As a car owner, it is a must that you are prepared for emergencies like when your car breaks down because your battery just ran out. This is when a jump starter becomes handy. That said, I have here the best jump starters for your car, as well as where to buy them.
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What Is A Jump Starter And Why Do You Need It
For first-time car owners, a jump starter helps in jump starting your car when it runs out of battery. Truth is, it serves more than that because it is also a used to charge your phone and it can also be used as a light in times of emergencies. It is a good power source for pretty much anything that would require recharging.
This always has to be somewhere in your car like a spare tire. You will never know when your battery will die and it would really be awful if it happens in the middle of nowhere and you don't have a jump starter with you. Don't worry about its size because it could certainly fit in the trunk of your car.
On Using A Jump Starter
Proper use of this material should be practiced in order to not just make your car work but to also keep you safe from possible mishaps. Using the right jumper cables is among the things that you must first learn.
Here is a scenario, as to when a jumper starter could be applied. Let's say your car stopped and someone actually offered you a help using their car. What you can do is connect your jumper cables to that person's car, making sure that it has the same voltage as yours.
It won't matter if your car has a negative ground and the other person's car has positive or vice versa because it only matters that you connect the cables correctly. It is also important that either one of your cars has a generator or an alternator.
Two Types of Jump Starters
Before you buy a jump starter for your car, it is best that you know about the two different types that are out there. One is called the jump boxes and the other is called a plug-in.
You will know it is a jump box when you the presence of jumper cables on them. These batteries are sealed and they don't need maintenance.
Meanwhile, the plug-in types are the ones that could deliver a large amount of amperage that your car's motor pulls the moment the engine is turned over. This doesn't need replacement, as long as you take good care of it. This battery charger is also best if you will just use it at home
- On Choosing Plug-In Units
- On Choosing Jump Boxes
amazon.com
Plug-in units are what I would prefer, especially when your car battery is completely drained. The battery life can be expected to go longer using this, as it charges at a slower phase using lower amperage.
You just really need to be patient in starting it because it could take a minute before it actually starts doing its job, especially when your car battery is super drained. Simply hit the "start" button or whatever setting there is with this word on and crank up the engine simultaneously.
I prefer this jump start because I can expect a longer lifespan of my battery using it. Others choose alternators, but the problem with that is it would force charge your car battery. Doing so would affect the battery's longevity.
You won't be able to use it for so long because eventually, you will notice that it easily would drain out. I'd rather just wait for a while for the jump start to charge than worry about repairing an alternator in the future because that one could cost me more money.
The only downside of using it has to be the fact that you need to plug it in from a power source, otherwise it won't work. But most of the time, it is not that difficult to find a solution for it unless you're in a completely deserted area with no help coming from another car. This is why I advise that you just use it when you're at home.
For plug-in jump starters, features such as having multiple charging modes along with multiple amperage settings and an option for a float charge are the things that you should consider before you buy it. Not all plug-in units have these features so you better ask or read the label before you shed your cash.
Now that you know the two kinds of jump starters to choose from, here are some brands and items that I highly recommend the next time you shop for one.
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The Best Jump Starters For Your Car in Demand This 2017.
1. Stanley J5C09 1000 Peak Amp Jump Starter with Compressor
amazon.com
This one is a jump box so you could instantly get a good start from it, especially when it has that 500 starting amps along with a 1000 peak worth of battery amps.
Pros:
- I love this because you don't need to rely on another vehicle just to have your car back running again, which is definitely a huge advantage.
- It is one the most in demand jump starters because it was built for modern day car users, as it includes a USB connector so you could charge your phones.
- This is also lighter than the usual car battery, so it is so easy to deal with it, especially the lifting part.
Con:
- The only disadvantage could be its price that it might be pricey for some.
2. NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 1000 Amp 12V
amazon.com
This one is another jump box, but it brags about having 1,000 amp in lithium-ion, which could power up your car with 7,000 joules when you jump start it. Note that it is created for cars that can hold up to 6 liters of gas and 3 liters of diesel.
Pros:
- When it comes to safety, this one has that reverse polarity feature so you will know if you connected the right plugs.
- You can also use this to charge your phones and other mobile device.
- This is also lighter than the usual car battery, so it is so easy to deal with it, especially the lifting part.
Con:
- Not good for cold weather.
3. Jump-N-Carry JNC660 1700
amazon.com
This is a perfect example of one of the best plug-in units out there.
Pros:
- This is perfect for for timers because it is very user-friendly. As soon as you connect the right plugs to it and a good power source, it just runs automatically.
- There is no need to wait for it to charge.
- It has about 46 inches of cable that is compatible with any vehicle out there.
Con:
- Definitely expensive.
4. DBPOWER 600A Peak 18000mAh
amazon.com
This supports cars that can hold up to 6.5 liters of gas and 5.2 liters of diesel.
Pros:
- It is a jump box, which makes it portable so you can take it anywhere.
- You can use this on a single charge and the power it gives out is about 30 times an ordinary one could do.
- It also has LED and emergency lights available in case you need it for emergencies or to give warning about a traffic accident.
Con:
- This only delivers 300 amps and not really 600.
5. Schumacher XP2260 1200
amazon.com
This may be the last on this list but this is certainly not the least.
Pros:
- It is one of the best plug-in units because this one could actually charge the internal battery automatically. Make sure to plug it in with the right extension cord and you're set to go.
- It has this LED indicator that would tell you if the battery is full or if it needs recharging.
- You will love it because it could stand whatever weather there is, especially during winter.
- It may be a plug-in unit but you actually don't need to worry about its maintenance, which is pretty rare for its type.
Con:
- Charging just takes really long.
Conclusion:
These are everything you need to know about the best jump starters this year. Makers of these brands and items are doing well in upgrading their materials to cater modern day car users like you and me.
But out of these 5 jump starters, the best has to be the Stanley J5C09 1000 Peak Amp Jump Starter with Compressor because unlike the other four I mentioned, this delivers the amps that it said it would and first timers could already handle it.
The only pitfall is its price, but even that is actually not that bad. I'm so glad that technology in the car industry has progressed that we don't have to be scared anymore should we get stranded because our car batteries just died in the middle of nowhere.
