Both the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 and the Noco GB20 are durable jump starters, that are very capable and provide powerful battery boost, they are compact, so you ensure, your car’s battery never goes down. GB40 is designed for vehicles utilizing gas engines up to 6 Liters as well as diesel engines up to 3 Liters. On the other hand, GB20 can be utilized for gasoline engines up to 4 Liters only. Both these devices lack the facility of built-in voltmeters.
GB40 contains a compact 24 Wh (Watt-hour) lithium-ion battery that can supply 1000 amperes of current for the jump start of any dead lead-acid battery within a few seconds. It is a multi-functional device that is also used to charge other USB devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops and can easily be recharged using any powered USB port. The advanced safety technology helps in providing spark-free connections and shielding against reverse polarity ensuring its easy and safe use. It provides 20 jump starts for each charge. It holds the charge 4 times more than conventional lead-acid jump starters. This starter can be cooled through natural convection.
GB20 is also equipped with a handy 24 Watt-hour lithium-ion battery. This device has a peak current range of up to 500 Amperes. Different portable devices can be charged using this device. It contains one Micro USB input port for self-charging while one USB output port for charging mobile phones, tablets, or any other devices. The ultra-safe design helps to protect any spark triggering and reverse polarity. It also provides 20 jump starts per charge and could be cooled easily through a natural convection process.
In comparison to GB20, GB40 supplies a higher peak starting current, can be used for different types of engines, and provides an easy jump start for heavy engines. But it is expensive which makes it relatively uneconomical, and it does not support fast charging.
Table of Contents
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 vs GB20
| Specifications | GB40 | GB20 |
| Manufacturer | NOCO Boost | NOCO Boost |
| Internal Battery | 24 Watt-hour Lithium-Ion | 24 Watt-hour Lithium-Ion |
| Peak Current Rating | 1000 A | 500 A |
| Number of boosters per charge | 20 | 20 |
| Micro USB Input | 5 V, 2.1 A | 5 V, 2.1 A |
| USB Output | 5 V, 2.1 A | 5 V, 2.1 A |
| 12 V Input/ Output ports | No | No |
| Safety feature | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Overdrive | Yes | Yes |
| LED Flashlight | 100 Lumens | 100 Lumens |
| Housing Protection | IP65 (w/ Ports closed) | IP65 (w/ Ports closed) |
| Unit weight | 1.65 lbs. | 1.65 lbs. |
| Unit weight with clamps & accessories | 2.4 lbs. | 2.4 lbs. |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
| Price (US dollars) | 100 $ | 80 $ |
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 vs GB20 Pros and Cons
Pros
| Pros of GB40 | Pros of GB20 |
| Suitable for wide range of engine types | Less costly compared to its counterpart. |
| Higher peak starting current | Provides similar jump starts per charge at a lower price |
| Can easily jump-start heavy engines |
Cons
| Cons of GB40 | Cons of GB20 |
| More expensive than its counterpart | Jump-start only lower capacity engines |
| Do not come with hard storage case | Only charge gasoline type of engines |
| No fast charging | No fast charging |
Design
Both these devices are developed by the same parent company therefore their design is almost similar. The internal battery level indicator is present on both these starters to notify the internal battery status. An error LED is present which turns red if the starter detects a reverse polarity. A power button is located to turn the device on and off. Two LEDs for power and boost are also present in both these starters. The light mode button located on it helps to increase or decrease the intensity of the LED. Two USB input and output ports are present for charging and discharging purposes respectively.
Each of these jump starters contains an inserted battery of equal capacity, therefore, both share identical weight and overall size. Both of them are easy to handle and can easily be fitted into the glovebox of the car.
| Physical Characteristics | GB40 | GB20 |
| Color | Black and Grey | Black and Grey |
| Weight (lbs.) | 1.65 | 1.65 |
| Height (inches) | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Width (inches) | 3.2 | 3.2 |
| Length (inches) | 7.7 | 7.7 |
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Recharging
Both these devices contain rechargeable batteries. The recharging of these jump starters depends on the current. The higher the current rate, the quicker the device recharges. Both GB40 and GB20 can be charged through a USB connector having a maximum input rating of 2.1 Amperes. Both devices are fully charged at an almost similar time due to the identical capacities of their built-in batteries. The charging time may vary depending on the input charger rating. These jump starters lack the ability to be charged through 12 Volt sockets.
| USB Charger Rating | GB40 | GB20 |
| 0.5 A | 12 hrs. | 12 hrs. |
| 1 A | 6 hrs. | 6 hrs. |
| 2 A | 3hrs. | 3 hrs. |
Peak Starting Current
The engine size determines the jump starter to be used. The larger the engine size, the higher must be starting current. Since GB40 has a higher starting current rating which is 1000 Amps, therefore, it is superior to its counterpart in terms of heavy engines. GB20 having a peak starting current of 500 Amps, is more preferred for smaller capacity engines.
Manual Override
Both jump starters are equipped with this feature. They both have a built-in auto battery detector. These starters will cease if the battery to be charged is too low because of its safety features. Manual Override will allow disabling this safety feature and enable them to charge the low battery. It is needed to be done carefully to avoid any spark triggering.
Battery types supported
Both concerned devices are designed to restart cars or any other vehicle, they support the same type of batteries. They can be used to charge any lead-acid battery or can also be used to recharge AGM-type batteries.
Supported Vehicles Models
GB40 is used to charge both gasoline and diesel engine types. It supports gas engines up to 6 liters and diesel engines up to 3 liters. Meanwhile, GB20 can recharge only gasoline-supported engines. It supports gasoline engines up to 4 liters only.
Warranty
Both devices are equally compatible in terms of the warranty. Both products are from NOCO Boost, which provides one year guarantee for each of its devices.
Price
GB20 is cheaper compared to its peer. This device comes with a price tag of around 80 US Dollars, which is very economical in terms of the device’s overall satisfactory performance. The price of GB40 on the other hand is higher. The cost of this device is almost 100 US Dollars. However, its heavy engine startups and higher starting current justify this expensive price.
How to Operate?
Both devices can be used identically for charging cars or any other dead battery. Following steps are required to restart the car dead battery using these jump starters:
- Connect the clamp in the socket of the jump starter.
- Press the power button of the starter, an LED will turn on indicating the device start-up.
- Now connect both clamps with the terminals of the battery.
- Start the car to power the dead battery.
The operating, charging, and storage temperatures of these jump starters are identical, indicating their trouble-free operation under all the specific situations.
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 vs GB20 Summary
- GB40 can be used for both gasoline and diesel engines whereas GB20 can be utilized in only gasoline type of engines.
- GB40 provides a higher peak starting current compared to its peer.
- The size and weight of both the products are similar.
- Recharging times of both these starters is similar.
- Both are equipped with a manual override facility.
- GB40 is preferred to jump-start heavy engines compared to its counterpart.
- Both products do not support fast charging.
- The warranties provided are similar for both these devices.
- GB20 is more budget-friendly due to its lower price.