Orange power!

Say hello to my little friend.


The Black & Decker Electromate 400 is an AC/DC portable power supply, jump starter and air compressor in one. And, it has a spotlight.

I'm not shy about going up to strangers and asking for a jump start. I know what I'm doing; I tell them they can stay in the car. But this machine eliminates the need to make new friend. I bought it (at Home Depot, $99.97) when my spare car's battery started acting up.

OK, but let's say you never leave your lights on, and your battery works just fine. Good. Have you ever woken up to find a flat tire ... without even enough tire pressure to get to the gas station? With the flip of a switch, old Orangey becomes an air compressor.

Say there's a power outage. How will you make coffee in the morning? This machine has two standard outlets, letting you use electricity even during a blackout or "rustic" camping trip. (I'm all for roughing it, but again, not without coffee, or an air compressor to blow up the mattress for my tent.) It even comes with needles for blowing up volleyballs and the like, and a DC power adapter (for things you would plug into a vehicle's cigarette lighter). There's even a compartment to store these accessories.

I haven't put the battery through the ringer -- yet -- but in my experience, it holds enough of a charge to get through several of these minor emergencies on one charge, and re-charges quickly, in less than three hours. At 16 inches, by 7 inches by 10 inches, it's compact enough to fit in any car's trunk.

You don't need an excuse to buy this jump box. Trust me, it'll come in handy. You can still make friends in parking lots, but instead of being the one holding jumper cables trying to look friendly/desperate/cute/trustworthy to strangers, you can be the one who saves the day.