SL1398; 12V 1000 Peak Amp Lithium Ion Tactical Jump Starter Light.

In this side-by-side product review Outside Pursuits leads you through everything you need to know in order to pick the best lithium-ion jump starters for your specific needs and vehicle jump start requirements.We’ll take a look at who makes the best jump starters with L-ION batteries for the money and what to avoid. Also see later in the article. So, what is the best top-rated lithium-ion jump starter for you? Best Lithium-Ion Jump StartersNOCO Genius Boost Plus GB40 1000DBPOWER 600A Peak 18000mAh Portable Car Jump StarterGOOLOO 450A Peak Car Jump StarterCranking Capacity300-400 amps400 amps500 ampsPeak Capacity400 amps600 amps500 ampsCable Length / Gauge12 inches /#10 AWG12 inches /#10 AWG12 inches / #12 AWGWeight (pounds)2.4 lbs.3.25 lbs.1.8 lbs.Special Features(1) USB IN and (1) USB OUT and LED flashlight(1) Smart USB and (1) USB OUT, LED flashlight, red strobe, compassDual USB 3.0 Quick Charging + LED Flashlight + S.O.S SignalCustomer Rating3.7 / 5.0 Stars4.9 / 5.0 Stars4.5 / 5.0 Stars. 4 different sizes. USB device chargers built in. Compact form factor allows use of built in flashlightSpeaking of flashlights I have to say that having such a small battery jumper makes it so easy to use!

With traditional lead acid battery jumpers there’s no good way to use the flashlight since they’re so heavy. With this lithium ion jumper, it weighs just over 2 pounds so it’s easy to use.Because of its small size and huge battery capacity, these batteries also make great phone or tablet chargers when needed. Just don’t run the battery out of charge when you might need it for the car!One thing I didn’t mention much above is built in circuit protection. If you’ve jumped cars with traditional methods you know it can be “shocking” at times. With built in circuit protection there’s nothing to worry about because it’s spark proof!Best for users who need a lithium ion battery available in many sizes!. 2x USB chargers. Flashlight and compass.

Digital display readoutOnboard this powerful battery jump starter are two USB plugs. One of them is a traditional USB charger but the other is a smart USB charger. If you’re not aware, smart USB plugs adapt their electrical output to match the device you’re charging. So if you have a smartphone with fast charging capabilities, this charger can keep up.Of course, charging phones isn’t what a car battery jump starter is meant for, is it? Luckily this lithium ion battery pack is rocking 600A of power. That’s enough to start many standard cars and small trucks. You may want something bigger for larger trucks and diesel engines (especially in winter).While I’m not convinced that this battery charger really needs a compass, I do appreciate the digital display.

With a battery percentage readout you can tell exactly that level your battery charge is at. This way you’ll know when it’s time for a charge up!Best for easy to read battery health display. 450 amps of peak current. Easy to use. Ironcast review.

Clean, attractive look. 1x USB charging portLike most lithium ion jumpers this pack is small enough to fit anywhere. Put it in the glove box or under the seat and forget about it until you need it.

Just set a reminder to top it off on power once a month so it’s not dead when you need to use it!My favorite part about this lithium ion battery jumper is the clear, easy to use directions. Forget the manual – just read the jumper cables! Printed right on the battery jumper cables are all the instructions you’ll need to use this battery jumper properly.While it does put out 450 amps of peak current, that won’t be enough to start larger engines. Particularly in cold climates, you’ll need something bigger. This battery pack makes a solid choice for small car engines, particularly those in warm climates.Best for small cars and those who want clear, easy to use directions and assistance on the fly. Rated for 2L gasoline engines.

300 amps of peak current. 1x quick charge USB portAgain, there’s much to love when the jump starter is easy to use and clear to follow. I like the impossible-to-mess-up features of the jump starter on this lithium ion battery pack. Of course that comes with a small drawback in this case.There’s only 300 amps of peak power to draw on with this battery.

That’s not a whole lot and it certainly won’t do you any good in bitter cold temperatures. In order to make the most of this lithium ion battery jumper, make sure you have a small 2L or less engine.There is included circuit protection which is nice so you don’t give yourself shocking surprise. Plus the intelligent charging USB port adapts to the needs of any device you plug into it.

If you need to use it, the onboard flashlight has warning and SOS modes for emergencies.Best for charging electronics and jumping very small gasoline engines in emergencies. Micro USB and lightning cable included. 2x USB output ports. Small cars onlyI absolutely love the digital display readout on this.

Like other battery chargers, knowing what the battery life is at will make sure you know when to top it off with a charge. It does you no good to have a drained battery jumper!I have to admit that I’m not a fan of the battery jumper cables. They’re connected by flimsy wires and I worry that might eventually lead to breaking at the wrong time.Because this battery jumper comes with a micro USB and lightning cable along with 2x USB charging ports, it makes me wonder. Maybe the manufacturers made this as a device charger first and foremost and a car battery jumper last.For that reason, and the fact that the battery has a small 8,000 mAh battery I think it makes sense to only use this as a battery jumper on extremely small cars.

Powersports applications like motorcycles, dirtbikes, ATVs and others also come to mind.Best for extremely light duty battery jumping applications and device charging. Smaller than traditional jumpers. Lighter than traditional jumpers. Can be used to charge electronicsUnlike most traditional car battery jump starters, lithium ion jumpers are tiny! They weight fractions of what a traditional lead acid battery jumper would. While lead acid jumpers weigh 15 pounds, a lithium ion jump starter weighs 2-4 pounds.As I mentioned earlier, one of the major advantages is size.

Because they’re smaller than traditional lead acid battery jump starters, they can fit in a glove box or under the seat. That also means you can carry them around or use them to charge electronics.Most lithium ion jump starters come with USB plugs for device charging and are small enough to stick in a backpack with ease. They are, in many ways, super powerful battery chargers.Cranking Amps & Peak AmpsThere are two main numbers used to convey the size of a battery jumper. These are cranking amps and peak amps. Both terms have slightly different meanings and often manufacturers use confusing language around them.Essentially peak amps traditionally refer to the amount of power put out by the battery during the first second or so of the jump starting process. Batteries can put out loads of power during this short burst known as peak amps. However, as you hold down the starter and turn the engine over, the battery quickly loses that initial burst of power.Once that initial one second (or less) burst is done the battery is now using a more steady output of power called cranking amps.Note: Never turn the engine over for more than 3 seconds at a time.

This can cause extreme heat and stress on the electrical components.When it comes to lithium ion batteries these numbers are confusing or may not even be present in the advertising specs.Why? Because lithium ion battery generally are used slightly different than traditional lead acid chargers.How to Use a Lithium Ion ChargerWith large lead acid battery packs you can clamp them on to your battery and then just crank the engine over immediately.

They have tons of power and can handle this load without too much trouble in most cases.Lithium ion chargers are usually much smaller and have less raw power output though. Instead of immediately cranking the engine over, most lithium ion battery makers recommend the following process:. Attach the LI battery charger to your car battery. Wait 30 second to 1 minute before attempting to start the car.

Try to start the car. If it doesn’t start, wait several more minute then try againSo why wait? Because lithium ion batteries and their cables are usually much smaller than traditional battery jumpers.

Lithium ion jumpers need a few minutes to transfer charge to the main car battery before you try to start the car otherwise they can’t do their job as efficiently.Scientifically speaking there’s more to it than that, but that’s not the purpose of our article!What Size Lithium-Ion Jump Starter Do I Need?I want to be clear – there’s no single answer to this question. The size of your car jumper depends on what vehicle you’re driving and what type of engine is in it. Larger engines need more battery power to get started than smaller ones.These factors all impact the size of lithium jump starter you’ll want to get. Diesel engines need more power than gas. The more cylinders you have the more power you’ll need. Older engines will need more power than equivalent newer onesThere’s no solid answer but in general the more battery power the better.

You can really never have too much battery power available for a jump.Gas cars, since they require less power than diesel, can generally be jumped with 150 – 300 amp battery packs.Diesel vehicles will need more juice and should be jumped with 300 – 700 amp booster packs.Jump Starting in the ColdGetting a car started in the cold is harder than summer time. Have you ever noticed that your car seems to work harder to get started when it’s bitter cold?There are several reasons for this, but one of the biggest ones is that the cold temperatures wreak havoc on batteries.

Car batteries and lithium ion jumpers are both negatively affected by outside temperatures.Keeping your car in a warm garage can help a lot with this problem, but we can’t all do that.If you live in a cold climate where temps regularly drop below freezing you’ll want to double the size of your jumper.The colder the temperature you anticipate, the larger you need to go on battery jumper sizing. The only way to deal with the drain on battery power in the cold is to just get a bigger one. If all else fails, take the battery jumper somewhere warm and use it while warm to recover most of the power.ConclusionNo matter that battery you end up deciding on, make sure it’s got the features you need. First and foremost should be a focus on the battery jump starting capabilities. Any good batter jump needs enough juice to jump your car so revisit the “how to choose” section to make sure you’re buying the right battery jumper for your needs.Only after you’re sure the battery jumpers you’re looking at will work for your vehicle can you look at extra features. These include USB chargers, lights, and others. These are all secondary to a good battery that can actually handle your vehicle.If you’re not sure check the reviews.

When making your decision, look for other users who have actually used the battery to jump their car. Then see if their vehicles are similar to yours.Once you’ve done your research you’ll be able to pick the best lithium ion jump starter for you.

Begin with our list and you’ll be on your way to ordering the perfect one in just minutes!

A traditional jump starter combines a pair of jumper cables and another car for the times when your vehicle’s battery dies. Compared to this old alternative, jump starters are small and portable enough to keep out of the way until those unexpected emergencies, meaning they are a smart investment to stay safe and prepared.The right jump starter depends on the type of vehicle you drive and its engine. Since smaller vehicles will require less current for a jump start, you can choose something with a lower power level and smaller footprint. SUVs and trucks, on the other hand, will require more power to get up and running. This will increase the size and price of the jump starter depending on the battery type.Need more information to choose the best jump starters? Our jump starter guide has the important features and details you need to make a choice.

Best of all, we included some top contenders to check out before making the final decision. There are three ways to get juice into a flat battery:.A battery charger that you plug into the household electrical supply. Some can give a boost in half an hour or so that might get your car started. Generally they provide a trickle charge over 12 to 24 hours. They work fine, but they're slow.Jumper cables consist of a bunch of wires, wrapped in an insulating rubber or plastic sheath, with crocodile clips on each end. Cheap, simple and can be very effective.

The drawback is that you need another vehicle to piggyback off of. Even then, starting isn't guaranteed. If that vehicle is smaller, or its battery is not in top condition, it might not provide enough current.Jump starters, for all their apparent complexity, are basically quite simple. A powerful battery wrapped in a case, with jumper cables attached. They provide instant current, without the need for a donor vehicle. You can start your car or truck yourself, in just a few minutes.

So, we know what a jump starter does, but why are there so many to choose from? In essence there are two reasons:.The smaller the vehicle, the less current the jump starter has to supply. That leads to models with a wide variety of different power levels. Which is fine, because not everyone needs to start a V8 pickup.Manufacturers try to tempt you with a variety of extras.

Control technology, built-in safety features, and a host of useful (and not so useful) options.These elements impact performance and price, so let's look at each in turn. In order to get your vehicle going, a jump starter has to supply sufficient current (measured in amps) to get the starter motor cranking over. That, in turn, fires the engine. The jump starter feeds current through the battery – temporarily taking its place. As soon as the vehicle is running, the jump starter is disconnected and, if all is working properly, the vehicle begins charging its own battery.Inside the jump starter is one of two types of battery: lead-acid (the same kind as in your vehicle) or lithium (the kind you would usually associate with power tools).Lead acid versions have been around for decades.

They are proven, effective, reliable and durable. The down-side is that they're bulky and heavy – anything from 15 to 30 pounds.Lithium versions are much more compact; many would fit in a glove box.

They weigh a couple of pounds or less. They also have “smart” microprocessor control, so they not only start your car, they can charge your phone, tablet, or laptop. The drawback with lithium models is lower performance. Though high performance models are becoming more widely available, they tend to cost more. With the exception of smaller models (used to start garden tractors and that kind of thing), the battery inside a jump starter is the same voltage as your vehicle – 12 volts. However, what's more important is the current it supplies, in amps.The motor in the average family compact needs far fewer amps to turn it over than the one in a sports car or big SUV.

If you've ever bought batteries for different vehicles, you probably know that some need a higher mp Hour (Ah) rating than others.So, if you have a small car, you don't need a big, expensive jump starter. On the other hand, if you've got a rumbling V8, then a cheap, low-output jump starter isn't going to make it hiccup, let alone run.So, the solution is easy, right? Choose a jump starter with the same amp hours as your car.Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Amps and amp hours aren't quite the same thing. Also, jump starter manufacturers usually report peak amps, which doesn't really mean a lot, except as a comparison.

What you really want are cranking amps (CA) or cold cranking amps (CCA).No wonder choosing a jump starter is confusing! Lead-acid jump starters, being larger, have room for features that wouldn't fit in the compact case of lithium models.Compressors are popular, useful for inflating tires in an emergency.12 volt DC outlets can power suitable accessories.A 120 volt inverter might be included, feeding power to ordinary household power outlets.A worklight is common, and sometimes detachable. Very useful if you're trying to start a car in the dark.A USB port is also common.Voltmeters and charge indicators are useful additions, so you can see when your jump starter needs charging.Long cables make it easy to clamp battery terminals, while keeping the jump starter on solid ground.Strong clips help make a good connection, biting through the corrosion that often forms on battery terminals.Cases are usually robust, built to take everyday knocks and scratches.Most have overload protection that prevents damage to your vehicle. The compact size of lithium jump starters doesn't allow for 120 volt outlets.

Instead, they concentrate on providing power for your electronic devices.At least one, and often two USB ports. “Smart” technology adapts current to the device being attached.12 volt DC outlet.LED worklight. May have multiple brightness settings or emergency strobe.LCD screen giving a variety of useful info.One model we reviewed included a compass.Microprocessor control prevents overloads on vehicles and digital devices.Polarity sensors warn if you've attached jumper cables to the wrong terminals.Cables are usually shorter, though the size of case makes it easy to position in the engine bay.Regardless of type, always bear in mind that the more features you use, the faster you'll drain your jump starter. Though most provide excellent performance and multiple vehicle starts between charges, it's basically a battery in a case, not a portable generator. If you're looking for a cheap jump starter, the $80 Jump-N-Carry JNC300XL will go a long way towards satisfying your needs – as long as your vehicle is within its specified range.

Many of the complaints we've seen come from people who simply didn't buy a powerful enough jump starter for their vehicle. The Jump-N-Carry JNC300XL was not designed to start V8 engines. (Sometimes it succeeds at starting them, but this was not the manufacturer's intent.) It's a lightweight device, but it's relatively robust and powerful for the class that it's in. There are a huge variety of jump starters available, with something to fit any budget.

Of course, you usually pay more for extra bells and whistles, so it's worth considering whether you'll actually use those enticing options very often.There are some very cheap jump starters around, but durability might not be what you hope. That said, a good, basic model, capable of starting the average compact, shouldn't cost more than about $50.Something that will handle sedans, station wagons, and small trucks will be between $70 and $120.

In this price range you'll find everything from lead-acid jump starters with lights and compressors, to smart lithium models that will start your car, and charge all your electronic gadgets.Many of these models claim to start powerful gas and diesel engines. They'll certainly handle the vast majority of family vehicles. However, jump starter performance depends on the time since it was last charged, the temperature, and the state of the engine being started. If you want something you can guarantee will start your muscle car, you'll need a high-end jump starter. For one of those you'll be paying around the $200 mark.If you have several vehicles of different sizes, you need a jump starter for the most powerful. There's no need to worry about delivering too much current for smaller vehicles; the jump starter will only provide what the motor draws from it.You might want to consider a small, lithium jump starter even if you've already got a big lead-acid one. Lithium models are great for charging your electrical gadgets, and make a very useful addition to your camping gear or RV.Many jump starters have on-board storage for cables and safe areas for clips.

Use them, or disconnect cables from your jump starter after use – even when the machine is switched off. Accidental discharge can cause an extremely painful shocks. Sparks could start a fire. Q. Are lithium jump starters better than the traditional type?A. It's not really a question of which is better, it's which is most suitable for you.

Lithium jump starters are small enough to keep in a glove box, but many lack the power to start big motors. Traditional jump starters pack more punch, but are a lot larger and heavier. Our jump starter report gives a complete picture. Reading through should help you decide which is right for you.Q. Can I use my jump starter straight out of the box?A. It depends on the model. Some arrive fully charged, others need anywhere from 4 to 24 hours. It's not difficult – they just plug into an ordinary household outlet – but you must check the manufacturer's instructions.Q. What’s the difference between peak amps, cranking amps and cold cranking amps?A. Peak amps is the maximum current available.

Manufacturers love to quote it, because it's the biggest number! Cranking amps is the current available at 32°F (0°C). It must be supplied for 30 seconds, at 7.2 volts minimum.

Cold cranking amps is the current available at 0°F (-18°C). Again, it must be supplied for 30 seconds, at 7.2 volts minimum. The cold makes engines more difficult to start, so more current is needed.There is no direct conversion, but a jump starter with peak amps of 1,500 might only produce 400 cranking amps, which is roughly 320 cold cranking amps. If you can compare CCA ratings, that's when the jump starter is working hardest, but often makers don't give figures. Peak amps is a reasonable alternative.