Jumper Cables

How to use booster cables

Ever walked out to the parking lot after a long day of shopping to find that you’ve left your car lights on and now the battery is dead? It can happen to anyone and if you don’t have an auto club membership, it can be a big hassle trying to find a car owner or mechanic who will give you a boost to get you home.

Jumper cables allow you to connect to another car or power source and boost your car’s battery enough to start. They are an essential part of any car emergency kit, and knowing how to start a car using booster cables is an important vehicle maintenance technique.

These tips are a good starting point for learning how to use jumper cables:

  1. Position your car and the car that is giving you the boost facing each other as closely as possible. Make sure both cars are in park and are turned off. Unplug all accessories, including cell phones. The force of the battery can cause your accessories to surge, which will destroy them.
  2. Connect the correct part of the jumper cable to the correct terminal on each car battery. Positive should go with positive, negative with negative. Do not try to start a car on a cracked battery or one that is excessively corroded.
  3. Connect the grounds and complete the circuit. The good battery should now flood power into the dead battery, allowing you to start your car.

Some people recharge dead car batteries by buying a car battery charger and including it in their emergency kits. The charger charges your car battery when you’re not using it and shuts itself off, preventing an overcharge. This may be a good tool for when you’re caught out on the side of the road with a dead car. Jumper cables, however, are easier to transport and are good to have in car tool kits even if you do have a charger, in case someone else you run into needs a boost.

Why Are Jumper Cables an Essential for Car Emergency Kits?

  • They allow you to boost your car’s dead battery so you can get back on the road.
  • Knowing how to use jumper cables will save time and annoyance when your car dies.

Things to Consider When Buying Jumper Cables

  • What is the state of your battery?
  • Do you need a car battery charger instead?

Top Jumper Cable Brands

  • Bucket Boss jumper cables
  • Eliminator jumper cables