Who makes nice jumper cables?

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Leros
I don't think quality really matters. The most important thing to me is the carrying case it comes with. Also the length of cables might be important to you.

Wrong.

Good cables do not come in a carrying case. Get the heaviest guage you can find and buy those.

ZV

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Rogeee
Thanks Glen and Mikey

Those little POS's are not worth the wrapper they are packaged in, go out and purchase a portable jumper.
I've had my Prestone Jump it for six years now, have used it on a daily basis and she's still going strong

Wrong link.

You're thinking of something like this.

ZV

EDIT: This is a red-letter day for me. It's not often that one can catch a screw-up from you.

 

[Rogeee]

DOH !

Ever the watchful eye you are

 

[glen]

Those are 2 differnt things?
Mybattery is under the rear seat, and a pain ot get to. I would love somethign that plugs into the cigarett lighter. DO they work?

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: glen
Those are 2 differnt things?
Mybattery is under the rear seat, and a pain ot get to. I would love somethign that plugs into the cigarett lighter. DO they work?

Kind of. I do not recommend them.

They can sometimes work with a battery that is a little weak. They cannot do anything for a truly dead battery. There just isn't enough capacity to really help. I worry about them because they are feeding reverse-flow current through the lighter circuit and in some cases that could be an issue depending on what else is linked into that same circuit. In general it's not a great idea to reverse the current flow in a DC circuit.

ZV

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Leros
I don't think quality really matters. The most important thing to me is the carrying case it comes with. Also the length of cables might be important to you.

Wrong.

Good cables do not come in a carrying case. Get the heaviest guage you can find and buy those.

ZV

You don't need such a heavy gauge though. Those wires can supply more than enough power. It's plain marketing once you get to past 6-gauge.

Maybe if you're trying to jump a semi or something you need some crazy shizzle, but honestly, for your Accords and Camrys and whatever you all have, 8-gauge and 6-gauge wires will work fine.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Leros
I don't think quality really matters. The most important thing to me is the carrying case it comes with. Also the length of cables might be important to you.

Wrong.

Good cables do not come in a carrying case. Get the heaviest guage you can find and buy those.

ZV

You don't need such a heavy gauge though. Those wires can supply more than enough power. It's plain marketing once you get to past 6-gauge.

Maybe if you're trying to jump a semi or something you need some crazy shizzle, but honestly, for your Accords and Camrys and whatever you all have, 8-gauge and 6-gauge wires will work fine.

Less resistance is always better. Always. The recommended replacement battery for my last car (Lincoln Mark VIII) was rated at 1,000 CA/850 CCA. It took a large amount of juice to start that sucker. In the middle of winter, if I'm stuck jump starting that thing, I want to have some serious jumper cables to make sure that every last amp is getting to my dead battery.

I've had times when people were trying to jump a car using 8-guage or smaller wires and were unsuccessful, but when we connected with the 4-guage cables I carry, the car started.

"Better to have and not need, than need and not have." It's a good motto.

ZV

 

[JulesMaximus]

I have a set of Sears heavy duty cables. I paid about $50 for them and they were worth every penny. They work great!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
I have a set that was $3.99 at Walmart. I have used them multiple times and let others borrow them at truck stops and they always do the trick.

What are you jump starting with them? A Geo Metro?

I had a set of cheap cables that would not turn over my '94 Mustang GT.

Good cables are worth the money.

 

[Howard]

nm

 

[BillGates]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
I have a set that was $3.99 at Walmart. I have used them multiple times and let others borrow them at truck stops and they always do the trick.

You hang out at truck stops?

 

[OrganizedChaos]

whatever you get make sure there 4 GA MINIMUM

 

[MrBond]

Those portable jump packs are AWESOME. Someone bought me one for my birthday a few years ago and I've gotten a lot of use out of it.

In addition to the jump starting ability, it also has an air compressor, which is nice for inflating my bike tires. It's super slow, but it works in a pinch when I don't have access to a real air compressor.

Seems to hold a charge a while too. I bought my Dad one and it's great around the farm. His tractors don't always start right up in the winter, so he can take it along and boost them without getting the battery charger out.

 

[drnickriviera]

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?&SKU=42000

 

[Soybomb]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
Brand is less important than wire gauge IMO. Just get the heaviest set you can find.

QFT. Get the heaviest cables you can afford. You can't have too little resistance in your wires when you're trying to start a completely dead battery in the cold of winter.

 

[Minjin]

Unless you want to waste your money, do NOT buy jumper cables.

Instead, go to your local welding supply store and pick up 15 feet of 0/2 welding cable. Then pick up two pairs of jumper cable clamps at any auto parts store (even walmart has some), and make your own cables. I got sick and tired of junk jumper cables. I've had numerous occasions where one set of jumper cables wasn't enough and two sets connected at the same time was enough to start the car...Until I made my own set.

Go out and make your own set. You won't regret it. Its a tool that will last the rest of your life.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Rogeee
Yes it is Mikey

Go with the Sears Glen, my local NAPA dealer has 4 and 2 gauge cables, I am assuming you are looking online

I had a sneaking suspicion that was you. Welcome back.

 

[Greyd]

yay! Roger is back! It's weird, I was actually wondering the other day, if you would ever come back. You don't know me, but I always appreciated your car knowledge.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: Minjin
Unless you want to waste your money, do NOT buy jumper cables.

Instead, go to your local welding supply store and pick up 15 feet of 0/2 welding cable. Then pick up two pairs of jumper cable clamps at any auto parts store (even walmart has some), and make your own cables. I got sick and tired of junk jumper cables. I've had numerous occasions where one set of jumper cables wasn't enough and two sets connected at the same time was enough to start the car...Until I made my own set.

Go out and make your own set. You won't regret it. Its a tool that will last the rest of your life.

Or you could buy 4-guage cables to begin with and be done with it.

There's absolutely no way that 4-guage cables wouldn't be able to start your car. You'd have to be using 8 or 10 guage cables from "Dave's Cheap-Ass Auto Parts" to need a second set.

ZV

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: BillGates

Originally posted by: tfinch2
I have a set that was $3.99 at Walmart. I have used them multiple times and let others borrow them at truck stops and they always do the trick.

You hang out at truck stops?

I make numerous road trips, and travel A LOT from San Antonio to Austin to see my parents.

 

[Minjin]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Minjin
Unless you want to waste your money, do NOT buy jumper cables.

Instead, go to your local welding supply store and pick up 15 feet of 0/2 welding cable. Then pick up two pairs of jumper cable clamps at any auto parts store (even walmart has some), and make your own cables. I got sick and tired of junk jumper cables. I've had numerous occasions where one set of jumper cables wasn't enough and two sets connected at the same time was enough to start the car...Until I made my own set.

Go out and make your own set. You won't regret it. Its a tool that will last the rest of your life.

Or you could buy 4-guage cables to begin with and be done with it.

There's absolutely no way that 4-guage cables wouldn't be able to start your car. You'd have to be using 8 or 10 guage cables from "Dave's Cheap-Ass Auto Parts" to need a second set.

ZV

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Less resistance is always better. Always.

And mine was cheaper than any 4 gauge set I've seen...

 

[Apex]

Originally posted by: Minjin

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: Minjin
Unless you want to waste your money, do NOT buy jumper cables.

Instead, go to your local welding supply store and pick up 15 feet of 0/2 welding cable. Then pick up two pairs of jumper cable clamps at any auto parts store (even walmart has some), and make your own cables. I got sick and tired of junk jumper cables. I've had numerous occasions where one set of jumper cables wasn't enough and two sets connected at the same time was enough to start the car...Until I made my own set.

Go out and make your own set. You won't regret it. Its a tool that will last the rest of your life.

Or you could buy 4-guage cables to begin with and be done with it.

There's absolutely no way that 4-guage cables wouldn't be able to start your car. You'd have to be using 8 or 10 guage cables from "Dave's Cheap-Ass Auto Parts" to need a second set.

ZV

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Less resistance is always better. Always.

And mine was cheaper than any 4 gauge set I've seen...

What did you factor in for the value of your time?

4 gauge 12 foot cables plus case for $15.18

4 gauge 16 foot cables for $16.71

4 gauge 20 foot cables plus bag for $17.99

 

[IAteYourMother]

brand makes no difference

 

[RossMAN]

Welcome back Roger, missed ya

 

[RossGr]

COPPER, think copper. Frequently cheap jumper cables are made with Aluminium wires avoid them if you are interested long term use.

I recall not being able to get a car started (dead winter of course) with a single set of Al jumpers. We had a second set available, useing BOTH sets we were able to get the car started.

edit: Typo