What Makes a Reliable Jump Starter?
Not all jump starters are made the same. Choosing the right one for your needs is key to being prepared for any roadside emergency. Here we break down the pros and cons of different jump starter options so that you can make an informed decision.
Reliability
The #1 quality that consumers look for in a jump starter is reliability. After all, if your car can’t be started when you most need it, then a jump starter is useless. Perhaps the top measure of reliability is how long a jump starter can hold a charge. The next measure of reliability is how many jumps a battery can provide before the jump starter battery is worn out.
Also keep in mind that the size of your jump starter is important to consider. A jump starter that takes a lot of work to lug around might not be on hand when you need it.
Power Output
Choosing an appropriately powered jump starter is key so that when you use the jump starter, it is able to start your car. You must know how much power output the jump starter is capable of producing and how quickly it can deliver that charge to your car. For most personal cars, this means an amperage output of 800-1200 amps. Keep in mind that on smaller cars a higher amperage means a faster jump.
Safety
Finally, a good car jump starter should have many safety features that ensure that you can jump start your car without harming you or your car. These may include reverse polarity protections or alarms, spark protection, over voltage protections or other features.
Compare Shell vs. The Leading Alternative
Stanley
$92.65
1000 Amps
16.2 lbs
Loses 10% of charge/month
Reverse polarity alarm alerts when there is an improper connection; Connect the clamps to the battery.
Air pump for tires
1 Year
Shell
$99.99
1200 Amps
3.1 lbs
Loses 4% of charge/month
300 full discharges, with 15 jumpstarts per charge for a 3.0L gas engine.
10 built-in safety features including spark, reverse polarity, high-temperature, over-current, and over-voltage protection and prevention.
Includes a wireless mobile device charger, LED flashlight, and lighting signal for emergencies.
2 Year
What Comes With Your Jump Starter
- PACKED WITH SAFETY FEATURES: Ensure that you jumpstart your car safely with 10 built-in safety features including spark, reverse polarity, high-temperature, over-current, and over-voltage protection.
- MAINTAIN CHARGE LONG-TERM: With a 16,000mAh capacity, Shell’s jump starter maintains charge for the long term and with the added ability to quick-charge your tablets, mobile phones, and other devices via USB in the meantime.
- POWERFUL JUMP-STARTING ABILITY: This powerful car starter is able to jump-start dead batteries on most vehicles (for gasoline engines up to 7 liters and diesel engines up to 3 liters.); it also works with cars, trucks, motorbikes, ATVs, lawnmowers, and boats.
- ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS: Use this device for many other uses. It is able to act as a mobile device charger, LED flashlight, and lighting signal for emergencies; it’s a handy gadget all around.
- COMPLETE PACKAGE: Included in your order is a jump starter, smart and safe jumper cable, Type C cable, USB A cable, 2.4A car charger and storage case.
- WARRANTY GUARANTEE: Shell’s battery jump starter comes with a limited 2-year warranty.