A Guide to Auto Jump Starters

You’ve just gotten done with a full day of shopping. Cold and tired, you can’t wait to get back into your car and crank up the heat. With shopping bags safely in the trunk, you rush into the driver’s seat slamming the door behind you. Quickly you stick the key into the ignition expecting to hear the loud roar of your motor turning over. Only it doesn’t. Again you try, yet again silence.

We have all been in similar situations. We all come to the conclusion that you have a dead battery. Perhaps it just too old, or maybe you left the headlights on. Now in the age of cellphones you can call a family member or close friend and ask them to drive out with the jumper cables. Or you can wait for AAA if you can afford the membership. Too commonly over looked, however, is having the forethought and self-reliance of owning an auto jump starter.

If you have no idea what auto jump starters are, or like the idea of quickly solving problems yourself without waiting around for others to help, then continue reading and you will have all the information you will ever need to understanding and making an educated decision when purchasing one.

Essentially an auto jump starter is a portable battery with a build in saftey features. These portable jump starters can weight roughly half the amount as a car battery itself, and they have the same voltage and amperage as the car's battery. They can be brought anywhere independent of a wall outlet and give a dead battery a jump start back to life. They have been made for simple and straightforward operation. You do not need to be a mechanic to use one. My 66 year old Grandmother owns, and has used an auto jump starter.

Right out of the box you will want to plug the auto jump starter into a wall outlet. Allow it to charge for the allotted time specified in the owner’s manual, often about 4 to 12 hours. Once fully charged you have the option of throwing it in the trunk of your car and forgetting about until it is needed or you could also just as well leave it in the garage. Occasionally you will want to check and possibly recharge the unit to ensure that it has not lost too much power, because batteries regardless of whether they are being used or not, will lose power overtime. Even the cheapest auto jump starter will keep about an 80% charge after 6 months in storage - enough to jump start a pretty dead car or truck battery,

Using an Auto Jump Starter is Super-Simple:

• The starter will come with what look like a pair of jumper cables. They are around two feet in length and attach to the respective battery terminals.
  
• Attach the black cable (negative) to the negative battery post, often marked on the battery with a – sign.
  
• Next attach the red cable (positive) to the positive battery post, marked with a + sign.
  
• Flip on the power switch on the auto jump starter.  Allow a few between for the starter to recharge your system and then you can try starting the car. Typically it may take one or two tries. If the car is not trying to turn over, then check to make sure there is good contact between the cables copper teeth and the battery posts.

The benefits of using an auto jump starter over old fashion "jumper cables" methods are mainly those of convenience, time savings, and safety. Jump starting one vehicle with another with even an expensive "premium" set of jumper cables can take quite a bit of time to charge. If you battery is "fully drained" (not even making a 'clicking' noise when cranking) it's unlikey that your vehicle will start right away. With Jumper Cables, you typically have to wait anywhere from 10-15 minutes for your dead battery to have enough of a recharge to attempt to start the car. If your car is “lucky” enough to have a dead battery at your home, then you could hook up a battery charger, but again this takes time, even hours - and getting "stuck" in your driveway is hardly as scary as the prospects of a dark, deserted parking lot or road.

With auto jump starters you can get your vehicle running instantly. The purpose of the auto jump starter is not to "recharge" your system per se, but rather to simply get your vehicle started. This will allow your vehicle to recharge the dead battery as you drive. By the time you arrive at your destination you should have a battery that is close to being fully charged.

Let’s take a look at some of the top name brands and go over some technical specifications that will allow you to buy exactly what you are looking for.
Schumacher, Black-n-decker, Clore Automotive, and Jump-n-Carry are  the top brands in auto jump starters that I recommend. No matter what brand you are looking at there are key specs to look at.

Cold Cranking Amps (also known as CCA) are very important when looking at different auto jump starter. This rating describes the ability of the jump starter to start an engine in cold weather. Many times the cause of a dead battery can be from extended exposure to cold temperatures. The higher an auto jump starter please mix some plaurals also auto jump starters CCA the better. When looking at anything to do with amperes the higher the number the better. A good rule of thumb is to go with an auto jump starter that has at least 400 CCA's. A higher ampere rating will come with a higher price tag.

If your budget allows about $125, my number #1 recommendation in auto jump starters is the Clore Automotive JNC660, which delivers 425 Cold Cranking Amps. If you're on a budget, or live in warmer climates, I would point you in the direction of the Stanley J309 Auto Jump Starter. Although the J309 has 300 Cold Cranking Amps, it can work quite well in smaller to mid sized vehicles or in climates that stay above 32 degree F year round (cold weather requires a lot more "Cold" Cranking Amps). The Stanley J309 sells for around $50.

Getting the full amount of amps from your jump starter to your dead battery require good, heavy gauge (thick copper) cables. Too often overlooked in jumper cables and jump starter cables is the quality. When we are talking about quality we mean the wire gauge - the measure of thickness of the cables copper conductor. The thicker the cable is the better transfer of electricity you will receive. In the "Under-$75" auto jump starters, unfortunately,  the actual wire gauge is often not listed. If the wire thickness is listed, look for a wire gauge of #4 or less. Remember, the LOWER the gauge the better.

Various brands will have different ways of operation. All are made with the ease of use in mind. A typical auto jump starter will have an on/off switch and some way of selecting the desired amperage. They come with a test button, which when held down for a certain amount of seconds, will display the current charge on the unit. This is a must for any jump starter.

It is smart to go with a name brand. The above mentioned brands are all very reliable, since there's no practical way of "testing" these portable chargers, a respectable, highly reviewed  name brand is perhaps the most important factor in selecting one of these units. If going with a cheaper or "unknown" brand, around the $50 range, be sure to periodically check that the auto jump starter is holding a charge. The mid tier  models will cost anywhere from $80 - $125. These starters will definitely hold a charge longer than a less expensive brand. High-end portable or auto  jump starters the basic requirement for those responsible for a fleet of vehicles that may need multiple charges in a single trip, as well as those who deal with commercial equipment like tow trucks and heavy duty trucks. One of the best high-end auto jump starters is the Jump-n-Carry JN950, outputting 2000 peak amps, and an massive 950 Cold Cranking Amps.

Build in Air Compressors, Worklights and 12 Volt Outlets:

Top brands like Schumacher and Black-n-decker have a variety of models. Each model comes with different features that can be useful given other automotive needs. Black-n-decker along with many other brands, have build-in air compressors into most of their models, like the Black-n-Decker JUS500 or the  Cobra 350 Portable Charger/Compressor . This is useful for a low or flat tire, as well as inflating sports-water accessories and balls. Most auto jump starters come with high intensity  worklights built in, which can be a lifesaver in dark nights or unlit situations.

Also commonly found on auto jump starters are 12 volt ("cigarette lighter") outlets. 12 V outlets are more and more common with automotive accessories these days. If your battery is dead and you're stuck in the middle of nowhere, wouldn't it be nice to be able to "plug in" your cell phone charger where GPS navigator to the included 12 V receptacle on your auto jump starter, in power your accessories even if you're carnal can't start?

Warranty and Service Repair:

All auto jump starters featured in my article have at least a one year manufacturers warranty. A strong warranty, such as those offered by the major manufacturers I listed, is considered a "must have", because auto jump starters don't contain any end user (meaning you and I) serviceable parts and accessories. With something as important as your personal safety, is imperative that you don't fool around with the reliability and functionality of a battery jump starter that you're going to only use in emergency situations. himMany manufacturerslike Clore Automotive have a unique benefit that comes with their jump starters. Each unit comes with a repair voucher that allows the unit to be repaired or services for a low, fixed cost (one time only) when the unit is outside original one year warranty. Since the lead-acid batteries in automotive jump starters have a finite lifespan (usually around five years, just like their automobile counterparts), it's reassuring to know that you can simply box up your auto jump starter, and send it along with the coupon and payment for a low fixed price repair service (often around $50), and your unit will be sent back to you like new, straight from the manufacturer. It doesn't matter what's wrong with the charger - the "Flat Rate ($50) Fee" will cover ANY repair after the initial warranty expires.

Who Should Own an Auto Jump Starter?

The answer is pretty simple, if you were to ask me: anyone who owns a car.  For drivers themselves, or those who simply have loved ones who are drivers, auto jump starters are one of the most practical and useful accessories that you could ever buy. If you only use it once it, then it has likely already paid for itself. Auto jump starters are instant solutions to jump starting a dead battery. Simply charge the unit up and forget about it (just don't forget you own one when the time comes that you need it!). There is often no price you can put on something that you know will be there when you need it - in other works, quiet peace-of-mind. Do you really want your wife or child sitting around in a cold, dark car with a dead battery, waiting around for the tow truck or road service to come?

Everyone has either jump started or needed a booster from another. Families with new drivers should definitely consider purchasing. It will give the parents peace of mind while their loved one is learning the functionality of the car.
Auto jump starters are relatively new to the automotive world. They were designed with functionality in mind. The straightforward operation allows anyone to use them quickly and efficiently. If you have not already purchased a portable auto jump starter, then now is the time.

Victor's Quick Recap on Auto Jump Starters:

• Stay with one of these Brands: Schumacher, Black-n-decker, Clore Automotive, orJump-n-Carry
• If your budget is under 100 bucks, buy something with at least 275 CCA's, like the Stanley C309 (300 CCA)
  
• If you have a Truck, SUV, RV, or even Boat, get at least 400 CCA's like the Clore 660 (425 CCA)
• Aside from Cold Cranking Amps (CCA), Terminal wire gauge thickness is second most important - lool for an auto jump starter with #6 Gauge 100% copper wire. The LOWER the gauge, the better.
• "Must Have" Features: Some sort of voltage meter or charge indictor show the status of the auto jump starter.
  
• "Nice to Have Features": Build in Worklight, Air Compressor, and/or 12 Volt Outlet.
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