Black & Decker VEC010BD Start It 300 Amp Jump Starter

• 300 instant amps for jump starting your vehicle in emergencies
• Power safety switch and reverse hook-up warning system for added safety
• LED battery status indicators
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

This is a nice unit for starting cars, as noted below. But it may be too small for some other 12-volt applications. The lighter-socket outlet will shut off if you exceed 5 amps of continuous draw. At 12 volts, that would be 60 watts, and as luck would have it, my laptop PC requires 90 watts (7.5 amps) when plugged directly into a 12 volt source.

Also, in terms of total amp/hours, it would not be able to power something like a CPAP machine for a full night's use, which some people might like to do on a camping trip or the like. The description touts the unit's non-automotive power uses, but they are really somewhat modest. Charging a cell phone is not much of a challenge!

It works fine for starting cars, though. This appears to be identical to the Vector VEC010S, which is the unit I have. ("BD" at the end of this product ID is obviously just for Black and Decker's labeling on the front).

My car battery went dead in mid-winter, and I thought it was shot. A neighbor had this same unit, and in the spring I borrowed it twice to start the car, which went fine, even though his unit wasn't even fully charged when I borrowed it.

Finally I bought my own, charged it overnight as per the instructions, three hours past the blinking green. When I went to jump the car, for some reason it would not start right up as it had the other times. On the first attempt, the car turned over and over, but wouldn't kick in, and the effort drew down the jump starter's cranking power to zilch. Everything stopped.

The car had not cranked long enough to become flooded, so that was not the problem. I suspected that I might not have set the clamps correctly to get a "clean" grip, and that this reduced the power available for cranking.

The instructions tell you to wait a little after long cranking, so I did. I also reset the clamps (which are perfectly strong and fine, by the way!)After a few minutes, the unit had regained some of its cranking power, and it got the car going easily.

Back inside, I plugged the starter back in to charge up, and it took several hours to get back to full (blinking green light). Apparently, getting the car going had used quite a bit of juice.

The next time I needed to jump the car, it was instantaneous, and I performed multiple jumps without needing a new charge. So, unless there is something unusual about the first usage, I suspect that my placement of the clamps was to blame. The well-written instructions are clear about the need for a good connection, after all.

If you do want it mostly for jump starts, and do not expect to need it as an "emergency power" source for long hours, or to run any kind of serious appliance, it is a fine choice.

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Unit appears to be solidly constructed. Maybe I lucked out and got an upgraded version, but there have been a couple of reviewers that said the the plastic clamps snapped. The unit I have (manufactured 11/06) has ALL METAL clamps, very much nicer than many regular standard jumper cables.

This unit will hold a charge but needs to be maintained (recharged) at least every 60 days or so.

NEVER charge via the cigarette lighter adapter in your vehicle longer than 3-4 hours. It may be left on AC charge indefinately. It is better to keep it fully charged, discharging this unit will result in shorted cells.

All in all, a very small price to pay for peace of mind, at home and on the road. With a power inverter (less than $20.00) you can have silent power source for lights, cell phones, small tv's, laptops, flourescent lights, etc.

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Several people here have mentioned that the clips are made of cheap plastic. I'm happy to report that mine received march 2 2007 has all-metal clips that seem to be quite sturdy! They have definately updated the design.

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I have a Honda, which I love, but since I do not drive her on a daily basis now, the battery is tempermental. I bought this product and have had to use it several times. I've found it easy to use and, even when the car battery has been completely dead, this jumpstarter has had more than enough power to get her started. I comparison shopped and the price of this Black & Decker was the best bargain, too. Recommend it highly.

T. Dorau -when properly stored, what you complain about will never happen. A battery should -neverbe stored in sub-zero or near-freezing temperatures. Don't leave it in the garage!

This unit offers "quick" recharging (4 to 5 hours) from a 12V source or gradual recharging (12 to 24 hours) from an AC source.

The AC source may be left connected indefinitely (true "float" charging) which is a plus for a standby power source. The inclusion of the LED light source is very thoughtful on the part of the designer(s).

In addition to jump starting a car, this is a good choice for small household items (TV, Radio, Weather Alert Radio) or emergency communications equipment (CB, Ham Radio).

This product also appears in some stores under the "Husky" and "Vector" brand-names.