Why would you get jumper cables instead of a jump starter?

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jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Yeah, $42 for cables is ridiculous. And you don't have to worry about keeping it charged.

I bought a jump box once - when I went to use it, it didn't have enough guts to turn the motor over. I promptly returned it.
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
Fenixgoon said:
im not sure i'd trust an $8 jumper. i bought a $10 tire inflater that hooks up to your cigarette lighter...damn thing burnt out on me after 3 uses i think.
Click to expand...

There's a lot of room in between, though. Example. I've never had a set of jumper cables fail to work. More expensive ones will typically be more flexible, have higher quality clamps/etc, but really when it comes down to it it's just heavy wire to bridge two batteries.

Edit: The jump box in the OP also only provides 225 cranking amps - the battery in my CTS-V is rated for over twice that.
 
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Raizinman

Raizinman

Platinum Member
Sep 7, 2007
2,355
75
91
meettomy.site
Lifespan of a pair of good jumper cables = 50 years or more
Lifespan of a jumper box = 3 or 4 years

I actually have both as their purposes are not completely the same. I use the jumper box to update my radar detector from my computer inside the house that needs a 12v cigarette lighter outlet. The little light on the jumper box lasts for virtually weeks during a power outage. Once, when my lawn tractor died in the back (lots of trees) the jumper box came in real handy to jump the tractor. Jumper cables would not have worked. Again, the specific purposes for each of these tools are not the same. I buy a cheap jumper box at Harbor Freight, about $39 every 3 or 4 years. They really come in handy when you need them.
 
Bignate603

Bignate603

Lifer
Sep 5, 2000
13,897
1
0
A few advantages of cables...

1. Jumper cables will last longer than most cars if properly taken care of
2. They never need to be charged
3. They are unaffected by temperature (battery in the jumper will be worse at low temps)
4. A good set of cables cost far less than a good jumper
5. You can use them to start anything with a 12 volt system, large or small. Your jumper won't be able to start big stuff.
6. They're light and easy to keep stored away in the trunk

The only real advantage of a jumper is that you don't need another vehicle to start the car.
 
SpatiallyAware

SpatiallyAware

Lifer
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
They really serve separate purposes. I keep my jump box in the garage plugged in, and use it for camping or long trips where I might not be able to get a jump from someone.


Cables are for every day emergencies. +1 on $40 cables being overpriced.
 
Zenmervolt

Zenmervolt

Elite member
Oct 22, 2000
24,514
34
91
$42 for a set of 4-gauge, 20-foot cables seems quite good to me. The cheapie 10-gauge cables you can pick up at the drug store get hot just trying to jump a 450cc motorcycle; I'd be worried about melting something if I tried to pass any real current through 10-gauge junk cables.

I've been in situations where 10-gauge cables couldn't pass enough current to start my car, and in situations where 12-foot cables weren't long enough. Now I'll only carry 4 or 6 gauge cables that are at least 20 feet long. If I'm in a situation where I truly need jumper cables, I want them passing as much current as possible and I want them long enough to give me some flexibility with where the cars can be.

I do think it's kind of cute how the jump box the OP links to uses 4-gauge cables when it's only passing 225 cranking amps though. Some engineer was dreaming big there.

ZV
 
R

Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,522
751
126
Good luck starting a V8, let alone a diesel with a jump box, especially that tiny one in the OP.

Cables are always a better option than a jump box, they always work and dont need to be charged.
 
S

SyndromeOCZ

Senior member
Aug 8, 2010
615
0
71
Even without jumper cables you can get VERY creative to make it work. I agree with what others have said here, a jump box is high maintenance, and expensive compared to a set of cables. Its pretty rare now days to get into an area without other vehicles around to give you a jump, even for me and I live in one of the more desolate areas in the USA.

16 foot is very very long, an 8 foot set would be adequate in most situations. And I'm not 100% sure but 6 gauge seems a bit small to be running that many amps that far(16 feet).
 
LTC8K6

LTC8K6

Lifer
Mar 10, 2004
28,520
1,575
126
The jumper box protects your alternator and ECU, etc., from that idiot's piece of crap car... :p
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
Those cables are priced very attractively. Some of you guys don't know the current value of copper.
 
S

SilthDraeth

Platinum Member
Oct 28, 2003
2,635
0
71
Also, I don't know if you guys clicked the link. 25 ft cables, and 4 gauge. Ie thick and long. I would say that is a lot more convenient than a $8 dollar pair that is maybe 8 ft and 8 gauge.
 
SparkyJJO

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
Howard said:
How can you tell?
Click to expand...

I've checked a bunch of reviews as I've been looking at jumper cables and there are tons of references to Coleman and AAA jumper cables being CCA and not copper. CCA is very common, mostly because of cost.
 
N

nicolaskl

Member
Nov 12, 2008
91
0
61
Zenmervolt said:
$42 for a set of 4-gauge, 20-foot cables seems quite good to me. The cheapie 10-gauge cables you can pick up at the drug store get hot just trying to jump a 450cc motorcycle; I'd be worried about melting something if I tried to pass any real current through 10-gauge junk cables.

I've been in situations where 10-gauge cables couldn't pass enough current to start my car

ZV
Click to expand...

ditto. Jumper cables are one of the many items that you should never ever buy the cheapest one you can find.
 
pauldun170

pauldun170

Diamond Member
Sep 26, 2011
9,260
5,300
136
Last time my battery went dead, my trusty $30 jumpers....

Just kidding.
I drive stick and I haven't had to use jumper cables since 1992.

My wife does have a trusty set of cables purchased 15 years ago. Can't remember the price.
 
Z

Zivic

Diamond Member
Nov 25, 2002
3,505
38
91
Ns1 said:
Cables = $42
http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cable-...lp_edpp_ttl_in

Jumper = $70
http://www.amazon.com/Jump-N-Carry-J...=I2QTGY103CC7H

wouldn't the extra $28 always be worth it?
Click to expand...

i have a couple of the 660 jnc. I use them very regularly around my farm. An invaluable tool for me. some of my bigger equipment will need two of them to get going if really dead, but for the most part they will whirl just about anything over. Not sure I would carry one in a passenger vehicle as a backup. a cheap set of jumpers or investing in a decent battery every 3 yrs or so might be better for piece of mind.

my oldest one is about 4 yrs old and only used in summer months. my 660's have about 5-10 jumps in them on a charge, but I am using them under more demanding conditions than most would
 
H

Howard

Lifer
Oct 14, 1999
47,982
10
81
SparkyJJO said:
I've checked a bunch of reviews as I've been looking at jumper cables and there are tons of references to Coleman and AAA jumper cables being CCA and not copper. CCA is very common, mostly because of cost.
Click to expand...
The resistance of a 4AWG aluminum wire 20 feet long is about 0.008 ohm. For copper, it goes down to 0.005. Not a huge difference unless you're talking hundreds of cranking amps.
 
Imported

Imported

Lifer
Sep 2, 2000
14,679
23
81
SilthDraeth said:
Also, I don't know if you guys clicked the link. 25 ft cables, and 4 gauge. Ie thick and long. I would say that is a lot more convenient than a $8 dollar pair that is maybe 8 ft and 8 gauge.
Click to expand...

I have the 25' one.. Worth every penny.
 
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