Following up on their successful Battery Pack product line introduced recently that charges up cell phones, iPads and other personal communications and PC gear, the folks from Weego have introduced a family of next-gen portable battery packs with even more capability, the Jump Starter Battery Pack+ lineup.
So Many Choices
Portable, micro-sized battery packs and jump-starters have been all the rage over the past few seasons, but caveat emptor, or as my Roman forbearers used to say in common parlance, “let the buyer beware.” Simply stated, not all look-alikes are created equal.
I can distinctly recall lugging around 15- to 20-pound monster battery packs in the not-too-distant past to power-up my Mako Magnets, and green Hydro-Glow fluorescent light sticks when doing my offshore shark trips and canyon overnighters. These heavy power supplies were cumbersome, difficult to stow, with low longevity due to sun, spray and the inevitable bumps and bruises of slamming angry waves. I’d be lucky to get a year or two out of these and more often than not, they were fickle performers in times of real need.
Fast-forward to current times and just about every big-box retailer is selling their version of a portable, go-anywhere, personal power supply. Prices for these typically range from $60 to $150, depending on the capacity and size of the unit. Requisite accessories like connectors to your favorite laptop, tablet or smart phone are usually extra and add up fast to the overall acquisition cost. Most of these will have a warranty of 1-year or less, and many feature efficient lithium ion power cells, while others might not. How many charges and discharges you can expect to get out of the original power cell is a gray area, and most of these low-cost battery pack manufacturers typically do not expound on this subject.
Get a “Real” Jump Start
Unlike some of its lesser-priced peer group, the Weego Jump Starter Battery Pack+ brings a plethora of real world capability to the party and can perform a variety of functions extremely well. Sure, it can re-charge your tablet, smart phone or whatever with the best of them, but the really neat thing is that it can also jump-start your car or your boat’s engine too! Weego’s 6000mAh JS6 model has enough juice in its compact frame (only 5.5” L x 3” W x 0.7” D) to jump start any gas engine up to 4.6 liters, plus longer stroke diesel inboards up to 2.4 liters in displacement. Upgrade to the 12000mAh JS12 model (like the one that I tested that measures 6.3” L x 3” W x 1” D) and the starting capacity jumps up to 6.4 liter gasoline powerplants and 3.2 liter diesels. If you opt for the big Kahuna 18000mAh JS18, which measures only 9”L x 3.5” W x 1.1” D, the cranking power is bumped up to gas engines of over 6.4 liters and diesel inboards up to 4.8 liters – and it weighs only 1.5 pounds!
Constructed with durable, high-quality components, Weego features built-in circuitry protection, an auto-off feature and jumper cables with a fuse and diode to ensure both user safety and protection for the unit. Weego jump starters offer up to 1,000 charging cycles (a full charge plus full discharge), have an operating temperature from -4 to 140 degrees, are independently lab-tested, and are backed by an 18-month warranty from a company that’s been in business for over 50 years.
The pocket-sized Weego Jump Starter Battery Pack+ is capable of starting boats, cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs and more. It will also take care of the business of charging phones, tablets, speakers and other USB devices. Incredibly easy to use, each Weego model includes jumper cables that can be attached to the terminals of a dead battery. Easy to follow instructions are printed on the back for quick reference. To start, boaters simply connect the clamps to the battery terminals, connect the cable to the Jump Starter Battery Pack+, turn the power on and start the engine. A built-in LED flashlight assists in low-light situations and a strobe with SOS function on the larger JS12 and JS18 models draws on-the-water or roadside attention if needed. A 3-in-1 USB charging cord, eight popular brand laptop connectors, wall and car chargers and a carrying case are included, which makes stowing it on your boat or car a breeze.
Dead batteries can really ruin your day and can put you and the crew in a potentially tight spot. The compact, high-powered Weego Jump Starters are an easy, low-cost solution, especially if you are heading offshore – plus it will pay for itself with just one use! The high-quality lithium-ion batteries only lose about 2 percent of their power per month, so once it’s fully charged, you can throw it in a safety kit or dry stowage locker on your boat and forget about it until it’s needed – and you will have a relatively high expectation that it will work when you do.
Available from Weego resellers and distributors, the Jump Starter Battery Pack+ has a suggested retail price of $99.99 (JS6), $129.99 (JS12) and $189.99 (JS18). For more information, visit the website.
