Goodall Jump packs

What? Now you're telling me I shouldn't be trickle charging? Oh boy.

colson04 said: Do you have any pictures of your jump cart? I completely understand what you are using it for. I've been to a local auto auction and they have a golf cart sized vehicle with a jump pack system built in to the back of it. They drive right down the row of cars, jumping any of them that won't crank on their own. I'm not sure how they charge their batteries, maybe off the golf cart engine? I didn't look that closely Click to expand... I will try to post some pictures of it. I have never posted pictures some I'll have to figure that out. Just hang on it may be alittle till I can. I have two sets of booster cables on it, 2ga. each. The clamps I think are the bottle neck of it, that is why two sets. You can only get so many amps through the clamps. If you are starting a truck with bad batteries you put both sets on to get the amp flow you need. If it is real bad sometimes I hook one set to the starter and one set to the batteries. For 24V I can unhook a ground cable to isolate one battery and use both cables. When you do that the alternator only changes on one cable though. Usually what we do for 24V is, we have another jump starter that is similar ( version 1 ) that we use. One jump starter hooked to each battery and make sure the vehicles are not touching. The machine doesn't have a choice but to start. One of the keys to why it works so well is the engine driven alternator. Yes it keeps the batteries charged, but it allows you to rise the voltage about 2V and push more amps into the machine you are starting. If you are just starting cars and lawnmowers you don't need to have the engine running.

Sorry just now getting pictures posted.

Looks real nice!

I need to paint it but I use it so much that I have not taken the time to take it apart and do it.

Thank you for sharing, @Mr. Wrench ! I really like the set up with the hard wired jumper cables.

Mr. Wrench said: View attachment 357409 View attachment 357410 View attachment 357411 Click to expand... Thanks for giving a lot of people the idea of how to build. Good Job! Simon C

I have thought about making another one that is smaller/lighter. I tend to overbuild things and it is heavy. I would probably use lighter steel in some areas, maybe smaller wheels, stay with same size engine and alternator, but maybe one less battery. Some people say," you should put a semi alternator on it". Why, I've never ran the batteries anywhere close to died and then I would have to use a bigger engine. I may unhook one battery for a while and see how it does. It is heavy enough that I can't load it up ramps without help and it would be nice if it was lighter for when I take it away from the shop. What do you guys think? One thing that would be nice to add to it would be some of the products from Polar Wire. I saw a link on here somewhere for one of you guys in the northwest. Looks like they have some good products, bigger cable, better clamps ect. Not sure what shipping would be though.

If something like that was sold in specialty stores like truck shops it would sell for $3,000 plus. It would be a good jumper for auctions or fleets.

Welder Dave said: If something like that was sold in specialty stores like truck shops it would sell for $3,000 plus. It would be a good jumper for auctions or fleets. Click to expand... I have that much in it without counting much time to build it. The poor man's version of a engine driven Goodall jumpstarter.

Wow, didn't realize it would cost that much to build. It would be a lifesaver though when you really needed it.

Good grief, guys. This thread was about jump packs, not something to start a locomotive.

Sometimes you need to get multiple machines going in freezing temps so need something extra heavy duty.

Welder Dave said: Sometimes you need to get multiple machines going in freezing temps so need something extra heavy duty. Click to expand... I didn't say they weren't useful, if I had to crank over 30 seconds on 6-10 machines on a weekly basis, I'd definitely have something like is shown. But, I'm not going to carry a cart around in my service truck.

Shimmy1 said: Good grief, guys. This thread was about jump packs, not something to start a locomotive. Click to expand... Ya, sorry I derailed it. The small jump pack I use is a MAC. I think the same as a JNC. It works ok if I keep it charged up. Thought about getting a NOCO one and trying that. It may have more power than the MAC but not a pricey as the Goodall.

No worries. Just hoping when my Goodall wears out, I don't have to expect a couple of junk ones before getting a good one.

I have a noco and it’s a pita. It won’t boost anything if the battery is completely dead. I set up a Milwaukee 18v with a jumper adapter and it will start anything smaller and is good for running a 12 volt winch without a battery connected. I have an old atv that sits unused a lot. I rigged up an adapter to run it off an 18v Milwaukee. Every time I used it I just lift the seat and pop in a battery and it’s good to go. I figured it out one day that I have 38 12 volt batteries in all the stuff I run so it’s hard to keep up with them all.

On my lithium jump starter you have to push a button on the cable connector for about 3 seconds in order to boost a dead battery. If the battery isn't dead you push the on button.

Years ago--all there was--was a jump cart, every shop of any kind had one. * A jump cart.

Just beware, any thing that uses a lithium ion battery can at any time catch on fire. I personally never have a lithium ion battery in a shop or garage. But then there maybe a few coin cells that are lithium. I will likely have to toss my dewalt drill since I don't think I can get any Nickel metal hydride batterys now. Someone needs to come up with an affordable outside tool battery storage container.