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Returning to your vehicle after a long period away just to find that its seemingly healthy battery has died elicits a very particular type of sinking feeling. Motor expert or not, the thought of having to flag down a car owner with jump cables and a uniquely generous spirit tends to fill a person with dread.
Alas, every car owner has run into battery trouble at some stage in their driving career, and since then has never let their car boot be void of jump start cables – whether for their own protection or to pay it forward by helping someone the same way a kind stranger, neighbour or car-owning family member likely saved you from unnecessary towing.
We spoke to Adele Burton, Assistant Buyer at Halfords for some further insight into jump start cables below.
What are jump start cables and how do they work?
“Jump start cables are a handy tool used to start up any vehicle with a flat battery. They feature a set of insulated wires that connect a vehicle with a dead battery to another vehicle with a working battery.”
How do you jump-start a car?
- “Step 1: Park the car with the full-charged battery so it’s facing the vehicle with the flat one. Leave enough space between the two so that you can easily open the bonnets of both and connect your jump leads to each battery.
- Step 2: Once in position, put on safety gear (including gloves and goggles) and attach the red ‘positive’ lead to the positive battery terminal on the working car. Then, connect the other end of the red lead to the positive terminal on the flat battery.
- Step 3: Once the red cable is connected, grab the black 'negative' one and connect one end to the negative terminal on the charged battery (the one with the '-' next to it). However, do not attach the other end to the negative terminal on the dead battery. Instead, clip the clamp onto a piece of solid metal away from the fuel system and battery. Some cars will have a specific area known as an earthing rod, so check your owner's manual to see if your car has one of these.
- Step 4: Now that all four ends of the jump lead cables are attached, wait five minutes. After waiting, start the engine of the car with the charged battery and let it run for a minute before starting the car with the flat battery. If it doesn’t start within five minutes, wait a few minutes and try again.
- Step 5: Once the car with the flat battery is running, leave both car engines on for ten minutes. Then, remove the cables in reverse order, making sure the clamps do not touch any metal or each other as you take them off. ”
What should you consider when choosing jump cables?
“When choosing jump cables you need to take into account your engine size. This is measured by the thickness of the cable cross-section and ensures the jump cables can carry the right amount of power to start their vehicles safely.
“At Halfords, we have simplified this by adapting to engine size capability up to 4L -up to 1.2L; up to 1.8L; up to 3.5L, and up to 4L. So, if a customer has a 1.6L engine, a customer must purchase jump cables that are up to 1.8L.”
How do you stay safe when jump-starting a car?
“Motorists must wear protective gear when jump-starting their car to keep them as safe as possible, this includes gloves and eye protection. All clothing and metal items, such as jewellery, should be kept well out of the way of the battery.
“Before jump starting, drivers should make sure of the following:
- The battery isn't leaking or damaged - seek help from a professional auto mechanic if it is
- That there are no naked flames including cigarettes nearby
- The key is out of the ignition”
What should you do after jump-starting a car?
“Leave the car with the newly charged battery running for 20 minutes or so, then take it for a 30-minute drive before parking it up again. Your battery should now be fully charged and the engine will hopefully start up first time the next time you want to drive. If your battery still isn’t charging properly or doesn’t start after being jumped, then professional help is required. Halfords offers a battery replacement service to get your vehicle back up and running.”
We’ve rounded up the best jump start cables below, so you’re never caught with a flat battery again.
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AA Insulated Booster Cables/Jump Leads AA4550
Engine compatibility: petrol/diesel engines up to 3 litres
Housed in a handy mesh bag for easy access in a pinch, these 3m long starter cables are copper-coated and fully insulated for utility and safety. They’re colour-coded as per European standards and feature easy-grasp battery clamps.
Buy now £13.67, Amazon
NOCO GB40 1000A Jump Starter
Engine compatibility: petrol up to 6 litres, diesel up to 3 litres, start/stop batteries
Though pricey, this ingenious little jump-starting device means you won’t have to source another car with a working battery in order to fix yours. Capable of jump-starting flat battery in seconds, it provides up to 20 jump starts on a single charge, and is even suitable for use on vehicles with Start/Stop batteries. The lithium-ion jump-starting pack delivers 1000 amps directly to the source.
The battery booster can also recharge USB devices in a pinch, and has been designed with vehicles ranging from cars, boats and motorcycles to RVs in mind. When charged, the battery in the jump starter will deplete at approximately 1 to 2 per cent per month. As such, the brand recommends recharging the device once a year.
Buy now £103.07, Amazon
Halfords Up to 4L Jump Leads
Engine compatibility: petrol/diesel up to 4 litres, start/stop batteries
The average car engine size in the UK is roughly 1.6 litres, making these 4L jump leads more than capable of restarting your car or van in a pinch. As always, they’re colour-coded for easy identification.
Buy now £30.99, Halfords
TLGREEN 6M Extra Long Jump Leads
Engine compatibility: petrol up to 7 litres, diesel up to 5 litres
Not only are these jump leads extra-long so that you don’t have to waste time getting two car bonnets as close as possible, but the heavy-duty kit also comes with necessary protective gloves to keep you safe during the process. Should you forget how to jump-start your car, or lose signal, the mesh bag which houses the cables has instructions printed on the back.
Buy now £25.49, Amazon
Sakura Booster Cables Jump Start Leads SS3624
Engine compatibility: petrol/diesel up to 2 litres
If you know you’re unlikely to own a car with an engine capacity of more than 2 litres, don’t spend a fortune on jumper cables. These highly conductive Sakura Booster Cables are compatible with engines up to 2 litres, and certainly won’t break the bank.
Buy now £12.19, Amazon
GREPRO Jump Starter Power Pack
Engine compatibility: petrol up to 6.5 litres, diesel up to 4 litres
Featuring a handy LED flashlight, this compact booster jump pack comes with easy-grip cables for re-starting your battery in an emergency with ease. The device comes fully charged, making for an incredibly convenient little gadget. If your car is stuck at home, pop this into your virtual basket with Amazon Prime and restart your car the following morning.
Buy now £37.98, Amazon
