The last thing you want during a road trip is for your car’s battery to suddenly run out of juice. And while you can technically call for help from someone on the road to jump-start it back up, not everybody’s got that kind of a soul, unfortunately. And receiving help from roadside assistance like AAA can take hours. So, what then?
Fortunately, in this day and age, you can take even jump-starting matters into your own hands. With a battery jump starter, you won’t need another car to get your vehicle back on the road. Here’s what you need to look for when getting this special device.
What is a battery jump starter?
A battery jump starter is a device that allows a user to jump-start their own vehicle when their car’s battery has little to no power left. Normally, a driver would have to rely on another vehicle for power if they were stranded on the highway, but battery jump starters give you the ability to do everything yourself without the need of a willing fellow driver.
Why do you need a battery jump starter?
Battery jump starters are quite useful for a few different reasons. Here are a few of them:
It lets you do everything yourself
A common way to jump-start your car’s battery is by finding someone with a car, asking them to park it close to yours, and plugging in both batteries together so that your batteries get charged by theirs. While this is a guaranteed solution, it requires another party for success, which can be difficult to find in the middle of nowhere or during nighttime.
With a battery jump starter, none of that is necessary. Everything you need to get your battery back up and running is inside the kit, and you don’t need to look for anyone else for help. Battery jump starters are perfect for DIY-minded individuals and those who are on the road often.
It can potentially save your life
If you went, say, camping with your vehicle, and wake up only to find your car out of juice, having a battery jump starter can potentially be a lifesaver. When in rural and secluded areas, it can be difficult to find help, so the guarantee of a battery jump starter can prevent you from getting stranded in the middle of nowhere. Battery jump starters are especially helpful if your car is older and you know it has battery issues, saving you from worrying about the worst-case scenario.
Things to consider when buying a battery jump starter
If you want a battery jump starter for your car, keep these tips in mind.
Performance
The key to choosing the best battery jump starter is by choosing one with the best performance. Now, there are many different ways to measure performance, and depending on how you look at it, some starters may perform better than others, but there’s one metric you must remember to consider— effectiveness in low temperatures.
If you live or travel anywhere with a cold climate, then you’ll definitely need a battery jump starter that works in low temperatures. Battery jump starters may work in 90-degree weather, but things start to become problematic once they hit sub-zero temperatures. Some battery jump starters just won’t work in these conditions, rendering your life-saving tool useless in a time when you need it most. Unfortunately, not all car jump starters mention their performance in extreme temperature conditions. You’ll often have to consult review guides for those.
Battery life
A battery jump starter kit will need its own battery if it’s able to supply any sort of power to your car’s battery. As such, you’ll need to find one with long battery life to ensure that there’s juice left in the tank any day of the week.
A side note: be sure to charge the battery every now and then just to be on the safe side. The last thing you’d want is for you to run out of battery power on your car, and only to find out that your battery jump starter’s out of juice, too.
Make sure you have the proper tools, like extension cords and plugs, to charge the jump starter. Most starters should explain what they require for charging if it’s not included in the purchase.
Battery jump starter price range
Battery jump starters are not the most inexpensive tool. They can probably cost as little as $50 per set. This usually already comes with jumper cables and a plug to let you charge through your house. Not all sets will include jumper cables nor will they have the same charging capacity. A higher capacity and additional features will cost you closer to $100. While these are not the cheapest items, they will help you get moving when you need help ASAP.
How do we choose the best battery jump starters?
We choose the best battery jump starters according to their brand history, performance, and customer reviews. We look at how efficient they are, how easy they are to use, their cost, additional features, and durability. Customer reviews, brand, and more are also considered so we can get the full picture of each product so we’re sure to recommend only the best ones.
FAQs
Q: Will battery jump starters start a dead battery?
A: Even dead batteries can start working again with a strong enough battery jump starter. This will save you time and get you back on the road to your destination faster than if you had to wait for a good samaritan or other assistance to help you out.
Q: Can a battery be too dead to be jump-started?
A: No. Any battery can be jump-started, no matter how “dead” you may think it is. If jumping the battery doesn't work, there is likely another issue that is preventing the battery from restarting.
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