Even the most prepared car owners and drivers occasionally find themselves with dead batteries. Jumper cables offer a way to receive help from other vehicles on the road, but what happens if there’s no one around to help?
That’s when portable car jump starters can save the day.
A portable jump starter is a battery you can use to jumpstart your car’s dead battery. The best ones are sized perfectly for your vehicle, have value-added features and safety functions, and don’t require you to rob the bank.
More importantly, you should buy them from known and reliable brands. It’s also good to remember that what’s best for one driver might not be the best for you.
So, this guide will show you how to find the best portable car jump starter to fit your needs.
Do Portable Jump Starters Work?
The short answer is yes, a portable car jump starter works, and it will get you out of a difficult situation, especially when there’s no one else to help you.
Briefly, here’s how it works.
Essentially, portable jump starters are backup batteries, like the one you might carry around to keep your phone charged.
However, these high-current batteries deliver enough power to jumpstart a whole vehicle, not just small devices (though many can do that, too).
So, when your car's battery is dead, and the engine won't start, all you have to do is connect the jump starter to your battery and jolt it back to life.
You’ll be back on the road to your destination or to the nearest mechanic within minutes. Either way, your car is mobile once more, thanks to your handy helper.
Best of all, portable jump starters are rechargeable and compact, so you can use them again and again and tuck them away in the glove compartment when not in use.
Some people might think that a jump starter is unnecessary since the conventional jumper cables work just fine, not to mention that they cost much less, too.
However, jumper cables only work when another person is willing to help you using their car’s battery. Sadly, that kind of help is not always available, especially if you’re alone in the middle of nowhere.
Worse, there are many ways that you can accidentally drain your car battery, like:
- When you haven’t started your car in a long time, like if you’re working from home
- If your battery is old and can’t hold much charge anymore
- When you accidentally leave your headlights on while the car’s parked
See? It doesn’t take much effort to unknowingly drain your car battery. What happens if you don’t have a spare battery or your friendly neighbour is not home, and the nearest mechanic is a few kilometres away?
That’s when jumper cables become useless and portable car jump starters are most useful. The latter will get your car started and running in minutes.
What Is the Best Portable Car Jump Starter Out There?
Portable jump starters are incredibly common these days. So, you can find them in all kinds of shapes and sizes with many value-added features, too.
Choosing the best portable car jump starters isn’t a one-size-fits-all deal because everyone has different needs and preferences.
For example, the jump starter that works well for your neighbour might not do an excellent job for your ute or 4x4.
So instead, when choosing the best portable car jump starter, consider these FIVE important factors to make sure that you get one that works for you.
#1 Correct Size
The first and most important consideration for choosing the best jump starter is its size—not the physical dimensions but, more specifically, these two things:
- Peak amperage: In the simplest terms possible, peak amperage measures how much electricity the jump starter can deliver. A typical portable jump starter will provide 1,000 Amps of peak amperage, enough to jumpstart a car, motorcycle, or other small vehicles. Larger engines require a jump starter with a higher peak amperage.
- Battery capacity: Since a car jump starter is a portable battery, one spec to check is its capacity. 10,000 mAh is usually enough for personal use, meaning, you jumpstart your car only during emergencies. However, if you plan on using the same jump starter multiple times between charging (e.g., if you’re a roadside mechanic helping others), you’ll need a bigger battery capacity.
Most car and motorcycle drivers don’t have to overthink the jump starter’s sizing. However, if you drive something with a larger engine, or if it’s your job to respond to car emergencies, it’s best to go with the bigger, heavier-duty sizes.
#2 Value Added Features
Choosing the best portable jump starter 2022 has to offer is more than just about size or capacity. Manufacturers these days compete by including plenty of value-added features on their devices that you should also consider.
Those features include:
- Displays: Some units have LCD screens that show you the jump starter’s remaining charge, making it easier for you to know when it needs charging.
- Flashlight: Jump starters are typically used in emergency situations when you also need flashlights. Thankfully, you can find them built into jump starters, too.
- Compressor: Larger jump starters also come with a compressor for filling your tyres if necessary.
- USB ports: Lastly, many jump starters in 2022 come with USB ports to charge your smartphones and other devices. They’re convenient, but don’t use them too much. You’ll want that extra charge to jumpstart your car!
#3 Safety Features
Again, it’s crucial to remember that portable jump starters are, essentially, high-current batteries. As such, you’ll want to choose one that comes with electrical safety features that protect against:
- Overcharging
- Overloading
- Short-circuits
- Overheating
- And more
A jump starter that you keep inside your car all the time will give you peace of mind.
#4 Quality and Reliability
Suppose you find a portable jump starter that passes all the requirements from #1 to #3, you must still consider its quality and reliability before buying. You don't want it failing on you when you need it most, right?
The quickest way to ensure quality and reliability is to choose from known brands. You can’t trust just anybody—reputed brands have that accountability that unknown brands don’t have.
Some reliable names you can choose from include:
- SCA (Super Cheap Auto)
- NOCO Jump Starters
- Matson
- Projecta
- And others
On top of that, be sure to check online reviews for the specific models you plan on buying. That way, you can see what other people say about those jump starters and use their experience to guide you in picking the best option for you.
#5 Price
Lastly, remember this—the best car battery jump starter for you is one that fits your budget. You don’t need to buy the most expensive one available. What’s important is that you have one in your car to get you out of a fix.
Even the top manufacturers (like the ones mentioned in #4) typically have several models you can choose from to fit your budget.
So, shop around and find the best for your needs.
Not sure where to shop for auto parts and accessories? Check out the Directory at CarpartAU to find local businesses you can rely on!
By Ray Hasbollah