KYLE’S KICKER
Everyone that owns an engine driven device, motor, or engine, has had a moment when the motor just will not start. The battery is too old, the weather is too cold, or you left something powered up and drained the battery. You are in a hurry, in the middle of nowhere, have no cellphone service, and are alone. So, what do you do?
You will need a Jump. Back in the day we found another vehicle that was working and used cables to connect the batteries together. Vehicles with a clutch could be shoved until they got going fast enough to pop the clutch and start the engine.
Today, you can buy an expensive portable battery pack that is rechargeable. They are usually heavy, bulky, pricey, and do not age well. I have owned a couple of these, just in case of an emergency. Usually, I used them to help others, but almost never for me. When I finally needed to jump my truck, the unit failed.
These expensive jump batteries end up in your vehicle in the hot and cold. If they are not managed and maintained, they age and fail. In the best conditions they have a short lifetime.
So, what’s the better/modern way to jump a dead battery?
My son Kyle made us his own 18-volt battery jumper from common parts. My jumper supports Makita batteries, since that is what drives my battery tools. When we camp, or I am out in the country, I carry a Makita chainsaw, air compressor, and drill. In this case there are a couple of charged tool batteries. I call it” Kyle’s Kicker!”
To help protect the charger, Kyle added an inline fuse and switch. The battery base is a Power Wheels adaptor, used for kid toys. The smaller cables and parts are also available online or at the auto shop. My parts were purchased from Amazon. The small unit fits into a large sandwich bag!
There are times when the battery in your ride is just too old and dead to bring back to life. Many times, the battery just needs a bump to get going.
Like many new ideas, they are not all new. You can find similar charger ideas on YouTube videos and Google searches. The idea of using tool batteries to jump start a truck makes sense and works!
Get Charged Up!
Montana Grant
