So we’ve all been there, just having left a retail outlet, restaurant, work or a grocery store and begin to load our purchases or groceries into our vehicle. We hop in turn the key in the ignition or push in the start button and nothing happens. Cue the profanity here, are you kidding you ask yourself. Did I leave the lights on, did I neglect warning signs, were there no signs? How far from home am I?
All these thoughts go through your head in the matter of seconds. Some of us carry jumper cables in our vehicles, but the reality is the vast majority of Americans do not carry jumper cables in their cars based on our experience and interactions.
If you are one of those who don’t carry jumper cables and have made the decision to awkwardly wave down a complete stranger in the hopes they have cables and know how to use them. Or perhaps you have cables but find yourself sandwiched on three sides by already parked cars.
There is a better option now available to the masses, the portable vehicle jump starter.
What is a Portable Vehicle Jump Starter?
A portable vehicle jump starter in many cases is shoebox size unit that houses a lithium battery capable of holding enough charge to provide emergency starting power of up to three vehicles on a full charge and all can also charge items such as cell phones, tablets and other electronics via USB connection.
How does it work?
The portable vehicle jumper will come with two cables, both positive and negative just like a normal jumper cable, but only requires the jumper unit, there is no need for a second vehicle to be involved.
What is the average cost of a Vehicle Jump Starter?
The average cost of a Vehicle Jumper capable of starting a dead battery with gas engines up to 6 liters is in neighborhood of $80.00 to $100.00.
How much charge can a Vehicle Jump Starter hold?
Most vehicle jumpers are in the $80 – $140.00 range will be capable of 700 – 3000 amps. Amps is the maximum current that a car jumper can produce upon its first energy burst. Of course, there are chargers that are capable of more than this but they will be a little more expensive on average.
A jumper capable of up to 1000-2000 amps is more than enough to jump start the vast majority of 4, 6 and 8 cylinder vehicles.
Remember, these jumpers use lithium batteries and they can lose a substantial amount of charge if left in cold temperatures. Cold is not lithium’s friend. The battery should be kept at moderate temperatures as much as possible.
In addition, you must also note that lithium-ion batteries if not used do not last forever and will slowly use their charge over time. About 2-3 years is the maximum longevity for batteries that are not run through a complete charge cycle.
Once your car battery has been jump started, it goes without saying you that you should replace your old battery with a new one as soon as possible.
How safe is a Vehicle Jump Starter?
As long as you use the car jumper in a way in which it was intended to be used, they are very safe. Most vehicle jumpers have built in fail-safe measures to protect the user. Before your purchase a jumper do your research to ensure that it has some of the below safety features:
• Reverse Polarity protection.
• Spark proof connections
• Short circuit protection
There are also other built-in protections not mentioned here, but rest assured most car jumpers are safe. Just keep them away from extreme cold or extreme heat temperatures.
Final thoughts:
While there are many different brands of Vehicle Jump starters out there that are more than capable, Tech 2 Survive shines the spotlight two brands with a consistent overall reputation as being two of the better units out there.
NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A
Pros:
• Designed and Engineered in the U.S. (Global Headquarters – Cleveland, OH).
• Good for 20 jump starts (6.0L gas / 3.0L Diesel.
• USB in and out ports to power and charge your devices.
• Build in LED flashlight with different light modes.
Cons:
• No built in Voltmeter.
• Comes with microfiber storage bag. A protective case must be purchased separately.
Click here to purchase the NOCO Boost Pluss GB40 1000A or other NOCO products.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/E1C8612A-ED7A-423D-9908-956B24C598BF?ingress=2&visitId=8bd112c6-3aeb-4d27-b123-5ebbd8f2c704&ref_=ast_bln
CLORE AUTOMOTIVE Jump-N-Carry JNC660
Pros:
• Professional Grade with 46-inch cables & Industrial grade clamps
• Heavy Duty Case
• Built in Voltmeter
• Built in Charger
• Replaceable battery
Cons:
• Not as compact as some other brands.
• No built in LED lamp or air compressor.
Click here to purchase the Jump-N-Carry JNC660 or other CLORE AUTOMOTIVE products.
https://www.amazon.com/Clore-Automotive-Jump-N-Carry-JNC660-Starter/dp/B000JFJLP6?ref_=ast_sto_dp
