Can't jump with PB?

[scuba]

uI tried jump-starting a stranded motorist last weekend, and it seemed like the PB didn't provide much power. My only datapoints are I tried first with a cheesy jumpstarter unit like this, that had been sitting in my trailer for 2 years and prob had 40% charger left:
https://www.amazon.com/STANLEY-J5C09D-Power-Station-Starter/dp/B07QS5NFMY

And when that wouldn't work, tried my PB. What was weird is that the jumpstarter seemed to activate the starter of the dead car (made more noise), but the PB didn't seem to do much of anything. I had my wife rev the ICE on my PB and prevent it from staying in electric mode.

I ultimately gave them a ride to walmart to get a new battery (it was a Walmart battery) and assume it was bad, but is it possible something about the PB makes it bad for jumping?

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[mau47]

Where did you connect the ground on your truck? I remember reading somewhere to jump another car you have to connect to a grounding point on the truck and NOT the battery terminal because of the BMS.

 

[scuba]

I connected to the + and - battery terminals on my truck.

 

[imnuts]

I've jump started two different vehicles with my Powerboost without an issue. The one I needed to leave the cables hooked up for several minutes, but it was in the teens/twenties and was a truck with 2 batteries, so I wasn't too surprised.

 

[scuba]

I've jump started two different vehicles with my Powerboost without an issue. The one I needed to leave the cables hooked up for several minutes, but it was in the teens/twenties and was a truck with 2 batteries, so I wasn't too surprised.

Ok- good to know. Thanks. Will chalk it up to a really bad battery on their end. With all the weird things on the truck (ICE kept wanted to turn off when I was jumping, recently learned there is a second 12v battery, etc), I was worried this was one more thing I couldn't take for granted.

 

[Jeff1024]

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB70-Ul...-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Throw one of those in your truck. Well worth it to not deal with hooking some strangers car up to my truck to jump start it. Love to help folks out, but doing it this way is just easier.

As a bonus this also works great on boats and Jet Ski's, Lawn Mowers, etc.

Last summer I watched a guy try to jump start his boat with his buddys truck while the boat was still on the trailer. Guess the plan was to jump the boat then back it back into the water VERY quickly. Luckily for him the plan didn't work, for those who dont know boats use raw lake water for cooling so if this plan had worked the boat motor would have been running /w zero coolant. As an added bonus the pump that moves lake water into the engine block would have been spinning dry.

Fun times.

Buy the Jump Box. Noco makes great stuff but there are a ton of good options out there.

 

[scuba]

https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GB70-UltraSafe-Lithium-Gasoline/dp/B016UG6PWE/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3ARH6ILGUAVR7&keywords=noco+jump+starter&qid=1705081249&sprefix=noco+jump+starter,aps,144&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Throw one of those in your truck. Well worth it to not deal with hooking some strangers car up to my truck to jump start it. Love to help folks out, but doing it this way is just easier.

As a bonus this also works great on boats and Jet Ski's, Lawn Mowers, etc.

Last summer I watched a guy try to jump start his boat with his buddys truck while the boat was still on the trailer. Guess the plan was to jump the boat then back it back into the water VERY quickly. Luckily for him the plan didn't work, for those who dont know boats use raw lake water for cooling so if this plan had worked the boat motor would have been running /w zero coolant. As an added bonus the pump that moves lake water into the engine block would have been spinning dry.

Fun times.

Buy the Jump Box. Noco makes great stuff but there are a ton of good options out there.

Yeah-- thanks. I'm a proud owner of that same Noco unit. It started my 6.8L van the other day when a wimpier unit would not. Will find room for it in the truck.

 

[madsend81]

Yes, very likely their battery was beyond toast. I keep a NOCO unit in my truck too for the same reasons as mentioned. Quicker to hook up and no need to manuever the truck to get the batteries close enough for the jumper cables.

 

[imnuts]

It won't reach from front to back on my truck, but smaller cars/SUVs I could pull up behind and have my jumper cables reach. I have a custom set that is ~20' long, wish they were about 5' longer though.

 

[Snakebitten]

I know it might seem like the ICE has to be running on the Powerboost for the battery and the alternator to be available as a source, but it's not really how it works.

The alternator on the Powerboost is running even when the ICE isn't. It's a digital/electronic alternator converting the High Voltage battery current (285V) to Low Voltage Current (~12-14V)

ICE coming on doesn't increase the amount of amperage available for the jump. ICE simply spins the traction motor as a generator to recharge the High Voltage battery.

Pretty cool when you think about it.

 

[Gros Ventre]

Well... If the truck is "on" (eg the "ready" on the dashboard is illuminated). Then the electrical system, as Snakebitten described above, is able to provide power to the battery being jumped. The Engine will come on or go off as the system detects that its needed. No different than if you're running the 120/240VAC system to supply loads.

 

[ReverendQ]

Where did you connect the ground on your truck? I remember reading somewhere to jump another car you have to connect to a grounding point on the truck and NOT the battery terminal because of the BMS.

Per da manual:
1. Pull the red rubber boot backward.
Connect the positive (+) jumper cable
to the positive (+) terminal of the
discharged battery.
2. Connect the other end of the positive
(+) jumper cable to the positive (+)
terminal of the booster vehicle battery.
3. Connect the negative (-) jumper cable
to the negative (-) terminal of the
booster vehicle battery.
4. Make the final connection of the
negative (-) jumper cable to an
exposed metal part of the disabled
vehicle's engine, as shown in the
following illustration, away from the
battery and fuel injection system, or
connect the negative (-) jumper cable
to a ground connection point if
available.
Note: Do not use the hood latch as a
negative (-) connection point. This could
cause springs in the latch to burn and
prevent the hood from operating correctly.

 

[JoeRedFly]

I've seen this happen with crappy jumper cables. Small guage wiring combined with poor connections between the wires and clamps. Also the cheap ones tend to have crappy springs in the clanps and don't get a good connection on the battery terminals.

 

[JoeRedFly]

Also, if the battery connections on the dead vehicle are loose or corroded it will be near impossible to jump. Best to clean them up before attempting if you have tools on you.

 

[HammaMan]

To jump w/ a PB, connect up and make sure the key fob is in truck, blower on setting 5, and driver door closed. That's it. Let it sit for 2 minutes or so to charge up the other battery and it should fire right up. The motor does not need to be running (has nothing to do with 12v generation).

I've jumped a few vehicles with both the PB and mach-e, both contain the same 220a DC/DC converter. With the blower on 5 and door closed, I've seen over 150a of power being generated as it juices up the low vehicle before starting. I find it pretty funny jumping an ICE with the EV --- has loads of electrons to spare

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