First off, this product arrived on time and undamaged.
Initial Thoughts:
This product was packaged very well and it seems quick sturdy and well made. It arrived with a minor charge and took 3 “full” days to fully charge it to 100% while utilizing the included USB power cable in a North American Wall Outlet with USB adapter.
Why We Bought It:
My wife and I own a H1 6.5L diesel dual turbo (two 12V batteries system) and we live in a region where the days typically stay below freezing and even in the negatives for weeks on end. This longevity of cold weather frequently results in damaged and drained vehicle batteries in our area. In the past, we wasted a lot of money on new batteries until we bought the NOCO Genius G4 Charger. Unfortunately, we cannot utilize it as a trickle charger due to the distance the vehicle has to set away from a power outlet, but we can easily remove the batteries to repair or “boost” them when needed. To date, we have been able to revive many (6 batteries), but not all, damaged and/or drained batteries. The G4 Charger is a hit and miss with us honestly (as our review on that product states); but overall, when it works, it saves us a lot of money instead of frequently purchasing new batteries. Due to our understanding of that product's built quality, we felt purchasing the NOCO Genius Boost Pro GB150 would be a safe bet. We also felt that as long as we can start a vehicle with the GB150, we can at least get it to where we need it and then us the G4 to fully charge it and/or repair it at a later time. In short, the GB150 does seem very well made and sturdy.
Before I progress, it is also important to mention that prior to taking the leap in purchasing this product, we even attempted to keep our H1 attached to 4 interconnect 9W NOCO Solar Panels (trickle charging system), but we quickly discovered they are useless for a 2 battery system (even in the summer months). That being stated, the panels are good for charging cell phones and other electronic devices over a "long'" period of time in “direct” sunlight. Since our prior attempts with 4 NOCO solar panels didn't help us maintain a continuous charge and since other battery jumper devices never had enough amps to jump our 2 battery vehicle, we bought this NOCO Genius Boost Pro GB150, charged it upon receiving it, and have waited for a good day to test it.
Initial Conditions Tested In and the Results:
We have not driven our H1 in 3 freezing weeks (via being out of town) and today we awoke to 7 inches of snow and -5 degrees F. After attempting to start the H1, there was not enough power to crank it over prior to using the GB150. However, once we attached the GB150, it only took 2 cranking attempts and the H1 was purring with no issues. As such, this product works!
However, we did experience one flaw. Supposedly, this system is supposed to prevent sparking unless you override the system and turn off its safety features on a fully drained battery (below 2V); however, on the first crank it sparked significantly and suddenly. Since the H1 is so wide and since the view was restrictive by the engine when we cranked it, we were unable to see what initiated the spark. On the second attempt, we checked the connections (which seemed fine) and attempted to crank it again without touching any clamps between the battery terminals and the GB150. This time there were no sparks and it started right up.
So you may ask, why did it spark the first time and not the second when no cables were touched? We have no idea. Perhaps we missed something the first time, but we wanted to warn everyone that there “is” a potential for sparking so please be careful. Perhaps there was some corrosion on the terminal or perhaps some snow (since it was snowing and we did this outside) created a short or some sort. In either case, this product “did work” which makes it a good investment for us. We hope it lasts and gives us years of problem-free results.
How Long To Recharge After Use?
It took approximately 5.5 hours to recharge the GB150 back to 100% after utilizing it this morning. Again, this is utilizing a wall adapter and “not” a computer or cigarette lighter adapter as it states it is capable of doing.
Conclusion:
With everything considered. This product is well made, sturdy, and does what it’s advertised to do. However, since the first cranking attempt resulted in unknown sparking, it is important to remember you are working with electricity and you should always utilized the proper safety protection (goggles, gloves, etc) when operating this booster. That being stated, in utilizing this product with the NOCO Genius G4 Charger, we finally have a winning system that is saving us money. We hope this review helps.
| Manufacturer | NOCO |
|---|---|
| Brand | NOCO |
| Model | GB150 |
| Item Weight | 7.5 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 8.19 x 4.88 x 13.7 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | GB150 |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Metal batteries required. (included) |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Exterior | Machined |
| Manufacturer Part Number | GB150 |
| OEM Part Number | GB150 |
| Bulb Type | LED |
| Special Features | Portable Power Bank for USB Devices, Reverse Polarity and Spark-Proof Protection, 3000A 12V Portable Lithium Car Battery Jump Starter, 500 Lumen LED Flashlight |
| Amperage | 3000 Amps |
