and preserve the battery, we fully discharge it a couple of times a year. Not only has this been used by us periodically, but it has also helped friends, neighbors and strangers get on their way. This is invaluable and I would advise everyone to get one. Our exact model appears to be unavailable due to its age, but there are many varieties available online (search ‘portable 12v jump starter’).
Posted 16th March 2021