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(More customer reviews)This is a nice unit for starting cars, as noted below. But it may be too small for some other 12-volt applications. The lighter-socket outlet will shut off if you exceed 5 amps of continuous draw. At 12 volts, that would be 60 watts, and as luck would have it, my laptop PC requires 90 watts (7.5 amps) when plugged directly into a 12 volt source.
Also, in terms of total amp/hours, it would not be able to power something like a CPAP machine for a full night's use, which some people might like to do on a camping trip or the like. The description touts the unit's non-automotive power uses, but they are really somewhat modest. Charging a cell phone is not much of a challenge!
It works fine for starting cars, though. This appears to be identical to the Vector VEC010S, which is the unit I have. ("BD" at the end of this product ID is obviously just for Black and Decker's labeling on the front).
My car battery went dead in mid-winter, and I thought it was shot. A neighbor had this same unit, and in the spring I borrowed it twice to start the car, which went fine, even though his unit wasn't even fully charged when I borrowed it.
Finally I bought my own, charged it overnight as per the instructions, three hours past the blinking green. When I went to jump the car, for some reason it would not start right up as it had the other times. On the first attempt, the car turned over and over, but wouldn't kick in, and the effort drew down the jump starter's cranking power to zilch. Everything stopped.
The car had not cranked long enough to become flooded, so that was not the problem. I suspected that I might not have set the clamps correctly to get a "clean" grip, and that this reduced the power available for cranking.
The instructions tell you to wait a little after long cranking, so I did. I also reset the clamps (which are perfectly strong and fine, by the way!)After a few minutes, the unit had regained some of its cranking power, and it got the car going easily.
Back inside, I plugged the starter back in to charge up, and it took several hours to get back to full (blinking green light). Apparently, getting the car going had used quite a bit of juice.
The next time I needed to jump the car, it was instantaneous, and I performed multiple jumps without needing a new charge. So, unless there is something unusual about the first usage, I suspect that my placement of the clamps was to blame. The well-written instructions are clear about the need for a good connection, after all.
If you do want it mostly for jump starts, and do not expect to need it as an "emergency power" source for long hours, or to run any kind of serious appliance, it is a fine choice.
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Black and Decker VEC010BD Start It 300 Amp Jump StarterProduct Description: The Black & Decker Jump-Starter has 300 instant amps to start your car in the unlikely event that your battery goes dead. There is always a chance that you will not be able to find someone to jump-start your car, even if you have a set of jumper cables. The Jump-Starter will alleviate this worry by giving you the power you need to do it on your own.
Black & Decker's Jump-Starter is a powerful and compact tool to restart your vehicle. View larger. Portable and Powerful The Jump-Starter is portable, cordless, and rechargeable. It features 300 amp instant starting power that is adequate for nearly any vehicle. It is so versatile, it will power coolers, air compressors, inverters, spotlights, and almost anything else with a car charger attachment.
Safe and Easy to Use The Jump-Starter also features a keyless on/off power safety switch and reverse hook-up warning alarm in case the cables are attached to the wrong terminals. An LED battery status indicator lets you know the state of your battery and when it's charged up
Rechargeable The Jump-Starter recharges easily from any household AC outlet, so that it will be ready the next time you need it.
No More Jumper Cables With Black & Decker's Jump-Starter, there is no more worrying about having to track down a friendly vehicle. Whether you're in the rain, on an empty street on a dark night, or alone in an unfamiliar place, you'll be happy that the Jump-Starter is charged and ready to assist you get back on the road.
Warranty Black & Decker offers a full 2-year warranty.
What's in the box Start It Jump-Starter, 120 volt AC charger, and heavy-duty cables and clamps.
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