Winter time = battery problem time

I even managed to invent a new word in the headline, who doesn’t know the battery problem time 😅

Seriously, we drive a 1987 Mercedes and it can happen that it is parked for a long time and the battery doesn’t always have its full power. But when I take a look at various Californians, it seems to be an issue there too. Especially when campervans are parked without a shore power connection, there is often a rude awakening, at the latest in spring.

Most take care of the body battery and protect it from deep discharge by using the battery isolator switch to disconnect the battery from the vehicle. This has the advantage that definitely no consumers can draw power from the battery. If you have not ordered the optional disconnector, the only option is to physically disconnect the battery. If you don’t do this and the vehicle sits for a few weeks, the disappointment is all the greater when the car won’t start.

Gadget Noco Boost HD starter power bank

Now you’re standing in front of your Grand California and nothing works… now there are two quick options: 1. you have a starter cable and another car with you to get the engine to start after all or 2. you use an ingenious starter power bank from Noco.

You’re probably familiar with power banks for charging your smartphone. The principle of the Noco Boost HD is the same. However, depending on the version, the Noco HD is capable of starting petrol and diesel engines with a displacement of up to 9.0 and 7.0 liters respectively.

The Noco power banks are available in twelve versions, the main difference is always the maximum output current. The range extends from 500 – 6250 amperes. We opted for the GB70 model with a maximum amperage of 2000 amps. Up to 40 starts can be carried out with one power bank charge.

Now you are wondering why the GB70 model with 2000 amps and not, for example, the GB20 with 500 amps. That’s a really good question and there’s a really good answer to it:

The Grand California has a 2.0 liter diesel engine and it needs a lot of power to start. Sounds kind of crazy at first, but it is a real feat of strength for a battery to start a diesel engine.

This is mainly due to the engine technology; a diesel engine does not have spark plugs but glow plugs. These glow plugs must be preheated to a certain temperature each time the engine is started, and this process consumes electricity. The engine in the Grand Calfornia is a 4-cylinder and has 4 glow plugs. Each glow plug requires around 10 amps of current during the starting process. If you add up all the glow plugs, the current required for the plugs alone is 40 amps. If you’re thinking 💭, wow, that’s a lot, wait and see, because the real feat of strength is performed by the starter motor. This “small” engine turns the “large” engine of the Cali and thus ensures the required initial piston movement within the engine block. It always depends on the exact starter motor, but we can assume a good 400 amps here. This gives us a required current of at least 440 amps for ONE starting process. And that’s not even taking the rest into account: when it’s dark, the dipped headlights come on or the radio switches on with the ignition. As you can see, a lot really comes together.

That’s why we opted for the 2000 amp version, so that we always have enough power reserves. But perhaps the above list illustrates why it is so important that the starter battery is always fully charged and in good condition.

Our Noco is always on board and can be a real lifesaver if the worst comes to the worst, provided the power bank is charged. It is charged either via micro USB (power adapter not included) or via the car’s cigarette lighter. The latter is a really practical solution for on the go. We check the charge of our Noco Powerbank at regular intervals. If the charge drops below 50 percent, we simply recharge it while driving and can be sure that we always have an independent jump-start with us.

Technical data Noco Boost HD GB70

Battery type Lithium Ion
Maximum current 2000A
Capacity 56Wh
Operating temperature -30 – +50 degrees
Charging temperature 0 – + 40 degrees
Storage temperature -20 – + 50 degrees
IP65 protection when all charging sockets are closed
Charging via Micro USB, 5V, 2.1A
1x USB A 5V, 2.1A for charging a smartphone, for example
LED flashlight with 400 lumens
Weight 2.2 kilogram

Finally, let’s talk about the price and why the GB70 is worth its price. A power bank that you use for your smartphone is usually available for around 20 euros. But a starter power bank has to do something completely different. As I described above, it must be ensured that the high currents required for the starting process can be supplied by the power bank. These requirements are therefore very different from those for charging a smartphone.

Noco’s workmanship is second to none, and all systems have an Ultra Safe Start. This ensures that the starter terminals can be connected to the battery without sparking, for example. Accidental polarity reversal is also excluded or prevented with this function.

The GB70 is priced at 200 euros, while the largest model from Noco with 6250 amps is priced at 2000 euros. However, the GB500+ certainly appeals to customers from other sectors. The GB500+ can be used to start diesel engines with a displacement of over 45 liters 😄

Butter with the fish, Noco Powerbanks are of course available from Jeff. If you like the report and want to support us, please use our Amazon affiliate link and treat us to the commission.