Best jumper cables 2018 – [Buyer’s Guide]

Best jumper cables of 2018

I have taken the initiative to educate you on the top three best jumper cables that you can buy this year. I am going to specify each good-to-buy feature as much as possible for your references. On that note, I review the three best jumper cables of 2018 to help you get value for your money. Not all jumper cables are created equal though.

Test Results and Ratings

Rank	№1	№2	№3
Product
Total	4.8	4.5	4.3
Style	5 points	5 points	4 points
Size	5 points	4 points	4 points
Performance	5 points	4 points	5 points
Value	4 points	5 points	4 points
Awards

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№1 – EPAuto 1 Gauge x 25 Ft. 800A Heavy Duty Booster Jumper Cable with Carry Bag And Safety Gloves

Pros

Heavy Duty 1 Gauge cable. Super Long 25 Feet Cable

Booster Cable comes with a carry bag and a pair of safety working gloves

Perfect for cars, motorcycles, trucks, vans and SUVs.

Cons

Absolutely no frills

Why did this jumper cables win the first place?

The product is very strong. Its material is stable and doesn’t crack. I was completely satisfied with the price. Its counterparts in this price range are way worse. I don’t know anything about other models from this brand, but I am fully satisfied with this product. I really enjoy the design. It is compact, comfortable and reliable. And it looks amazing!

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№2 – Energizer 1-Gauge 800A Heavy Duty Jumper Battery Cables 25 Ft Booster Jump Start – 25′ Allows you to boost battery from behind a vehicle!

Pros

1 Gauge 25Ft booster battery cables – 25′ Allows you to boost a battery from behind a vehicle!

Copper Clad Aluminum

Suitable for both top and side post batteries

Cons

It rusts quite easily.

Borderline outdated technology.

Why did this jumper cables come in second place?

Seems that the material is good. It has a very beautiful color but I don’t really like the texture. I like this product. For such a low price, I didn’t even hope it to be any better. It’s decently made. This is a pretty decent product that perfectly fitted the interior of our office. Managers explained me all the details about the product range, price, and delivery.

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№3 – AUDEW Portable Car Jump Starter with Aluminum Alloy Shell & Upgraded Smart Jump Cable 13800mAh 500A Car Jumper Auto Battery Booster Battery Jumper

Pros

✔ 【UNIQUE DESIGN & METAL SHELL】 – AUDEW car jump starter featured with the unique design which was awarded the prize of the iF IndustrieForum Design which as known as The Oscar in product design field. Unlikely other cheaply made jump sarters, AUDEW jump starter is made of Aluminum material, more Firm & Durable than most similar products out there!

Cons

May be a little heavy for some users.

The instructions is difficult to understand.

Why did this jumper cables take third place?

I hope that the good reputation of the manufacturer will guarantee a long-term work. I liked the design. We’ve been using it for 2 months and it still looks like brand new. It doesn’t squeaks nor bents. Looks great in my apartment. This price is appropriate since the product is very well built.

jumper cables Buyer’s Guide

Wire Ga

This refers to the thickness of the wires, which can be indicative of overall quality and durability of the jumper cables. It is expressed in numbers. Do not make the mistake of choosing a higher number. is probably too much for you unless you are going to jump start a truck. In most cases, is enough, while is better. Forget about As many people say, they are garbage. As a rule of thumb, the lower number will be the better option. This is basically because it will charge faster. Consequently, more power will also be passing the cable.

Thickness

A better choice would be a thicker cable, which also means that it is going to be more durable. Some manufacturers label their product as “heavy-duty.” Do not believe these labels. Instead, take a look at the thickness or the wire gauge before making a choice.

Clamps

When using the jumper cables, you have to clamp it on the dead battery and the one that will be used for boosting. With this, it is essential to have heavy-duty clamps. The teeth of the clamp must be able to stick well on the battery terminal and must not fall off easily. In the same way, it is also important that they are wrapped with rubber, which will make them comfortable and easy to hold. This will also prevent the possibility of shock.

Insulation

If you are buying jumper cables from a trusted brand, chances are, it will exhibit heavy-duty insulation, which is one thing that separates the good ones from those with inferior quality. Heavier insulation is generally recommended, which is basically because it reduces the heat that passes through the cable.

This is an important consideration for many people. However, personally, I won’t recommend that you decide on the basis of price. It does not mean that a cheap product will be an excellent choice. At the end of the day, it would be good to have it considered as an investment, and hence, you should not hesitate to spend for it if it means that you will enjoy jumper cables with superior quality.

Using Jumper Cables

The best jumper cables with their thick gauges can effectively manage larger batteries, copper and copper plated connectors and surge protection. They have high-quality insulation and can connect your battery to the battery of another car.

You need new jumper cables to give your battery longevity whenever they fizz out. The fully rubber enclosed and tangle free design coupled with heavy duty construction makes these new cables more solid.

But should you go for any random jumper cable? Well, definitely no! There are certain factors and qualities that you need to consider and look out for.

The expected features of a Jumper Cable

The jumper cable should be at least 1inches in length to reach the battery in both vehicles and prevent you from getting stuck to push the vehicle to a faraway place.

Generally, the lower the gauge is, the greater is the power flowing through it and the more rapid it charges. The gauge is most commonly used.

Clamps should be sturdy, with teeth to prevent slipping away and rubber-coated to avoid receiving a shock.

Thicker gauge wires are most preferred, but check out the heavy duty labels.

Clamps made of solid copper will conduct electricity better than copper plated ones.

Thicker wires offer better insulation and such insulations retain their pliability.

We Don’t Like

This is a versatile jumper cable built to operate in every weather climate. It is ideal for cars, motorcycles, vans, trucks and SUVs. It comes with easy to use tangle free cables that are color coded in red and black. Carry bag is available for fast and convenient storage along with the cable. The jumper cable is 20 foot long with a thickness of Gauge and battery rating of 400 Amperes. They have copper coated aluminum construction and are ETL listed. Iron Forge Tools offers a total lifetime replacement warranty and in the case of any defect, will replace it with a fresh one.

Features

The Iron Forge 400 Amp jumper cables are all-weather utility booster cables. They are 20 ft long and it’s no tangle cables contain copper-laden aluminum cable build for lightweight use. These have heavy duty power bearing capacity. The 20 ft Gauge jumper cables from Cartman contains a T-Prene coating for adaptability to all weather conditions and its maximum heavy duty cables make it the sturdiest consumer grade cable. Its clamps are marked with triple-polarity that can house top post as well as adjacent post batteries.

The Gauge, 800 Amp Booster cable from Energizer are the commercial heavy duty versions that are suitable for all vehicle types. It is a convenient alternative for jump starting a vehicle. It is built from industrial grade copper and aluminum for better functionality. The 600 Amp commercial grade 2ft jumper cables from ABN can sufficient connect one vehicle with another. Its heavy gauge can support large batteries. The W167Gauge cables from Performance Tools has a battery capacity of 500 Amperes and can peak up to 600 Amperes that makes it a heavy duty to power large-sized batteries.

Iron Forge Tools Jumper Cables

When your car, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle needs a boost, you’ll be ready with this booster cable kit. Iron Forge Tools’ tangle-free, color-coded jumper cables are easy-to-use and will have your vehicle up and running in no time. The 20 foot cables allow ample room for connecting one vehicle to the other.

Welding Cable

Welding cable is build to be flexible. It usually has a high temperature rating and a soft flexible insulation & oil resistant. Welding cable tends to be large gauge wire so it does work great as jumper cable. For that reason I do recommend it for automotive applications where the ability to roll it up and easier to put it behind the seat in the car.

Jumper Cables Insulation     

When we mentioned welding cables, it could be confused with two important components of it: sheath and insulation. While both provide protection for the cables, their respective jobs.

Outer sheath  functions as oil,chemical resistant & fire redundant.

Inner insulation  located between the cable’s center conductor and sheath.

Storage Bag     

Choose Battery Jumper Set with sufficiency gauge(AWG), cooper wire, cable flexibility, heavy duty clamp with proper guidance instruction.

Energizer professional series heavy duty jumper cables for all vehicle types plus full size trucks, vans and SUVs.

If you are a car owner who is not looking for just a pretty-looking jumper cable, this one should do the work for you. It is known as the best cable on the market, no because it looks great to the eyes but because it has sufficient Copper Coated Aluminum and it is great for the top and side post batteries.

When your car, truck, motorcycle or other vehicle needs a boost, you’ll be ready with this booster cable kit.

Capri Tools are the best multifunctional jumper cables on the market today. You can use them on a personal car as well as a big truck. While you may not use the jumper cables any time soon, it is important to buy and keep in case of an emergency. Of course, you don’t know when and where your battery might start ‘misbehaving’, so you want to make sure you have the Capri Tools Booster Jumper cables with you, just in case.

Side Post Battery

Negative To Good Battery Ground

1  Connect the other end of the negative cable (the last black clamp) to a solid, shiny, unpainted metal part of the engine on the dead car.A good place to connect this is on a bolt or clean metal surfaces on the engine block. Avoid putting the negative cable directly on the dead battery to reduce the chance for a spark to explode a leaking battery.As a last resort, attach the negative cable to the (-) post on the dead battery. NEVER connect the ground cable to the car body which includes fenders, hood, front grill or radiator mounts, or you may damage the vehicles electrical system or any of the cars many computers.

Getting Your Car Started

Once you’ve gone through the process of preparing the batteries and connecting the cables, you’re now ready for the moment of truth. It’s time for jump starting your car.

Begin by again making sure that the headlights of both cars are off to allow the maximum amount of power to reach the dead battery.The car with the good battery should be started first.

1   Let the car run for several minutes before trying to start the dead car. This will allow the jumper cables to charge your dead battery. Hold the gas down slightly to speed up the engine idle but don’t race the motor.If the automobile that is running has a tachometer (A gauge that tells the RPM of the engine), a fast idle is about 2000 RPM. This allows power to be charged up with the bad battery before cranking the dead car. It is a good sign you connected everything correctly if your vehicle’s dome light comes on or gets brighter.

  After you have waited for a time to charge the bad battery, shut the car doors and try to start the other vehicle. If it sounds like the motor is attempting to crank but won’t turn over completely or makes a rapid clicking noise, turn the ignition off and wait a few more minutes. Trying to jump a car with an insufficient charge or weak battery could damage the starter motor and overheat the jumper cables.Rev, the engine of the good car a little but, don’t race the motor. A car’s charging system will be putting out its maximum charge at a long, fast idle. You may also want to move the cables around slightly on the battery posts to make sure you have a good connection at the clamps. They may spark a bit, but that is OK but be careful because they can get hot.Most cars electrical system runs off of 1to 1volts so it is not as dangerous as you may think. The voltage is not high enough to hurt you; otherwise the battery posts would be concealed where you could not touch them. However, when jump starting a car, the cables and clamps can get hot so car owners should use caution in handling them.

  Once your car has “charged” for a few more minutes, try jump starting the battery again. If it starts, it is your lucky day, but leave the car running for a few minutes to make sure it gets successfully restored. If your car did not start, don’t give up hope yet. Check out the troubleshooting section below to see how to jump a car battery if it still won’t start.

Removing the Jumper Cables

Once you have successfully restarted your dead car, you can remove the jumper cables in reverse order. Remember the wires can get hot so use caution when handling them. After jump starting a car battery, let it run while you disconnect the jumper cables. You want to be careful to remove them in the reverse order in which you connected them, and avoid letting the clamps touch one another or any part of the vehicle during removal. This will prevent damage to the vehicles surface and electrical system.

  Disconnect the negative cable from the engine block from the car that was previously dead.

2   Disconnect the other end of the negative cable from the negative post of the good battery.

Disconnect the positive cable from the positive post of the good battery.

Disconnect the other end of the positive cable from the positive post of the dead battery.

Try to Restart Your Car

Even if you have successfully restarted your dead car, you do not want to shut it off for fifteen to twenty minutes. The cars alternator puts power back in slowly, and the battery will not be fully charged until it has about 500 amps stored in it. This could take over an hour for a full charge.

After you have let your jump started car run, or you have driven your car for a minimum of twenty minutes, turn off the engine and see if it will restart on its own without any cables. This is a good test to make sure the charging system is working and a good indicator that you will not get stranded on your way home.

If the engine does not crank on its own, you’ll be jump starting your car again, and you may want a buddy to follow you to your next location. Additionally, If your car won’t start again on its own, this is a good sign that something is actually wrong with the battery or the charging system and should be checked by your mechanic.

Weego claims that the Jump Starter 22s can start up to a 5-liter gas engine or a 2.5-liter diesel; we had no trouble starting the 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine in our test truck. Weego’s scissor-style Smarty Clamps require less effort to open, expand wider, and clamp more securely to battery posts than the clamps on other models, and Weego’s cables are longer and less prone to twisting, making this model easy to use in any engine compartment. And if you hook it up wrong by connecting the clamps to the wrong battery terminals (as we purposely did in our tests), a loud alarm and flashing lights inform you of your mistake so you can reposition the pieces and try again without hurting yourself or your car.

Weego Jump Starter 44

The Weego Jump Starter 4is the best overall portable jump starter we’ve tested, but it costs more than our other picks. It has power and capacity similar to that of the PowerAll Deluxe, along with larger versions of the fantastic clamps Weego uses on the 22s. Weego claims that the Jump Starter 4can jump up to a 7 L gas engine or 3.5 L diesel, and in our tests, this model had no problem starting the large 5.7 L Vengine in one of our test trucks. The Jump Starter 4also has the best cables and overall construction of any model we tried. It warns you of improper connections with alarms and flashing lights that are easy to notice, regardless of how bright or loud your surroundings are. And it includes both a sturdy, lunch-box-style carrying case for your trunk and a weatherproof zippered stuff sack for your glove box.

Who this is for

Anyone with a car can benefit from a portable jump starter, because, well, stuff happens. An interior light left on all night, a radio running when you sneak out to your car for a lunch-break nap, or freezing temperatures in the middle of winter can all drain a battery’s charge in many vehicles. You can run down even newer batteries and newer cars. And because the ignition systems in today’s cars are so efficient, you won’t necessarily get a warning—such as the engine cranking more slowly—before it happens. At best, a drained battery is an inconvenience; in the wrong place or at the wrong time, it can be also a safety concern.

Pull Quote

Because the ignition systems in today’s cars are so efficient, you may not get a warning before finding out your car’s battery is run down.

Because a jump starter has its own battery, you simply connect the jump starter’s two cable clamps to the appropriate battery terminals on your car, flip a switch, and crank the engine. You can be on your way again in minutes. Many models have enough power to let you do this several times before you need to recharge the jump starter itself. And the better ones instantly sense if you’ve hooked up the cables wrong, and give you a clear warning.

Although jump starters have long been large and heavy, containing their own lead-acid battery, in the past few years a new wave of small, lightweight, lithium-ion jump packs have appeared that easily fit in a car’s glove box, making them much easier to keep with you for an emergency. Those are the models we researched and tested for this guide.

What makes a good jump starter

When you’re shopping for a portable jump starter, you’ll encounter lots of specs and features. Here are the things that are most important, as well as a couple of features that we don’t consider critical.

Starting power: The power that a portable jump starter can deliver to your engine is the most important factor. And like a car battery, a jump starter is generally rated by cold cranking amps (CCA) or sometimes peak amps (PA). But that doesn’t mean you can easily figure out what types of vehicles a given model is actually capable of starting. Some manufacturers make only a general claim about what engine size their model can start, such as a Vor a 4.0 L. Generally, the bigger the engine, the more battery power it needs to start, and you’ll find a huge range of power outputs for car batteries and jump starters alike.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

We like that the Jump Starter 22s charges via Micro-USB, instead of a proprietary DC jack. This means that you can recharge it from any USB charger you use for your phone or tablet, instead of having to keep track of a special wall or car charger. But Micro-USB ports can take less power than most DC jacks, so the battery inside can’t recharge as fast. In the big scheme of things, this is a minor flaw, especially because the 22s has a relatively small capacity that doesn’t take long to fill anyway. Still, we hope that future versions of the 22s switch to a USB-C port so that we can continue to benefit from the convenience of universal charging and enjoy the faster charging speeds that USB-C offers.

In our first round of testing, the PowerAll Deluxe started our dead 10-year-old Jeep Wrangler with a 4.0 L six-cylinder engine without a problem. It provided 200 amps to boost our battery, in line with the best of the jump starters we tested.

The PowerAll Deluxe also performed well in our early-201tests with the larger 5.7 L Vengine in one of our Ram 1500 pickups. When we connected the PowerAll Deluxe and hit the ignition, it delivered a little over 200 amps, and the truck growled to life. Of the five jump starters we tested on that truck, only three managed to revive it. (We weren’t able to test the Weego 22s on that vehicle.) Even though the other two successful models provided about percent more power than the PowerAll Deluxe in our tests, they both cost twice as much.

How To Jump-Start A Car Battery The Right Way

It has probably happened to you before.You go to turn your ignition, and nothing happens. Maybe you hear a few clicks. Another dead car battery? You need to fix this and get your vehicle back on the road – fast. If you are prepared, you already have a good set of jumper cables in your car. Now all you need to do is to learn how to jump start a car battery.

Choosing the Right Jumper Cables

You don’t need many tools to jump a car battery. First, you must find a functioning car to use for the jump-start. Make sure that both car owners are comfortable opening the hood and identifying the battery and battery terminals. Jumper cables are the most popular tool used to jump start cars because they are inexpensive and easy to store. Jumper cables usually come in a variety of lengths, ranging from 10-20 feet. Some people think longer cables are better so that you do not have to move a car with a dead battery. But, while longer cables provide convenience, they may lose power as the longer the cable, the farther the energy has to travel. The gauge of the cable denotes the strength of the cables. The lower the gauge, the thicker the cables and the stronger they are. Gauge six is a standard size for jumper cables.

To prepare for the jump

When you do not know what is wrong, your best bet is to take the car in to your local Meineke Car Care Center for service and repair.  Many centers conveniently offer free battery inspections and diagnostic scans and can help you understand your vehicle’s issues.

Dealing with a dead car battery is a pain. Luckily, getting your car working again is not terribly difficult. By following these instructions, using your jumper cables sensibly, practicing safety and addressing other potential concerns, your car will run better, be safer, and last longer. For professional advice and assistance, talk to your local mechanic at your neighborhood Meineke Car Care Center.

You thank your neighbor. “If that didn’t work” he says, “I could have just run my engine for five minutes and that would have done the trick.” “Good to know” you say, getting in your car.

Now that’s a happy hypothetical ending. Having the engine running charges the battery, so drive for at least 10-1minutes before turning the engine off. This will ensure the battery has a chance to charge back up before you need it to start your car again. If your car doesn’t start again the next time you’re looking to head out, it may be time to have that battery looked at and replaced.

If you’ve never jumped your car before, make sure to give the owner’s manual a once-over. Any extra steps or important information on the jumping of your vehicle should be in that manual. Make sure the jumping cable clips never touch each other, especially while one end is connected to a battery. If you want to be extra prepared, you can pick up a pair of emergency jumper cables for twenty dollars (or less).

Final Word

First of all thanks for reading my article to the end! I hope you find my reviews listed here useful and that it allows you to make a proper comparison of what is best to fit your needs and budget. Don’t be afraid to try more than one product if your first pick doesn’t do the trick.

Most important, have fun and choose your jumper cables wisely! Good luck!

So, TOP3 of jumper cables

• №1 — EPAuto 1 Gauge x 25 Ft. 800A Heavy Duty Booster Jumper Cable with Carry Bag And Safety Gloves
• №2 — Energizer 1-Gauge 800A Heavy Duty Jumper Battery Cables 25 Ft Booster Jump Start – 25′ Allows you to boost battery from behind a vehicle!
• №3 — AUDEW Portable Car Jump Starter with Aluminum Alloy Shell & Upgraded Smart Jump Cable 13800mAh 500A Car Jumper Auto Battery Booster Battery Jumper

Questions? Leave a comment below!

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