![]() ![]() If you travel long distances, own several cars or have a job that includes jump starting batteries (such as roadside assistance), then capacity will be crucial. This is measured in milliamp hours (mAh), just like the average power bank. It also indicates how many charges it can provide to other devices, such as phones and tablets. A jump starter’s capacity relates to how many times - or for how long - it can send power to the car’s battery. Commercial trucks, on the other hand, could need products rated in the 3,000 to 5,000 peak amp range. Most consumer vehicles, such as compact sedans up to mid size SUVs, require from 300 to 600 amps to start, which is easily achievable by a quality jump starter rated at 1,000 peak amps. Unfortunately, not every company discloses these three measurements many simply highlight the peak amps because it’s a more impressive number. If the product doesn’t advertise the cold cranking amps, it might mention the temperatures at which it works. This makes cranking amps the more realistic measurement of the two, since it’s the one that’ll do most of the work.įinally, there are the cold cranking amps, which is how many amps a device can pump out in 0° weather. Peak amps refers to the maximum discharge a jump starter can provide for a limited time (one to three seconds), while cranking amps is a more stable discharge that can be held for several seconds or even over a minute in some models. There are three different types of amps to consider when browsing for jump starters. Generally speaking, when a larger and more powerful vehicle is dead, it’ll require a jump starter with higher amps to bring it back to life. Amps are the main spec to look at in jump starters the number indicates how much power can be delivered to the car battery to jump start an engine. Here are some other things to keep in mind when shopping for jump starters: We made an exception because there are still no lithium battery jump starters that include an air compressor, so those who want that two-in-one versatility will have to look at lead-acid models, of which there are still many high-quality options. Most of our jump starter selections are lithium-based. However, that has also been slowly surpassed by lithium, especially with the addition of technology to protect the batteries from outside cold or preheat them before use.įinally, high amps are easy to come by on lithium jump starters now, so they also fit the idea of “heavy duty,” even if their size doesn’t show it. One advantage lead-acid batteries were thought to have was their performance in cold weather. At the moment, lithium batteries hold their charge for triple the time of lead-acid batteries. Lithium also holds a charge for much longer now. Just like power banks, lithium jump starters are rechargeable through common USB ports and easily found online from $60 to $100 - though some models are listed for much higher prices. Even so, they're generally small enough to store in the glove compartment, instead of the trunk. The typical lithium-based jump starter is roughly 1 to 3 pounds, though larger models can almost reach 10 pounds and 12” in length. Lead-acid models are usually fairly bulky and weigh from 30 to 40 pounds. Lithium batteries (mostly lithium ion, the type of battery inside your phone and laptop) can have significantly more capacity in less than half the space than a lead-acid battery. While some mechanics and car enthusiasts still consider lead-acid jump starters “heavy duty” due to their long standing reputation and their availability from top brands, the reality is that lithium technology has come a long way. Jump starters: Lithium or lead-acid batteries? While you can still find these jump starters around, there are also newer portable lithium models, which are similar to the battery banks used to charge your phone. But these models have generally been as big and heavy as an actual car battery, and they contained inefficient lead-acid batteries inside. Jump starters have actually been available for quite a while. Jump starters, also called jump packs, boosters and battery chargers, have become more common and far more accessible than before. However, there is now an easy way to jump start your car without having to rely on someone else to come to your aid. Otherwise, that hike would become much longer than you’d planned. In the past, you needed to call a roadside assistance service or find someone with another car and jumper cables to get your vehicle started. Even worse, you could go for a hike and find the battery is drained when you get back, stuck in the middle of nowhere. It’s awful to hop into your car for work only to find out it has a dead battery. It's a new product, so long-term durability is unknown.
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