One of the most frequently asked questions about jump starters is “How long does a jump starter last?” Here, we will answer the question in full, but before we do, here’s a brief introduction. If you have any vehicle or motorcycle at your disposal, a jump starter is a must-have for you.
One common challenge with vehicles is weak batteries. It is possible for you to leave an appliance on mistakenly while the engine is off. This will weaken the battery. With a jump starter around, this won’t be a problem. You’ll just jump-start your car in a few seconds.
This is why there’s a high demand for the device. And when numerous people are using a product, questions will be flying around about the product. We have many questions about jump starters and we have answered many of them.
In this article, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about jump starters. So, let’s get straight to business right away.
How Long Does A Jump Starter Last?
Generally, a good jump starter lasts for about 6 to 10 years, but there are several factors that can determine how long it will last. Here are the factors.
1. Quality
There are several brands and models of jump starters, but some of them are of a higher quality than others. The ones with a higher quality usually outlast the lower-quality jump starters. The trap lies in the fact that low-quality jump starters are much cheaper than their high-quality counterparts.
If you want a jump starter that will last long, go for a popular brand and check user reviews of it. Remember, quality does not come cheap.
2. How You Take Care Of It
A cheap jump starter will not last up to 2 years regardless of how you take care of it. In other words, if you take good care of it and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, it will still not last up to 2 years. On the other hand, a high-quality jump starter will last for more than 6 years.
However, it may not last that long if you make some of the mistakes below.
- Not charging it after every use.
- Not storing it within the right temperature.
- Waiting for its battery to go flat before you charge it.
- Cranking your engine longer than 5 seconds while jump-starting your car.
- Making more than 4 attempts if the car does not start.
- Not waiting for up to 3 minutes in-between cranking attempts.
All the mistakes listed above will make your jump starter pack up sooner regardless of its quality. So, make sure you avoid all of them like a plague. Remember, if your car doesn’t start after 3 attempts, it is not likely to start anymore. The jump starter’s battery may no longer be able to reach its peak amperage by then.
3. Usage
How often you use your jump starter also plays a role in its durability. Of course, a jump starter that is being used once a month is likely to outlast the one that is used every day if all other features are the same.
That being said, the best jump starters last for about 6 to 10 years before they pack up, and a few of them last slightly longer.
How Long Does A Jump Starter Hold Its Charge?
A jump starter can hold its charge for 3 to 6 months under favorable temperatures. However, some habits can drain it of its charge faster. Here are the habits that can make your jump starter lose its charge faster.
Jump starters are meant to be stored where the atmospheric or room temperature is between 50 degrees F and 70 degrees F. If the temperature is either lower or higher, your jump starter will begin to lose its charge. The farther the room temperature is to the bracket, the faster it will lose its charge.
While jump-starting your car, if you crank it longer than 5 straight seconds, it will begin to lose its charge. Also, if you make more than 4 unsuccessful attempts at jump-starting your car, the jump starter will lose its charge.
If you leave your fully-charged jump starter somewhere without using it, the device will hold its charge for about 3 to 6 months. That’s why unused jump starters should be charged at least once every 3 months.
Can You Keep A Jump Starter In Your Car?
Yes, of course, you can keep a jump starter in your car or in the trunk of your car. In fact, the best place to keep your jump starter is in your car. In case your battery suddenly goes down when you’re away from home, you can easily jump-start it.
However, you need to fasten it or tie it to a point. If you don’t fasten it, your jump starters will dangle around when your car is in motion and it could hit parts of the car and even lose its charge. So, yes, you can keep your jump starter in your car but you must fasten it to a point.
How Many Times Can You Use A Jump Starter?
Most jump starters can jump-start cars about 10 to 20 times before they get weak. This works if the cars start at the first or second cranking attempt. If your jump starter comes across a car that would not start, it might drain off the jump starter’s battery.
For your jump starter to be able to jump-start up to 10 times before it gets weak, you must follow the tips below:
- Never crank your car longer than 5 seconds if it doesn’t start. After 5 seconds, leave it to rest.
- It has to rest for up to 3 minutes before you make another cranking attempt.
- Don’t make more than 3 jump-starting attempts. If your car doesn’t start after the 3rd attempt, jump-starting will not work. There must be an underlying problem.
- If there are multiple cars to jump-start, you should move to the next car after making 3 unsuccessful jump-starting attempts on a particular car.
If you follow the 4 tips laid out above, your jump starter will be able to jump-start multiple cars before its battery gets weak.
How Long Does A Jump-Started Dead Battery Work?
The jump-started dead battery can work for several weeks, and it can go flat after a few minutes. It depends on certain factors. Normally, when a dead battery gets jump-started, the alternator of your car should charge the battery fully. But if your alternator is not working well, it may not charge the battery.
In that case, the battery will not get charged. Once you turn off the ignition, you’ll have to jump-start your car again because the alternator didn’t charge the battery.
Another case is if the battery has a problem. It could be damaged, or its electrolyte could be flat. Even if the alternator charges this kind of battery, it will get weak shortly after. When you notice that your battery is dead twice in a single week, there may be a bigger problem. You may need to replace or repair the battery or change its electrolyte. If your battery is fine, It should work for several weeks or months after jump-starting it.
Will A Jump Starter Start A Dead Battery?
Yes, of course, a jump starter can start a dead battery, but it can’t charge it. However, not all dead batteries can be jump-started. If a battery is damaged, a jump starter cannot start it. If a battery is dead as a result of losing its charge due to inactivity, a jump starter can start it.
It is not advisable to allow your battery to stay idle for a long time. The battery will lose its charge. Even if you don’t use your car often, it is advisable to start the car and let it run for at least 5 minutes every 3 days. Each time you allow your battery to get flat before you recharge it, you’re shortening its lifespan.
How Do I Extend The Lifespan Of My Battery?
There are several tips to maintain the lifespan of your battery, and here are some of them.
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Wash Off Corrosion From The Terminals Of Your Battery
No matter how much you take care of your battery, corrosion must occur on its terminals. So, you need to wash it off as often as possible. The clamps must hold the terminals firmly too.
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Keep Your Battery Fastened
You need to place your battery on its platform firmly. Fasten it to prevent it from moving around when the car is in motion.
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Top Up Its Fluid
You should top up the fluid in your battery always.
Final Thoughts
When you take good care of your car battery and jump starter, both of them will last very long for you. While your battery can last up to 4 years, your jump starter can last between 6 and 10 years.
