It is also always recommended to use a charging hose with a gauge. Please note that the tool that you receive after placing an online order may be in a used but operable condition due to the nature of the Loan-A-Tool® program.If the temperature of the air is 55☏ or below, do not charge the vehicle. Do not wear ties or loose clothing when working on your vehicle.įREE Loan-A-Tool® program requires returnable deposit. Should electrolyte get on your body or clothing, neutralize it immediately with a solution of baking soda and water. Always wear gloves and safety glasses and other personal protection equipment, and work in a well-ventilated area. Sulfuric acid is caustic and can burn clothing and skin or cause blindness. Use caution when working with automotive batteries. Always disconnect the negative battery cable before servicing an electrical application on the vehicle to protect its electrical circuits in the event that a wire is accidentally pierced or grounded.

Always chock your wheels prior to lifting a vehicle. Refer to the service manual for specific diagnostic, repair and tool information for your particular vehicle. Information is accurate and true to the best of AutoZone’s knowledge, however, there may be omissions, errors or mistakes.īe sure to consult your owner’s manual, a repair guide, an AutoZoner at a store near you, or a licensed, professional mechanic for vehicle-specific repair information. For some portable car jump starter packs, you won’t need to turn the power switch on while for others you will.Īdvice, how-to guides, and car care information featured on and AutoZone Advice & How-To’s are presented as helpful resources for general maintenance and automotive repairs from a general perspective only and should be used at your own risk. If you’re looking to charge a USB device like a smartphone or power a small appliance like a toaster while you’re camping, use the outlets like you normally would at home. With the engine running, turn off the power switch (if equipped) and carefully disconnect the cables from the battery posts. If the problem was battery power, your engine should fire right up. Never turn a portable jump starter on before it’s connected properly and you’re about to crank the engine over.Ĭrank the engine over until it starts. If there’s a power switch, now’s when you turn it on. Prop the device up so that it won’t be in the way of moving parts when the engine starts. Often, you’ll get an indicator light up or a tone if you’ve connected it wrong. Clamp the red cable to the positive (+) post on the battery and the black cable to the negative (-) post. Determine which connectors you will need and get your jump starter set up.Ĭonnect your jump starter to the battery directly, if you can. Some booster packs have hardwired cables while others have quick-attach options. Usually, it’s a common household plug and a port on the side of the device. Most portable jump starters come with some juice in the battery when it’s delivered, but charge it fully before you need it. Using a portable jump starter is something every driver should know, and it’s a great idea to test it out before you actually need it in a time-sensitive situation. While some are simply jump starters, others are multi-tools.Īs with any equipment you purchase, read the instructions to get specific directions on its functions and safe operation. Others have USB chargers built in, or they could have LED work lights, and others yet have an inverter to power 110-volt household devices. Some higher-end boosters can jump-start 6-volt, 12-volt, and 24-volt systems. Lead-acid and lithium-ion jump starters are the two main variants, and Li-ion is smaller, more powerful, and lighter, thus it’s more expensive. One of the main determiners is the type of battery it possesses. The massive price range is due to the power capacity and other options the portable car jump starter contains. It’s almost foolproof, and you’re unlikely to fry any electronics with it. Two leads come out the side – a red positive lead and a black negative lead – that clamp to your battery terminals without worrying that you’ve mixed up the order between the vehicles. Inside the jump starter is a compact yet powerful battery that can often start an engine more than a dozen times over without being recharged. It’s more convenient, faster, and its size makes it perfect to use remotely and take with you when there’s no help around for miles.

It uses the donor’s battery storage and alternator’s power generation to quickly enable a start.Įssentially, a portable jump starter does a similar function without needing a second vehicle. In a situation where you jump-start a dead battery on a car, truck, boat, RV, or motorcycle, you connect booster cables from the terminals of the recovery vehicle to the dead battery’s posts.

Autozone battery booster