In bad weather, vehicles with aging batteries, and in unforeseen circumstances, a portable car battery charger is essential for jump-starting.
A quick jump is essential when your car won’t start in the morning due to a cold morning and you hear a clicking sound. Using jumper cables or calling a tow truck once meant trusting in the kindness of strangers, but now, there is an alternative: a portable jump starter.
Car Battery Charger Or Jump Starter?
Many jump starters and car battery chargers come with built-in accessories that make them especially useful. Most portable battery jump starters come with an option to recharge with a standard extension cord, USB port, wall outlet adapter, or cigarette lighter-style 12-volt adapter in running vehicles. Some options include a combination of all four options for charging.
Car battery chargers charge batteries at a much lower voltage than jumper cables and jump starters. This encourages the battery to last longer and is safer for the user.
The portable batteries function as intended: boost the dead battery to start the vehicle. Jumper clamps are included with all battery boosters so they can connect to an auto battery terminal. Most also provide reverse polarity protection. Some devices come with semi-permanent attachments that allow them to be easily connected to your vehicle’s starting electrical system without requiring the use of booster clamps. Battery jump starter packs are usually equipped with a flash or area light, as well as a USB port for charging electronic devices. However, those features are only a small part of what they offer.
Is there anything else it can do? You can use a portable car battery pack or charger to power your laptop several times longer than it’s built-in battery on a single charge. Would you like a battery charger equipped with an air compressor so you can fill up your raft at the lake or a low tire before you leave the airport? You got it.
A car battery charger or jump starter with an AC inverter would allow you to plug in a radio, a lamp, or another small appliance during a power outage or at a campsite.
The features of these jumper packs do add weight and bulk (these devices wouldn’t fit in your glove box) but their value can outweigh the extra weight thanks to their capability, convenience, and preparation. Having enough battery power can help you prepare for most roadside emergencies.
What Kind of Portable Battery Jump Starter Do I Need?
A portable battery jump starter should be chosen based on its intended use. Some portable car jump starters are more limited in what they allow you to do than most car battery chargers. A portable car battery with a built-in AC inverter will probably not be necessary if you are not concerned about running a small TV when the power goes out, so ensure that the features in the battery are adequate for your needs.
Also Read: Car Battery Chargers vs. Jump Starters
How Many amps Should a Portable Jump Starter Have?
There is usually an indicator of the start amps on portable jump starters. This is especially important if you plan to use your portable battery primarily for jumping engines. It could take as much as 500 amps to turn over a dead battery when it’s cold, especially in a big V8 engine. With a battery jump starter made for four-cylinders, it will be harder to do that.
Most manufacturers rate their portable car starters and motorcycle jump starter batteries based on the engine type. Read the fine print so you can determine how many amps the battery can crank. Peak amps aren’t important.
Read more about how car battery chargers and jump starters can help start your car here.
