CHOOSING A JUMP STAR+ER FOR YOUR TOW OPERATION

How much power do I need?

+ How often will I be jump starting?

+ What kind of access do I require?

+ How long do I want the jump starter to last, given my usage patterns?

If you want to ultimately land on the right product for your operation, it is really critical to get a handle on the answers to these questions at the start of your consideration process and product search journey. This is because every tow operation is different, which means the right jump starter can be different from one operation to the next. Taking the time to pinpoint your specific needs will help you make the best decision.

What is My Power Requirement?

This is almost always the first question that comes up. The answer, of course, depends on the types of vehicles you need to start, the weather conditions in which you are jump starting and the condition of the vehicles you will be starting. Suffice it to say that the larger the vehicles to be started, the colder the temperatures you operate in and the worse overall vehicle conditions are, the more power you will need.

A good rule of thumb is that if you are planning to start mostly passenger vehicles, even in cold weather, a jump starter that can supply 400 Cranking Amps (30 seconds, 32˚F, 7.2V or higher terminal voltage) of power should suffice. If your service footprint extends to larger vehicles or you operate in areas that experience extremely cold weather, you’ll want to focus on higher output units.

These fundamental facts are true no matter the type of jump starter you choose. So, if you are interested in a lithium battery powered jump starter, you still must ensure that you have sufficient power to turn over the types of vehicles you expect to encounter. Also, some power supplies are more or less sensitive to temperature than others. For instance, ultracapacitors deliver the same power whether the temperature is 70˚F or -25˚F. Lead acid jump starters are sensitive to cold temperatures, but not nearly as much as lithium-battery powered jump starters, which are typically more sensitive to temperature swings and may not be practical in severely cold situations.

Jump Starting Many Times per Day or Just Once Every Few Days?

Like your temperature situation, this one can really vary from one operation to the next. If you often perform jump starting tasks multiple times per day, your need for a reliable unit with high reserve capacity is much more acute than an operation that jump starts only once every few days. Reserve capacity is essentially how deep the well is in the jump starter’s power supply capability. So, you could have two jump starters that are equally rated in Peak Amps or even Cranking Amps, but have different reserve capacities. When operating a tow vehicle, reserve capacity is important – you want to be sure your jump starter can work as full a day as you do.

This is another area where capacitor driven models have an advantage. Since the capacitor can be fully recharged immediately after a successful jump start (less than 20 seconds), it is somewhat like having bottomless reserve capacity. So, if you are jumping more than 5+ vehicles per day, you may want to consider choosing this type of unit.

What Types of Vehicles Do I Need to Access?

As a tow operator, you know that vehicles come in many shapes and sizes, and that batteries and starting points can be located in some tricky spots. So, it is a great idea to factor for the specific vehicles that you encounter in your operation. This is true two ways. On larger vehicles, you are going to want to be sure to have long enough cables to reach the battery / starting points in them. In addition, on vehicles with difficult to access batteries, you are often confronted with the need for extended reach to get to a good vehicle ground. This often requires 3+ feet of reach, depending on the design of the vehicle to be jumped.

How Long Do I Want/Require the Jump Starter to Last?

Again, this equation will vary for each user, based on their usage patterns, spend expectations and desire for value / longevity. But, regardless of the spend, everyone wants the products they purchase to last a reasonable length of time. Particularly in a towing operation, which could reasonably be described as an extreme environment, this factor comes into play in a big way. Various products, based on their build method, will stand up to the demands of towing operation usage better than others. This should be accounted for.

Built for Jump Starting from the Ground Up

The power supply (heart of the jump starter) is the most important contributor to jump starter performance. It impacts everything from the jump starter’s maximum