Do you have a fleet of vehicles to maintain? But they do have enough juice to power 12V accessories for a few hours, the Dewalt DXAEJ14 and Stanley J5C09 even have USB ports to get a couple of charges on mobile devices. Peak Amps: 1700 | Dimensions: 16.3x14.1x5.1inches | Weight: 18 lbs. Not the Weego 44: We found its clamps easier to open than all the others, and this pair opened wider. #2 Best For Heavy-Duty Vehicles: JF.EGWO Versatile Jump Starter ULTRA. You can charge it via the 12V power plug or USB, although the latter method can take anywhere from two to 11 hours depending on the wall charger you use. If you screw up, youll get an alert and a chance to try again. But that doesnt mean you can easily figure out what types of vehicles a given model is actually capable of starting. The Beler Solar Battery Power Pack is an outlier that piqued our curiosity enough for us to include it in our tests. An onboard flashlight seems convenient, but you probably have one on your phone. 2022Recurrent Ventures. We are preserving the guide here since it still contains valuable context and information that some readers may want. Key Features The CAT CJ3000 is a portable jump starter that delivers 2000 peak amps and 1000 instant amps. Inside, a molded-plastic insert has a spot for each partthe battery, the cables and clamps, and the accessoriesbut its laid out in such a way that we could never get things to sit just right. Shut the engine off and restart, shut off and restart, shutoff and restart. Although the numbers can fluctuate a little, the important part is that even a large engine with a very drained battery can rise from the dead when you have a Weego Jump Starter 44 on hand. However, it comes with a slightly lower 54Wh when compared to other lithium-ion battery packs. We ran all the models through a series of tests designed to identify the limits of their performance. Weegos clamps are the best of any jump starter we tried. Jump Starter Buying Guide, Consumer Reports, Wayne Cunningham, Three pocket-size jump starters, Roadshow by CNET, April 28, 2014. This model can start larger V8 engines, and it has effective safety features and sturdy clamps almost as good as our top picks. Each was subjected to the same testing metrics and scored accordingly. We appreciated that the Dewalt proves useful even when we aren't testing jump start capability. (PowerAll, one of the few companies to offer phone support, sticks to a one-year warranty.) You cant always count on the kindness of strangers. And if you forget just one time, you might be stuck in a parking lot. All of the jump starters we tested had a maximum recommended operating/storage temperature, ranging from 120 degrees Fahrenheit for the Pilot InstaBoost up to 185 degrees for the Bolt Power D28. Prices for jump starters range depending on what features they have, but it should be possible to find a decent option for $50 or $60. Battery jump starters are nothing new, but until now, ones that worked well in our tests were sized like a hardcover dictionary powered by heavy lead-acid batteries. This is because these models utilize SLA batteries, which discharge more rapidly than lithium-ion batteries. Because the ignition systems in todays cars are so efficient, you may not get a warning before finding out your cars battery is run down. Because running the engine for even a short time can add a surface charge to a cars battery, we ran the lights and other accessories after each jump-starter test until we got the batterys charge back down to 10.5 V or less and had a consistent reading for at least five minutes. Peak Amps: 1000 | Dimensions: 11.25x8x3.5 inches | Weight: 17.2 lbs. The PowerAll Deluxe PBJS12000-R is a good choice if you need to start a larger engine but dont want to spend much more than our top pick costs. See Wherever We Go, We Bring the Weego 44s Portable Jump Starter for more about the staff-favoriteWeego Jump Starter 44s. The HULKMAN Alpha85S voltage output was simply unmatched during our assessment. Even the minor features of the Weego 44 are a little better than those of the competition. What type of jump starter do you need for your home? But cars and midsize SUVs generally wont need the extra power, so most people wont get extra value in paying the higher price. 1000 peak amp lithium ion jump starter and usb power source (12 pages) . . Accessory cables: Each jump starter can also work to power and recharge personal electronics such as phones, tablets, portable music players, and laptops; many come with extra cables and tips (Micro-USB, Mini-USB, 30-pin, Lightning, and so on) for connecting those devices. The size and weight of the models from the nine brands we tried were relatively similar, but we saw big differences in the better cables and clamps (shown in the next photo). In our tests, the XL1s starting output was comparable to that of the previous version, so it should have no problem starting large, V8 engines. Don't let the compact size of the GOOLOO 1200A Peak fool you. We buy all the products ourselves. PowerAll, for example, says its models can operate between -20 degrees and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and should never be allowed to get above about 175 degrees. The TACKLIFE is a rugged unit with multiple USB outlets and water-resistant construction. The Weego 22s delivered a peak of about 150A when it was needed, just about the same as a standard, fully charged car battery provided before we started testing. The TackLife T8 Pro was another high-quality power pack, using durable materials and a very secure carrying case that is also fire and water-resistant. We monitored voltage and current during boosts and, when possible, would bypass the battery altogether to see how many cold-starts we could get out of each power pack. our process. If you are the opposite and you know that you will be using your device often and you may even want it to have 12 volt power capabilities as well as a compressor, we think the Dewalt DXAEJ14 is the way to go. The kit also comes with a wall charger, as well as a standard 12V car charger for charging the jumper pack from your cars accessory outlet (while the car is running, of course); you should plan to plug it in for a top-off every six months or so. Offers the same sturdy clamp design as our top pick, plus the extra power to start larger V8 engines. If you need to jump-start a larger engine than our top pick can handle, or if the Weego 22s isnt available or costs more than about $80 when youre shopping, we recommend the PowerAll Deluxe PBJS12000-R for its combination of power, safety features, build quality, and value. As a general safety note, you typically dont need to worry about dropping a portable jump starter, but as it has a stack of lithium battery cells inside, you shouldnt pierce or crush it. The PowerAll Deluxe also performed well in our early-2017 tests with the larger 5.7L V8 engine in one of our Ram 1500 pickups. #3 Best Value: Fanttik T8 APEX Best of all, it comes with one of the largest capacity batteries you'll find. Also, the only way to charge it is with a USB cable, and if you'd like to charge it indoors, a wall cube is not included. 4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars (63) $79.97 $ 79. A jump starters clamps can be a make-or-break feature. We've extensively analyzed products like the best dash cams, the top radar detectors, and the best-performing car chargers. We still dont recognize that sign in. The chemistry of your portable jumper's battery matters when it comes to caring for it. In addition, some of the competing generic clamps have their safety circuits and error lights on a big box right on the plug, near the connection to the battery pack; this design feels like a stress point that would make it easier to knock the cable out. The Schumacher Ultracapacitor Hybrid Jump Starter delivers 900 amps of cranking power, which should fire just about anything up to a semi-truck. When cheaper clamps twist, they make it hard to get a secure connection, or threaten to pop off battery terminals altogether. On top of that, the JumPack XL lacks an audible alarm to notify you of a reversed connection, which is something we like about our picks from Weego and PowerAll. If that happens, let the device cool down before trying to jump a car. Read more. We looked at waterproof ratings, switch and control durability, cable length, and the overall feel of the devices. But even if you have a set handy, you still need to call a friend or relative and wait for them to rescue youor you need to find a stranger whos willing and able to park their car nearby and give your vehicle a jump. The Dewalt DXAEJ14 and TopVision Power Pack were less intuitive and required that we consult the manuals for proper use. When we connected the negative clamp to the positive post and attached the positive clamp to the negative post, the final connection sparked and the metal fused together, chewing up our battery post when we removed it. If the plug that goes into the jump starter has a large box with status lights and safety circuitry, handling the whole contraption and finding a place to rest the device in your engine bay can be a little awkward. We chose to examine products that utilized both sealed lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries to comprehensively understand each type's functional capabilities. Taylor Clemons is a tech writer who has written for IndieHangover, GameSkinny, and Steam Shovelers. If you want the peace of mind of having a reliable jump starter in your vehicle but don't want to know that it's there -- the GB40 is the way to go. I previously had two Coleman 18 volt ni-cad homeowner grade drills (also from Menard's). While there are many options on the market, we take the time to find out which offers the best overall performance. Unfortunately, the device manufacturers were guarded on the potential consequences of storing these units at high temperatures. We purchased 10 mini jump starters, ranging in price from $70 to $125, and ran four separate tests on the car batteries, using different states of charge, working down to completely dead. The cables are permanently attached, so unlike most other models of this style, the second you need a jump you can hook up and get going. The Anker Compact Car Jump Starter and Portable Charger provides only an error light when its battery connections are reversed, unlike our picks, which also have an audible tone that immediately tells you something is wrong. This threshold varies from model to model, and the Ankers was likely set higher than the ones in our picks.). The HULKMAN Alpha85S was easily the top model for this assessment, lasting longer than any of the competition. Weego introduced the clamp design in the larger Jump Starter 44, which we still recommend as an upgrade pick. Since the less expensive Deluxe was able to start our large pickup-truck engine and offers plenty of capacity to do the job a few times, we dont see any reason for most people to spring for this model instead. Many models have enough power to let you do this several times before you need to recharge the jump starter itself. If your car wont start because of a dead battery, having a portable jump starter handy can put you back on the road a lot more quickly than getting a jump from another car or waiting for roadside assistanceand youre not dependent on finding an available friend or Good Samaritan to help you out. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Calling for roadside assistance is another option, especially if youre in real trouble or need a tow, and some services will even deliver a fresh battery if yours is beyond salvaging, but if all you need is a quick jump start, waiting for a tech can be maddening.