A sufficiently acceptable starting charger must still include protection against short circuits, as well as against reverse polarity of the battery, and also have the feasibility of reverse charging with self-acting regulation of the charge current. The presence of a means of stabilizing the supply voltage is also important.
ROMs used by car owners to recharge the battery and start the engine vary in functionality, cost and complexity of use. Their rating allows you to determine the quality of the device relative to the price category.
The best universal jump starter
Bosch C7
It rightfully ranks first in the ranking due to its versatility of use. It has six automatic operating modes for charging not only cars, but also trucks and motorcycles. Input voltage is standard 220-240V, output voltage is standard 12/24V.
A charger such as the Bosch C7 is simple and easy to use, has a fairly wide range of functionality, and is also practically safe for your battery.
pros
This ROM is designed to service any battery, both 12V passenger cars and 24V trucks. Designed for portable use due to its lightweight and compact design.
Guarantees a full charge of the battery, and the charging process is completely automatic.
Makes it possible to restore completely discharged batteries.
ROM operating state modes:
- The main charging mode for passenger car batteries.
- Cold charging mode, as well as AGM batteries.
- Mode is the state of the power supply.
- Regeneration mode – restoration of the capacity of discharged batteries.
- Normal charging mode for truck batteries.
- Charging mode for cold truck batteries, as well as AGM batteries.
The presence of an LED screen, which helps you know the latest information about the condition of the car, makes working with the device much more convenient.
Minuses
The only negative, and even then a minor one, due to the versatility of use and reliability of the device, is the cost. Not every car owner can afford to spend about seven thousand rubles on a ROM, if he does not use it very often.
What types of starter-chargers are there?
There are three types of such devices on sale: direct starting and charging models, as well as starting and charging devices.
The charger is used to fully charge or recharge a car battery and is not suitable for starting the engine. Working with such a device does not require disconnecting the battery from the car’s on-board power supply, which is especially important for foreign cars with automatic transmissions that do not tolerate a power outage well.
Starting device - used for quick (emergency) starting of the engine when the battery is discharged/broken or there is no way to charge it. It differs from the charger in the characteristics of the output current: the starting current indicators are several times higher than the charging current parameters. When charging the battery with this device, it is necessary to disconnect the battery from the on-board network, since otherwise all the electronics of the car may be damaged.
The starter-charger combines the functions of previous devices and operates in two modes. The main advantage of the starting-charger is the ability to supply a large current (the so-called “starting current”), sufficient to start the engine without having to wait for the battery to charge.
Best Portable Jump Starter
CARKU E-Power Elite
This device, mainly due to the presence of a USB port and various adapters, is intended for recharging gadgets, but also easily “brings to life” a completely dead battery, and also starts the engine without the latter in stock. At the same time, it can fuel car pumps and car refrigerators for quite a long time.
The small size and versatility of use by the car owner gives this portable ROM second place.
pros
The capacity of its own battery is 44.4 W, the starting current is 200A, the peak current reaches 400A - these indicators, coupled with the truly compact dimensions, perform almost a miracle - they confidently start a diesel engine of 2 liters, a gasoline engine of 5. Naturally, in cold weather the indicators are reduced to 1 ,8 and 3. The charge level of your own battery is displayed by an indicator.
The presence of connectors and outputs for all kinds of gadgets and automotive devices with the ability to charge and power them makes this unit an indispensable device in a modern car.
Moreover, the manufacturer declared a fairly wide temperature range in which the ROM model can fully operate.
A fully charged E-Power Elite can recharge up to a dozen phones or perform about 30 engine starts. This device also contains an LED lamp that operates in three modes - flashlight, flashing and SOS.
Minuses
Basically, the device is designed to serve a 12V network and is not suitable for trucks.
Types and characteristics of starting-chargers
Starting chargers (aka ROM, also known as charging and starting) are designed for charging car batteries, but unlike conventional chargers they can be used to start the engine in case of emergency. Today, this type of charger is more popular among car owners. Like most similar devices, the starting charger consists of several main parts, namely an output voltage regulator, a diode bridge, a transformer and an ammeter.
Classification
Starter chargers are divided into several main types:
- Household - used by the population for charging and, if necessary, starting cars, motorcycles, tractors and other equipment, with a battery voltage of 12 V.
- Professional - have a set of advanced functions and can work with voltages of 12 and 24 V.
- Combined - the most expensive type, can be used on all known types of batteries and vehicles, and are quite difficult to use.
- Portable - small and convenient devices, a very useful thing on the road, especially on long trips. Among the additional features - they can charge your phone, laptop and other electronics.
These categories of chargers differ primarily in cost. When choosing a ROM for home use, proceed from your desires and budget.
Types of starting chargers
Pulse (or automatic). After converting the voltage, it is supplied in small pulses to the battery. They are classified as low-power. A relatively cheap charger option can create radio interference. The battery takes a very long time to charge. Due to the absence of a transformer, such chargers are very light and therefore easy to transport. Pulse charging is used on lead, gel and dry batteries.
Transformer. Powerful devices that operate on the principle of voltage reduction. Provides strong starting currents to the car battery. Very durable and reliable starting chargers, recommended by experts for starting any cars with a completely dead battery. The main disadvantages of such devices are their heavy weight, dimensions and high cost.
Rechargeable (booster, jump starter). Allows you to start the car engine using a fairly powerful built-in battery. Such a device needs periodic recharging, for example, while you are at home, you can connect it to a 220V network. With a relatively small capacity, the device's lithium iron phosphate battery can supply a large amount of current. An excellent choice for long trips.
Condenser. They contain a set of built-in capacitors that need to be charged after use. Due to the complexity of operation and high cost, it is used extremely rarely by motorists.
The best battery jump starter
CTEK MXS 5.0
It seems that such a small, even toy-sized device solves a huge number of problems in the efficient operation of car batteries. It ranks third in the ranking.
As a charger, it copes well with its main task. It quickly charges the battery of a car and other motor vehicles. Ideal for owners of cars with sensitive electronics.
pros
The versatility of the built-in tasks during the charging process allows you to improve the performance of the battery, and if the malfunction is high, allow you to notice it and make the necessary replacement.
Functions during charging:
- At the start-up stage, desulfation occurs from the surfaces of the lead plates, which restores the battery capacity.
- During the main launch, the battery's ability to accept a charge is checked.
- After charging, the battery's ability to hold a charge is checked. It is at this stage that a decision is made about the usefulness of the battery and its possible replacement with a working one.
- The final function of restoring electrolyte in maximally discharged batteries.
- Supports the battery to be fully charged before using it.
Such options of this device as the ability to diagnose the battery and optimize the entire charging process will be highly appreciated by car enthusiasts.
Moreover, the entire process of the operation of CTEK MXS 5.0 is displayed on the device display.
Types of starting chargers
Starter chargers for cars are conventionally divided into three types, depending on the capabilities:
- Household;
- Professional;
- Combined.
Household devices
. Designed for use in garage conditions. Most of them are designed to work with the vehicle's 12 V on-board network.
There are also these devices operating in the output voltage range of 6-12 V. Thanks to such devices, you can charge batteries, as well as start not only the car engine, but also motorcycles whose on-board voltage corresponds to 6 V.
Professional starting and charging devices
. Designed to work with cars with mains voltage of both 12 V and 24 V.
They are designed to start not only passenger cars, but also commercial ones, whose mains voltage is 24 V. Sometimes there are devices whose output voltage range is 6-24 V and even 6-36 V.
An interesting solution is the emergence of combined starter-chargers.
If you look at it, such a device is an inverter welding machine, with the ability to switch the output voltage, suitable for working with the battery and on-board network of the car.
This device is multifunctional, but it is somewhat difficult to use. Next, we will look at how to choose the right starter-charger for a car.
The best powerful jump starter
CARKU E-Power 21
CARKU E-Power 21 is capable of starting a diesel engine of 4 liters, and a gasoline engine of about 7 liters. In winter, naturally, these indices decrease. It has a capacity of 66.6 Wh, and the maximum inrush/peak current is 300/600A. Takes 4th place in the ranking.
pros
As a ROM for trucks, it is relatively small in size and looks quite modern. On a full charge of this device, the engine can be started about 30 times and the laptop can be kept in operation for about 4 hours.
It is possible to fully charge the phone from 6 to 12 times. There are all the necessary adapters and you can power automotive devices through it.
The LED flashlight, like other models from this manufacturer, is three-program. There is protection against short circuit, overdischarge, overflow, and backflow.
The electronic display unit informs about the reverse charge and the presence of a residual charge of the standard battery.
Minuses
Fully charging your own battery takes more than 7 hours. High cost if purchased for a passenger car; for them, based on needs, there are other ROM options.
What additional parameters and functions does ROM have?
An ammeter may be installed on such devices . It measures the output current of the device and allows the user to control this parameter. The presence of a voltmeter allows you to measure the output voltage of the device and is intended to control this indicator. Overcharge protection stops powering the battery after it is fully charged. This prevents battery damage and waste of energy and time. Thanks to this protection, the battery can be left on charge for as long as desired without the risk of overcharging. Overheat protection turns off the charger if the maximum permissible temperature is exceeded.
Some models have a charging indicator - it informs the user that the battery has completed charging. Thanks to the indicator, unnecessary energy and time are not wasted, and the battery is not overcharged. There are two types of indication: instrument or LED. Particularly sophisticated models can be equipped with a built-in compressor , which is used to inflate tires. The included compressor eliminates the need to purchase it separately. The built-in flashlight is useful for working with the device at night or illuminating hard-to-reach areas. The flashlight can have different modes: flashing, emergency. According to their design, flashlights can be built-in or removable.
The best professional jump starter
T-1014R
Having a series of operating modes, namely “test”, “manual”, “automatic”, “start”, the T-1014R has been gaining positions in many ROM ratings for quite a long time and is in demand. In fact, such a device is in demand not only among owners of personal cars, but also among companies with large vehicles.
Because it ensures full operation of batteries for leaving vehicles, especially during the cold season. For the most part it is more of a stationary mechanism. In fifth place in the ranking.
pros
This device is reliable and prevents the following from happening:
- Resetting the input voltage.
- Short circuit.
- Incorrect connection.
It is also intended for charging batteries of all models with a nominal voltage of 12V and nominally 24V.
Allows:
- Simultaneously charge multiple batteries with different ratings.
- Check the generator.
- Check the regulator relay.
- Check the operation of the starter.
- Check auto electrics.
Minuses
Quite large weight and dimensions.
Charger
This device only allows you to charge the battery. But to do this, the battery must be disconnected from the car's network. The charging process itself takes some time.
Depending on the charger design, full charging time can be 4-14 hours.
In addition, on some foreign-made cars it is not recommended to disconnect the battery from the network.
On the topic “How to properly charge a car battery.”
The best starter and charger for passenger cars
Bosch C3
This model occupies seventh position on the list. This is one of the most understandable and easy-to-use foreign devices.
Operation is possible in 4 modes, which the device itself selects automatically based on the needs of the battery; there is short circuit protection - in this case the device turns off. Designed for acid-type batteries.
pros
There is nothing superfluous or incomprehensible in it. Even in cold weather, it works confidently and easily starts the engine of a passenger car, and also charges the battery 100%.
Light weight and small parameters make it convenient to use and carry. Recharging occurs in the most gentle mode and maintains the battery charge.
Minuses
Suitable for acid type batteries only.
How to choose a starter charger?
Before purchasing a starter charger, be sure to study the parameters of your car’s battery. Its voltage and capacity determine what type of charger is worth buying, what power will be sufficient and what current will start the engine without damaging the battery. The choice of such devices should be taken responsibly so as not to waste money on unnecessary equipment.
Select the type: starting, charging or starting-charging
In order to revive a car with a dead battery, you can simply ask for a “light.” By connecting the power wires to the battery of the donor car, within a few minutes you will be able to start the engine of your car.
It’s even easier to buy a starting device - it will not charge the battery, but will provide the current necessary for the starter to start the engine 1-2 times
. Inside such a device there is a battery that allows you to start the car in an open field, in a parking lot or garage where there is no electricity. The energy supply is not infinite - after 1-2 engine starts, such a starting device must be charged by connecting to a household network. There are models on sale that are powered from an outlet to start the motor, but their mobility is limited.
If you need to leave the car without a battery overnight or for a day, then it is useful to have a charger on hand. It will not only restore the battery’s capacity, but also extend its life by another 1-2 years.
It can also be used when the car is idle for a long time, because after 3-4 months of parking the battery is discharged. To return it to its nominal characteristics, simply disconnect it from the on-board network and connect the charger. For a full charge, the average battery will require from 12 hours to a day; the chargers are powered exclusively from the household network, so you can use “charging” in the garage or at home.
There are also combined options on sale, the so-called starting-chargers, which are capable of charging the battery and, if necessary, starting the engine.
. They are universal and cost less than two separate devices. In addition to standard functions, some models boast a “cigarette lighter” socket, through which you can power vehicle equipment, or a banal flashlight, which is useful in the garage.
Electrical characteristics of the device
As you know, batteries come not only with a voltage of 12 V, which are used in cars, but with a voltage of 6 V and 24 V, used in motorcycles and trucks.
The charging (6 V, 12 V, 24 V) or starting (6 V, 12 V, 24 V) device must also provide the same voltage. In this regard, you can even find a universal option, where you can select the required voltage with a switch. Important
.
The most important indicators of a battery are its capacity and starting current
. This data is indicated on the sticker or plate of the battery approximately as follows: 63 Ah starting power 610 A (EN). It follows from this that the battery has a capacity of 63 Ah and, when starting the engine, can provide a starting current of 610 A. It is specifically for these characteristics that a charger, a starting device, or a combination of both is selected.
To select a charger, it is enough to take into account the battery capacity.
It is expressed in ampere hours (Ah), this parameter means the time during which the battery can supply a current of 1 ampere to the load. To restore the maximum capacity of the battery, you will need a charger capable of delivering a certain amount of current in a conditionally minimum period of time - the charging current. But in pursuit of charging speed, you should not choose devices capable of delivering 60-70 A; the maximum current strength is considered optimal: 10-15 A. It is advisable that it also be regulated, since the initial charging is carried out with a high current, and as the battery gains capacity, the power current is reduced (some chargers do this automatically).
There are often chargers that do not allow you to regulate the current, but offer accelerated or normal charging modes. Accelerated is produced by a higher current, which allows charging in a short time. But it is not recommended to use this mode often, as it significantly reduces battery life. The normal mode produces less current, but takes a long time. This option promotes more complete dissolution of sulfate on the plates, which has a positive effect on the battery capacity.
The starting current, which characterizes the battery’s ability to deliver maximum current for 30 seconds, also depends on the battery capacity. The 500-700 A indicated on the battery sticker should not be taken as the main criterion, because they are given here with a large margin. In fact, to start a car engine, a starter requires approximately 250-300 A - the starting device must provide no less current.
The specified electrical characteristics of the charger and starting devices are also valid for the starting and charging device, which must meet all the necessary parameters. At the same time, starting-chargers may be partially inferior in current strength or maximum starting current to specialized models, but commercially available models fully meet the average needs.
Control devices and useful functions
To obtain detailed information on the charging process, it is advisable to choose devices with a built-in ammeter or voltmeter.
Most models provide battery desulfation. During operation, insoluble lead crystals appear on the internal parts of the battery, which can lead to a short circuit inside the battery cans. To get rid of this deposit and increase the battery life, these crystals are destroyed by exposure to current.
The chemical components of the battery itself play a large role in the charging speed of the battery. In cars, lead-acid or gel are most often used. The former are more common; most chargers are designed to work with them. But not all models are suitable for charging a gel battery.
Universal starting-charger SPEC UPZU-10000
A universal model in a durable case designed to protect the electronic “filling” from shock and other mechanical influences. SPECIAL UPZU-10000 is distinguished by a rich set of components (a bunch of adapters included), built-in LED backlight, and a high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery.
Advantages of SPEC UPZU-10000:
- the presence of adapters for charging mobile devices, including laptops (allows you to power gadgets with a supply voltage of 5/12/16/19 V);
- maintainability (in one of the reviews, the user described how he was able to repair a microswitch on the internal ROM board of this model with side cutters);
- long working life (the model is designed for 1000 charge/discharge cycles).
Disadvantages of SPEC UPZU-10000:
- may fail in frost below -30 degrees (one of the reviews about SPEC UPZU-10000 describes a case where at -30 this model coped with starting the engine without any problems, but already at -32 it failed);
- poorly implemented indication of the charge level of the built-in battery (during the charging process, the indicator shows 100% charge, and after disconnecting, 2 out of 4 indicators are on);
- Buttons stick.
SPECIAL UPZU-10000
Specifications:
- output voltage – 12 V;
- maximum starting current – 560 A;
- built-in battery capacity – 9600 mAh;
- dimensions: 175 x 85 x 37 mm;
- weight – 0.8 kg.
Price SPECIAL UPZU-10000 – from 3400 rubles.
