This unit is much more useable for jump starting, and, tire inflation in adverse weather conditions, than the more elaborate jump/inverter/inflator packages available. It is compact and stores in the trunk more easily than the larger units. This unit is also half the price of the other units. I highly recommend it if you live in cold weather climates in which jump starting is inevitable most winters.
I have a tractor, an ATV, a Range Rover and a VW that must start when I need them, or, I am in trouble (sometimes could be stranded). This unit fills the need for starting any of these vehicles in a pinch.
The large dial might look cartoonish, but, when you are in the middle of a blizzard, with gloves on, and heavy clothing, it is easy to locate the switch (even in the dark) as you fumble around to get a vehicle started in deep snow.
At 20 pounds, I find that I can carry it from the garage to the vehicles more easily than the larger units, and, it's easier to find some stable place to put it when you are jumping a vehicle than the larger, heavier packages.
I bought this to replace a Duracell jump/inverter package. Duracell DPP-600HD Powerpack 600 Jump Starter & Emergency Power Source with Radio
I would have bought another Duracell package except for three things: (1) 600 amps is nice, but, you don't really have to have it for most jumps; (2) the inverters are nice, but, I found that I almost never used them; (3) the price has doubled on these units in the past couple of years, and, the benefits they offer are not worth the extra money; (4) it was very fragile I had it on the side of my pickup truck and it dropped a distance of only a few feet, once, and the case was irreparably damaged from the modest fall. I had to throw it out. (The designers who invent these things on computers aren't the ones who have to use it in 4 feet of snow, with 50 mph of driving wind, and a 45 year old tractor that has a tired battery under the seat).
This unit isn't built much better than the Duracell, but, the smaller size makes it easier to find a safe, stable place to put it while you are jumping another vehicle.
I find that this little unit meets 99% of my emergency battery needs, and, the cost savings make it a worthy alternative to the larger, more elaborate packages.
I recently received this product, but have not yet tried to use it. So why four stars? The unit seems well made, and I am fairly confident it will do the job. The reason I am writing this review now, and the reason I took off one star, is that I wanted to share something I read in the user manual, which might have changed my mind about purchasing the unit.
Your intended use might be different, but the reason I bought this unit was to keep it in the car all the time (charging it periodically) in case the car's battery went dead without warning. (It does happen.) Now that I have read the instructions (which I could not find on-line prior to purchase), I see that this is not a good idea. Here are quotes from the user manual...
"All batteries are affected by temperature changes. Jumpstart 400's small size, lightweight battery is more sensitive to storage temperature than a typical automotive battery. The ideal storage temperature is at 70 degrees." ... "Jumpstart 400 must be kept in an environment with temperatures around 70 degrees." ... "Do not keep Jumpstart 400 in your vehicle in extremely hot or cold temperatures." ... "If you have a concern about your vehicle starting, and you are going to work, take Jumpstart 400 into your office. Then you can be confident the Jumpstart 400 battery will provide the power you need."
Where I live, it seems that all we have are extremely hot or cold temperatures, especially in a parked car. So to me, the temperature issues severly limits the usefulness of the product. To be fair, I would expect that all small-ish jump start units, including those from other manufacturers, would probably have the same temperature issue.
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I bought the Energizer 84022 jumpstarter, and even though it arrived a day later than originally estimated by Amazon, I am extremely satisfied with my purchase. My car had been sitting in the cold for 2 weeks, battery was totally gone -the lights and alarm wouldn't even work. I plugged in the jumpstarter and let it charge overnight. In the morning the green 'charged' indicator was shining and I decided to give it a shot. Hooking the jumpstarter up to my car was easy -the cables have a nice long reach, it beeped when everything was hooked up properly, and then I flipped the switch to 'Jump' and turned my key. Less than a second later my engine started without a hitch.
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I had to get a skid-loader started in -10 degree weather that of course had a totally dead battery.
I was amazed that this device could even turn over the frozen motor let alone spin it fast enough to start but it did.
The quality of the plastic parts, clamps and switches are fantastic.
I do keep it in the house and fully charged which helps greatly.
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I would recommend this product to anyone that is looking for a jumpstart. It is easy to use and has enough power to jumpstart your everyday vehicels (cars, trucks, 4-wheelers) I use it on all the above. Charging it is what I like the most. No adaptors to keep up with just plug it in a drop cord and let go. It's a winner in my book.
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bezel had a nice rubbery feel to the touch. I was very pleased with the quality. It was a lot cheaper than sending off my bezel to have modified, plus if I sell the truck I still have the original bezel to reinstall. It came with everything needed to install, wire harness, antenna adapter and mounting hardware.
