Nothing is worse than your car not starting leaving you stranded in the middle of nowhere.
You think to yourself: maybe I can call someone up so I can get a jumpstart. The only problem is, your phone doesn’t have a signal, and there is no car in sight.
You may think this is a rare occasion, but the reality is, this situation can happen to you. Do you know what would be handy to have in a situation like this?
A portable jump starter. Having one would be great, but buying the right one is another story.
Curious about how to shop for the best jump starter? We reveal nine tips you need to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Types of Jump Starters
Jumper Cables -This will be Your cheapest option. Jumper cables are cables that can connect the batteries of two cars. With jumper cables adequately connected, it can help start a vehicle with low batteries.
Battery Charger – This is a device that you charge before use. A car battery charger usually charges at around two amps, so it would take a full 24 hours to charge a 48 amp hour battery fully.
Portable Jump Starter – Also known as a booster pack is what we’ll be focusing on in this article.
A portable jump starter gives power from its own battery bank and transfers that power to a vehicle’s dead battery. They are equipped with their own jumper cables and have enough cranking power to jump-start a vehicle.
How Does a Portable Jump Starter Work?
Before use, you must charge the portable jump starter for a full 24 hours so it can have a reasonable charge. Place the red and black connectors to your car’s battery on the color-coordinated terminals labeled + and-.
Place the red connector on the positive terminal of the dead battery and place the black connector on a clean unpainted metal surface such as a bolt or metal struts.
Set your portable jump starter to RUN, and the vehicle with the discharged battery should turn over.
Key Factors for Choosing the Best Jump Starter
Several factors will ensure you are getting the best car jump starter. Let’s go over these factors.
1. Your Budget
The first thing you want to ask yourself is, how much do you want to spend? Generally speaking, the more you spend, the more features you get, and the quality of the craftsmanship tends to be better. Higher-priced jump starters tend to have more cold cranking amps (CCA), which is needed to power more substantial vehicles such as SUVs and trucks.
Spending less equals fewer accessories such as a flashlight and an air compressor, and the quality of the build might be lower, which means you may need to spend more time with routine maintenance.
2. Size Matters
You’ll want to make sure when you buy your portable jump starter that it can fit in the space of your car you want it to go. Some portable jump starters can fit under your seat, while some can only be placed in a spot with adequate room, such as the trunk of your car.
Be sure you find one that is the right size that suits your needs.
3. Charging Specifications
Jump starting power is measured by peak amps (PA) or cold-cranking amps, as stated above. Generally, the higher the number, the more power the unit will provide. Small cars will take about 150 to 200 CCA.
SUVs and full-size trucks will need around will need about 450 CCA, and commercial vehicles will require 1500-2000 CCA.
4. Cold Weather
If you live in a climate that can get below 50 degrees, you’re going to need to find a car jump starter that operates in cold weather situations. A portable jump starter can discharge half of its power in cold weather, so be sure to find a brand that can handle severe weather situations.
5. Accessories
It’s always good to have a portable jump starter that has extra accessories. These accessories can include a flashlight, air compressor in case of a flat tire, USB charging ports, and charging outlets.
6. Warranty
Aside from looking at the technical aspects, see which one has a good warranty. Check with the manufacturer to see what their process is for returning the unit and getting it replaced. Most jump starters have a decent warranty, but there can be ones that have short warranties along with bad quality and designs.
7. Reviews
You’ll want to see what the reviews are when buying a jumper. Customer reviews will give you clues on whether or not the product is of good quality and reliability. Make sure you read both positive and negative reviews so you can determine for yourself the unit’s strengths and weaknesses.
8. Safety Features
You also want to look for any safety features. When cables are connected improperly some units will have a feature where an alarm will sound to inform you about the problem.
Some units will have circuit protection, overheating protection, and over-voltage sensors.
9. Durability
The design of the unit will clue you in on its durability. Remember, you be using this outdoors, possibly in harsh conditions. If the booster pack is made of cheap plastic, it’s best to expect an average level of durability.
Choose units that are made of metal and have some weight to them.
Which is the Best Jump Starter for Me?
Answering this question depends on what your specific needs are. Take a look at all of these factors when choosing the best jump starter, and make your decision from there. If this article helped you, make sure you give this a share!
