Customer Reviews

Cobra CJIC 350 500 Amp Portable Jump-Start/Air Compressor with A/C and D/C Power Outlets

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

This the Big Mack Daddy for sure! I was weary after looking at many many choices, but finally chose this one because of features and reviews - hoping I wouldn't be disappointed when it arrived. And I wasn't! I didn't have the ON/OFF switch on the jumpstarter on previous units, and really like this feature. You can hook up the cables on your battery, and get a confirmation that the cables are connected correctly (LED lights) without any power on the cables - then switch on the power after you're sure all is connected correctly. And the unit has plenty of power to start any but the largest of engines. The built-in LED light is powerful and lights everything under the hood or around the car. The unit is also perfect for usage in the home during storms/power outages with an inverter to power small AC appliances, as well as a DC outlet, and a USB outlet as well. With an AC power strip and a multi-port DC splitter you can power (or charge) several units at once.

Features:

1. USB power port
2. USB power indicator
3. USB/LED power switch
4. Charging indicator
5. Charging Jack
6. Battery level indicators
7. Battery level test button
8. Battery connection (correct hook-up) indicator light
9. Reverse polarity indicator light
10. 120 volt AC power on/off switch
11. 120 volt socket w/cover
12. LED work light
13. 12 volt DC socket w/cover
14. Jump start power on/off switch
15. Red positive battery clamp
16. Black negative battery clamp
17. Carry handle
18. 15 amp fuse
19. Air compressor gauge
20. Air compressor on/off switch
21. Air compressor hose compartment (with actually lots of space for a change)
22. 260 PSI air compressor
23. Nozzles for air compressor
24. 120 volt AC charging adapter (to recharge the unit)
25. Owner's operating manual

I need a new auto battery, but for several reasons I'm not ready to buy one just yet. My car needs a jump start almost every day I want to use it, and I can't depend on my husband's car being always available. I decided to invest in a Cobra CJIC 350 Jumpstarter Powerpack because I can use it to start the car, take it with me as backup, and because its many uses made it seem like a valuable item to have in a disaster or other emergency. I did a lot of research, and this product has the power, functions and price that most appealed to me. But there was only one short review that wasn't specific... I took a chance anyway and bought it.

I'm delighted to report that it functions exactly as described by the manufacturer. I've tested all the functions listed in the product description. All performed as advertised.

When it arrived in the box it was almost fully charged already. I plugged it into household electricity and it reached capacity charge in less than 1/2 hour. After I tested it by jumpstarting my car(V6), plugging various appliances into it, using the light, etc., I charged it to capacity again in less than 15 minutes.

In the two weeks since I charged it last, I've inflated all four tires from 25 to 30 psi, and jumpstarted the car 9 times, and it STILL isn't even 1/4 down from a full charge! Do I love this Cobra? Oh yeah.

I purchased the unit partly to take around in the car, mostly for portable emergency power on long trips through wide open country, partly for portable convenience power when traveling by car, and partly for in-house emergency power (in case a storm knocks out the power.) It takes 24-30 hours plugged into a wall outlet to completely charge the unit from an "empty" state. (The charger is a separate power brick, so be sure to take it along if you're on a road trip and need to recharge.) At first, when not in use, it held that "full" charge for about two weeks. The auto power port (formerly known as a cigarette lighter), USB power power (good for charging an iPod or similar device), and 3-pronged 120 VAC outlet (for running just about any normal household device) all worked fine and could run various low to medium powered appliances for several hours from a full charge. The the built-in air compressor is handy for re-inflating tires that are low. Haven't actually tried the built-in jumper cables on a car with a dead battery yet. The built-in LED light is handy for using the device in the dark, but the unit's far too heavy to be used as a common flashlight.

After just two months (with no actual use beyond initial try-out), the unit can no longer hold a full charge for 24 hours when not in use. After charging for a full day, the power now tests "low" after only 12 hours of non-use, and "empty" after two days. The only way it can be used as emergency power is if it's kept continuously connected to charging power (120v wall outlet.) It's not much use packing it around in the car anymore; even if it was fully charged in the morning, by dusk it will be "low" and it won't power anything for long.

I consider this purchase a complete waste of my money.

Eve did a wonderful reveiw so I will just add where I can see some points to help someone .

First you always get what you pay for . This is not as good for starting cars as the Jump and Carry but its great for the average person in average circumstances . For one thing the cables are very short and mine came with a newer 900 peak amp starting rating . Anyone else not have the 1800 sticker on the front ?

I also noticed mine has a 14 amp sealed lead acid battery its not a AGM like the jump and carry which is 18 amp . This one has a small reserve battery too

One of the most important features of this unit is you can leave it plugged in and it has overcharge protection in it's power cord . Thats a deal maker .

The air pump isnt a Viair 70p it takes 5-10 minutes to top of a tire , vibrates with moving parts , very loud , but it works and would help you fix a flat on the car if you have a tire plug kit and a pair of pliars to take out a nail or screw from tread

There is room in the back where the hose for the tire pump is to put the charger / a plug kit / the two inflator nozzles and I can see where the door might not always remain closed in time so also a small roll of tape to tape it shut .

The set up is very nice and well thought out . I had thought it was a larger battery and hoped it was more advanced but this is good . Its old tech and thus thats why the reasonable price . I will add on later on wear tear and how it works . However I figure I pretty much know . If it runs my laptop for 4 hours between charges I will be happy .

I was suprised this unit does not come with a DC charging cord . I thought if you bought a line with two male ends on your own it would charge that way but there were no references to this . I did see a reference to using DC and found my old chargers one worked but no other info on where to buy one from Cobra . I was dissapointed but not a deal break for me I just have to share the one I have between two units now . I also have a generator for campling / power outages so whenever I run it I will also charge the this up its a niche tool so you not have to use jumpers or a generator for small things . Very nice unit for personal all around use . If you want to jump dead cars more then have a storm / car utillity tool buy the Jump and Carry where you can replace the batteries too and get a lifetime warranty for battery replacement onetime . This one ..when the battery dies or sulfates so the charge time is less and less you just toss in the trash .

I would recomend it to everyone ..it should be in every car and thus home when you are for when the power goes out . I am disabled and wouldnt think of not having one . I run a 12 volt fan when camping/ power outages with it and the light is nice too .Perfect for filling bike / lawnmore tires over getting out the compressor.

However for people really into starting cars and filling large tires and infatables buy the 660 jump and carry with a Viair portable `12 volt pump .. it may cost more but you will be amazed its 4 times the power and air volume . Instead of 40 minutes with rest periods to do the tires you will fill them in 10 . Current cost though would be about $100 more then this set up . This is perfect for a passanger vehicle in all but the worst weather with a weak battery or if you fill smaller items then 32 inch tires regularily . Take care .

I just came back mine is still doing well I leave it pluged in all the time and dont use the DC cord much because remember the overcharge protector is in the adapter . Used it several times the past winter to jump my car as I am disabled and it discharges the battery often if I don't get a good connection with my trickle charger and I use it to fill the tires on the lawn mower , cars and fill up small play items like basketballs with its adapters . I also have used the lamp and inverter it can power my laptop with a digital antenae for a few hours easily . Great for the kids room with a LCD night light who you don't want to use candles in a outage . Will power a 1 watt night light for days on a full charge but it has a 4 watt inside it . I think this is a must have for camping and the storm survival kit . Money is best spent on a generator for power emergenc power supply .

Got it, charged it. Says the battery is full. The light on the front and the compressor seem to work. But I tried to start my lawn tractor with it, and absolutely no juice. The indicator says it is hooked up properly, but it doesn't look like any current is coming out of the jumper cables. Even the headlights on the tractor didn't get any brighter when I hooked up the unit. So I charged the tractor battery for 15 minutes with a speed charger, and it turns right over. So even with a partial charge in the battery, this thing couldn't start a little lawn tractor. I guess I won't bother with the car.

Oh, and their tech support is not toll free, so you get to call and be on hold for long distance charges.
Enjoy.

Here's a little bit of physics, including -near the end- how to use the "cranking amps" and the "amp hour" numbers (I found them elsewhere for this jumpstarter) to estimate how well and long it will ideally work on one charge.

Doing a bit of googling, this Cobra CJIC 350 generates 500 cranking Amps - which is the standard measurement unit for comparing car starting strength and it tells us it will start most cars just fine, though there are other 500 amp units for 2/3 the price here - though without the inverter (they've got separate $15 DC to AC inverters here, but much less than 400W). My '97 Taurus (bought new and still good!) has specs that say it needs "540 cranking amps", but I've started it when the original battery finally failed and did the same for a number of similar cars over the years -and the 201 HP V6 engine on my boat- with a 400 cranking-amps jumpstarter with no problem. That 10 year old 400 cranking amps "Prestone Jumpit" won't hold a charge anymore, so I'm looking for a replacement at least as strong.

Cranking amps are measured at 32F and they are what the battery can generate for 30 straight seconds. The 900 peak amps the title despicably tricks us with are the current's peak that occurs during, perhaps, a split second so it has no useful meaning - expect to fool us, so many manufacturer give us that inflated number to sound impressive.

I have no idea what to make out of "1800 watts"". I taught physics for three decades, so believe me: Watts = Amps x Voltage. During cranking, the voltage of the battery may fall to 7.2V. Even so, 1800W = Amps x 7.2V, where Amps works out to only 250! So the 1800W must be the current generated under, perhaps, long term conditions. But the amps alone don't tell us how long the battery will last. It's like telling us "The water's running out of the bucket at 1 gallon per minute." That wouldn't tell us how big the bucket is.

What responsible manufactures tell us, in addition to the cranking amps, is "Amp hours." They are, roughly, a relative measure of the total energy if you're comparing batteries of the same voltage (12.6V for all normal "12V" jumpstarters). According to costcentral.com's listing, this battery is 14 amp-hours. That's not bad, but the Wagan EL2544, sold here for $60+, also has 500 cranking amps and 14 Amp-hours. If you multiply the amps times the voltage (12.6 on avg.) you get 176 Amp.volt-hours or, since watt = amp.volt, 176 Watt-hours of total energy in the battery.

This allows us to figure out how long this battery can try to start a car or run an appliance. If we have to crank for half a minute to generate 500 amps at 7.2 cranking volts for 30 seconds, we 500 x 7.2 x 30 x 1hr/3600 seconds = 30 watt hours. So we'd have used up about 1/6 of the maximum.

On the other hand, if we run a string of 5 14W CFL (60W equiv) light bulbs for an hour. that's 14W x 1hr = 14 watt hours and we'd still have over 90% of the energy left.

So what about the 400W claim for the inverter? A watt's a watt's and 60 x 176/400 = 26 min worth of battery. If you have some tool, etc, that needs so many watts and you only need it for a short time, that would be worth it, because the $15-$20 inverters sold separately often only go up to about 150W. Something near 150W would wear out the batter in 60 x 176/150W = 70 min.

For me, I don't need 400W and I could see using some power tools or a 100W worth of light for a little over an hour. So I think I'm going to purchase a 150W/110VAC inverter separately: It can normally be used right in the car's own cig. lighter socket for items under 8 amps without blowing the fuse.

In reality, the efficiency of the battery is always a little under 100% and the rate at which it's drained will vary (much higher when turning on the lights and periods of varying voltage (between 7-12)while starting cars = more energy burned). So these calculations are rough guides. Additionally, the battery's ability to hold a charge diminishes over time and severe drains can affect that considerably.

All-in-all, it's not a bad combination with that powerful "400-Watt/110-Volt AC Outlet". The question is: do you want it all-in-one?"

This is a good system for backup of battery power, or air compressor needs. If you trailer your boat, jump start or air tires when needed and fits in the Center Console and most storage areas.

I got this item today from Amazon. The AC receptacle does not work. Well, guess what? Due to the fact that it has a battery (a hazardous item) you cannot return it. It is all right for them to ship it but you can't return it. What kind of crap is that? BUYER BEWARE! You are on your own here! If you buy a charger from Amazon the warranty is useless. A disgusted customer!

I bought the Cobra 900 amp about 3 months ago after reviewing a sea of choices. I recieved the unit within 3 or 4 days from the time of purchase. It fully charged within an hour. I used it to jump start a large generator several times, and a friend's vehicle several times. I have used the air pump to put air in my lawnmower's tires and also my Ford dually. Also, used the invertor feature to plug in my laptop. After almost 3 months a brought it in from my truck the other day assuming it must need a charge by now, however it was still fully charged. I keep it in my truck and it seems unaffected by the cold weather at night, some nights in the teens. The compartment that holds the air compressor hose is spacious enough to put the ac charger. Severl years ago i bought a similar unit from the Herrington Catalog and spent $165.00 as opposed to the Cobra $95.00. The jaw of the battery jumper broke so i sent it back. Got the new one and the same thing happened, the jaw of the jumper broke, so i got disguted and tossed it out. I think the garbage pick up guy now has it.
Anyway, i highly recommend the Cobra a very impressive and compact unit.

This is a really handy unit to have around. Used to jumpstart our large van when the battery gets low, it works great. My only comment is that the cables to the clamps are a bit short, but that's not a huge problem. Haven't had an opportunity to use the air compressor yet, but it's nice to know it's there.