Imagine a nightmare for every driver – to find yourself with a flat car battery in the middle of the road, far away from home, with no people around. Agree that the situation is not the most pleasant. However, having a jump starter in the trunk can help you when emergencies happen. But can a jump start charge a battery? Let’s reveal the answer to this question below.
How a jump starter works
Jump starters are handy because a single person can use them without needing another vehicle. Traditionally, to crank the engine, one had to attach booster cables to another car to get the dead battery to life. With a jump starter, things are different.
As the name suggests, a jump starter is a device that allows you to jump-start a vehicle. It does so by outputting a large amount of power within a short time. This way, the jump starter sends a strong impulse to the battery that is connected via the alligator clicks. The impulse is so strong that it kick-starts an engine.
Are jump starters and battery chargers the same things?
No, these are different devices. A jump starter has a built-in battery that contains power, which is then transferred to the discharged battery through an impulse. A battery charger should be connected to the socket to get a constant flow of electricity for charging the battery.
Another dissimilarity between these gadgets is how they operate. A jump starter won’t charge a battery. It will just provide the required power to crank the engine and start the vehicle. The alternator will charge the battery as soon as the engine is on. A battery charger provides a stable source of power, and it is used to replenish the battery power level within a prolonged time.
Can a jump starter start a dead battery?
So, can your battery be too dead for jump-starting? Luckily, there is hardly a way to deplete the battery so badly that it can’t be jump-started. Thus, even if your vehicle’s battery runs flat, you will be able to bring back its power with the use of a jump starter.
However, note that it is a bad idea to use a jump starter to charge a battery. Even if you keep it connected to the battery for a long time, it won’t give away its power. So, do not wait for the miracle to happen. Instead, crank the engine with the use of a jump starter and let the alternator do its job.
When would you jump-start a vehicle?
Usually, you jump-start a car’s battery when it has run flat. You will know when the time will come because the engine will fail to start. Yet, there are a few ways to tell that your battery is running flat, and you can prevent it from being completely discharged. So, look for the signs of:
- Dim highlights
- Slow crank
- A clicking sound when you turn the key
Also, if you are considering idling to charge the battery, first read the advantages and disadvantages of this method. At the same time, keep in mind that the jump starter won’t save the day if your battery is not dead but went out of order.
