I'd like to ask for recommendations for an AGM portable battery jumper capable of boosting an Odyssey PC-680 AGM battery to start an IO-360. Ideally the jumper is small; I've heard some units could even be pocket-sized. Before I head out far away from civilization, having a portable battery jumper sounds like a good idea....

Thanks for your suggestions!

First, are you looking for a backup to start the engine if the installed battery is weak/dead, or are you in fact thinking of actually boosting the odyssey, to assist cranking?

Pretty much every automotive store has jump start kits, and they all pretty much work if need presents. Go to O’ Reilly’s and they can sell you one.

But, an Odyssey should have no problem cranking an IO-360. If your Odyssey isn’t cranking well enough to start your engine, I’d first figure out why it won’t.

I do carry a jump pack, and use it to charge devices, etc and as a backup. It’s started three airplanes so far, though, none were mine. One of those was an IO 360.

MTV

My current battery consistently cranks and starts the engine on the first blade. But once I'm far away from help, having a backup is prudent.

I'm aware that AGM batteries prefer AGM battery boosts, but so far I haven't found an AGM jump pack weighing under 25 pounds. Surely there's one on the market?

I started carrying a GOOLOO GP2000 jump starter pack from amazon. I have not used it on anything bigger than a motorcycle at this point but it is rated to jump start engines with bigger displacement than my O-320.

It looks like I'm on the right track, because after watching this review of the GOOLOO 200A (amongst others) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixWPx79g3yk I've narrowed my search to the same item. As long as it wouldn't fry the Odyssey AGM battery in the plane....

SZPflyer wrote:It looks like I'm on the right track, because after watching this review of the GOOLOO 200A (amongst others) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixWPx79g3yk I've narrowed my search to the same item. As long as it wouldn't fry the Odyssey AGM battery in the plane....

as long as you put positive to positive and negative to negative there is little chance of damage. AGM is nothing special in the battery world its mostly the same interaction as the old water filled battery's it just has most of the electrolyte captured instead of sloshing around.

you do more damage by discharging it so much you need the jump pack.

But i am not a A&P so this is just my thoughts on it.

I put my first Odyssey Battery on the firewall of my Skywagon January 2010, I changed it out June 2019 before/because of my trip to Alaska. 9 years and 800+ hours never, repeat never had a problem turning over that Pponk motor because of a low battery. SBS J-16 is a very impressive piece of energy.

I've had great success using a NOCO brand jump pack on odyssey batteries. I have no idea if it's the proper thing to do, never considered that there are different types of jump packs, don't know what AGM means, but it sure worked great every time I did it.

AGM batteries don’t require any special care when jumping. As noted above, positive to positive, good to go.

And two of the planes I’ve jumped to start recently were Odyssey equipped.

MTV

Absorbed Gas Mat

Edited, dang autocorrect….
MTV

asa wrote:I've had great success using a NOCO brand jump pack on odyssey batteries. I have no idea if it's the proper thing to do, never considered that there are different types of jump packs, don't know what AGM means, but it sure worked great every time I did it.

AGM = Absorbed glass mat

It is nothing special and quite common they are slightly safer than the old wet battery. At the end of the day they are still just a lead acid battery and as long as they are treated as such there should be no problem and do not mix 12v and 24v chargers/boost packs.

The newer lithium battery options are the ones that i would be more worried about jumping but i expect even those would be fine like the lead acid.

The current for starting is being pulled from the jump pack and not through the battery.

I started carrying a lithium ion jump pack made by Earth-X. My IA wired in a plug for it under the panel of my 182 so there is no need to access the battery to hook up jumper cables. The same jump pack can be used for either 12 V or 24 V, depending on which jumper configuration you use. I haven't had to use it yet, and hope I never will, but I think it will be the ticket. Only weighs 4# too.

https://earthxbatteries.com/product/etx-jmp12-24/

Ross

pipeliner wrote:I started carrying a lithium ion jump pack made by Earth-X. My IA wired in a plug for it under the panel of my 182 so there is no need to access the battery to hook up jumper cables. The same jump pack can be used for either 12 V or 24 V, depending on which jumper configuration you use. I haven't had to use it yet, and hope I never will, but I think it will be the ticket. Only weighs 4# too.

https://earthxbatteries.com/product/etx-jmp12-24/

Ross

I have the earlier 12V only version of the Earth-X jump pack. It has jump started a Rotax 912ULS, a John Deere 3320 diesel tractor, a 20 kW LP Generator, and several 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder gasoline auto engines. Amazing device.

JP256 wrote:

pipeliner wrote:I started carrying a lithium ion jump pack made by Earth-X. My IA wired in a plug for it under the panel of my 182 so there is no need to access the battery to hook up jumper cables. The same jump pack can be used for either 12 V or 24 V, depending on which jumper configuration you use. I haven't had to use it yet, and hope I never will, but I think it will be the ticket. Only weighs 4# too.

https://earthxbatteries.com/product/etx-jmp12-24/

Ross

I have the earlier 12V only version of the Earth-X jump pack. It has jump started a Rotax 912ULS, a John Deere 3320 diesel tractor, a 20 kW LP Generator, and several 4-, 6-, and 8-cylinder gasoline auto engines. Amazing device.

I have the 12v Earth-X jump pack as well - I've never had to use it on the plane - but I have used it on my craptastic ford explorer.

I’ve seen some sweet lithium light weight ones that had compressors and USB and all sorts of stuff

Just wish there was a 24v option, being able to plug into my 185s GPU vs getting bushwacked would be a nice safety blanket.

The Earth-X jump packs that are sold these days can be used for either 12 V or 24 V, depending on how the cables are hooked up.

Ross

pipeliner wrote:The Earth-X jump packs that are sold these days can be used for either 12 V or 24 V, depending on how the cables are hooked up.

Ross

Thanks!


https://earthxbatteries.com/product/etx-jmp12-24/

The Earth X unit looks like it'd be the cat's meow for a 24 volt system. Lots cheaper and smaller lithium units that'll work for 12 volt, though.

Mine is maybe an inch thick by four by six. Stows nicely in the glove box.

MTV