3 Reliable ways on how to charge a portable jump starter

Jump Starters are playing the role of new roadside assistance services. The only difference is, you don’t need to call it because you carry it with you. For those who still have not come across this life-saving thing, Jump Starters are battery booster packs. These portable battery boosters are used to jump-start dead car batteries. However, they also require charging after each use because you can make no use of them if they too are dead.

Fortunately, some latest portable chargers come with a variety of options to keep them fully charged for longer hours. However, it depends on the brand and the type of charger you are using.

Typically, some brands add a user manual guide to help out the users with the charging process. But, sometimes, they overlook essential facts and fail to mention them in the guide.

Even though charging a portable jump starter is not a big deal, those new to this might face some issues due to bad handling. So, to avoid any mishaps, follow this guide and learn how to charge a portable jump starter.

For starters, let’s take a look into what exactly are jump starters:

Jump Starters

Before learning how to charge a portable starter, you need to understand the difference between a jump starter and a regular battery charger.

Jumpstarters provide an instant high amount of energy to kick start a vehicle’s battery. On the contrary, battery chargers work by providing continuous current flow to recharge a battery, and it takes quite a few hours. So, the difference is prominent. One provides instant energy to kick start, while the other re-charges the battery.

All-rounder Jump Starters

 Contrary to common belief, jump starters can act as a backup battery. For instance, if you are leaving for a trip and find your phone’s battery has died, you can simply use a jump starter to charge your phone within a few minutes. The IO on most of the units has ports for USB, micro USB, and other commonly used ports.

How to charge a Jump Starter

There are a variety of methods to charge a jump starter. However, in the end, the only thing that matters is your convenience. So, choose the one that suits you best in a particular situation.

Charge via an Electric Outlet:

This one is the widely used method due to its simplicity. All you need to have is an electric outlet. Plug it in and wait until it’s fully charged. Some brands offer modern Jump starters to charge a vehicle’s battery. Those advanced jump starters inform you of the current battery level of both your car and the unit.

However, it is recommended that you refer to the unit to check the battery level. Also, it is better if you charge it up to 100 percent. Though, it’s not necessary. A 20 percent less charged unit will provide the same level of energy to jump-start a car’s battery.

This process is pretty much similar to how you charge your cell phones through an electric outlet. 

Charge via car’s AC adapter

All modern vehicles feature an AC adapter, also known as a cigarette lighter. Even most vehicles that are 3o years old come with an integrated cigarette lighter. It lets you charge your jump starter when you are in the middle of nowhere because you don’t need to have an electric outlet for it.

For instance, you are stuck somewhere with no access to an electric outlet. You can use your car’s cigarette lighting slot to charge your unit. Fortunately, it does not take that much longer as you think. It will re-charge your unit shortly.

Charge via Solar Energy

Indeed, solar energy is the future. With time, it is becoming more and more affordable. In fact, a lot of people have switched to it due to a variety of advantages it offers that regular power grids don’t offer. Fortunately, nowadays, there are a number of jump starters and solar chargers available on the market that come at reasonable prices. Those who are not restricted by their budgets can easily afford it.

Since it’s not a very old concept, it has a few drawbacks. Their cumbersome and bulky design is something that restricts a lot of potential buyers from buying it. So, a solar charger is a great idea if you are not concerned about portability. On the contrary, if you spend most of the time out, it’s recommended not to put all your faith in a single solar charger as they are more likely to fail.

Reasons why your portable charger is not charging

The above-mentioned methods are useful to charge a portable jump starter. However, if you still find your portable charger not charging, it might be because of four reasons.

• Low usage

When you find your jump starter not working, it might be because it is no longer good. Since jump starters possess a battery, it has a specific time frame. After that, it expires. However, if properly maintained, they can go for a little longer.

How to deal with it?

Jumpstarters possess two different kinds of batteries. One is lithium ion-based, and the second one is lead-acid. The latter one is heavier and charges large units. You can ensure your jump starter’s durability by simply charging it on a regular basis. Also, charge it after every use. Batteries usually go bad when you don’t use them often.

• Expired

 Another reason why your jump starter is not working is that its battery is dead. Typically, a premium vehicle’s battery lasts for at least five to six years. Alkaline batteries’ longevity depends on their usage. If given proper care, rechargeable batteries will last for six to seven years.

When your jump starter’s battery is dead, it will no longer be able to hold a charge.

How to deal with it?

You can replace your worn-out battery with a new one. However, it is not a cost-effective solution.

• Climate

Climate can impact the jump starter’s battery. Specifically, winters have a detrimental effect on jump starters. Unless it is an emergency, do not leave the jump starter box in your car, and if your area faces harsh winters every year, you may have to consider taking your battery home.

On the other hand, summers can also be damaging for jump start batteries. For instance, in states where the temperature in summers exceeds 120 degrees, your jump starter battery will stop working.

How to deal with it?

As per the guidelines from the manufacturers, lead-acid batteries‘ ideal storage temperature is between 10 degrees and 21 degrees. In comparison, lithium-ion batteries are less temperature sensitive and can be stored in temperatures from -4 F to 122 F.

• Damaged charging cable

Another possibility for your jump starter not charging could be a damaged cable. The USB cable or AC adapter can be damaged, which is common with portable units.

How to deal with it?

You can easily identify the damage by checking the cord externally. Also, to check internally, make sure the charge indicator light is coming on.

FAQs:

• Should you fully charge a jump starter?

Even though it’s not necessary, it is good to charge it fully. It may perform well with a 50 percent battery. However, if you are going on a long trip, you might want to charge it fully to get as many kicks as possible.

• Is there a jump starter available at an average price?

Of course, you can get one that could fit your budget. However, you have to miss some special features that come with premium jump starters. In fact, if the auxiliary capabilities are what you are looking for, then you don’t worry, such batteries come at reasonable pricing.

Conclusion

By now, you must have learned that charging a portable jump starter is no big deal. However, you need to be focused to ward off potential threats associated with the process.

That being said, if you are a car owner and frequently face battery issues, then keeping a jump starter would be life-saving for you. Obviously, you can work with chargers, but that will take a lot of time, and an electric outlet is not available everywhere. On the contrary, jump starters are more efficient and provide instant energy than chargers that require more time to charge and generate a consistent flow of energy.