Car battery starrter/booster

[ryball]

Not entirely sure where to stick this, so if it is wrong, feel free to move.

I am looking at car battery jump starters/boosters. Got stranded today for almost an hour because road side assistance is a joke. I usually have at least cables, but guess what, they are in the garage.

My AAA renewal is coming up, but I figure I'm better off spending the membership dues on a jump starter, a gas can, and one of those crappy tire sealant thingies (one in each car).

I have been looking at various brands, but can't really tell any differences. They all seem to be SLA batteries of various amperage. Are there any other chemistries available? Are these "boosters" any good? They just seem like easier hookup (cig plug instead of direct to battery) for people who are uncomfortable getting under the hood, but you have to wait 10-20 minutes for it to charge the battery.

I like the black&decker starter square-ish form factor... should I just get a diehard from sears and be done with it?

 

[BVH]

I don't tend to believe the "10-20 minutes charge time" for the units that provide charge thru the cig adapter. I'd guess closer to an hour - but I don't have any personal experience. If you're going to have to wait, what's the difference between waiting for the cig adapter charge and waiting for AAA? If you need one, I'd go for the minimum 20 AMP Hour, preferable 28 AH, SLA type jumper systems that have the shortie, full-size, direct battery connect cables. I have both of these and have physically tried the 28 AH on a friends dead battery. It worked fine with no waiting. It sounded like it was cranking a bit slower than normal but that is to be expected from only 28 AH.

With the AAA membership tow feature, you can get a tow for other than dead batteries, which substituting your dues to buy a starting system won't get you.

I personally replace my vehicle batteries at about 4 years or so, need it or not. I buy just about the highest AH, name brand replacements I can get. I've never been stranded with a dead battery in my 40 years of driving maintaining this practice.

 

[ryball]

Yeah, I guess I didn't take into account the tow part, but in the ~20 years I have been a member, not once have I ever had to use that. There, I just jinxed myself.

I keep my cars in good repair, I'm running a top of the line 3 year old Interstate on that car. I just made a stupid mistake and left the lights on.

I estimate my family uses AAA an average of once a year. We get helped out by Freeway Service Patrol about as often, and they have been, in my experience, more responsive in just driving by than calling AAA. Is that really worth the membership dues? How much to tow companies charge for a tow?

 

[BVH]

I've never been towed in my 40 years of AAA membership but it's comforting to know that I have the 200 mile tow coverage and that I'm not going to get shafted by some shyster towing company. They are typically a cut throat, brutal bunch. Not all, but many. I've had to use them once for locking my keys in my car - my wife twice!