The Jump-N- Carry 12 Volt Jump Starter and Power Supply, No. JNC318, from Clore Automotive, combines jump starting power with numerous features designed to deliver utility and convenience. Features include PreHeat capability for improved performance in extremely cold temperatures, USB outlets to power small electronics, 12 V power supply capability and a high intensity LED worklight. With 700 peak amps and 330 start assist amps of starting power, the JNC318 can tackle a wide variety of starting tasks in numerous application environments, including automotive, marine, light truck, agricultural and fleet starting.
The Review:
The Clore Jump N Carry JNC318 Jump Starter supplies a convenient and powerful boost for everything from passenger vehicles to diesel trucks.
Lou Fort, lead technician and owner at K.A.R.S. Inc. in Huntington, Ind., found the unit handy for most of his quick power needs, even using it with an inverter used to power a laptop on extended road testing and to power his technicians’ iPhones. He appreciated that jump starter was easy to use and ready to go out of the box.
“A simple push of the status button is all that's needed when used as a power supply. Using the LED lamp of course requires one to push the lamp button,” says Fort.
He points out the packaging was also top-notch. “The 318 came in a very nice, side zippered, divided case inside a rather stylish cardboard box. The box is covered with information, pictures and list of contents.” The box also called attention to a repair service coupon to get the unit repaired or replaced post initial warranty period.
Fort adds, “I chuckled at the coupons statement ‘Simply return your JNC318 (or all it’s parts, properly and safely packaged’. Clore knows ‘oops’ happens and [they] are ok with that.”
The PreHeater was a standout feature for the K.A.R.S technicians. To test this function, Fort did a little experimenting. Note: The manual clearly instructs users to store the unit at a temperature above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
“At the time of testing the heater would indicate the unit was ready for use as soon as I turned it on, so I decided to play around and stuck it in the freezer overnight. As soon as it took it out I turned the heater on, it took just a few seconds to get a ‘Green’ light indicating it was ready to go.”
He attempted to jump start a vehicle as soon as the unit was removed from the freezer. “It didn’t have any problem doing so, and didn’t seem to make any difference between using or not using the ‘PreHeater’,” says Fort.
Two items Fort felt could be improved upon were the smart clamps, which he said could be difficult to get a good connection on side post terminals, and the “one-and-done” jump starts. “[After a jump], if the unit being jumped has a functioning charging system the led in the smart clamps will change ... to a flashing green. Once that happens you will not be able to get a second boost for the power pack until you reset, unhook and rehook, both of the clamps.” Fort concedes that the having backfeed protection is important to both safety and unit life.
Overall, Fort was impressed with the JNC318’s power capacity and performance.
“Just for fun I left the lamp on overnight; I made sure the 318 was at 100 percent charge prior, to see how much juice would be left in the morning. When I checked it some 11 hours later the status indicator was showing 92 percent ... and it still jumpstarted a 2011 Silverado that didn’t have enough juice to wake up the dash.”
Though he’s used similar products in the past, Fort notes this is the first unit he’s used that had a digital status display and connection indicator in the jump cables’ “magic box”.
Overall, Fort gave this product a nine out of ten.
“The JNC318 is proving to out jump my other packs. I would easily say it will do no less than double the jumps between charges. This of course will vary over time and the condition of equipment being jump started, but I am pleased.”
“The end result is the JNC318 saved the day,” says Fort.
