How quickly will you deliver my Jump Starter Pack if I order it today?

We offer next day delivery for all UK orders placed before 2pm, Monday to Friday. For orders placed after 2pm, or on a weekend, your pack will be delivered in 1-2 days.

For the rest of the world, we endeavor to deliver as fast as possible. More information on delivery times for your specific delivery destination will be provided at checkout.

Do you sell replacement batteries?

Yes we do, you can purchase a replacement battery for your Power Pack here.

Do you sell replacement leads?

Yes we do, you can purchase a replacement lead for your Power Pack here.

Replacement leads come in three lengths: 80cm (standard length), 1.5m and 2m. All leads are sold individually. We also sell a set of leads with small clamps, ideal for tight spaces.

Which charger should I buy?

For Portable Power 1700 or 1800 Rapid Charge Packs, you’ll need the 5 amp charger, which can be purchased here.

For the UK, the Snap-on Portable
Power Pack 1000 or 1700, you’ll need the 2 amp automatic charger (note that
Snap-on models are not compatible with the 5 amp charger). Purchase it here.

For the USA, Canada and the rest of the world, for the Snap-on Portable Power 1700 Rapid Charge, you’ll need the 5 amp charger, which can be purchased here.

If you’re still unsure as to which charger you need, please give us a call and
we’ll be more than happy to help: +44 1423 861616.

Do you sell chargers for older Portable Power models?

Yes we do.  Please check this list to see
which charger you need:

For Portable Power 1700 Rapid Charge and Portable Power 1800 Rapid Charge you need the 5 amp Automatic Rapid Charger, which can be purchased here. 

For the Snap-on Portable Power 1000 or 1700 models (previously sold in the UK),
you’ll need the 2 amp Automatic Charger, which you can purchase here.

For the Snap-on Portable Power 1700 Rapid Charge (previously sold in USA, Canada and the rest of the world), you’ll need the 5 amp Automatic Rapid Charger, which you can purchase here,

Do you supply leads with Anderson plugs?

Anderson plugs are not currently part of our inventory, so are not supplied as standard. If required, we are able to provide leads with Anderson plugs; please get in contact with us to discuss this further so we can talk through your requirements. Contact us on:+44 1423 861616 or info@portablepowerltd.com

Do you sell refurbished Portable Power Packs?

Yes we do, although supply is limited. All these units have either been previously
sold by Portable Power Limited and returned, or incurred minor cosmetic damage during handling.

Every refurbished unit is rigorously tested by Portable Power Limited engineers, with genuine Portable Power parts used where replacements are needed. 

The Packs are thoroughly cleaned before being made available for sale and come with a 1 year warranty, including the battery.

Please contact us if you are interested in buying a refurbished unit.

Do you offer Power Pack servicing?

Yes we do. We offer full servicing on all of our Power Pack models, including
Snap-on branded models. Our Packs are designed to be fully repairable and we
are able to repair or replace every part. You can arrange a Power Pack service here.

How does Power Pack servicing work?

To arrange a service, please contact us to arrange the collection of your Pack.
We’ll then inspect your product and let you know what work is required and how
much it will cost. If you’d like to go ahead, we’ll take payment over the phone, complete the full service of your Pack and return the product to you as quickly as possible. (In the UK, we guarantee a turnaround of 48 to 72 hours, subject to the independent couriers doing their part efficiently).

How long is the warranty on my Portable Power Pack?

We offer a full, no-quibble, 2 year parts and labour warranty on all of our
Portable Power Pack models. This includes a warranty on the battery. Activate your warranty here.

How do I connect the Power Pack to a vehicle battery to perform a jump start?

The best way to connect your Pack is to connect the positive clamp (red) to the
positive terminal on the batter and the negative clamp (black) to a bare metal, the engine block usually has a place to connect ground earth connection on the vehicle. Doing this avoids any problems that may occur if the vehicle battery is faulty.

If you know that the vehicle’s battery is flat (not damaged), you can connect the
positive clamp to the positive terminal on the battery and the negative clamp
to the negative terminal. Once the vehicle is started, leave the Pack connected for approximately 2 minutes to replace the charge taken from the battery to jump start the vehicle.

Immediately disconnect the leads from the Pack after disconnecting the Pack from the vehicle.  Never leave the leads connected to the Pack when it is not in use.

Does using a Portable Power Pack to jump start a vehicle create a ‘voltage spike’?

No, a voltage spike will not occur when using a Portable Power ack to jump start a
vehicle. Our Power Pack is designed to be an extension of the vehicle battery
and, when connected correctly and used properly, following our Operating Instructions, there is no risk of spike. Our Packs are also spike protected to protect them from damage.

Will the Power Pack work with self-charging, hybrid vehicles?

Yes, our Packs can be used to jump start self-charging hybrid vehicles that use a 12 volt DC battery to power the starter motor. Before using the Power Pack, ensure it is fully charged and that you have connected it to the correct 12v battery, not the higher voltage battery that runs the hybrid.

Note, that our Packs cannot be used to jump start self-charging hybrid vehicles that do not use a 12 volt DC system. Consult your car’s manual, or contact your vehicle’s manufacturer to confirm this if you are unsure.

Does having connecting leads cause a drop in power output (cranking amps)?

Through extensive study, we’ve found that by using top-quality, pure brass connectors in our leads, we do not experience any drop in power output (cranking amps). On both the leads and the inside of the Pack, we use 400 strand pure copper to provide maximum conductivity. The cable is also attached to the battery and the brass connector using brass nuts and bolts, fastened using torque settings to allow for the best possible connection and conduction.

Do you have a 24 volt Pack?

Yes, our Dual Pack is our unique solution to 12/24v jump starting, which we believe is better and more reliable than “stand-alone”, all-in-one units.  Ours is 2 x 12 volt Packs, which, when needed as a 24 volt Pack, are very easily joined together.  The Dual Pack comes with a very easy to use connecting lead, enabling the operator to quickly and simply join 2 of our 12 volt Packs together, creating a very powerful and reliable 24 volt Pack.

By creating the Dual Pack (2x12 volts), you have the benefits of:

1. Being able to easily produce the same power in 24 volts as in the 12 volt Pack.
2. No need for complicated technology, or electronics, thus making The Dual Pack operate with the same reliability and power as our 12 volt unit.
3. A solution that is very easy to carry and maneuver. Instead of carrying 1 heavy unit, you have a smaller one in each hand, so evenly distributing the weight.
4. Overcoming the technical problems associated with ‘slave batteries’: the 2 batteries are kept separate, so there is no danger that one will become a slave battery to the other. Both batteries will maintain their 12 volt integrity.
5. ABS plastic cases that won’t damage vehicles if accidentally knocked.
6. Using our Rapid Charge technology, each battery is charged separately and maintained individually.

Do you have a 12/24 volt Pack?

Yes we do, please see previous question and answer.

Can I use the 12v outlet socket (the cigarette lighter socket) as a power outlet?

Yes you can. The 12 volt socket (cigarette lighter) is both a DC inlet and outlet socket, so it can be used to charge your Power Pack using the in-car charger lead provided and to power anything that requires 12 DC power. Additionally, using a USB plug in the socket means it can be used as a power bank to charge phones, laptops, etc.

Can I use the 12v socket on the Pack (the cigarette lighter socket) to charge my Pack?

Yes you can. An in-car charger is provided with every Power Pack, which is designed to plug into the socket in the front of the Power Pack and a similar socket in your vehicle.

Note that the cigarette lighter may not charge the Pack’s battery to maximum
capacity, as it doesn’t supply volts and amps as efficiently as a mains wall charger. If using this method to maintain the charge in your Power Pack, we recommend that you give the Pack a full charge using the 5 amp, fully automatic wall charger at least once a month.

When charging your Pack using the cigarette lighter socket, only connect the Pack to the vehicle once the engine is running and disconnect it fully before switching off the engine.  

Should I use the mains charger, or the in-car charger for my Pack?

We recommend using the in-car charger when you are out and about, then the wall charger when back at base. The wall charger is the best method for charging the Pack, as it is more efficient and will ‘monitor’ the battery to ensure it remains topped up.

What does the LED light on the mains charger mean?

When using the 5 amp, fully automatic charger, the single LED on the charger changes colour and tells you the status of the Pack:

RED - The pack is receiving Rapid Charge and is quickly topping up the volts.

GREEN - The Pack is fully charged and the charger has switched to ‘Monitor’ mode, maintaining full charge.

Please refer to the Operating Instructions provided with your Pack for more in-depth charging instructions.

What do the LED lights on the Powern Pack mean?

The lights on the Power Pack are as follows:

Large Yellow - This is the charging light that only comes on when the approved mains charger is connected. It indicates that the charger is ‘live’ and working. To check the status of the charge, look at the LED light on the mains charger itself - this large Yellow LED will stay on all the time that the mains charger is connected and switched on.

Large Red - This light comes on when the test button is pressed and when the Power Pack battery has reached its maximum charge level. Note that when disconnected from the mains charger, the charge level drops slightly to maintain optimum efficiency of the Pack, so don’t worry if you don’t see the red light come on when the test button is pressed.

The small LEDs on the Power Pack are battery charge level indicators:

RED - Low battery.

AMBER - Medium battery.

GREEN- High or full battery.

What are the cranking amps of the Portable Power 1800 Rapid Charge?

The cranking amps (CA), cold cranking amps (CCA) and hot cranking amps (HCA) are measurements of how much power a battery can deliver. The cranking amps of the Portable Power Pack are:

●  438 CA with battery temperature measured at 0 °C

●   350 CCA with battery temperature measured at -18 °C

●   520 HCA with battery temperature measured at 25 °C

●  Peak amps are 1800 A

How long doe it take to charge the Portable Power 1800 Rapid Charge?

If the Pack battery is fully depleted, it takes between 3-5 hours for a full charge. Best practice is to leave the Pack on charge all the time when not using it.

If the battery is too low to perform a jump start, it takes about 10 minutes of charging from mains electricity to put enough power into the Portable Power 1800RC to start up to 5 cars, after which it should be put back on charge until it reaches full power.

How do I check that my mains charger is working properly?

The following steps will help to ensure your Pack’s mains charger is working correctly:

1. Unplug the charger from the wall socket so that no power is going into the charger.
2. Plug the mains charger into the Power Pack.
3. Wait for the large Yellow charging light to gradually fade. This indicates the residual charge has left the charger.
4. Leave the mains charger connected to the Pack and plug it into the wall socket, then switch on. The large Yellow LED should come on again. If it doesn’t, then the charger needs replacing.
5. To double check the mains charger, you can unplug it from the Power Pack and, leaving it connected to the mains, put a voltmeter on the socket. It should read 14.4 to 14.8 volts.

Can I leave the Power Pack on charge all the time?

Yes, you can leave your Power Pack permanently on charge, as long as you use the mains charger provided with the Pack. Leaving the Pack on charge all the time actually helps the Pack to perform at its best and helps to extend the life of the battery.

Our charger is a fully automatic, intelligent, 5 amp Rapid Charger and will not overcharge your Pack.

How long can the Power Pack be left in storage for?

We do not recommend leaving your Pack in storage, battery uncharged, as this will
reduce the battery life and performance of the product. Our Portable Power Packs are designed to be kept fully charged using our Rapid Charge technology.

If your Pack has been left standing in storage, we’d expect it to last for around
3-6 months, depending upon the storage conditions and ambient temperature.

Should you disconnect the leads when storing, or transporting the Pack?

Yes, it is very important to store and transport your Pack with the leads
disconnected. Leaving the leads connected to the Pack when not in use can cause them to short, damaging the battery inside the Pack, or even causing a fire. By disconnecting the leads, you are effectively switching off the Pack
and breaking any possibility of a circuit being created.

Once the leads are disconnected, it is impossible to short the Pack, ensuring it is safe to transport and store. Always disconnect the leads immediately after you have completed a jump start.

What type of battery is inside the Power Pack?

All of our Power Packs contain a VRLA battery (valve regulated, lead acid). These are:

●     Maintenance free (no water topping up required).

●     Sealed, non-spillable, lead acid (SLA) batteries.

●     Usable in any orientation, including inverted.

●     HR, designed for high-rate usage.

●     Made with Absorbent Glass Mat technology, for efficient gas recombination.

All of our batteries come from the same, high-quality manufacturer, who we have
used for over 25 years. Find the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) here.

Can I use any VRLA battery to replace the recommended battery?

No, we do not recommend that any VRLA battery is used, as it’s important that the
correct batteries are used in your Power Pack. The BB SHR24-12S battery we supply to you is a High-Rate (HR) battery, designed to deliver a lot of power in a quick burst, ideal for jump starting. Many similar looking batteries are not HR and so won’t be as effective, or long-lasting.

The only batteries that we recommend for our Packs are the BB batteries HR22-12, SHR22-12S or SHR24-12s.

Should the Power Pack battery be kept fully charged all the time?

Yes, our Power Pack batteries are designed to be kept on charge when not in use. This helps the battery to last longer and perform better.

If it’s not possible to put the Pack back on charge straight away, then leave it connected to the vehicle you have jump started for a short time, so the alternator in the car puts some charge back into the battery.

If your Power Pack battery was fully charged before you performed a jump start, depending on the depth of discharge, it should not take more than a few minutes to fully charge the Pack again.

Can I swap from the 1.5 amp charger to the 2 amp charger?

Yes you can. The 2 amp mains charger is fully automatic, meaning you can leave your Power Pack on charge all the time with no worries of over-charging the battery and ensuring your Pack is always ready to work at maximum power.

Can I replace my 1.5 amp, or 2 amp automatic charger with the 5 amp automatic Rapid Charger?

If your Pack is one of the Snap-on 1000, or Snap-on 1700 models, NO you
cannot.  The 5A automatic intelligent Rapid Charger can only be used with the Rapid Charge models of our jump starter.  In the non-Rapid Charge models, the circuitry is not compatible with the amperage produced during the charging process. 

What happens if the battery runs flat?

If you run the Power Pack battery flat and leave it uncharged, then the battery may lose some of its power and not fully recharge. We recommend leaving the Pack on charge at all times when not in use, using the mains charger supplied, to prevent this from happening. When used correctly, the Rapid Charger will extend the life of the battery and help it to maintain optimum power levels.

What is the life-expectancy of the Power Pack battery?

All of our Power Packs are designed with longevity and reliability in mind and are
made with high-quality parts and materials. Whilst the longevity of your Power Pack largely depends on how well it’s looked after, batteries are a consumable item and may need replacing in time.

Why don’t you use lithium batteries?

All of our Power Pack batteries are high-quality, powerful and reliable High Rate VRLA batteries that come from a single manufacturer that we have worked with closely for over 25 years.

We use VRLA batteries over lithium batteries, as we found that they perform better for our wide range of customers, who require a heavy-duty jump starter. As part of our ongoing research and development, we have tested (and continue to test) many lithium batteries and have determined that VRLA batteries are more suitable for our, and our customers’ expectations for a high-power, high-quality, long-lasting, easily maintained product.

The positive lead (red) does not connect firmly.

For brand new leads, you may need to apply a bit more pressure for the first few times that you connect the new fitting. To connect the positive lead, push it in firmly and then twist it firmly to ensure a tight connection. It can take a few times of connecting/disconnecting in this way before the connection begins to feel smoother and easier.

The Power Pack battery has run flat.

If your Power Pack battery has been left to run empty, try putting it on charge using the automatic 5 amp mains charger that came with your Pack, charging it fully and then using it as normal. If the Pack doesn’t fully charge, or won’t hold power in the same way it used to, then please contact us and we will look at repairing your Pack and/or replacing the battery for you.