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NOCO GB70 Review: 2000A for Bigger Engines

NOCO rates its Boost HD GB70 at 2,000 peak amps, enough for gasoline engines up to 8.0 liters and diesels up to 6.0 liters, according to the company’s GB70 spec page. That puts most full-size V8 pickups and SUVs inside its range, at a list price of $199.95 on NOCO’s site when we checked. The same spec page lists a 56Wh lithium-ion battery, a 12V/15A output port and an IP65 rating with the ports closed. Here’s what those numbers mean for your vehicle, and where the GB70 sits between the smaller GB40 and the bigger GB150.

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NOCO Boost HD GB70 on Amazon · GB70 on NOCO

Luis owns and reviewed the smaller NOCO Boost Plus GB40, and a hands-on GB70 video is planned. This page draws on NOCO’s GB70 product page, spec page, support page, data sheet and user guide.

Does the GB70 Fit Your Vehicle?

NOCO sizes its Boost jump starters by engine size, with a lower limit for diesels because they need more cranking current. The GB70’s ceiling of 8 liters on gas covers almost every passenger car, crossover and half-ton truck on the road, including the common 5.3-liter and 5.7-liter V8s. Its 6-liter diesel ceiling covers the 3-liter turbo-diesels found in some light trucks and SUVs, but not the 6.6- and 6.7-liter heavy-duty diesels, which sit above it.

A rating close to your engine’s size leaves less margin in cold weather, when oil thickens and batteries lose capacity. If you’re near the top of the range and see hard winters, size up. Our diesel jump starter guide covers the big-diesel side in detail, so this review sticks to the GB70 itself.

Is 2,000A Overkill for a Car?

For a small sedan, yes, in the sense that a GB40 already covers it. But there are practical reasons people with ordinary cars still buy the GB70:

  • One pack for the household. If one family member drives a compact and another drives a V8 SUV, one GB70 covers both.
  • The 12V output. The GB40 has no 12V port. The GB70’s 15A XGC output runs a tire inflator or a small inverter.
  • Faster top-ups from the car. The 12V XGC input lets you recharge from a dash socket in 2–3 hours, per NOCO.
  • Brighter light. 400 lumens versus the GB40’s 100 makes roadside work at night easier.

The trade-off is size and weight. The GB70 measures roughly 8.7 × 6 × 2.8 inches on NOCO’s spec page, so it fits under a seat or in a door bin of most trucks but not a small glovebox.

GB40 vs GB70 vs GB150

All three are NOCO Boost lithium jump starters with UltraSafe spark-proof and reverse-polarity protection. These figures come from NOCO’s spec pages for each model; prices are NOCO’s list prices when we checked.

Spec GB40 GB70 GB150
Peak current 1,000A 2,000A 3,000A
Gas engines Up to 6.0L Up to 8.0L Up to 9.0L
Diesel engines Up to 3.0L Up to 6.0L Up to 7.0L
Internal battery 24Wh 56Wh 88Wh
12V XGC output None 12V, 15A 12V, 15A
Fast 12V XGC input None 12V, 3A 12V, 5A
Flashlight 100 lumens 400 lumens 500 lumens
Weight (spec page) 2.45 lb 4.18 lb 6.39 lb
List price See NOCO $199.95 $299.95

One note on weight: NOCO’s GB70 spec page lists 4.18 lb, while its product copy and user guide say 5 pounds. Expect somewhere in that range in your hand, and a little more with the clamps attached.

In short, the GB40 is the glovebox unit, the GB70 is the do-everything middle option, and the GB150 is for the largest engines.

What’s in the Box

NOCO’s spec page lists:

  • GB70 lithium jump starter with integrated heavy-duty clamps
  • XGC 12V male adapter (for charging from a car socket)
  • XGC 12V female adapter (for powering 12V devices)
  • XGC extension cable
  • USB-C to USB-C cable
  • Microfiber storage bag

There’s no wall charger in the box, so plan on using a USB charger you already own or a 12V socket.

How to Jump Start a Vehicle With the GB70

These steps follow the general sequence in NOCO’s GB70 user guide. Always check your vehicle owner’s manual first, since some vehicles have remote jump posts under the hood instead of direct battery access.

  1. Charge the GB70 fully before you need it. NOCO says it ships partially charged.
  2. Turn off the ignition, lights and accessories in the vehicle.
  3. Connect the red clamp to the positive (+) battery terminal.
  4. Connect the black clamp to the negative (–) terminal or a solid ground point on the engine block or chassis.
  5. Press the power button. The Boost LED lights up when the GB70 detects a correctly connected 12V battery.
  6. Start the vehicle. If it doesn’t start, wait before trying again so the starter and the jump pack can cool down.
  7. Once running, turn off the GB70 and remove the black clamp first, then the red one.

The GB70 only jump starts 12V lead-acid batteries, which NOCO says includes wet, gel, maintenance-free, EFB and AGM types. It isn’t for 24V systems or lithium starter batteries.

When the battery is completely dead

NOCO’s support page explains that Boost units can’t detect a battery that has dropped below about 2 volts. For that case there’s a Manual Override that forces the jump function on. It bypasses the safety detection, so you have to be certain the clamps are on the right terminals before you use it. Our GB40 manual override guide walks through how the feature works on the smaller model.

Charging the GB70

NOCO’s support page lists these recharge times for the GB70:

Charging method NOCO’s listed time
12V XGC fast charge (12V, 3A, 36W) 2–3 hours
USB-C at 2A About 4.5 hours
USB at 1A About 9 hours
USB at 0.5A About 18 hours

The XGC port is the GB70’s practical advantage over the GB40: you can top it up from the truck’s 12V socket on the drive home after a jump. On USB, use a charger that supplies at least 2A, or the recharge stretches past half a day.

NOCO lists the charging temperature as 32–104°F (0–40°C) and the operating range as -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C). Thermal sensors stop the unit outside that range. If it lives in a truck through a Minnesota winter, bring it inside to charge.

Using It as a Power Bank and 12V Source

The 56Wh battery doubles as a backup power supply. NOCO says it can recharge a smartphone up to six times through its 5V/2.1A USB port. The XGC 12V output is rated at 15A, which NOCO pitches for tire inflators and small power inverters.

Some rough math helps keep expectations realistic. These are our estimates, assuming about 80% of the 56Wh is usable:

Device Typical draw Estimated runtime from a full GB70
Phone charging ~10W 4–6 full charges, depending on phone
LED work light 10–15W ~3–4 hours
12V tire inflator ~120–150W ~15–20 minutes of pumping
Starlink Mini via 12V adapter ~20–30W ~1.5–2 hours

That’s useful for emergencies, but it drains the energy you need for a jump. If you use the GB70 as a power bank, recharge it before you put it back in the truck. For longer 12V runtime, a proper portable power station is the better tool; our Marbero 88Wh review shows what a small one can do.

The Flashlight

NOCO lists a 400-lumen LED with seven modes, including SOS and emergency strobe, four times the GB40’s 100 lumens. It’s bright enough to light an engine bay or warn traffic on a road shoulder at night.

Storage and Upkeep

  • Check the charge every few months. Lithium jump packs lose charge slowly in storage, and heat speeds it up.
  • Avoid a hot dashboard. NOCO’s storage range tops out at 122°F (50°C); a closed cab in summer can exceed that, so keep it under a seat or in the bed box.
  • Close the port covers. The IP65 rating applies with the ports closed.
  • Keep the clamps clean. Corroded terminals and dirty clamps cause most “it won’t start” moments with any jump pack.

FAQ

Will the NOCO GB70 start a V8?

Yes, for most gas V8s. NOCO rates it for gasoline engines up to 8 liters, which covers the V8s in most trucks and SUVs.

Can the GB70 start a 6.7L diesel?

Not within its rating. NOCO rates the GB70 for diesels up to 6.0 liters. For a 6.6L or 6.7L diesel, the GB150 is rated up to 7.0 liters.

How many jump starts does it give per charge?

NOCO’s GB70 data sheet says up to 40 jump starts on a single charge. Real numbers drop with bigger engines, colder weather and deeper-discharged batteries.

How long does the GB70 take to charge?

NOCO lists 2–3 hours using the 12V XGC fast-charge input and about 4.5 hours over USB at 2A.

Is the GB70 waterproof?

It’s rated IP65 with the ports closed, which means dust-tight and protected against water jets, according to NOCO. It isn’t rated for submersion.

What’s the difference between the GB40 and GB70?

The GB70 doubles the peak current (2,000A vs 1,000A), raises diesel coverage from 3.0L to 6.0L, more than doubles the battery (56Wh vs 24Wh), and adds a 12V output and a fast 12V charging input. It’s also roughly twice the weight.

What warranty does the GB70 have?

NOCO lists a one-year limited warranty.

Bottom Line

The NOCO GB70 is the size to pick if your vehicle has a gas V8 or a small diesel, or if you want a jump pack that can also run a 12V inflator and recharge from your truck’s socket. It covers engines up to 8.0L gas and 6.0L diesel, holds 56Wh, and keeps NOCO’s spark-proof protection. Compact cars are well served by the lighter GB40, and 6.6–6.7L diesels need the GB150. Luis’s on-camera GB70 review is planned and will add real-world starts to this page.