1 day Ago By Abhishek Saksena
Article content A portable jump starter can be a lifesaver if your car battery decides to suddenly give up, especially during the winter. Modern day jump starters are compact enough to carry with you in the car; powerful enough to crank the biggest engines; and are, by and large, quite easy to use. Having one on you gives you the confidence you won’t be left stranded by the side of the road , ever.
To help you choose the best portable jump starter, here’s a guide to the best-rated ones online. What features to look for in a Portable Jump Starter Cranking Amps (CA): This is measured at 0 degrees C, and is the number of amperes (current) the jump starter can deliver for 30 seconds. Cold Cranking Amps (CCA): This is measured at -18 degrees C, and is again the number of amperes the jump starter can deliver for 30 seconds.
This number is more important because of the extreme cold-weather winters we often get in Canada. Your car’s battery also has a CA and CCA rating , and the jump starter should ideally have a higher rating than your battery. A rating of 400 to 500 CCA is good enough for most cars.
Battery type: Modern jump starters have lithium-ion batteries, making them lightweight and portable. Battery capacity: A higher number of mAh (milliampere-hours) indicates a bigger number of jump starts on a single charge. Additional features: Some jump starter models also double as USB power banks, or have built-in flashlights and tire inflators.
Top-rated jump starter on Consumer Reports Rating: 78 out of 100 Capacity: 16,000 mAh Price: CDN$285.26 This jump starter comes with a digital display that shows the charge level in percentage, and has USB-A and USB-C ports to charge electronic devices such as smartphones. The jump starter itself can be fully charged in about three hours.
Buy here: Amazon.ca Top-rated jump starter on Amazon Rating: 4.6 out of 5 Total Reviews: 107,349 Cranking Amps: 1,000 amps Price: CDN$149.
99 As you can see, this jump starter comes highly rated! The manufacturer says the jump starter is rated for gasoline engines up to 6.0 litres; and diesel engines up to 3.0 litres, which is pretty much most cars and SUVs out there.
The device has a USB charging port for mobile devices; comes with a 100-lumen LED flashlight; and can crank the engine 20 times on a single charge. Buy here: Amazon.ca Top-rated portable jump starter on Walmart Rating: 4.
3 out of 5 Total Reviews: 62 Capacity: 20,000 mAh Price: CDN$109.99 Featuring a 20,000-mAh battery and a peak output of 3500 A, this jump starter is claimed to be be able to jump-start engines of up to 8.0-litre capacity about 50 times on a single charge.
Plus, there’s a built-in 160-PSI tire inflator, a flashlight, and the ability to charge a mobile device. Buy here: Walmart.ca Top-rated portable jump starter on Canadian Tire Rating: 4.
9 out of 5 Total Reviews: 92 Capacity: 8,000 mAh Price: CDN$219.99 This jump starter is claimed to be capable of jump -tarting gas engines up to 6.0 litres; and diesel engines up to 8.
0 litres in capacity with its 8,000-mAh battery. It has a continuous power output of 1000 watts, and can crank engines up to 25 times on a single charge. There’s also a 12V car charger, so the jump starter can be charged on the go.
Buy here: Canadian Tire How to use a portable jump starter to boost your car Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram , Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice..
