12V portable power source

[KD2AXU]

Anyone have any thoughts on using a JNC660 http://jumpncarry660.com/ as a portable power source to run a go-rig? Read up on it but can't find any Ah info on it.

73,
KD2AXU

[KD2AXU]

Found out it's 22 Ah. Self contained and versatile. What's not to like?

[KC0UKR]

There is no reason this will not work for you.

The battery in there costs about $30.00 from any Alarm Supply house but as you point out you will be able to use it for other things too.

I would not pay $100.00 for it though.

[AA4PB]

Being that it is designed for jump starting a vehicle, it may not use a deep cycle type of battery. If not then its probably not a good choice for the continuous load of radio equipment. The battery may not last too long if you continually drain and recharge it.

Automotive starting batteries are designed to supply a large amount of current for a short period of time which doesn't discharge the battery very far.

[KC0UKR]

These boxes use SLA batteries.
They are fine for our needs,I have several of them and deep cycle them all the time and I also know lots of people who do the same.

As I said they use standard Alarm system batteries which are widely available cheap at a lot of plces.

They just happen to also start a vehicle a few times when fully charged but that is the use for which they will die prematurely not for what we do with them.

Another good reason though to make your own is that these boxes just trickle charge the battery and that can be a pain when waiting for the full charge time.

These batteries can take a much higher bulk charge when needed and make them a lot more useful.
I use a common $20.00 smart charger that can charge them at 1-2 amps which makes a lot shorter work of this when you need to get going.

So then you can get working for 1/2 the price of this one "on sale" and make 2 of them!

[AA4PB]

I don't have one so don't have any personal experience. Their advertising however indicates that it uses a Clore JNC105 battery which is "specially designed" to provide the high CCA needed for vehicle starting applications. That doesn't sound like a standard alarm battery to me - but who knows if their advertising is correct. The cost of the JNC105 battery is around $125 by the way.

Personally, I think I'd purchase an SLA battery whose mfg provides more detailed specifications and put it in my own box.

[KC0UKR]

Clearly just Marketing B.S.

Every one of these I have seen or taken apart uses standard Sealed Lead Acid batteries identical to any off the shelf SLA battery used in Alarms,Exit Lights,U.P.S. Supplies Etc.

There is a reason people sell at Retail,to make huge profits on items they buy for less?

I have made many packs just like these and for a fraction of the price with these same common components.

I have also never heard of "Clore"? but that doesn't really mean anything, I don't speak Chinese either.

[KD2AXU]

These sure have "deep cycle" attributes as I have used these extensively over the years for automotive projects. Have used these after they have sat for months and still hold a full charge. Maybe I've been lucky but I would imagine they would deplete by extensive sitting without charge. Have yet to test it for mobile comm power supply for continuous draw. Just seemed like a "perfect" package... slim form factor, carry handle, volt meter and cig adapter out. Has some weight to it but don't plan on backpacking with it. They do offer some other configurations now by other manufacturers but haven't explored as the one I use has worked well for me for over 10 years. When I purchased many moons ago it came with a cig to cig adapter. I guess you can also charge it mobile while driving but need to confirm.

[AA4PB]

Doing a little research on the Internet:

From MyToolStore.com

JNC660 Specifications
Voltage 12 Volt
Peak 12 Volt Amps 1700
Battery Type Sealed Lead Acid (AGM)
Battery Capacity 22 Amp Hour
Cable Length 46"
Cable Gauge #4
Charger 500 mA
Indicator Display LED
Weight 18 lbs.
Accessories Outlet 12 Volt DC
Warranty 1 Year Limited
JNC105 Replacement Battery $177.25

AGM batteries come in both "deep cycle" and starting types. The deep cycle type has thicker plates to support more discharge/charge cycles but that also reduces the maximum CCA (Cold Cranking Amps). So, even though the battery in question is an AGM type and on the outside looks just like any other AGM battery, it may not be designed for deep cycle use. No way to know since the mfg doesn't provide those specs.

For about half the cost of the JNC105 battery you can purchase an AGM battery that is specified for deep cycle use from Batteries Plus and know for sure what you have.

[K5LXP]

If this really is an AGM per the description, then it does have a lower internal impedance vs the less expensive gel counterparts that are more common in standby use (alarm, UPS).  Whether or not that translates to additional utility in ham radio applications is another story and I would offer it probably doesn't.  If you are drawing a high enough current for the internal impedance to matter much, you're not going to get a lot of operating time and should consider a battery more appropriately sized for the application.   It's well within the capabilities of both gel and AGM for most ham applications, so there wouldn't be much added value in spending more for an AGM.


Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

[KG6WOU]

Yea, my thought is that for the money you can get more power and less 'stuff you don't need' like jumper cables and a volt meter and a plastic carrying case.

Honestly, it does not even have a smart charger in it?

Go to batteries plus and buy a nice big SLA/AGM battery and a battery tender.  For that money plus shipping you should get a 35 amp hour battery.

[K1CJS]

Now for a little humor--Boy, are some of you hard to please!  I wrote an article and had it published here about building a battery supply box that doesn't have all the extras that these portable jump boxes have, and had several replies about how everything anyone needs was in one of these boxes.  Now some of you are saying that the batteries in these boxes aren't suitable and you should get a battery and put it in your own enclosure!

Make up your minds, why don't ya!!!    

[W8JX]

If I was serious about a portable 12 volt supply for radios, I would build up a pack with NiCad or NiM batteries. (if money was no object lithium) Much more stable voltage during discharge and more usable power as you can basically run them flat if need be without harm. More wattage per pound too and exceeded only by lithium.

[K7RBW]

For the best power-weight-cost, look at the LiPoly batteries used by R/C cars. There are some pretty big ones available, which you could gang together for quite a power pack. Not as cheap as SLA batteries, but about 1/8 the weight per equivalent amp/hour. Aside from their price, the only downside is that they have to be charged correctly, or else they can overheat and catch fire.

11a/h 14.4v LiPoly = 1.8 lbs @ $300
18ah 12v SLA = 12 lbs @ $50

(You'd need at least an 18ah SLA batt to give about the same running time as a 10-11ah LiPoly batt because of the 11.0 v cutoff voltage in many radios. An SLA battery will hit that at about 50% of its rated time, whereas the higher voltage LiPoly batteries will stay above 11.0 v for a much greater percentage of their rated time. Another advantage of the LiPoly batteries is they can be discharged at 30-50x their rated capacity. This 11a/h battery could comfortably provide 200a discharge current without damage so the 20am required by a Ham radio should be no sweat. The same doesn't hold true for an SLA battery.

[W8JX]

Hybrid cars used NiMH for years and are going to Lithium now as costs improve. If you plan to carry it, a gel cell should really be last choice. Good point about recovery rate. In practice you will never use close to rated capacity of a gel cell but can with a NiCad, NiMH or Lithium.