OT - Backup Battery

Botch

The Man In The Brown Shorts™ just delivered one of these to me, a Micro-Start XP-1:
 

 
Amazon has them on sale right now for $93.  The actual battery (on the right) is smaller than a VHS tape, but not only can recharge your smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc on the road, its also powerful enough to jump-start a vehicle.  A co-worker who has one used hers to start both her boat and her F-350 while on a week's vacation.  
I've been stranded with a flat tire maybe 3 times in my life, but stranded with a dead battery dozens, this is definitely peace of mind for me.  

FanOfFanboys

That is extremely cool

Canugghead

Match that with a solar panel and you can live off the grid 

johnkitchens

I have the same one! 

Eggcelsior

Nice. I have one of the big back-ups with a built in compressor. It's fine, but slides all over the trunk.

SmokeyPitt

That is a good idea.  I was thinking about that when I was skiing in NC and it was getting down to -8 F.  I would have liked to had something like this and would try to take it int the condo at night. 

...but...what is a VHS tape?  Just kidding I'm old.  

Legume

your friend started an F350 - a diesel F350?  will this crank a diesel engine?

Eggcelsior

Legume said:

your friend started an F350 - a diesel F350?  will this crank a diesel engine?

@Legume the XP-10 says it will start diesel engines. It's 50 bucks more. It states that it is 18k mah with 600 peak amps. It looks like the XP-1(Botch's) is 12k/400.

Botch

Legume said:

your friend started an F350 - a diesel F350?  will this crank a diesel engine?

No, she bought a gas F350; I don't know why.  

Eggcelsior

Botch said:

Legume said:

your friend started an F350 - a diesel F350?  will this crank a diesel engine?

No, she bought a gas F350; I don't know why.  

She must have received a good deal. I dion't think I've ever seen anything but a diesel superduty above the 250 level.

Legume

I think they used to put the V10 in some of them, but I'm with @Botch - don't know why

Hungry Joe

This looks perfect for my daughter. Thanks for the heads up.

Botch

In retrospect, she may have a 250, I thought it was a 350.  Slide over, Brian Williams... 

nolaegghead

That's cool.  Lithium chemistry has a high power density.

I don't have a spare, or a jack, or a lug wrench or jumper cables in my car.  Extra weight.  I just call for a tow.

Eggcelsior

nolaegghead said:

That's cool.  Lithium chemistry has a high power density.

I don't have a spare, or a jack, or a lug wrench or jumper cables in my car.  Extra weight.  I just call for a tow.

Old man nola is a proud card-carrying AAA member.

nolaegghead

don't forget AARP and PCA

Eggcelsior

@nolaegghead ahhhh, the Porsche. I thought you meant the Ram. 

nolaegghead

@Eggcelsior - Yep, moar weight = moar slow.  The RAM, I drive all over town with a bed full of firewood.  That thing has the performance of a bulldozer.

noregard

These are amazing little units!  I have an XP-10 and have boosted my 3500 Cummins, my Dad has the XP-3 (i think thats it, the medium sized one) and easily cranked over his 700hp ZR-1 'Vette, which has previously proven tough to boost.  He was amazed at how well this worked.  And their pricing is very reasonable IMO.  Getting one for the Mrs soon.