A jump starter is a sensible accessory to have in your car or your emergency kit. They are an efficient, easy to use and affordable piece of equipment that can make all the difference when you’re experiencing trouble with your car battery.
There are lots of options available and each jump starter offers different features and abilities making it difficult to find the best option. The following reviews and buyer’s guide can help you find the best jump starter for your needs.
1. GOOLOO Upgraded 2000A Peak SuperSafe Car Jump Starter (Top Pick)
This portable jump starter and power bank combo is on hand to assist with all your charging needs while on the road. This is a reliable kit that will get your vehicle started without the need for a donor vehicle.
This starter features advanced safety technology including overload, over-charge and over-voltage protection. The set is durable, well-made and comes with a handy storage case.
The quick charge 3.0 USB ports can be used to efficiently charge any USB powered device and you can also charge the jump starter itself via the USB Type-C input.
What We Like:
- Reliable
- Safe to use
- Doubles up as a USB power bank
What We Don’t Like:
- Doesn’t include a cigarette socket adapter
2. NOCO GB70 GENIUS BOOST 12v Jump Starter Lithium-ion 2000AMP
This is a portable, lightweight and compact jump starter from NOCO. It can start a dead battery in seconds and has enough power to carry out up to 40 jump starts on one charge.
This jump starter is mistake-proof, and it uses important safety features including spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection. The integrated light is a useful feature that can help in emergency situations and when your car battery is flat during the night.
You can also use this unit to charge USB devices and to power 12-volt devices such as tyre pumps. The lights on the front of the starter indicate battery life so you never get caught short without any power.
What We Like:
- Compact
- Long-lasting charge
- Can also be used to power tyre pumps
What We Don’t Like:
- To be 100% charged it needs to charge via the cigarette lighter outlet when the car is running (a wall outlet does not charge the unit fully)
3. ROOBOOST 1500A Peak Ultra-Safe Car Jump Starter
This car jump starter is one of the best units to have in an emergency. This multi-function unit offers everything you need from a car jump starter to a flashlight, a wireless phone charger and a USB charger.
The mistake-proof design includes a digital display that makes the portable jump starter easy to use. The display gives diagnostics and troubleshooting including battery capacity, status and battery voltage.
It takes a few minutes to jump-start a car and it works even in extremely low temperatures. The set comes with everything you need including the jump starter, a smart jumper cable, AU plug wall charger, cigarette lighter socket, a Type-C USB cable and a protective case. For additional peace of mind, it also comes with a 1 year warranty.
What We Like:
- Full kit perfect for car/ travel emergencies
- Mistake-proof design
- Digital display
What We Don’t Like:
- Does not indicate charging status
4. NOCO GENIUS BOOST GB40 12v Jump Starter Lithium-ion 1000AMP
This portable jump starter is designed for 12-volt batteries and is rated at 1,000 Amps. It can perform up to 20 jump starts on a single charge and also has the ability to recharge USB devices.
A dead battery can be jump-started in seconds and the product is designed to be spark-proof with reverse polarity protection to ensures users safety. The colour lights on the unit clearly indicate 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% power.
These jump starters also include a flashlight that offers over 6 hours of continuous run time and a USB port to charge your devices too.
What We Like:
- High quality
- Includes a bright light
- Efficient
What We Don’t Like:
- Jumper cables are quite short
5. 12V 30000mAh Car Jump Starter
This multifunction unit is small, lightweight and ideal for jump-starting a car in an emergency.
The battery indicator clearly shows you how much power is remaining and the power button ensures you can safely turn the unit on when you are ready. For safety, this jump starter for cars has short circuit protection, overcharge protection, anti-reverse protection and voltage regulation protection.
This jump starter includes an LED light, a USB output port and comes with two jumper cables that are clearly +/- marked for ease of use.
What We Like:
- Easy to use
- Simple design
- Small size
What We Don’t Like:
- The cable length is short
6. OzCharge RM1000 Battery-Less Jump Starter
This battery-less jump start for cars requires no recharging and can start 10L petrol and 5L gas engines.
This unit is ready in 90 seconds and uses super-capacitors which store and discharge energy effectively and efficiently.
The system can charge even from a flat battery but can also charge via a cigarette socket or a USB port. Rather than requiring charging, this starter charges upon use when you need it.
What We Like:
- No battery so no recharging is needed
- Ready in just 90 seconds
- Efficient
What We Don’t Like:
- Offers simple features
7. TOPDC 12V Jumper Leads
These 12V jumper leads are suitable for use on petrol engines up to 3500cc and 4 cylinder diesel engines up to 3000cc.
The clamps are vinyl-coated to protect against rust and corrosion. The 12V surge protection eliminates voltage surges.
These jumper cables are 3 metres and come with a step guide label for ease of use.
What We Like:
- Vinyl coated clamps
- Long cables
- Value for money
What We Don’t Like:
- Cables only
Jump Starter Buyer’s Guide
A jump starter is a portable, convenient solution to start a car with a dead battery. They are quickly becoming an important part of any cars emergency kit. Portable jump starters are lightweight and easy to carry, can be stored in a glove box or car boot and remain out of the way until you need them. Most jump starters have a built-in flashlight and high-quality options can also be used to charge your electronic devices. There are a few important things to know about jump starters when choosing the best one for your needs:
Size
It is usually preferred to have a small, portable jump starter as these are lightweight, easily carried and often offer similar functions as larger options.
Power
There are a few terms you will likely come across when comparing options, including:
- Peak Amperage (PA) – the peak amps refers to how much power the unit provides in the initial few seconds.
- Cranking Amperage (CA) – this is the constant power the unit can provide above freezing temperatures.
- Cold Cranking Amperage (CCA) – this is the constant power the unit can provide below freezing temperatures.
Safety
It is very important that car jump starters are safe to use, high-quality units offer a range of features that help keep you and your car safe. These features include:
- Spark-proof – this stops sparks from occurring when you are attaching the clips to the car.
- Wrong-polarity protection – this protects your battery from damage when you attach the clips on the wrong way. Some units will have a warning light or make a noise if the clips are wrongly applied.
- Overvoltage protection – this stops the jump pack from receiving more voltage than needed when being charged.
- Short circuit protection – this prevents high current from passing between the clamp when they are touched together.
- Over-current protection – this stops the unit from supplying more current than its limit which prevents damage to the unit.
- Overcharge protection – this will stop charge from going into the unit when the batteries are full.
- Overload protection – this stops the unit from receiving more current than it should when charging.
Another key safety aspect is knowing what to do when your battery is flat. Check out this guide for more information on how to safely use a jump starter.
Reliability
As jump starters are designed to help you in emergency situations it is important that you can rely on them. The unit should be sturdy and durable with strong clamps. If you live in an area that experiences very cold weather, consider ensuring the unit works when the battery is frozen. Many high-quality options are able to jump-start a frozen car battery providing the jump starter itself is at room temperature.
RELATED:
Additional Features
Newer portable jump starters can offer a range of useful features:
- USB charging – single or dual USB ports are often found on small jump starter packs. This can be used to charge phones and electronic devices.
- Charging outlets – some may offer 19V and 12V outlets suitable for charging laptops, lanterns, heated blankets etc. This is useful for camping trips and when you are away from home for a night or two.
- Flashlight – most portable jump starters have a built-in flashlight which makes it easier to see what you are doing in low light environments. A flashlight is a very useful feature and some offer different light settings where you can adjust the brightness or set the light to flashing/ SOS.
- Wireless charging – some of the very new options can even wirelessly charge phones.
- Air compressor – some units include an air compressor that can help you if you get a flat tyre.
Warranty
Most jump starters will come with a warranty, make sure the warranty will allow you to return or replace the unit if it fails during the first year or two.A warranty can also be an indication of good quality and good customer service.
How to Charge a Portable Jump Starter
When you first buy a jump starter you need to charge it fully. There are a few different ways of charging a jump starter, the best way for the unit you have purchased should be outlined in the manual. However, these are the two most common ways of charging a jump starter:
- Electric outlet – most chargers can simply be plugged into a wall socket in order to be charged. The amount of time it takes to charge the unit up fully will depend but it is advised to charge the starter up fully each time if possible.
- Car AC Adapter – using your car’s cigarette lighter slot can be a quick, easy and convenient way to charge the jump starter battery.
Many models will have some sort of battery indicator that will let you know when the battery is fully charged.
As a general rule, it takes around 5 hours to fully charge a jump starter. It is often recommended you charge the unit once a month to ensure it is topped up and will work when you need it most.
Generally, a jump starter can be used for around 10-15 starts on one charge but this will vary depending on the jump starter and the size of the engine of your car.
RELATED:
