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Being a super hero in real life doesn't require a costume or super powers. You can be a hero on the road simply by carrying a jump starter with you that can help re-start a stranded car. Having jump starting gear on hand in the winter time is key because batteries are placed under stress in cold weather and often need a re-start.
Before trying to jump start your vehicle, it's smart to have a basic understanding of how a car battery works. In a helpful article, Firestone explains some key points. The battery uses a chemical reaction to create electrical power. Cables deliver this power from the battery to the vehicle's starter, which requires voltage to start the engine.
When the battery doesn't have enough power to deliver the voltage needed for the starter, the vehicle won't start. When your battery is low on power, you can jump start the battery by giving it the boost of power it needs to allow the car to start.
Car batteries eventually wear out and fail. Most vehicle batteries will last for three to five years, according to NAPA. Extremely hot weather isn't good for the lifespan of the battery, though, and neither are constant short trips of 20 minutes or less.
Cold weather also creates problems for a car battery, as the cold weather stresses and drains the battery, causing it to struggle to generate the initial burst of power needed to start the vehicle. That's why a vehicle can be more difficult to start in cold weather.
There are a few different types of jump starters you can buy for your car.
Before using any type of jump starter, make sure you know exactly how to use it safely. If you make a major error in setting up the jump starting device or use it incorrectly, you could create a dangerous situation. After all, we are dealing with electricity here. Or you could cause damage to your vehicle. In other words, when jump starting a car, be careful, use common sense, and ask for help when you need it.
Updated 10/25/19 by Jada Wong: Updated prices, formatting, and links.
The NOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 jump starter delivers just the right amount of power to start your car again. The booster has special technology that ensures it won't cause sparks. It also offers reverse polarity protection to deliver a safe connection.
As an added bonus, this jump starter contains a USB port for charging your mobile devices like a battery pack. If you're stranded on the side of the road, the jump starter also has an LED flashlight with an emergency strobe function, so you can alert passersby to your presence.
The Genius Boost Plus GB40 may not look like it can handle tough conditions, but it's a durable jump starter that can deliver up to 1,000 amps. You can jump start your car up to 20 times with the NOCO. The Tool Nerds' review liked that it was a high-powered device and that you can also get a more powerful version. NOCO offers jump starters with 400, 2,000, or 4,000 amps.
Perhaps the best thing about this jump starter is that it can be used on just about any car. Even if you have a diesel engine, the NOCO GB40 can jump start it for you. One Amazon buyer loves the versatility of the NOCO jump starter, as it works with almost any kind of engine someone will make use of at home.
However, one Amazon reviewer is disappointed that the Genius Boost Plus only can be charged over a USB connection, which means if you want to plug it into a wall outlet to charge it, you must purchase an AC-to-USB adapter.
NOCO offers a one-year limited warranty and free lifetime customer support, so if you run into any problems, give NOCO a call.
Pros: Gives you good versatility for the price you'll pay, contains many safety features, should jump start most vehicles you would use at home, includes USB ports to charge mobile devices, includes a flashlight
Cons: Cannot charge the GB40 from a wall outlet without buying an adapter, doesn't match its longevity claims
The Beatit 800A Peak Portable Car Jump Starter can help you when your vehicle is stuck in a tough situation with a dead battery, and you won't mind carrying it all the time, because it fits easily in your car's glove box.
The Beatit device delivers 800 amps of peak current, which is plenty to jump start most vehicles, and you can recharge the unit in as little as 5.5 hours. Because it's so small, the jump starter fits easily in your car, so you're never stuck on the side of the road again.
Even though this jump starter is small, it can deliver enough power to restart up to a 6.0-liter gas engine or a 5.0-liter diesel turbine.
Buyers on Amazon like this one say the Beatit jump starter successfully re-started the car during a cold night, even though the device's instruction manual was poorly written and confusing.
You can charge the Beatit 800A Peak Portable Car Jump Starter from a variety of sources, including a wall outlet, a car charging outlet, or a USB connection. In its review, Car Understanding says that having all these charging options is a great bonus. Plus, the kit ships with all of the adapters you need for charging.
If you ever run into problems, Beatit offers a two-year warranty and customer service.
Pros: Contains all of the components you need to charge and use it, small enough to fit inside a glove box, able to start most vehicles you'd use at home, offered at a good price point
Cons: May not work if left idle for a long time, may not start some bigger engines
When you want old-school peace of mind for jump starting a vehicle, a pair of heavy-duty jumper cables are always good to have on hand.
In contrast with battery-powered jump starters, you don't have to worry about whether you remembered to charge the jump starter. You just have another vehicle on hand from which to draw power.
You'll receive a travel bag and a pair of safety gloves along with the EPAuto 20-foot cables, which makes it easier to use the equipment safely. Thoroughly Reviewed says the EPAuto jumper cables use a 4-gauge size, which should accommodate batteries on most vehicles. The cables won't tangle, either.
One Amazon reviewer says the cables' 20-foot length makes them easy to use and connect between two cars.
Pros: High quality cable thickness, 20-foot length means the two cars don't have to be extremely close to each other, clamp size that will fit most battery terminals, extremely good price point
Cons: Quality of materials in clamps could be better, tough to fit cables back in the travel bag
The Jump-N-Carry Premium Jump Starter offers plenty of power for all kinds of vehicles, so you'll never be stranded with a dead battery again.
The jump starter offers 1,700 peak amps, 425 cranking amps, and 68-inch jumper cables. It even has a small screen on the front so you can see the progress of your jump starter. You also can charge your phone and other devices with the two USB ports on the device. Just remember to recharge the jump starter so you have enough juice.
The Jump-N-Carry has good cranking power and the number of jumps you get on a charge is great. Perhaps best of all, Jump Starter Reviews says this device is small enough to be stored almost anywhere, but it delivers plenty of power.
One Amazon reviewer says the Jump-N-Carry starter is a little heavy to carry, but it delivers an excellent performance level, allowing for quick jump starts on most vehicles.
Pros: Reliable jump starter that will fit multiple vehicles, includes USB ports for charging mobile devices, long jumper cables make jump starting a car convenient, works quickly
Cons: Longevity beyond a few years is questionable, unit is a little heavy to carry easily
When you need a safe way to keep your battery at a full charge when it's not in use – and when you want to save some money up front – the Schumacher 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Battery Maintainer is the device for you.
The Schumacher trickle charger works on 6- and 12-volt batteries, keeping them charged while in storage or keep them at full charge during cold weather. The charger ships with jumper cables and ring connectors so you can hook it up to your car.
The Car Battery Help review says because the Schumacher trickle charger is fully automatic, it's one of the easiest chargers to use. It's also safe to use, as it includes short circuit protection, spark proof capabilities, and reverse polarity protection.
In addition, the charger analyzes the feedback it receives from the battery during the charging process, so it won't damage the battery by overcharging it.
One Amazon buyer says the Schumacher 1.5 Amp Speed Charge Battery Maintainer isn't the most powerful trickle charger available, but it works well for the price you'll pay.
However, a few Amazon reviewers say this model has quality control and longevity issues that cause it to sometimes drain the battery instead of charging it. It does come with a one-year warranty, so if you have a problem, contact Schumacher.
Pros: Very low price point for a battery trickle charger, plenty of features to ensure the battery charges safely, battery charges automatically once you set it up, extremely easy to use
Cons: Problems with longevity, if you don't set up the charger properly it could drain the battery instead of charging it
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