Question about using portable battery supplies
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 157
Likes: 4
From: Norfolk, VA
Question about using portable battery supplies
has anyone tried using a cell phone portable charger, hooked up to the battery tender dongle on the left side, to jump there bike? I have two 26800mAh bricks and taking it on the road as a portable jump for my bike and my phone would be awesome. I know they sell one specifically for this purpose, i am just trying to use what I already have.
Thanks
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
NO! The wires are too thin on those tender hookups, could be 18 awg, and you're liable to melt something. I know how convenient that would be, and made a 10 awg wire set for one of mine; that's about the minimum for that current, and what those lithium jump batteries use. You can get 10 awg SAE connectors with foot long wires on them, trim to fit and crimp or solder on ring terminals for the battery connection, wasn't difficult for me. I put the tubing on to make it neater - the wires were separate, not joined like stock tender wire hookups.
Those tiny lithium battery jumpers are getting cheaper, might be worth getting one to carry on the bike. Mine came with plug adapters to fit most phones and laptops, many do. They usually have EC5 connectors; mine did, and I just made a short SAE to EC5 adapter cable to plug between the bike and battery. Could have used the battery hookup wire that came with the jumper battery, but like to keep wires on the bike at a minimum, and the SAE connector fits more stuff.
Those tiny lithium battery jumpers are getting cheaper, might be worth getting one to carry on the bike. Mine came with plug adapters to fit most phones and laptops, many do. They usually have EC5 connectors; mine did, and I just made a short SAE to EC5 adapter cable to plug between the bike and battery. Could have used the battery hookup wire that came with the jumper battery, but like to keep wires on the bike at a minimum, and the SAE connector fits more stuff.
Last edited by Imold; Mar 2, 2017 at 10:49 AM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
The Walmarts (and a few other places) had a closeout on one of those lithium jump devices a while back.
Came with a set of small jumper cables, and a few other cords to plug into tablets, phones, etc.....
Plus an A/C charger and a d/c charger.
All for around $20.
I bought an Anti-Gravity brand battery harness on Amazon, and installed that on the bike in addition to the battery tender harness. The charger needs a specific type of plug, not the battery tender one- in my case the Anti Gravity harness was compatible with my jumper box.
So far I have not needed to jump the bike, but I did use it on my boat last year- left a switch on and came back to a dead battery. That little jump box worked like a charm, and saved me the hassle of having to either remove the battery and charge it at home, or try and find a jump source near the boat.
I believe this jump gadget also came with an adapter to convert the harness plug to a battery tender style so it can be used to hook up a tender or power electric clothes, etc.... The harness connector is not the same as the one for a battery tender.
All in all, well worth the $30 I spent on the jump pack and harness.
Came with a set of small jumper cables, and a few other cords to plug into tablets, phones, etc.....
Plus an A/C charger and a d/c charger.
All for around $20.
I bought an Anti-Gravity brand battery harness on Amazon, and installed that on the bike in addition to the battery tender harness. The charger needs a specific type of plug, not the battery tender one- in my case the Anti Gravity harness was compatible with my jumper box.
So far I have not needed to jump the bike, but I did use it on my boat last year- left a switch on and came back to a dead battery. That little jump box worked like a charm, and saved me the hassle of having to either remove the battery and charge it at home, or try and find a jump source near the boat.
I believe this jump gadget also came with an adapter to convert the harness plug to a battery tender style so it can be used to hook up a tender or power electric clothes, etc.... The harness connector is not the same as the one for a battery tender.
All in all, well worth the $30 I spent on the jump pack and harness.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,857
Likes: 2,503
From: Lake Orion, MI
I have and use this one. Had to jump y friend's truck once - worked well
Mine is only 14400 so, if you have 28800, should be plenty of power. See if you can find the jump attachment for the one you have.
Mine is only 14400 so, if you have 28800, should be plenty of power. See if you can find the jump attachment for the one you have.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
....
So far I have not needed to jump the bike, but I did use it on my boat last year- left a switch on and came back to a dead battery. That little jump box worked like a charm, and saved me the hassle of having to either remove the battery and charge it at home, or try and find a jump source near the boat.
....
All in all, well worth the $30 I spent on the jump pack and harness.
So far I have not needed to jump the bike, but I did use it on my boat last year- left a switch on and came back to a dead battery. That little jump box worked like a charm, and saved me the hassle of having to either remove the battery and charge it at home, or try and find a jump source near the boat.
....
All in all, well worth the $30 I spent on the jump pack and harness.
Which brings up another point - you could start a car or a bike with the vehicle battery disconnected, but the vehicle alternator would cook your lithium jumper pretty quick, probably start a fire. Bennington, your packs aren't intended for vehicle jumping, so they probably don't have the warning that the vehicle jumpers come with, to disconnect the jumper wires quickly after the motor starts, but I'm sure that would apply with yours, too. Hopefully, the way larger current when jump starting won't damage your charger batteries, if you ever try them. If you do, might be a good idea to have the lithium battery sitting on something non-flammable, and not touching the bike. I've seen videos of a phone battery lighting off, and anything within a couple feet was at risk! Went off like a blowtorch.
If you only use it once when you're stranded without help, it's worth what you paid for it.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 538
Likes: 15
From: Eastern MA
has anyone tried using a cell phone portable charger, hooked up to the battery tender dongle on the left side, to jump there bike? I have two 26800mAh bricks and taking it on the road as a portable jump for my bike and my phone would be awesome. I know they sell one specifically for this purpose, i am just trying to use what I already have.
Thanks
Thanks
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 928
From: Lincolnshire, IL
You can jump your HD off a car by using a standard set of automotive jumper cables.......attach the POS cable to the battery cable connection ON THE STARTER and the NEG cable to anywhere on the frame....... the other ends of the cable go to the car battery (WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF!!!).......and start the cycle. Easy peazy! Best of all you don't need to remove the seat.
Having said that, when in doubt about the condition of your battery, buy a new one! Also keep it on a quality battery maintainer whenever you're not sitting on it! (not just a trickle charger, but a "maintainer"). That $40 investment will make a battery last for more years than you'd think. My batteries typically last 8+ years.
Having said that, when in doubt about the condition of your battery, buy a new one! Also keep it on a quality battery maintainer whenever you're not sitting on it! (not just a trickle charger, but a "maintainer"). That $40 investment will make a battery last for more years than you'd think. My batteries typically last 8+ years.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 375
Likes: 8
From: Arizona
You can jump your HD off a car by using a standard set of automotive jumper cables.......attach the POS cable to the battery cable connection ON THE STARTER and the NEG cable to anywhere on the frame....... the other ends of the cable go to the car battery (WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF!!!).......and start the cycle. Easy peazy! Best of all you don't need to remove the seat.
Having said that, when in doubt about the condition of your battery, buy a new one! Also keep it on a quality battery maintainer whenever you're not sitting on it! (not just a trickle charger, but a "maintainer"). That $40 investment will make a battery last for more years than you'd think. My batteries typically last 8+ years.
Having said that, when in doubt about the condition of your battery, buy a new one! Also keep it on a quality battery maintainer whenever you're not sitting on it! (not just a trickle charger, but a "maintainer"). That $40 investment will make a battery last for more years than you'd think. My batteries typically last 8+ years.
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,839
Likes: 928
From: Lincolnshire, IL
Actually I can't take all the credit for that advice...... I went to an HD dealer seminar and they told of that tip....... just cautioned us to make sure the car that we were jumping from was TURNED OFF. Other than that it's a simple jump.