GOOLOO · Brand article

Jump Starters: Using One Safely

AUTOMOTIVE · GLOBAL

How they work, the correct connection order, what not to do, and battery care

A lithium jump starter replaces jump leads and a second car, and the reason to understand the procedure is that getting it wrong damages electronics or causes a battery to vent.

Sizing one

Check the peak current rating against your engine size, and note that diesel engines need considerably more than petrol. A unit rated for a small petrol car will not turn over a large diesel in cold weather.

Capacity in milliamp hours determines how many attempts you get before recharging.

The connection order

Engine off, ignition off, everything switched off. Connect red to the positive terminal first, then black to the negative terminal or to an unpainted metal earth point away from the battery.

Switch the jump starter on, wait for the ready indicator, then crank for a few seconds at most. Leave several seconds between attempts rather than cranking continuously.

Disconnect in reverse order once the engine is running, black first.

What not to do

Do not let the clamps touch each other or any other metal while the unit is on. Do not attempt to jump a battery that is frozen, cracked, leaking or visibly swollen — that is a genuine explosion risk.

Do not smoke or create sparks near a battery, which vents hydrogen.

If it will not start

Repeated failed attempts point to something other than the battery — a failed starter motor, a fuel problem or an immobiliser. Stop and get it looked at rather than draining the unit.

What else to carry

A tyre inflator, a torch, a warning triangle and a high-visibility vest, which are legally required in several countries. Water and a blanket matter more than people expect if you are waiting.

Check the jump starter's other outputs, since many double as a power bank.

Why the battery went flat

Short journeys that never fully recharge, lights left on, a failing alternator, or a battery near the end of its life, which is typically four to six years. A battery needing jumping repeatedly needs replacing.

Cold weather

Battery capacity falls sharply in cold, which is why most flat batteries happen on the first frosty morning. Keep the jump starter indoors overnight in winter rather than in the boot.

Charge it fully before any long journey in cold conditions.

Looking after the unit

Charge it every few months whether used or not, since a lithium pack left flat can become unrecoverable. Keep it out of a hot car in summer and bring it indoors in deep cold.

Stop using any unit that is swollen or damaged, and recycle it at an electrical point rather than in a bin.

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