May
31
Having a dead car or truck battery can leave you stranded in dangerous situations, like an isolated parking lot on the bad side of town. In these situations, having an emergency battery jump starter is not just a good idea, it is a must have safety tool. Simply connect the jump starter to the battery, start it up, and drive away.
There are many power ratings available for portable jump starters. They start at about 200 cold cranking amps and go up to over 3,000 amps, but the average is around 400 amps. The smaller jump starters are perfect for small vehicles with 4 or 6 cylinder engines. In order to start the larger V8 engines you would need more power. Most perform in 12 volt-mode but some can perform at 24 volts as well to boost large diesel engines.
Basic jump starters come equipped with heavy duty cables and clamps to hook to your vehicle’s battery and a power meter to show the charge level. Better boosters have safety features such as sound alerts and reverse polarity detectors to prevent hooking them to the battery backwards as well as vehicle alternator voltage checks.
Jump starters can come with optional features such as built-in lights to provide light during dark times, power outlets to provide power for small electronics like GPS units and portable DVD players, and DC charging cords to recharge them from your vehicle. Some jump starters even come with built-in air compressors for inflating tires, sports equipment, pool toys, and more.
The low-end jump starter units start out about $50 to $90. Duracell makes several of these models. The more features you add and the more amps you need, the higher the price. The high-end jump starters range from about $200 to over $400. Clore Automotive sells units this size. Even the higher priced models are well worth the investment when compared to the danger and uncertainty of a roadside emergency.
