Cal-Van Tools Allstart 555 Pro Pac Jump Starter [Camo] with AC Inverter, Multi-Position Light, 4 Gauge Cables, Copper Clamps, Battery Status Indicator. Automotive Accessories,One Size

After receiving this unit and charging it fully, I tested this with my Toyota Tundra V8.This engine has a 2 kilowatt starter motor and may require 150 - 350 amps at starting, depending on the temperature and engine condition. Toyota recommends a battery capable of 710 cold cranking amps.On a cold morning, around 30 degrees F, I deliberately drained the truck battery and was able to start the engine 5 times in a row with just the Allstart 555. This is exactly the capability I was looking for since I often travel into remote backcountry where no one may be around for a jump start.The unit is designed well, although I have a minor quibble: It needs to stand upright. If you lay it down, you will be resting it on either the buttons on one side, or the inverter box on the other, neither of which is likely to be good for it in a bouncing truck. So I have to find some kind of deep cardboard box in which the unit can be stored in the truck while resting upright in its base and without becoming a magnet for theft. Don't throw away the packaging materials until you find a solution!I have not tested the inverter in the field yet.Customer service was very good, providing me with a PDF copy of the user manual which I can download to my phone. In response to my question, they also recommended against using this unit to maintain battery charge over a long period of time. Quote:...the jump starter, in function really, only activates its peak amps under load or when the car is cranked. There is a little bit that will flow into the battery and is why some people like to have it hooked to the battery for a couple mins before trying the start, but a charger and jump starter are completely different. I would recommend a trickle charger or maintainer for your needs.

See bottom for the new review on my SECOND starter! NEW!!! UPDATE!!! 8-19-14 (1-24-2015 See last update at the bottom!)(This is my older review, of the one that actually works!)While I haven't actually used this product yet in a real world scenario, I have charged it up and tested it, and from what I have seen, it appears to be something that all that have already bought says it to be. I tested this by running a DC fan and a USB charger. The battery jumper I have not tested.It appears to be made solid, of course, there's a heavy (not too heavy though) battery inside that contributes to the ruggedness/heftiness of it. All of the gauges seem to work fineThe light, which is NOT a LED bulb, is bright enough for an emergency, I'd expect. The light claims to be positionable, and it is, but only a VERY SLIGHT distance, AND, it will not stay in that position, you would have to hold it there, which is really odd to me. That's not a really bad thing though, you could easily move the box itself so that the light is where you need it.The bulb not being a LED though, that is very strange in this day and time, there may be a fix by using a bulb replacement that is a LED, many companies have them, I just have not checked that out yet. In a unit like this where ALL of the power is a precious commodity, you'd think that'd be one of the number one things they'd do in the design stages. Actually, there are not many of these boxes from other makers that have them though, maybe only the high-dollar ones have the LED.Also, from what I read before purchasing, this unit is the exact same as the Allstart Marine Jump Starter, it's just in a different color. (It makes it sound like it's weather-proof or something) I bring this up really so that people that read the reviews know that while this camouflage unit gets almost a perfect score, the BLUE Marine unit does not, oddly enough, so read carefully if you are on the fence about either one. I may be completely wrong on this too, I have only read that these two are identical inside, I have not done any scientific tests or done the research myself, but you can if you are interested, I am only bringing it up in case it matters.As soon as I have some use from it, I'll come back and give a review on that, until then, this is all I can really do.The reason I give this unit only 4 stars is that it hasn't been tested in a real-life situation yet, other than that, there is no reason, I'd give it a 5 star rating.NEW!!! UPDATE!!! 8-19-14NEW!!! UPDATE!!! 8-19-14I bought ANOTHER one!Too bad though, I liked the first one fine, but this second one I bought, it came in a box that was not packed well at all, and was possibly damaged en route. So while I may be happy with the first one, I am NOT HAPPY at all with the second, tomorrow I will make the necessary calls/e-mails to both Amazon and Cal-Van. Since you can't return what you just bought from Amazon, you have to return the product to the seller, which is Cal-Van. Some stupid stuff about Amazon can't receive flammable or gaseous stuff... Oh, wait, like what they just sold me? I double-checked too, this comes 'from Amazon', not Cal-Van, Amazon shows this very plainly. They can ship out flammable and gaseous merchandise, but they can't have it returned... Crazy!Anyway, what happened is, when I plugged it in, there is a high-pitched noise that will drive you crazy, the kind that a bad power strip will make when it goes bad. This is definitely coming from the inverter too, you can flip off the switch and the noise stops.The help light comes on, and I would imagine this may actually charge too, but I don't want this if the inverter doesn't work, so it'll go back.Let me make this clear, I am not sure who's at fault here, if it's shoddy workmanship in the making of it, or the shipper (Amazon) who had someone that doesn't know, or care, how to pack a box with something that really needs it, and that weighs 25lbs.. It came in a box from the manufacturer, and that box was placed inside a larger box that doesn't fit the original box perfectly, so they need to add packing around it. They kind of did, there was a wrinkled piece of brown packing paper laying on top of the box, not helping a thing at all. The empty space that could've used some packing to help keep it from sliding all over, it had nothing. So, the entire box actually was too small, and the packing was just plain stupid. Any person that had a half a brain would know that this wouldn't help, using a little piece of paper to cush the shipping? That person needs to get some real training, then fired... I say, "fired" because this person knew, and didn't care, anyone would know not to let a box go out the way this one went out.To say I am disappointed is an understatement. This was either never tested at the plant it was made, or Amazon and the 'super shipper' that placed this in a shipping box didn't do their job and it was damaged on the way to my house.I will definitely let you all know what happens on this deal, I don't want anyone else to have to go through this unnecessarily. If Cal-Van comes through like I have read that they will, I will come back and let you know how that went.NEW!!! UPDATE!!! 8-19-14NEW!!! UPDATE!!! 8-19-14_________________________________________________________________________________________________________UPDATE! 8-26-14!!!I now have my replacement, it works!I had to call Van-Tools and they replaced it with NO PROBLEM at all! I traded my DOA one for a new one in a box from them, all I had to do was carry it out to the UPS driver, I had them make it to where I didn't have to go anywhere, they drove to my house. It may not be Cal-Van's fault, but it was not my fault that is was DOA, so I don't feel that I should be put out due to one of the business's fault, They chose Amazon to deliver, so they need to take it up with them. I'm not being evil here, :) I just mean, Cal-Van has a LOT better chance of changing Amazon more than I would. Anyway, I am now officially happy!Van-Tools treated me good, they did what is right, so the 2 STARS that I left is not about them, it's about the shoddy way that Amazon packed the box.One thing though, IF you do buy this charger and it is DOA or something goes wrong, it's is TRUE that you cannot get a refund, OR, you cannot ship it back to AMAZON, they will NOT take it, it says that on the front page of this charger. So be sure you want this, and that you are willing to do that, otherwise you will possibly end up like me, or a few other people. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE this thing, and only had a good experience the first order, it was the second order that screwed me. I came out fine though, and all's well.UPDATE! 8-26-14!!!Last One!1-24-20151-24-2015I wanted to say that this thing really works, and that I have used it camping and to also start my truck several times. My battery goes dead after so long because of my old burglar alarm, it actually drains the battery. I rarely drive it, it's an old 1989 GMC truck, I bought it new, and I still use it to camp in, but my truck has that battery problem thing... Anyway, I alternate which one of these that I use, and they both appear to be fine, I used it for my laptop, my tablet, LED lights that I use for camping, and one time last week our power went off at 1:00am, we used it for a fan. So far, I can't say enough good about these, I am sure there are some that have problems like anything, but if you get a good one, it can save you.The only reason I would come back for ANOTHER Update is if it breaks or something unforeseen happens, hopefully you will not hear from me... :)Last One!1-24-20151-24-2015

Great little unit! Works as advertised and one of the only units that i was able to find in this price range with these abilities that allowed DC chargeability (which means i can charge it from a properly regulated solar panel setup). the only pitfall is that you can overcharge the battery this way so an amp controller is required (they cost anywhere from $10-$25). I had some condition issues with the original unit i received and so i opted to exchange with the seller (Amazon does not accept returns for items that can be combustible or something like that so returns are done through the Cal Vans Tools company. They were very helpful and responsive and helped troubleshoot over the phone before emailing a shipping label (that they paid for!) allowing me to exchange the item with pretty much no questions asked. I received a new unit a few days later and the rest is portable powered history! The unit works great for multiple day trips when being used to charge laptops, cellphones, music things, flashlights, LED shoes, headlamps, lanterns, blower fans (for inflating stuff) and i've never had power issues. I generally charge for approx 12-24hrs before a trip (the unit has an auto charge shutoff when using AC so no risk of overcharging) to be on the safe side and I've yet to have any problems. I haven't had the need to jump a car quite yet but I'm ready! for some reason the camo version gets consistently better reviews than the blue 555 unit so they may either be shipping from another warehouse, could be older units or possibly produced at a different facility than the camo version but be warned and do your research!

The unit itself is nice. I have the exact same unit before and it lasted several years. when the pro pack arrived I charged the unit overnight and followed the instructions for initial charging. The unit will not hold a full charge at all which means the battery in it is old or used. Very disappointed and have a heavy paperweight that is useless now. Will not try and order this unit again.