Hands-On: Husky’s Portable AC/DC Power System
By Chuck CageSummary/Conclusions
If you’re considering a portable jump start unit — and you should — Husky’s is one of the better ones we’ve seen. It’d be worth owning for the jump start functionality alone, but its extended feature set (inverter, 12V power, air compressor, area light) make it the ultimate unit to have in the trunk on a trip — or to carry with you if you think your car might have issues. You can air up a flat tire, jump start the car, or even plug your phone charger in to call for help.
Best of all, the Jumpstarter System retails for just $90 — well within the “gotta have soon” range.
Jumpstarter/Portable AC/DC Power System [Husky]
Street Pricing [Froogle]
November 1st, 2006 at 3:39 am
When considering a jumpstarter purchase, consider a few points:
1: How much capacity do you need / weight do you want? The “marketing number” seems to be inverter wattage, but the useful number is battery capacity, in amp-hours. A bare minimum for jumpstarting engines should be 12AH, and look for 20AH if the unit’s likely to be cold while you’re using it. (Lead-acid chemistry is *very* temperature-sensitive.) Don’t be fooled by a high-wattage inverter mated to an inadequate battery.
2: Is the battery treated properly? All the jumpstarter packs I checked out at Harbor Freight were discharged, and had probably been that way since they shipped from China. Lead-acid batteries are damaged if they sit for long with less than 80% charge, and anything below 20% for more than a few hours is just murder. Also, does the charger have any sort of regulation to prevent overcharging if you leave it plugged in?
3: Is the battery replaceable? Even treated right, lead-acids in this type of service are only good for 4 or 5 years. The inverter, clip leads, and case will probably last much longer. Make sure the battery is a standard size, and that you can change it without having to glue the unit back together when you’re done.
4: Are the accessories built to last? If you’re looking at a unit with an integral air compressor, make sure the hose is stored thoughtfully. Cramped corners and tight bends will kill cheap rubber hoses, and they’re often a pain to replace. The last thing you want is a bulky, expensive, heavy unit whose bulk, expense, and weight are due to a failed or otherwise useless compressor. Are the jumper cables long enough that if a clip hinge gives out, you can replace the clip and still have some useful length?
5: How are the ergonomics? As this review points out, having the clip leads stored on the unit itself can be nice. Xantrex opts for separate leads that plug in, which is great if you’re primarily using the unit as a portable inverter, but would quickly get annoying if you’re just starting a lot of cars. Personally I’ve always found that the built-in lights are somewhere between useless and hostile, because they invariably shine at my face, rather than my work. Until someone puts a gimballed light in one of these, I’ll opt for a separate flashlight, thanks. I saw one pack with an integrated charger, normally a handy feature, but you needed a special narrow-nosed extension cord to sneak in and plug the charger in. All the weight of a wallwart, all the bulk of an integrated charger, all the clutter of carrying a special cord!
6: What’s the recharge time like? My brother lives in Buffalo, where heavy snow on still-leafy trees recently knocked out power for over a week. (From his own backyard, he could see *several* tree-meets-wire altercations. Multiply across hundreds of square miles and it’s no wonder it took the utility a long time to restore service!) He was running a laptop, a cellphone, and a carbon monoxide detector from his power pack at night, then taking it with him to the office (on a different part of the power grid) to charge during the day. Obviously, the more power he could replenish in 8 hours, the better! If the unit’s AC charger is a wimpy 1A wall-wart, that’s only 8AH, and because of Peukert’s theorem, only about 6AH of that is usable. Charging straight from a high-amperage DC source (like a running car) can be much faster, but is harder on the battery.
November 1st, 2006 at 7:04 am
Great review! I have been looking for a decent portable air compressor and this might just do it for me.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:16 pm
I received one of these as a Christmas gift last year. We (my wife and I) are happy with the unit. I leave it in her Suburban “just in case”. I’ve brought it to jobsites that didn’t have electricity (great for a radio or a spotlight). I have even been able to use it to charge up my two battery system in my truck (24 volt system).
We’ve mostly used it to give other people jumpstarts. I recommend all husbands buy one of these (or a similar unit) for their wife’s car. They’re simple to operate and they hold a charge for a long time. Just don’t do it as an anniversary present, unless you include a really big box of chocolate.
November 1st, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Forgot to mention that the latch broke off in the first month we had it. Only complaint.
November 9th, 2006 at 5:41 pm
Owned a husky portable power system for about 18 months,finally used it for something other than battery power to run my c-pap, flat truck tire,,new, got to 30psi, timed out, cooled, ran again to near 40psi, sound of compressor suddenly changed, now runs but no air. I’ll let youknow what home depot does. Nice piece of equip to have the little compresor ruin all the good features. Hope they make it good?
December 29th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
Just bought one with a Home Depot gift card. One thing that was mentioned was that lead-acid batteries are damaged if they’re stored with less than 80% charge (point 2 in the first post). The manual advised to charge for 24 hrs before using, but I noticed right away when I plugged it in to charge, that the battery was full, so it seems these are shipping with enough of a charge to keep them “healthy” until you buy one. I hope this unit works as well as some of the reviews have said it does. I’ll report back if the compressor breaks.
March 24th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Can a jumpstarter unit like this also be used as a trickle charger if needed?
I want to get one of these Huskys, but right now I also have gate opener battery that needs a trickle charge on a setting of 12 volts dc and 2 amps or less. It would be great if this could do the job.
March 24th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
The chargers included with these packs, whether they’re external wall-warts or built-in, are generally unregulated. (The exception being Xantrex products, which are nicely overengineered.) Leaving any battery connected to an unregulated power supply will overcharge it. An occasional carefully controlled overcharge is an “equalizing charge” and is a good idea, but aside from that, disconnect the charger as soon as it’s done.
If you’re talking about walking out to the gate-opener with the Husky and clamping it on to transfer charge into the opener’s battery, that’ll work but it’ll never get the recipient battery up to 100% charge. Every few months, bring the opener battery into the house and connect it to a “12 volt” wallwart for a topping-off. Even so, spending most of its time at low state-of-charge will shorten the opener battery’s lifespan.
A much, much better option would be to get a small solar panel and a charge controller. If it’s shady there, you can even put the panel some distance from the opener, since the currents involved are so small the voltage drop in the connecting wires should be minimal. (18ga landscape-lighting cord is great in this application.) The charge controller is essential to keep the battery from overcharging, but once you’ve got it all hooked up, you should be set for years.
April 25th, 2007 at 3:09 am
This is my first- time blog entry (I’m totally new to blogs).
I found the Husky portable power system at my local homeDepot (I haven’t bought one yet - I’m on a budget).
This power system is much larger than any I’ve recently seen on the automotive market.
Husky doesn’t specify on its packaging how long a single charge lasts, for say powering a vehicle.
The tool blog which I’m commenting on doesn’t specify this either. Is there anyone who has further experience with this power unit, who has used it for longer durations?
I own a kiln (Its heat capacity rated at 2.900*F) that I haven’t used as yet since I bought it. Is the Husky portable power system strong enough to handle such an appliance?
Can the “Toolmonger” Blog answer this question?
January 12th, 2008 at 9:17 am
I unfortunately have two unusable power packs. I cannot use the first one I bought because the part that fits over the tire stem gets stuck on the stem. I was able to remove it with great difficulty. It ruined the stem on the tire. The second one I bought is also tough to get off. I cannot use it now because the latch handle that locks it on the stem broke. I have had to go back to use my 20 year old portable Campbell-Hausfield compressor when I need air. What a disappointment.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 am
HY I BUY HUSKY PORTABLE AC/DC POWER SYSTEM AND I TRY TE GET THE WARRANTY WATH I HAS TO DO TO GET THAT WARRANTY
EMAIL ME IT HAS THE SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM TANKS
CEJAUTO@HOTMAIL.COM
April 18th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
anyone know how to replace the battery on this Husky ? It ’s well built and cleverly engineered, but I can’t figure out how to open, and replace battery. The instruction book recomends taking into into the shop, but Husky now owned by B&D, who no longer makes this model and will not fix it. this machine is a quality pieces of equipment a shame to throw it out .
June 16th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Best bet is Batteries Plus, they usually can match or offer a sub.
http://www.batteriesplus.com/
They may have already did such a replacement and could help.
June 16th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
For John Conant
Had the same problem, just purchase an extended stem which are longer at the top and it will work fine. It will thread onto your existing steam. Autozone or one of the others and they are cheep.
July 29th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
We bought the Husky portable AC/DC power system. It’s smoking when you use the compressor(burning wire smell). According to Husky website, they do not have a model HSK037…Home Depot says I have to bring it in and they’ll send out for repair. 800# says take to store and they’ll replace. No # found to speak to Husky directly. Suggestions? Have others had this problem?
September 10th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
I have enjoyed using my HSK038 Portable POwer System unit, the 3 or 4 time since I purchased it a year ago. Great AC/DC system, area light, jump start, and once or twice as tire inflator. However, the compressor/inflator unit now refuses to work; no power, sound, pressure on guage, or output occuring, I will endeavor to reach the HUSKY POWER PRODUCTS toll-free PH nbr.(800) 916-7004 tomorrow (9/12/08). I like the unit, but am troubled that the compressor has malfunctioned at this point. (I can’t locate the fuses referred to in the owner’s manual). Anyone have any ideas pertaining to my query? Thanks. Reid
September 30th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
It looks like the compresser is the weak link. Mine mysteriously stopped working alltogether about a month ago, then when I brought it in from the garage to get the S/N etc, to give Husky/Home Depot a call, it fired right up. I supposed it could have been cold, but it’s summer here and my garage hasn’t dipped below 70 degrees.
It also seems that from an 120V outlet will stop powering some devices when the votage meter gets down to around 11.
Other than that, it’s a nice unit.
October 1st, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Hey all. I’ve a question. Has anyone just lost the ability to check the charge using the button? I noticed it wasn’t lighting up when it was charging (as it should do) then realized once it was charged, that I couldn’t check the charge level….nothing lights when I press the button. Anyone else have that problem?
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:04 am
[...] two years ago we talked about Husky’s portable AC/DC power system. We’ve aired up a ball or bicycle tire with it here and there, but it largely remained stowed [...]
October 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I used the compressor for the first time today and i was able to only inflate one small tire before i heard the compressor just run and not pumping. I heard something rattling around in the casing and found out after taking it apart that the pin that is on the motor came loose from the pump so i replaced the pin and works fine now. only proble is, is how do you keep the pin from falling out again ???
November 1st, 2008 at 4:10 am
Purchased HSK037 from Home Depot in Dec 05 - compressor does not work - clicking sound when Compressor switch “ON” - all other functions OK. Is there a simple fix?
December 29th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I am looking to purchase several units of Husky portable power supply and I like to find out the best price you can offer.
Cliff Chatelain
917-494-9048
February 14th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
[...] user reviews here and here are mostly glowing, except for the person who noted that the air compressor part was wimpy in his [...]
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I own a Towing Company, use jump boxes ALOT! Love the Huskys the most as they are definetely the longest lasting. My problem? I need two more and Home Depot says they don’t carry them any more. I’ve looked everywhere and online and I can’t seem to locate a dealer that sells them. HELP!
May 2nd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
This husky jumpstarter is a good basic unit have not had any real problems with it,have not used compressor much, use a small air compressor to check tires, jumpstarter works well good power to start dead batteries, power inverter works but the internal battery is small to run tools for long time. I really like this tool for any one , to bad they do not sell it any more. Tom
May 11th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Mine has a dead(ish) battery after about 5 years. It won’t even trip the solenoid on a vehicle anymore, but might run the inverter for an hour or so… I started several cars with it when it was young, it worked fine. The battery that will fit is a UB12180, about $33 delivered from Buy.com I like this unit so I’m going to put a new battery in it. 18AH vs 19 that was in it. A UB12220 will also fit, but costs more than 2x as much. There are LOTS of screws to take out, some under stickers, etc, so take it all apart, inspect for more screws, take more out, etc, etc… But it will come apart easily once you find them all… Should make it like new again for another 5 years. I’m going to refrigerate it after I charge it this time, since I only take it camping maybe 5 times a year. Might last 7 years that way. Took me a while to find a battery to fit, but it is a standard size. Measure the battery near the top of the case (it is tapered) and you’ll see it matches a bunch of replacements… Must be a sealed battery.
Kathy Gean - xantrex has a nice one at Blain’s Farm & Fleet on sale for about $80… Actually I think it’s a duracell powerpack 450 (made by xantrex). Looks really nice & has same features, plus xantrex is a great brand, but I thought I’d stay with the Husky once I replace the battery. I don’t see it online, but if you have a store nearby, it’s black with orange handles, and that would be a great price if you can find one.
May 25th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
Have a Husky AC/DC Power Supply and compressor. Everything works great except air compressor. You can hear the compressor motor run but no air. Took it apart and found that it has a cheap made plastic cog that is stripped. Anyone know where I can order the part?
July 27th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
I have had this Husky for a couple of years and not used it often. Tried to use it again one time and battery would not charge. Anyone know where I might find a schematic for this unit? Or someone who might already know how to replace the battery?
September 28th, 2009 at 11:57 am
I have a Husky portable ac/dc unit with air inflator… Used the air inflator once, now it does not work. When using more air comes out of tire then goes in tire……. Home depot no longer carries this brand… What do I do ????
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:54 am
Where can I buy the husky portable AC/DC.? I´m from Mexico city
December 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
My HSK-037 wont charge. I hook the extension cord up and it won’t do anything. Anyone know about a fuse or something that I can check to get it to charge?? It’s a great unit, but I’ve only used it a few times. It would be a shame to have to trash it. It’s still “brand new”. And yes I know batteries don’t last forever… but it shouldn’t be the battery. Help please!!!!
December 9th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
By the way…. it won’t charge with the DC charger either
January 4th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Chris, it’s possible that the transformer inside of the unit is either unplugged or bad. If you take apart the unit, you’ll see that the “AC” in is just a small wall transformer strapped to the plastic on the inside of the case.
I just opened mine to replace the battery, based off of the info from Michael D Smith’s post above. I used a UB12180 battery as he had stated, and it works great.
Just a side note, it is a REAL pain to take these apart. There is at least one screw under a label. There are no screws under the aluminum/metal panel labels, only under the cheap black paper labels on the bottom. (At least on mine.) It is also not strictly necessary to remove all of the screws on the back of the red plastic section. Some of the screws around the hose and jumper cables hold down plastic locks which prevent the cables from being yanked out of the housing. Depending on the amount of slack they left in the interior at the factory, it’s possible to replace the battery without completely removing the screws. Of course, it’ll make your life a little easier if you loosen them a bit.
Regarding the compressor. Well, just looking at it, you can tell that it’s meant to be a household / infrequent use compressor. It’s definitely not something that I’d rely on as part of a business. (i.e. tow truck flat tire refills, tire service, etc.)
If your compressor fails, either leave it in there dead, or open the unit and remove it to take some of the weight out of the pack. You can get a compressor of similar quality at your local chain superstore for around $10-15, and just plug it into the front panel. (Cigarette lighter adapter)