Harnessing the Power of Lithium: NOCO Boost Pro GB150
John Chodkiewicz 04.16.21
Can a NOCO Boost Pro GB150 Save the Day?
It was a cold wet Friday evening. Thick clouds billowed overhead and darkness was settling in. I was in a hurry and the cows were getting hungry. That’s when it happened. I turned the key on the tractor but it couldn’t roar to life. All I heard was the dreaded solinoid click. The battery just didn’t have what it took anymore. A weak battery can instantly turn a good day bad, but with a NOCO Boost Pro GB150 it doesn’t have to be that way.
Put to the Test
When I first pulled the NOCO Boost Pro GB150 out of the box I just had to put it to the test. Enter my old F600 dumptruck. The old truck battery was totally dead. I had to hold the red bypass button down on the GB150 for a few seconds (per the instructions for a battery under 2 volts, that’s right, the battery had less than 2 volts). Once the GB150 went into override mode I hopped into the driver’s seat, turned the key, and just like that the old engine was roaring to life. I was impressed.
Why Pay the Premium for Lithium?
Weighing mine out to only six pounds, the NOCO Boost Pro GB150 comes in at less than half the size and half the weight of its old lead acid counterpart. The lithium based GB150 also offers less voltage drop under heavy load, spinning the engine over noticably faster in hard starting conditions. Considered a low self discharge chemistry, the GB150 does not require constant topping off to keep at a full state of charge like lead acid boosters do. Like any lithium battery though, the GB150 did loose a little power for me when it got cold. This was not a deal breaker to me, but this weakness should be planned around. To manage pack temp I keep my GB150 in the cab while driving, or in the warm shop overnight during cold weather.
Extras and Features
The NOCO Boost Pro GB150 comes with a decent built in light. Output is up to 500 lumens according to the manual, and thow is a useable wide flood pattern. A built in USB charge port is included to keep devices topped up while on the go. Recharging is accomplished through a regular micro USB port, the same found on many phone chargers. The GB150 does offer fast charging using a 12 volt charge port, but I’ve never used the feature. The GB150 can jump start several vehicles on a single charge and has never put me in a position where I needed fast charging between uses.
A Cold Weather Trick
One of my favorite, somewhat off label, uses for the NOCO Boost Pro GB150 saving on starting fluid. In the cold of winter, even with a fully charged battery, the temperatures can slow cranking speed enough that the old mechanical diesels can’t pop off without a little help. By adding extra cranking speed from the GB150, I get all the extra help i need from electrons instead of starting fluid on all but the coldest of days.
The Pros and Cons of the NOCO Boost Pro GB150
Pros
- Compact and light weight
- Effective built in light
- Very powerful
- Micro USB input charging
- USB and 12 volt power output
- 12 volt fast charge option
- Cables, clamps, and general build quality
- Easy to use
- Built in volt meter
- Low self discharge chemistry
- Faster cranking speeds for easier starts
- Start several vehicles on a single charge
Cons
- Does loose power when cold
- USB charging is slow
- Cables are inconveniently short at times
- Override feature when jumping dead batteries is finicky
- A bit pricey at $299
- Charging indicator lights flash painfully slow
- Doesn’t come with its own micro USB charger
- While small for its capacity, the overall shape is not overly convenient
- The cables cover the charging port when in the storage position
Specs
- 12 volt
- 500 lumen light
- 84 watt hour capacity
- 3000 amp (supposedly)
Disaster Averted
Remember my wet and windy tractor saga from above? Despite being a long ways from any help, but as you probably already guessed, everything worked out just fine for me. A quick jump from the NOCO Boost Pro GB150 and I was back on track to getting the cows fed and happy. So go ahead, give the GB150 a look, it might be just the thing to make your dark and rainy day just a little bit brighter, or your truck ride home after a long day in the tree stand just a little bit more of a sure thing, even if you left the map light on all day.
