It’s one thing to be stuck on the road with a dead car battery if your destination is just around the next bend. But what if you’re traveling lightly-used roads where help isn’t readily available? The solution is to have a ready and able portable jump starter in your vehicle.
Not long ago, lead-acid jump starters were used frequently by towing operators, which were used on vehicles of all shapes and sizes. These starters were large, heavy and a challenge to use safely unless handled by pros. Thankfully, jumpstarting technology took a leap forward when lithium-ion batteries began appearing on the market in 2013. Lighter, compact and more affordable, these jumpstarters can put emergency charging power in any driver’s hands. Before you rush out and get one, take a gander at the jump starters we recommend.
Durable and easy to use
Perfect for those who stress over “Is positive red or black?” This jump starter is very safe and easy to use. It features spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection in case you’ve forgotten which goes where. Powered with a 1000-amp lithium battery, this will also provide up to 20 jump starts on a single charge. It’s highly versatile as it also serves as a portable power bank and LED flashlight. Oh, and by the way, red is positive.
For serious cases
This starter from Clore Automotive provides a whopping 1700 peak amps, and 425 cranking amps. Its solid and sturdy design means it won’t budge when mounted, and it has ample reach with 46-inch heavy-duty #2 AWG cables, which have industrial grade clamps that penetrate corrosion for the best possible connection. It has a voltmeter that provides the charge status of its onboard battery.
Plenty of safety features
For the moving and shaking business type, this jump starter is both powerful and compact. It is also incredibly safe, with high quality and spray-gold intelligent jumper clamps that provide over-current, short-circuit, overload, over-voltage, and over-charge protection. Equipped with a smart USB port with an 18000 mAh capacity, this jump starter is also perfect for powering up your devices at the fastest speed possible. An LCD screen displays remaining power, and a compass helps you find your way home after closing that deal from the road.
Charges quickly
This jump starter is the perfect fit for any vehicle, home garage, or cottage getaway. It has a whopping 2500 amps of peak current for 8 L gas or diesel engines. A super-bright on-board LED not only serves as an effective flashlight in the dark, but the alternate blue-red light also functions as a serviceable traffic hazard warning in the event of an accident; a multifunctional life-saver with a SOS signal. Dual USB 3.0 ports are compatible with almost all USB charging devices. The quick-charge port will enable charging speeds of 1.8 times the speed of a standard port. The lithium-ion battery chip has QDSP (Quick Discharge Start Power) technology, which not only makes it able to withstand challenging and frigid weather conditions, but also makes it three times stronger and more reliable than any other starter with the same specifications.
Water resistant
Power and ruggedness. Those words best describe this jump-starter with a water-resistant enclosure rated at IP65 (“Ingress Protection” ratings define levels of sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against intrusion from foreign bodies and moisture). It’ll recharge any USB-powered device, and its integrated 400-lumen LED comes in seven light modes, including emergency strobe and SOS.
