If your battery has died after a long period of inactivity, one option is to use a car jump starter . This device, which isn't widely known, can jump-start an engine thanks to the high current it generates. If your battery is still in good condition, you can then fully recharge it after driving for a while.
In their most recent versions, designed for personal use, jump starters are very similar to typical power banks . They even have similar energy storage capacities. However, although they can also charge electronic devices via USB, their primary function is to jump-start a car with a dead battery or in very cold weather conditions.
Many people have left their cars unused for extended periods, resulting in a dead battery. That's why we at Actualidad Motor have compiled this list of the 5 best car jump starters of 2021. You'll see that they all possess the necessary safety features for starting 12V battery engines and boast a long list of satisfied customers.
Comparison and buying guide for car jump starters
Nwouiiay Jump Starter 2036en
The second jump starter we mentioned is a slightly more powerful model , but with a smaller battery capacity . Therefore, it might be a bit less effective as a power bank for charging electronic devices, but slightly better suited as a jump starter ( for somewhat larger engines ). After all, that's the main purpose of these types of devices. Its maximum electrical current is 1.000 A , and its battery stores up to 13,2 Ah.
Despite its smaller energy storage capacity, it does have a USB Type-C connection , in addition to the two USB connectors (one of them 3.0) common on modern jump starters. It also has a flashlight , but lacks a compass and an LCD screen. Instead, four lights indicate the charge level at 25, 50, 75, and 100%.
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Here we bring you a more efficient and modern version . This is a jump starter with a 1.200 A current output, 400 A more than its predecessor. It has a battery with a much smaller capacity: 18 Ah , which, on the other hand, has no problem charging several devices. For this purpose, it has two USB ports, plus one USB Type-C port.
joykee eswad
We're nearing the end of this top 5 list, with one of the most powerful and capable jump starters on the market. This model from Joykee delivers up to 1.500 A , enough to jump-start many types of 12V battery-powered vehicles. It can store up to 16 Ah , which is sufficient to charge various electronic devices.
As for its features, it also has a flashlight (in this case with two LED lights) and USB ports for charging devices. It also has all the necessary safety features to ensure easy and safe use, including protection against short circuits, overcurrent, overload, overvoltage, overheating, etc.
Hulkman Alpha85
And finally, we reach the end of this list of jump starters with the most complete and capable model of the five. This jump starter not only has a current intensity of 2.000 A and a capacity of 20 Ah , but also several extra features.
With such intensity, it's a jump starter that few vehicles and situations can resist. The engine in question would have to be very large and heavy not to be able to start with 2.000 Amps. Hence, its manufacturer indicates that it can handle displacements of up to 8.5 liters in gasoline engines and 6.0 liters in diesel engines. That means it could even handle the enormous W16 engine of the Bugatti Chiron . Although probably only under favorable weather conditions.
However, as BuTure points out, it also allows you to charge your car battery via the car's 12V cigarette lighter socket. Furthermore, it can deliver voltages up to 15V at 10A through its DC output, which translates to a power output of 150W.
utrai jstar4
Finally, we have another of the most capable models, which can perform its function with all current cars, thanks to its 2500 A current. Its battery capacity is 24 Ah , so it can be used as a power bank for many devices, in addition to being a jump starter.
In addition to these capabilities, it has all the safety features you'd expect from a jump starter. These range from typical protections against short circuits, over-discharge, overload, overheating, and overvoltage, to protection against incorrect connection and reverse polarity. It also includes other useful features such as a smart chip with a display , a compass for camping trips, and a flashlight.
How to choose a good car jump starter
Amperage
The first factor to consider when buying a car jump starter is the current it can deliver. Starting a small 1.0-liter gasoline engine is not the same as starting a large 4.0-liter diesel. The product description will indicate the maximum engine displacement each model can handle.
Regardless of the brand you choose, it's best not to skimp on this because manufacturers tend to be overly optimistic about what their jump starters can do. This is especially true if you're going to start an engine with a nearly dead battery and/or in very low ambient temperatures.
For those facing very difficult situations , it's recommended that the car jump starter have high power or at least a Boost function . This means it can deliver a shock with a higher voltage peak in cases where there isn't enough power with normal use of the device.
Security
All the car jump starters we recommend in this list have the highest safety standards on the market, so you can rest assured in that regard. However, if you're considering other options, remember that they should have at least the following protections: overheating , overvoltage , overload , and short circuit protection.
In addition, it is also very important that it has protections to prevent problems in case of an accidental reverse connection (positive pole in the negative and vice versa) and reverse charging , which although it has a similar name, is a very different case: the passage of current from the car battery to the starter.
It's also a good idea to include a system to prevent the jump starter from completely discharging, especially given its typical use outside of a workshop—that is, very sporadic use. Otherwise, the charge level will drop significantly between uses, and the jump starter could be damaged.
different ports
Car jump starters usually come with several ports for charging different devices. This allows you to use their battery like a conventional power bank . They typically have two or more USB connections and one or two other types, such as USB -C , which is becoming increasingly common in electronic devices.
However, this isn't just a matter of practicality. Having multiple ports for charging your phone, tablet, or even a laptop is good for keeping the jump starter in good condition. Any battery will deteriorate more if it's never used than if it's used regularly. Therefore, the more compatible devices you have with the jump starter's ports, the more you'll be able to use it.
You'll see that the range of charging types these devices can deliver isn't the same for everyone. Some only offer fast mobile charging capabilities, for example: 5V/2.1A and 5V/2.4A/9V/2A, while others can charge larger devices, with voltages up to 19V and amperages up to 10A.
starter battery type
We recommend choosing a jump starter with a lithium battery , as they withstand longer periods of disuse better. Those that use a lead-acid battery deteriorate more quickly as they lose charge over time, because they are designed more for workshops or professional use, where they are constantly being charged and discharged. Furthermore, these latter types typically lack power bank functionality.
Jump starter battery capacity
As you may have seen in the starters that we mentioned, their batteries can have very different capacities. In this regard, you should mainly take into account three factors:
- If you are going to use the starter as a Powerbank for many devices, it had better have a lot of capacity.
- The more Ah you have, the longer it will take to discharge to a level where it is useless to start. Although if it has protection against excessive discharge, that time will be longer.
- How many times are you going to use it without being able to recharge it?. For a person who does not live in very cold and difficult conditions, it will not be more than once or twice that he will need to start his car.
How to use the jump starter?
Using a car jump starter is very simple, but you mustn't forget that you'll be working with electricity. Therefore, you should take the typical precautions you would when handling a car battery . In addition, since it's a high-powered device, there are some extra recommendations :
- You should not leave it connected to the car battery when you have started it. Once you have achieved it, the first thing you should do is remove it, turn it off and save it.
- If you have to use it more than once in the same car or in several, let the starter cool down when you see that it gets very hot. Each model has its own tolerances, so it is better to look at the instructions to see what the manufacturer in question says.
- If you want the car jump starter to perform at its full capacity, don't use it when it has less than half charge.
- Do not let the positive and negative clamps touch when the starter is on. The normal thing is that it has security systems, but even so it would be reckless.
Once you know the general safety recommendations for using jump starters, you are ready to get down to business with your model. Although it is always better to look at the specific instructions for your model, the most common steps are as follows:
- Insert the wires into the starter, which normally come integrated in an external unit, which is the one that includes most of the aforementioned security systems. For example, power cut in case you get the wrong poles or overvoltage.
- Hook the clips on the appropriate terminals of your battery, making sure that the other does not touch anything metallic such as the car body. In the case of starters, they normally recommend placing the positive (red) first and then the negative (black). Make sure that the tweezers firmly "bite" the terminals, so that they do not come loose at any point in the process.
- Start the car normally with the ignition key or push button start.
- Once the engine is already running, the next thing you should do without delay is remove the jump starter clips from the battery, in the reverse order you connected them.
Note : If you haven't been able to start your car with the jump starter, be aware that some have a boost function . In other words, they don't deliver their full amperage when used normally. If this is the case with your model, don't use this function on the first failed attempt. As mentioned before, wait for the jump starter to cool down a bit and try again in normal mode. If it still fails, you can consider using a higher power setting.
In some starters the boost or high amperage function is activated simply by pressing a button. In others, however, it is activated by using a needle to press into a hole for a few seconds.
Opinions: what is the best car jump starter for us?
The best jump starter will always be the one that best suits your needs. To give two extreme examples: the owner of a Ford Mustang GT with its 5.0-liter engine , who lives in a very cold climate, will need a very powerful jump starter. On the other hand, someone who will only use it to start a small Hyundai i10 1.2 MPI , and in a warm climate, will be fine with a less powerful and cheaper one.
Leaving aside these considerations that anyone should keep in mind when buying a jump starter, we award first place to the TackLife T8 . This model is the winner due to its excellent value for money, as despite being one of the most affordable, it boasts high power and ample capacity.
What is the best car jump starter?
It will depend on your needs, which in this case will be based on the climatic conditions in your area and the characteristics of the car.
How is a car jump starter used?
You have to connect the clamps to the positive and negative poles of your car battery. With this, you will be able to start it normally.
What prices do battery starters have?
Between €50-100, although it will depend on what you need for your car model. Not all of them are as easy to start as others, but we will explain what to base them on here.