A dead battery often requires a boost, either by recharging the battery or by jump starting it. When buying a car battery, you’ll realize that there are certain specific features you must consider. For instance, powerful jump boxes have more amps, but this doesn’t mean that you should only buy powerful ones. It would help if you first determined how much energy your vehicle needs. Take note of things such as the engine size, age of the car, and size of the car. This article lists the best portable car battery jump starters you can buy and describes various features that differentiate them.
What are the portable car jump starters?
Contents
The main difference between portable car jump starters and jumper cables is that the portables ones don’t need additional help from another vehicle. They are portable batteries that jolt power into the car’s battery boosting it and enabling it to start. Thus, they are more convenient than jumper cables. They have become very popular, and several types have made it to the market over the years.
All motorists hate the thought of their vehicles refusing to start. It’s never fun being stranded by the roadside, especially during harsh weather or at nighttime. In most cases, the course is battery failure, hence the need for a battery starter. What happens if you can’t get immediate help from another car? Sometimes it’s not easy, and you may waste a lot of time trying to get someone to lend you his vehicle. The best thing is to buy yourself an excellent portable jumper pack that can save you. They are fast, easy-to-use, and convenient.
How to use Portable Car battery jump starters?
It’s easy to crank your car, but you must follow protective.
Not only is your battery at risk, but your safety too. There could be something wrong with the vehicle; you shouldn’t quickly assume that the battery is dead whenever the car fails to turn on. First, confirm that it is indeed the battery that has a problem. Put on protective gear; for example, you could wear eye goggles and thick gloves. Check if your starter is fully charged. Portable starters are rechargeable.
If you have a manual, read it through to confirm that your car’s grounding is negative. Recheck the vehicle to ensure that it is turned off. It could be very risky if you were to start your car when it is turned on. Remove the key from the ignition and turn off the battery starter. If wearing a watch or anything metallic, it’s advisable to remove them.
The jump starter has two clamps’ the negative and positive clamps. Mostly they are differentiated by their colors; black is negative and red positive. Remove them and attach to the battery. Also, check the colors of the terminal covers to attach them accordingly. Begin with the positive clamp, and once it’s in place, attach the negative clamp to the negative terminal. It may spark a little bit, but that’s normal. Both clamps should never touch each other.
Move the starter some distance away, then turn it on. Then turn on the ignition key, but you must wait a few minutes before cranking up the engine. In case the car doesn’t start, wait a few more minutes before giving it another try. When the car starts, disconnect the jump starter. Let it run for some time to charge the battery. Always remember to recharge your jump starter after usage, and also have your car battery’s health checked.
For detailed instructions check our How to jump start a car? page
What kind of Portable car jump starters are there on the market?
The two main varieties are plug-in and portable starters. Portable jump packs must be recharged after every use, while plug-in starters are less portable as they require a power outlet.
When looking for the best jump starter, take note of features such as:
- Type of jumper cables (length and thickness)
- Air compressors (to help pump up a flat tire)
- Emergency lights
- Flashlights
- Size
- Radios (built-in emergency radios)
- Charging modes (alternative charging)
- The amount of power they can release
It is noteworthy that you should possess a portable car jumper without the assumption that someone else will help you out there. It is with due hope that the guide has aided you in having an informed insight on portable car jumpers.
Finally, I have conducted two lists of the best jump starters available on the market. The reason why I have two lists is that I wanted to separate the mini jump starters which are basically multi-functional devices from the classic jump starters whose main function is to jump-start a car engine and which are much bigger and more powerful than the small lithium-ion jump starters.
It is up to you and your needs when deciding on which one to purchase but rest assured that you can’t go wrong if you carefully read this post and get familiar with all terms, questions, and tips I have prepared for you.
>>>> First list: The best mini lithium ion jump starters 2020 <<<<
>>>> ☟☟☟ Second list is below ☟☟☟ <<<<
Top 5 Portable Car Jump Starters:
#1 NOCO Genius Boost HD GB150
I have tried and reviewed many mini jump starter of all types, and this one is the most powerful jump starter that I have tested. If you are looking for a product that provides you with instant car start-up capability and the ability to start 10l diesel, this NOCO GB150 jump starter is the right one for you. The package contains NOCO Genius Boost HD GB150 4000 Amp jump starter pack, XGC Cable, Heavy-duty battery clamps, micro USB charging cables, XGC male and female connectors, Microfiber Storage Bag, 1-year warranty, and a user guide. It looks durable and is absolutely fabulous. You won’t have to worry about your vehicle stopping in between and trouble in reaching your home. Purchase this power bank today and you can be sure it will not let you down. Another thing to consider is that this is a lithium-ion battery-powered mode, not lead acid.
Product PROS
- 4000 amps peak
- 625 cranking amps
- Equipment
- Quality cables
- Great for 12 volt batteries
- reverse polarity
- Safety features
Product CONS
- might be a bit pricy but definitely worth every cent
- no compressor
#2 JNCAIR 1700 Amp Jump Starter with air compressor
This portable jump starter is for sure a great unit to have. It does its job entirely and starts my 6l Diesel car engine as well as inflates my tires. I have to say that the compressor is a pretty useful thing which you can find with any mini power bank. It might be cumbersome and large, but if you possess a pickup truck or heavy truck, then this powerful starter is what you need. It has a quality lithium battery inside; hence it doesn’t require recharging frequently. It is highly recommended for large track owners if you ask me. With that, I hope that my JNCair 1700 review has come a long way in making a decision. Finally, I am just very satisfied with the Jump-N-Carry JNCair 1700 battery booster.
Product PROS
- 1700 peak
- 425 cranking
- Compressor for tires
- Industrial Grade clamps
- Built-in Automatic Recharging
- Tough Rubber Boot
- Great for 12 volt batteries
- reverse polarity
- Safety features
- Cables quality
Product CONS
- No flashlight
- No USB ports
- Relatively large and heavy
- No LED flashlight
#3 JNC660 1700 peak Amp
We were not left disappointed using JNC660 which is for sure. It did his job pretty well. Jump started an 8l diesel truck with ease. We were satisfied with almost every feature of this portable jump starter. Power is remarkable (425 cranking and 1700 peak amps) and it is quality made. Compared to mini jump starters it has some cons. For example, it is much bigger and heavier so it has to go into the trunk and the glove box is too small for this big fellow. It has no USB port not flashlight like most of the mini jump starters. This fact makes it specialized for 12V accessories and a function of a car battery starter. This is not so bad, in fact, this means it is specialized to be battery starter and it does his function pretty good. However, if you prefer a compact jumper box check out our list of the best lithium-ion car battery boosters.
Product PROS
- 1700 peak
- 425 cranking
- Jumper clamps quality
- Quality made
- Great for 12 volt batteries
- Warranty
- Reverse polarity
- Safety features
Products CONS
- no compressor
- no USB ports
- no LED flashlight
#4 Schumacher SJ1332 Portable Jump Starter
The Schumacher sj1332 review shows just how well suitable the battery jump box is for use on vehicles with high engine power. Besides being a jump box for cars, it also serves multiple purposes, from being an air compressor, charging electronic devices to inflating and deflating all things inflatable, including your car wheels. From the Schumacher jump starter review, you can also tell just how reliable the Schumacher car battery jump starters are and perhaps get yourself one. Don’t forget to download and carefully read the Schumacher SJ1332 manual.
Product PROS
- 1200 peak
- 250 cranking
- 150 psi compressor
- Equipment
- great design
- Safety features
Products CONS
- no USB port
- no LED light
#5 POTEK 1500 Amps Portable Jump Starter
The POTEK Portable Source includes a high-power battery that makes it one of the best portable car jump starter packs due to its excellent performance. This POTEK 1500 peak car battery starter with a compressor can jumpstart boats, trucks, RVs, and cars. It is one of the most powerful jump starter models that you can find. One of the best jump starter packs with a compressor in the current market is definitely the POTEK portable box. At 150-psi, you can get your tire inflated quickly in case of any emergencies.
Products PROS
- 1500 peak
- 250 cranking
- 150 psi compressor
- Great for 12 volt batteries
- Equipment
- compact design
- Safety features
Products CONS
- a bit noisy
- no USB port
- no led flashlight
Things to know before you buy a portable car jump starter
Before you make a final decision it is highly recommended to understand the terminology and what to look for when choosing best model.
Peak amps Vs. Cold Cranking amps
The key to buying a good car battery jump starter is understanding the terms used to describe a portable car battery booster. Terms such as cranking amps, peak amps, and cold cranking amps might seem complicated, but they are not. Knowing these terms makes it possible to distinguish batteries by identifying which ones are for boats, trucks, cars, etc. Read on to learn how to determine which jump starters are the best in terms of withstanding diverse climatic conditions, suitable for which types of vehicles, and if they can boost completely dead batteries.
What is cranking amps?
It is the amount of current a battery discharges and sustains for 30 seconds at 0 degrees Celsius. This starting current is the amount of power needed to get a vehicle started in normal climatic conditions. Not when the weather is too cold, for instance.
What is Cold Cranking Amps?
They are the cranking amps needed to power a car’s engine in cold weather, especially during winter. Cold-cranking refer to the amount of current the battery needs to discharge and sustain for 30 seconds when the temperature is 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below, without going under 7.2 volts for a 12v battery. When the weather is too cold, the amount of energy a battery supply reduces, that’s why more cranking power is needed to start the vehicle. At -18 degrees Celsius the battery requires about 350% more energy than when the temperatures are at 800 F. The difference between cranking and cold-cranking amps is the cold weather factor. Low temperatures make batteries to discharge faster.
What are Peak amps?
It is that initial response in terms of electrical current that a jump starter releases when turned on. The current quickly moves into the car battery, and the scale runs from zero to the maximum power. The highest point it reaches during this rush is what is referred to as the peak current or peak amp. The current doesn’t stay up for long; it stabilizes and becomes more constant. This normalized state is the cranking amps (CA.) In a situation where the peak current supplied is more than what the vehicle needs, it automatically releases the maximum current. The process is called inrush current limiting, and it helps protect your car battery from any harm. This is to say that a good car jump starter has a higher peak amps rating. The most common ones range between 300-1700amps.
How many amps is needed to jumpstart a car?
Many drivers are not familiar with the energy required to restart a vehicle. It all depends on the engine size of the car; smaller engines require fewer power than bigger engines. However, the minimum amps to start an average 6.0L diesel and petrol car is 400 amps. Some jumpstarters automatically detect the number of amps needed, but in many instances, you may have to calculate it yourself.
Another difference that determines the amount of energy required is the type of engine. Diesel engines need more power than petrol engines to start. Secondly, diesel engines commonly used in industrial machines or tractors require more power. The minimum amps a diesel engine requires is 400, while bigger diesel engines can use up to 1000.
When choosing a jump starter, it’s better to consider cranking amps more than peak amps because of the weather factor. The car requires more amps during winter than in summer. The amount of power needed almost doubles during winter, and since diesel engines need more powerful starters, a small one (2.0l) can use up to 500. A small petrol engine (2.0l), on the other hand, requires about 300-400 in similar cold conditions. On a hot day, the same car would draw about 200 amps to start.
Overall, the amount of current required to jumpstart a car battery depends on factors such as type of fuel, size, and weight of an engine. 300amps is enough to jumpstart a small car, while bigger vehicles will require about 1000. When choosing a right battery booster, please take note of its peak amps, cranking amps, and cold-cranking amps to ensure you get something that can serve you during all kinds of weather.
Conclusion
Nowadays jump starting your car battery was never so easy. Hopefully, this post has helped you to better understand the portable jump starters and their key features. Choosing the best one is up to you since now you can understand that, a bit confusing terminology. Good luck with your chosen model and I hope it serves you for a along time. 🙂
Please feel free to comment below if you have any questions or if you would like to share your opinion or experience with already purchased portable jump starter.