Imagine your car won’t start in the middle of the road and under bad weather. It’ll take forever for roadside assistance to be able to help, yet no one can lend you a hand. Even worse, you’re running late!
To avoid these situations, you should always keep jump starters in your glovebox. When your car’s battery is deader than a dodo, they can always go to the rescue! Moreover, they’re very simple to use and great for everyone. Let’s learn more about these mysterious little boxes.
What Are Jump Starters All about?
Jump Starters are handheld rechargeable batteries that can boost your vehicle’s battery. As its name implies, they’re designed to jump-start or enable the required charge to start a car’s engine. Each unit usually has jumper clamps attached to the battery terminals, an LED light, and a USB port for charging electronic gadgets like mobile phones and tablets.
They usually have surge, short-circuit, and overheating protection, are weatherproof, and with drop resistance. Additionally, they’re small, so they’re very portable. You can easily carry them in your vehicle’s console or glovebox, out of sight and ready for use whenever you need them.
Do They Charge Car Batteries?
Despite popular thought, jump starters don’t charge your vehicle’s battery. Instead, they only provide enough electricity to give enough power to turn your car’s engine over or jump its battery back to life and then get your charging system running. In other words, you can’t turn your car off right after it starts since jump starters are designed for when your car’s battery dies.
How to Use a Jump Starter?
The following guide is called the “direct-to-battery method.” It’s often used for most battery-powered jump starters, with 800-1000Amp. Before doing the following steps, always check your jump starter’s manual and its compatibility with your vehicle. If you’re unsure, seek help from someone who knows or professionals.
Step 1: Attach the jumper cable clamps to your car’s battery terminals. Connect the Red to Positive first, then Black to Negative.
Step 2: Attach the jumper cable to the jump starter.
Step 3: Wait for the jump starter’s green LED to light up on the jumper cable. If it does, you can turn your car on.
Step 4: Detach the jumper cable from the jump starter first. Then, detach the cable from the battery.
Most jump starters may go into “recovery mode” or stop working if your car doesn’t turn on after several attempts. It usually happens when your car’s battery is too far drained to be jump-started. When this happens, don’t get surprised and relax. It’s a standard measure to prevent the battery from overheating.
How to Jump-Start From Inside the Car?
There are other jump starter models that you can easily and safely use from your car. It’s typically done using the 12V accessory port, a cigarette-lighter-like outlet that’s pretty common in many modern cars. Using this way is called the “in-vehicle method.”
While it may take longer than the direct-to-battery method, an in-vehicle method is a great alternative in many urgent situations. They’re particularly good for rainy days, snowy days, congested traffic, or when you’re alone, especially when parked in a dark area.
Here’s a common step-by-step guide to jump-starting your car through the in-vehicle method:
Step 1: Switch off all electronic gadgets or accessories in your car.
Step 2: Attach the 12V jumper cable to the jump starter.
Step 3: Depending on your car model, push the start button or set the ignition button to the Accessory position.
Step 4: Wait for the jump starter to show it’s ready, which may take up to 15 minutes or so.
Step 5: Start your car.
Step 6. Detach the 12V jumper cable from the accessory port and then from the jump starter.
If your car didn’t start with this method, your only options are to try the direct-to-battery method or to seek roadside assistance. After the jump start, don’t forget to drive your car for at least 20 minutes to enable your car’s battery to recharge.
What’s The Best Jump Starter in Australia?
If you’re based in Australia or looking for jump starters that are Australian-made, iTechWorld’s line of portable car battery jump starters is one of the bests! iTechWorld is a pride in Australia. In fact, they’re one of the biggest names in the Australian lithium battery industry.
They also offer a variety of portable battery jump starters for 12-volt devices, including phones, laptops, heated blankets, or travel fridges. Their 2000-3000a jump starter models are great for marine, camping, caravan, or off-road enthusiasts. It’s essentially a must-have compact backup battery for anyone for anything!
Final Thoughts
The most important step in using a jump starter is to consider its model. That’s why it’s necessary to read the fine print thoroughly and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended steps to safely and effectively start your vehicle.
