Odd question... Charging a Port-Pack

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Lazy Daze

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Apr 21, 2009
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I've got this little portable battery pack (jumper) sitting around. I pretty sure it's a cheapie (Rally). I tried contacting their customer service, but no luck.

Problem is, I'm missing the charger. Just for the heck of it, I tried a charger from a handheld VHF. But, as expected, the charger doesn't put out enough juice - after 3 days on charge, nothing.

Now, maybe the port-pack is shot... but.......

In lieu of searching and searching to find the right charger.... can I charge a port-pack with a normal, good 'ol fashioned battery charger? The kind most of us probably has sitting around somewhere?

I'm thinking I could just hook the charger's leads directly to the port-packs alligator clips.

Any thoughts? Since his boat is on the hard, should I do this underneath Scott's (sfergsen727) boat? Just in case it explodes, that way his boat will protect the others?:lol::smt001

My hesitation is that I have no idea if there is any type of circuity in place to prevent this - and if there is, would it cause an accident?
 
If the battery in the porta pack is left in a discharged state for a while it is toast. The batteries are just sealed lead acid. If it was not dead for long you can open the case and hook your charger to the terminals of the battery. It may bring it up. When a lead acid is fully discharged a very small rate charger cannot get the charge started.
 
I say if it's cheap, you can't get service, and probably toast- Hook it up- nothing to loose. If you're really worried about spilling or starting a fire, then maybe just toss it.
 
Not sure I'd be creative with charging the battery. You may want to just invest in a newer model. I use the Jump N Carry 660 at my shop - you just plug an extension cord into the front plug and it's ready the next morning. We've used it to jump probably 10-12 cars before it needs charging again.

http://www.amazon.com/Jumpstart-990681-Jump-Carry-Starter/dp/B000JFJLP6
 
Dennis

I certainly am no expert on this but if you do try and charge the battery pack I would use a Battery Tender rather than a regular battery charger.

Dave
 
Nehalennia said:
Shoot 'em an e-mail.
http://0299c72.netsolstores.com/12volt.aspx
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, Todd. But, unfortunately I've tried twice already. I tried contacting them to purchase a charger.

Oh well. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have a Battery Tender so I'll try that first. If that doesn't work, I'll try a short charge with a regular charger then the Tender. If still no go, I'll put it on the regular charger overnight (I'll set it way out back, just in case it explodes).

I'm curious if it can be brought back.

Td - that one you linked to has 1700amps! Holy cow!
 
Lazy Daze said:
Td - that one you linked to has 1700amps! Holy cow!
Click to expand...

Yeah - it's pretty stout - not sure it's quite at 1700 cca but it's strong. I've even used it to jump a diesel truck who had bad batteries. It's an amazing little unit - fairly light and the battery life is great. It even has a 12v outlet for accessories, etc. It's a good price as well with good clips and cables.
 
Hey Lazy: Like mentioned above there typically just a high cranking amp lead acid batt. Sometimes one will come back at a reduced capacity. Usually the directions will tell you to jump start the dead unit, then leave the booster pack connected for a bit to replenish the spent charge from the boost.

I would just connect it up to something like that old Porsche out back that never needs a jump. Fire the Porsche and see if the unit will take. Let the booster set a few days after and check its state of charge by stand by voltage method. If it wont hang on to 12.5 volts or so ... then toss it. ...Ron
 
Hi Ron,

Do I have to use the Porsche? Or would the BMW or Ferrari work as well? They're a little easier to get to, right now - with the snow and all. :lol:

OK, read through this for a laugh... at my expense.

So, I figured I'd hook it up for a minute to my truck, just to see what would happen. I then disconnected it and tried sparking the two alligator clips quickly together... low and behold there is a spark.. and a good one! Didn't get one before! Success!!!

Tried sparking it again - just because I was happy - and now there was no spark. And then it dawned on me.... Idiot! Only one side of each alligator clip is hot!!!

When I first got this thing about two and half weeks ago, I pushed the "charge level" indicator and it showed nothing. Then I tried sparking it and got nothing. Figured it was completely dead. I didn't try again until just now (the indicator still doesn't work).

So, one of two things is true: it was actually functioning before and I was just :smt101 or, "jump starting" it actually worked!

Either way, I hooked it up to my snow blower's light and it's been staying bright for about 20 minutes now (can't think of anything laying around the garage that would draw more power). I might try disconnecting the battery on a car tomorrow and use just the porta-pack to try and start it.

Then I'll charge it up real good with the Battery Minder. I took the case apart and the cables are indeed hooked directly to the internal posts, so I can just charge it through the alligator clips.
 
Glad to hear you got some sorta after life outa that batt.
After reading your post describing on how your light came on, and having been there done that myself :wow:, I had nothin ...... technically to add to the thread till now.

At work today I dug out my trusty Cat standard issue rate of charge voltmeter.

12.7 ... 100%
12.4 ... 75%
12.2 ... 50%
12.0 ... 25%

I've pulled brand new sealed MF batts off the shelf that only had 50% in them according to my meter. These batts always seem to be fine. My home booster pack never seems to light the last full charge led unless its on the charger. Don't know what voltages the leds correspond to either. Since I mentioned the 12.5 random voltage previously, I thought posting these voltages would be interesting.

BTW: my boat batts were at 11.2 and 11.3. too dame cold for my newly installed by me smart charger/tender to charge with out faulting.... but the damn Porsche fired right up :huh: ... Ron
 
Thanks for the #'s, Ron. After I let it power the snowblower's light for about 40 minutes, I let it set for about an hour. The voltage was then 12.59. It is now 12.53. It has not been on any type of charge, yet. Status LED's still don't work - no biggie - might just be a broken connection on the 'lectric board inside.

My Battery Minder came with a battery condition "checker". Don't know how accurate it is, but the porta-pack nicely lit up all the lights.

Didn't get a chance to try starting the little Honda - got stuck replacing the block heater cord for the Suburban.

Maybe I'll get a chance Friday or Saturday.
 
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