Amazon reviews sort of suck. Worth at this price? When it comes to something like this usually you want to pay a tiny bit more so its reliable. I'm thinking Meh...
@VeeDubTDI I've been waiting for the one meh listed last year to come back https://meh.com/forum/topics/chargeit-jump-power-pack--jump-starter ...I should have bought it but balked at the price because I just carry cables in the back. But my 2009 is already on its 3rd battery, so something portable would be great. I've had horrible luck with lead acid portable jumpers though, so I will continue to wait...oh, and I like your username, but that's probably because I have a 2006 Beetle TDI and a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI
@Stallion You might want to keep it plugged in to an AC outlet until you need to use it By which we mean it'll lose its charge if it sits in your car all the time. Unless you can predict when your battery will run out, why buy it? This thing needs to be constantly recharged or it won't help you. That's how the cheap ones are. Skip it and buy some thing better or use jumper cables.
@VeeDubTDI that V10 TDI engine is a beast. Take care of it - rumor has it at something like 50 grand in the crate, wholesale cost. Not sure why I know that.
@DonaldMcRonald I'm a little confused, are you talking about this lead acid version here or the LiPo version that Stallion linked. LiPo is supposed to have low self discharge, but the problem is heat kills it, so you shouldn't leave it in the car either.
Decent deal. I always keep one in the car (and recharge every 2 weeks). I just replaced mine for a different $100 unit, so this could have been more timely. Meh.
I have a similar unit from a different manufacturer. i have helped other people jump their car. I have a hybrid car and the battery is hidden somewhere probably in the trunk. It has never needed to be jumped.
I have used it to start my riding mower after winter. I guess several months of not using it causes the battery to die. It happens almost every year.
@cengland0 I have a 2008 Prius and the 12V battery developed a bad cell which required me to trickle charge it via the charging points under the hood until it could get it replaced by the dealer... This might have been handy at the time but considering that's the only time I've had issues, guess I'm good to go for now.
@cengland0 The battery on the Highlander hybrid we use to run errands at the office is lucky to make it a year . . . damn thing eats batteries. Never had an issue with the hybrid system (the pack), just all the engine start-stop and like clockwork, new battery every summer.
@jmckinl Now that's a good point. Since I haven't found the battery, I could probably locate charging points under the hood. I should locate them before I need to use them so I'm not hunting for it when I'm in a rush.
I have a Volt. If I ever need a jump start,I am probably at the point where I need a tow and a dealership repair.
I have an air compressor and and an Eton Solar Rukus Bluetooth speakers. The Rukus also has a usb port and will charge of its internal battery that gets recharged with a solar panel. I was hoping there was something awesome for my birthday, but like much of life just a big Meh.
@elpepe The walmart reviews are significantly better than the Amazon reviews, FWIW. If you consider yourself a "walmart person" then you might find this meeting your expectations.
I don't usually do the Google image search but this one intrigued me. The fact that this result came from Martha Stewart just seemed too funny to keep to myself.
Just bought a new car so I hope I don't need this.
Why are you Meh people buying crap and trying to resell the shit to us?
You obviously know that many people are unhappy with this Asian manufactured POS that Cobra chose to buy and stick their logo on. Apparently even the shameless Cobra mofos are so embarrassed by this crap that they are liquidating it. Why, oh why, would you try to unload it on the "community" that congregates on your site? It's shameful of you. Start raising your fucking standards and show some appreciation for those of us that want to support your business model.
Seriously! I respect that you allow users to speak their minds, engage in mindless banter, and that you don't censor people. It actually means a lot to me. BUT, and it's a BIG but, ...your attempts to peddle garbage is not appreciated. Kindly work on raising your standards. We may be a bunch of morons, but we're not fools.
@eyewerks just because you dont like the product doesnt mean its a bad deal. And their business model as far as we can see it is to buy mediocre things at good deals and sell them off with relatively low profit. All of their items make you say "meh". That is the business model
@varriform When did I say that I didn't like the product? I believe I incinuated that it was shit. And I stand by that. Selling something that is just "Meh", that people could give or take, but that is at a good value is one thing. Selling something that has a track record of FAILURE is another. Read the write-up. Read the reviews. Those that spend $38 on this thing should be placed in a group home and have a Guardian appointed.
The difference in reviews is probably because Wal-Mart's model is probably crappier.
Wal-mart forces manufacturers to meet a certain price point (because they have so much clout in the retail market, being the biggest chain) and often manufacturers will have to cut corners on a product to make it even slightly profitable.
Compare a model of carpet shampooer at Lowes or Home Despot to the "same" model at Wal-Mart. A Lowes Bissell ProHeat 2, for example, had 4 rows of bristles across its 2 brushes; the Wal-Mart ProHeat 2 had (IIRC) a single brush with 2 rows. There was definitely a glaring difference between the brushes.
This is why you should never purchase appliances, power tools, or electronics (basically, any big-ticket items) at Wal-Mart; the sole electronics exception being video gaming consoles/games because they're sole source; Wal-Mart is on the receiving end of THAT relationship--the companies set THEIR price point and Wal-Mart can either obey, or lose out; they can't go to a different manufacturer to get a different PS4.
NEVER buy a TV from Wal-mart. Just...don't. Wait for a good deal on Amazon.
@Sapper Not sure how true the rumors are but I heard that Kitchenaid makes a special Walmart version of their mixer with plastic gears. The model sold everywhere else has metal gears. I've heard this multiple times so I'm starting to believe it. Anyone have proof of this practice?
@cengland0That KitchenAid makes crap? Yes, we can confirm. 100% of our appliances were KitchenAid at one time. All failed prematurely. But I'll admit the bowl-raise KitchenAid stand mixer is the single product from them we'd buy.
@cengland0 If you're talking about the stand mixers, the tilt-head models have the plastic parts, no matter where they're sold. The bowl lift ones do tout an all-metal transmission, which I did just buy ... from Goodwill. First complete KA i've seen, and for
perfunctory-horrified-crook I hope it's not too crappy. I have a different brand that has been very handy for many years but it is getting weak. I can replace the battery for about $20 (they are also commonly used in UPS's) but the compressor went out too.
This uses a sealed lead-acid battery (somewhat like the kind in your car). Imagine letting your car sit for a year...you would not expect your battery to start your car, especially in extremes of temperature.
Self discharge 70 F (25°C):
90%: residual capacity after standing 3 months 81%: residual capacity after standing 6 months 62%: residual capacity after standing 12 months
Recharging the battery after a year will not bring it back to 100% due to chemical reactions inside the battery.
Expecting any battery to be "fresh" after long storage times is similar to you being asked to run a marathon without eating for a month.
Recharge this once a month and it will do what you want it to do...let it just sit and you'll be unpleasantly unsurprised, blaming Cobra for normal battery chemistry.
I was a good Samaritan once and jumped started a fellow motorist. The next day my truck wouldn't start. Apparently it killed one of the cells in my battery. Which ended up costing me over a $100 for a replacement. I had no idea at the time that this could happen.
I already have a jump box of another brand and I've used it quite a few times. I keep it in my house, and take it with me when I'm traveling anywhere outside my "home base." I have charged my car, my truck, my laptop, my cell phone, etc. When the power went out last summer due to storms, it was actually the best way to charge my electronics. I bought this one to give as a gift to someone who has borrowed mine a couple of times.
Anyone know how long this thing will produce 100 watts for on a full charge? Or alternatively, what the capacity of the battery is in watt-hours? I looked online and at the manual and found nothing.
Just guessing based on that fact that (I assume) it's lead-acid, and guessing again that maybe about 7 pounds of this thing is actual battery, that might mean 90-150 watt-hours of battery, meaning that it could output 100 watts for an hour or a little more. If it's USB 2, it might power that for 40 hours or so, if it's USB 3 then 25 hours or so.
@gcanyon Unfortunately non-deep cycle lead acid batteries that are meant to start vehicles do not typically have a rated capacity. They are rated for CCA. The other issue is that they are not meant to sustain a constant drain, so you never want to take them below around 50% of their charge.
@gcanyon Having rebuilt a couple similar jump boxes (yes I'm cheap and undervalue my time but enjoy it), I'd guess it uses the same batteries in emergency exit signs, kiddie scooters, and small UPS (uninterruptible power supply) devices. They tend to be in the 2.5-4.0 Ah range. Easy to find online and replace for $7-18 each. Number one way to prolong their life: top off the charge every 2-4 months. Example:
What @gcanyon said. I've got one thats ~12 years old ( I recharge it every month or so) and I use it (via the lighter-socket port) for everything BUT jump starting. If it runs on 12V I can run it with one of these.
Thanks meh! Arrived today and got an emergency call from wife. Cars tire was low. Didn't feel like driving around to find air that works and hopefully was free. I'm rating that as a $5 service for my time, air cost and gas... Only a few more times like that to pay for its self.
@keg1973 make sure you let them know the company name is "a mediocre corporation" most places can't find the company name under meh.com... if that fails contact meh.com/support
Specs
Condition: New
Warranty: 1 Year Cobra
Estimated Delivery: 4/7 - 4/10
Shipping: $5 or free with VMP
What’s in the Box?
1x Cobra Portable Jumpstarter & Air Compressor
1x 120V AC charging adapter
1x Owner’s operating instructions
1x Inflation nozzles
Pictures
Front
Back
Retail Box
Meh-stery Machine
Price Check
$89.95 List, $84.65 at Amazon
Warranty
90 days
Amazon reviews sort of suck. Worth at this price? When it comes to something like this usually you want to pay a tiny bit more so its reliable. I'm thinking Meh...
@Stallion yeah. It's cheap because all of the lithium polymer ones are on the market now and everyone wants those because they're smaller.
@VeeDubTDI I've been waiting for the one meh listed last year to come back https://meh.com/forum/topics/chargeit-jump-power-pack--jump-starter ...I should have bought it but balked at the price because I just carry cables in the back. But my 2009 is already on its 3rd battery, so something portable would be great. I've had horrible luck with lead acid portable jumpers though, so I will continue to wait...oh, and I like your username, but that's probably because I have a 2006 Beetle TDI and a 2009 Jetta Sportwagen TDI
@VeeDubTDI These things are nuts, I WANT!!! http://junopower.com/products/jumpr-cars-best-friend-jumpstart-cars-on-the-go
@VeeDubTDI NOW you are going to get me in trouble! Look at this one for under $50! http://www.amazon.com/Polarity-included-Flashlight-Emergency-Smartphones/dp/B00R46X0KA
@Odi nice! My TDI collection includes a 99.5 Jetta, a 12 Passat, and an 04 Touareg V10.
@Stallion You might want to keep it plugged in to an AC outlet until you need to use it By which we mean it'll lose its charge if it sits in your car all the time. Unless you can predict when your battery will run out, why buy it? This thing needs to be constantly recharged or it won't help you. That's how the cheap ones are. Skip it and buy some thing better or use jumper cables.
@VeeDubTDI that V10 TDI engine is a beast. Take care of it - rumor has it at something like 50 grand in the crate, wholesale cost. Not sure why I know that.
@Stallion it's pretty ridiculous how small they are, isn't it?
@DonaldMcRonald I'm a little confused, are you talking about this lead acid version here or the LiPo version that Stallion linked. LiPo is supposed to have low self discharge, but the problem is heat kills it, so you shouldn't leave it in the car either.
@Odi @VeeDubTDI Well let's just make this a thread about VWs then!
@Stallion Made me look.
In theory I have a place in my life for one of these, but I have soured on the Cobra brand. Meh.
Decent deal. I always keep one in the car (and recharge every 2 weeks). I just replaced mine for a different $100 unit, so this could have been more timely. Meh.
You bump a Volksie, not jump it.
I had this. Couldn't recall the times it worked.
Yet another device that if bought in bulk could be re-branded "Abu Ghraib", and marketed on the S&M sites.
@eyewerks Nah, the ones they use in BDSM are smaller.
I have a similar unit from a different manufacturer. i have helped other people jump their car. I have a hybrid car and the battery is hidden somewhere probably in the trunk. It has never needed to be jumped.
I have used it to start my riding mower after winter. I guess several months of not using it causes the battery to die. It happens almost every year.
@cengland0 I have a 2008 Prius and the 12V battery developed a bad cell which required me to trickle charge it via the charging points under the hood until it could get it replaced by the dealer... This might have been handy at the time but considering that's the only time I've had issues, guess I'm good to go for now.
@cengland0 The battery on the Highlander hybrid we use to run errands at the office is lucky to make it a year . . . damn thing eats batteries. Never had an issue with the hybrid system (the pack), just all the engine start-stop and like clockwork, new battery every summer.
@jmckinl Now that's a good point. Since I haven't found the battery, I could probably locate charging points under the hood. I should locate them before I need to use them so I'm not hunting for it when I'm in a rush.
These are also nice to charge your cell when the power goes out.
@medz That's an impressively large phone charger!
In for one...The AC is good to have when the power is out. Will go well with the lanterns/wireless camera sent to me.
This blows
@jaremelz I would say it sucks Moose cock, but in defference to the Meh guy with Paragonimiasis, I will refrain from making said comment. ;)
@eyewerks would it be some kind of fluke if he saw this?
@eyewerks Please explain your relate, I could not find any correlation.
@PhysAssist Check out this week's Two-fer Tuesday video, with the crawfish inside the water filtration bottle. All will be revealed.
I own this and am not ashamed that I spent two times as much on it. Good product. Saved me twice.
Snobbery Alert: I am a Porsche guy. I don't do Cobra.
I have a Volt. If I ever need a jump start,I am probably at the point where I need a tow and a dealership repair.
I have an air compressor and and an Eton Solar Rukus Bluetooth speakers. The Rukus also has a usb port and will charge of its internal battery that gets recharged with a solar panel. I was hoping there was something awesome for my birthday, but like much of life just a big Meh.
If I did do Cobra:
Where is the FM radio?
Where are the flashing hazard lights?
What about an integrated Swiss Army knife?
How about a speaker dock?
This product is obviously in beta testing.
The reviews on this are terrible.
You should be able to charge this and throw it in your trunk and then recharge it every few weeks. Apparently you can't do that.
I would pass on this due to battery issues.
@elpepe The walmart reviews are significantly better than the Amazon reviews, FWIW. If you consider yourself a "walmart person" then you might find this meeting your expectations.
I have a similar product and it's really handy during power failures, and for inflating things. Once I even inflated something DURING a power failure.
gold-glass-muffin
I don't usually do the Google image search but this one intrigued me. The fact that this result came from Martha Stewart just seemed too funny to keep to myself.
Just bought a new car so I hope I don't need this.
I hope your not going to go woot on us.. Where da' ten buck products at?
What are the cold cranking amps? Meh
@ThoR294 I think this model only supports tepid cranking.
Why are you Meh people buying crap and trying to resell the shit to us?
You obviously know that many people are unhappy with this Asian manufactured POS that Cobra chose to buy and stick their logo on. Apparently even the shameless Cobra mofos are so embarrassed by this crap that they are liquidating it. Why, oh why, would you try to unload it on the "community" that congregates on your site? It's shameful of you. Start raising your fucking standards and show some appreciation for those of us that want to support your business model.
Seriously! I respect that you allow users to speak their minds, engage in mindless banter, and that you don't censor people. It actually means a lot to me. BUT, and it's a BIG but, ...your attempts to peddle garbage is not appreciated. Kindly work on raising your standards. We may be a bunch of morons, but we're not fools.
@eyewerks just because you dont like the product doesnt mean its a bad deal. And their business model as far as we can see it is to buy mediocre things at good deals and sell them off with relatively low profit. All of their items make you say "meh". That is the business model
@varriform When did I say that I didn't like the product? I believe I incinuated that it was shit. And I stand by that. Selling something that is just "Meh", that people could give or take, but that is at a good value is one thing. Selling something that has a track record of FAILURE is another. Read the write-up. Read the reviews. Those that spend $38 on this thing should be placed in a group home and have a Guardian appointed.
@eyewerks A bit harsh but bravo. I hope we can improve product selection while keeping your interest.
@eyewerks It is insinuated for fuck's sake.
@Pavlov When I noticed the misspelling I no longer had the option to edit. Thanks for pointing that out in bold.
@eyewerks Hey, no problem, glad to be of service. :P
The difference in reviews is probably because Wal-Mart's model is probably crappier.
Wal-mart forces manufacturers to meet a certain price point (because they have so much clout in the retail market, being the biggest chain) and often manufacturers will have to cut corners on a product to make it even slightly profitable.
Compare a model of carpet shampooer at Lowes or Home Despot to the "same" model at Wal-Mart. A Lowes Bissell ProHeat 2, for example, had 4 rows of bristles across its 2 brushes; the Wal-Mart ProHeat 2 had (IIRC) a single brush with 2 rows. There was definitely a glaring difference between the brushes.
This is why you should never purchase appliances, power tools, or electronics (basically, any big-ticket items) at Wal-Mart; the sole electronics exception being video gaming consoles/games because they're sole source; Wal-Mart is on the receiving end of THAT relationship--the companies set THEIR price point and Wal-Mart can either obey, or lose out; they can't go to a different manufacturer to get a different PS4.
NEVER buy a TV from Wal-mart. Just...don't. Wait for a good deal on Amazon.
@Sapper Not sure how true the rumors are but I heard that Kitchenaid makes a special Walmart version of their mixer with plastic gears. The model sold everywhere else has metal gears. I've heard this multiple times so I'm starting to believe it. Anyone have proof of this practice?
@cengland0 That KitchenAid makes crap? Yes, we can confirm. 100% of our appliances were KitchenAid at one time. All failed prematurely. But I'll admit the bowl-raise KitchenAid stand mixer is the single product from them we'd buy.
@Sapper Walmart's reviews are better than Amazon's, which is something I chalked up to the expectations of the consumer who shops at each store.
@cengland0 If you're talking about the stand mixers, the tilt-head models have the plastic parts, no matter where they're sold. The bowl lift ones do tout an all-metal transmission, which I did just buy ... from Goodwill. First complete KA i've seen, and for
Or even any time I find a Woot shirt for
will the air compressor run an air gun?
@clark3rd no, it's more of an inflator. No tank to store compressed air for tools.
perfunctory-horrified-crook
I hope it's not too crappy. I have a different brand that has been very handy for many years but it is getting weak. I can replace the battery for about $20 (they are also commonly used in UPS's) but the compressor went out too.
Any battery loses it's charge.
This uses a sealed lead-acid battery (somewhat like the kind in your car). Imagine letting your car sit for a year...you would not expect your battery to start your car, especially in extremes of temperature.
Self discharge 70 F (25°C):
Recharging the battery after a year will not bring it back to 100% due to chemical reactions inside the battery.
Expecting any battery to be "fresh" after long storage times is similar to you being asked to run a marathon without eating for a month.
Recharge this once a month and it will do what you want it to do...let it just sit and you'll be unpleasantly unsurprised, blaming Cobra for normal battery chemistry.
@margot #preach
Meh
No HDMI.
Thanks Amazon reviewers. I owe you guys $38.
I was a good Samaritan once and jumped started a fellow motorist. The next day my truck wouldn't start. Apparently it killed one of the cells in my battery. Which ended up costing me over a $100 for a replacement. I had no idea at the time that this could happen.
@SteveOOO No good deed goes unpunished. So the fuck the world.
@dino2269 basically, I hate to be a dick but it won't happen again.
I already have a jump box of another brand and I've used it quite a few times. I keep it in my house, and take it with me when I'm traveling anywhere outside my "home base." I have charged my car, my truck, my laptop, my cell phone, etc. When the power went out last summer due to storms, it was actually the best way to charge my electronics. I bought this one to give as a gift to someone who has borrowed mine a couple of times.
Anyone know how long this thing will produce 100 watts for on a full charge? Or alternatively, what the capacity of the battery is in watt-hours? I looked online and at the manual and found nothing.
Just guessing based on that fact that (I assume) it's lead-acid, and guessing again that maybe about 7 pounds of this thing is actual battery, that might mean 90-150 watt-hours of battery, meaning that it could output 100 watts for an hour or a little more. If it's USB 2, it might power that for 40 hours or so, if it's USB 3 then 25 hours or so.
But does anyone have the facts?
@gcanyon Unfortunately non-deep cycle lead acid batteries that are meant to start vehicles do not typically have a rated capacity. They are rated for CCA. The other issue is that they are not meant to sustain a constant drain, so you never want to take them below around 50% of their charge.
@gcanyon Having rebuilt a couple similar jump boxes (yes I'm cheap and undervalue my time but enjoy it), I'd guess it uses the same batteries in emergency exit signs, kiddie scooters, and small UPS (uninterruptible power supply) devices. They tend to be in the 2.5-4.0 Ah range. Easy to find online and replace for $7-18 each. Number one way to prolong their life: top off the charge every 2-4 months. Example:
What @gcanyon said. I've got one thats ~12 years old ( I recharge it every month or so) and I use it (via the lighter-socket port) for everything BUT jump starting. If it runs on 12V I can run it with one of these.
Apparently Idaho uses grow-your-own Potato batteries and Nevada bets they won't need a jump.
I took the chance. I sided with the Wal-Mart reviews.
Deal with it.
@buggysdad
just want to try
What a crazy website. I hope this thing works!
You should have advertised this as an external battery for laptops and smartphones.
Hoping beyond hope that they would have sold out by now... sigh... I just might... have to... have it.
@hubster5 found my sanity - passing, but you almost had me - meh. The Li-Ion packs are dropping in price - I'll hang around for one of those.
No sellout yet?
Thanks meh! Arrived today and got an emergency call from wife. Cars tire was low. Didn't feel like driving around to find air that works and hopefully was free. I'm rating that as a $5 service for my time, air cost and gas... Only a few more times like that to pay for its self.
Air compressor doesn't work
@keg1973 Looks like the warranty from Cobra was for 1 year, so you're just in time to hit them up for coverage.
Cobra telling me they need another form of receipt. I'm lost
@keg1973 make sure you let them know the company name is "a mediocre corporation" most places can't find the company name under meh.com... if that fails contact meh.com/support