Backup Power?

[Art Davis]

I am thinking about getting one of those battery units to use as a backup power source. You know---the kind that advertises itself as a "jump starter," with possibly all sorts of addons? I wouldn't want the addons, but was wondering if anyone has used this type of thing as an emergency power source. If so, which one did you choose---and why?
Thanks.
Art

[Ed Harris]

I have several of these and use them all the time.
They are great for power when my house goes out which seems to be more and more frequent.

I would get the cheapest one with the highest battery capacity.
If you look on the packaging it will say how large a battery is inside.
They mostly use either 7 to 9 ah or 18 to 20ah batteries.

The case it is in can deceive you though about the size of the battery so try for the bigger one.

As a reference I pay around $20.00 for the 18ah batteries in these things from a Burglar Alarm distributor and you might pay 2 or 3 times that at retail for them.

So far I really like the ones where you can turn off the jumper cables with a switch so I don't have to worry about touching thhem to anything for unexpected fireworks.

They all use Seald Lead Acid batteries are seem fairly rugged. I use them foe emergency radio communications and they last a long time.
I also have run my trailer with them and small T.V,s too.

Actually I can not imagine not having them around for the right price.

[Mike Watters]

We have one we've used as a power supply in the trailer. Ours has a build-in air pump in it. Having it around to easily and conveniently top off tires on various cars and bikes has been REAL handy!

Mike

[brendadave]

I also use one, around 10ah I would suspect, I can plug it directly into the trailer power with a cigarette lighter adaptor. I can also use it around the campsite or home with a portable light. You can find them on sale this time of year as they clear out winter stock. I also have a few that I have pulled out of UPS's where the electronics have gone bad, but the battery is still good.