Best Jumper Cables

[AmericanMechanic]

I want to replace my old Die Hard US made jumper cables because they are too short (12' or 16') and won't reach if vehicles aren't parked front to front.

However, i also noticed that after only ~13 years of being stored in a vehicle, the wire jackets are cracking.

Does anyone have long term experience with this brand? Or know of reviews based on long term usage?

Are there comparable options I'm overlooking?

https://store.polarwire.com/jumper-2ga-30-4-harness-heavy-duty/

Thanks!

 

[BajaScout]

Those are pretty pricey.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

Those are pretty pricey.

Yeah. Want 25' and trying to find something that'll be good for 50 years.

 

[AmericanMechanic]

Here's a set thats about 25-30% cheaper but the website is rough and doesn't provide a lot of info.

https://www.arizonatools.com/jumper...ze-Heavy-Duty-USA-Jumper-Cables/JUMPERCABLES/

 

[CJM8515]

here ya go, take your pick https://zips.com/parts-search?searc...tegory|c54e8647-c920-46a3-a835-36cfc45a7956"]https://zips.com/parts-search?searchQuery=jumper cables

 

[General Geoff]

The longer the cables, the more resistance and heat you're gonna generate and the less power you're going to actually transfer to the stricken vehicle.

If you gotta go more than 10 feet, I suggest just using a jump box.

 

[dutchgray]

Make your own with good sized welding lead and decent clamps.

 

[Bondo]

Yeah. Want 25' and trying to find something that'll be good for 50 years.

Ayuh,...... Buy 50' of 00-aught weldin' cable, 'n a couple sets of parrot jaw clamps,......

I built mine outa weldin' cable I bought at an auction,..... 27 years ago,.....
Been on the truck, 'n used extensively the whole time,.....
Nylon cable wrap holds 'em together,....

 

[AmericanMechanic]

The longer the cables, the more resistance and heat you're gonna generate and the less power you're going to actually transfer to the stricken vehicle.

If you gotta go more than 10 feet, I suggest just using a jump box.

I may have this wrong but super quick analysis says 150 amps in a 2gauge cable, 25 ft, is 2% voltage drop. Didn't do amperage calcs yet but doesn't seem like it'd be a lot.

Jump starters are great if it's charged. Has anyone ever come accross one that's charged when it's needed? (I haven't).

 

[General Geoff]

Jump starters are great if it's charged. Has anyone ever come accross one that's charged when it's needed? (I haven't).

https://www.homedepot.com/p/12-Volt...g-Like-Lithium-Jump-Starters-RM1000/306794994

As for voltage drop: drawing 500 amps at 14V across a 2AWG wire that's 30 feet long results in a 33.5% drop, down to 9.31 volts at the stricken vehicle. Not ideal.

 

[blaker]

This
Make your own with good sized welding lead and decent clamps.

 

[6PTsocket]

The longer the cables, the more resistance and heat you're gonna generate and the less power you're going to actually transfer to the stricken vehicle.

If you gotta go more than 10 feet, I suggest just using a jump box.

Or use heavier cable. You can get #4 and maybe heavier. 16ft isn't much of a reach with heavy cables and good clips. Welding cable is probably the best because it is made up of more strands of thinner wire for flexibility. Cheap cables, aside from gauge tend to have fewer strands of heavier wire and cheap clips.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[greg13]

Welding cable. Amp draw through the cables really do not apply here since you are charging the dead battery more than running the starter.
New style "Jump packs" work though the lighter plug.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005OWK2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Rory Bellows]

I have one of these pairs. I got them like 15 years ago. They have held up great and don't cost an arm and a leg.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wmr-w1669/overview/


https://www.summitracing.com/parts/wmr-w1667/overview/

 

[ChrisLS8]

It's 2019. We use jump packs now sir

 

[4 Ever-Fish N]

I have used this NOCO Boost Plus several times since I bought it. I've used it for my riding mower, truck, etc. No need to have another vehicle to jump the one with dead battery.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015TKUPIC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[6PTsocket]

Welding cable. Amp draw through the cables really do not apply here since you are charging the dead battery more than running the starter.
New style "Jump packs" work though the lighter plug.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005OWK2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Great if you have a lot of time. I want to get the car started, not wait to put enough back into the battery. There is a video of somebody putting enough back into the battery with a string of AAs to start a dead car. The original request was for good jumper cables and it ended up about jump packs. It takes a pretty big one to start a dead V8 on a cold day.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[mike93lx]

Geez, how often are you jumping cars? If enough to justify $200 cables, i would work on getting better batteries or buy a jump pack. That's crazy.

 

[nelstomlinson]

From Table 8 in the NEC, 2AWG wire has DC resistance of 0.194 Ohms per 1,000 feet. Voltage drop is v=ir. For 100 Amps, 25 foot cables (meaning 50 feet of wire: 25 feet out, 25 feet back), that's

v=100A(0.194Ohms)(50/1,000)=0.97V.

For 500A, it's five times that, or 4.85V drop, which is too much. 2AWG cables will charge a battery fast, but they won't help much for starting.

Let's say we could be happy with a 2 volt drop at 400A. What resistance would deliver that?

r=v/i=2/400=0.005Ohms. We want that from 50 feet of wire, but the table gives it for 1,000 foot lengths. Multiply by 1,000/50 and we get 0.1 Ohms. Table 8 shows that 2/0 AWG has DC resistance of 0.0967Ohms/1,000 feet, so 2/0 will do.

I found Table 8 here.

 

[techieman33]

I may have this wrong but super quick analysis says 150 amps in a 2gauge cable, 25 ft, is 2% voltage drop. Didn't do amperage calcs yet but doesn't seem like it'd be a lot.

Jump starters are great if it's charged. Has anyone ever come accross one that's charged when it's needed? (I haven't).

The modern ones with LiPo batteries in them can easily sit for 6 months to a year and still hold plenty of charge. It's not like the old ones that needed to be topped off at least monthly.

Welding cable. Amp draw through the cables really do not apply here since you are charging the dead battery more than running the starter.
New style "Jump packs" work though the lighter plug.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005OWK2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I would not want to use one of those things that plug into the lighter sockets. The only situation it's going to work for is if the battery is drained just to low to start the car. If the battery is really drained it could take an hour or more to get enough juice into it. And if the battery is shot you'll never get it started. At least with real jumper cables or a jump box you can still start a car with a dead battery and let the alternator keep it going to get you somewhere to buy a new battery.

 

[nelstomlinson]

Geez, how often are you jumping cars? If enough to justify $200 cables, i would work on getting better batteries or buy a jump pack. That's crazy.

You only need to need it once, and it pays for itself.

 

[fang123]

Make your own with good sized welding lead and decent clamps.

This.

 

[silverj53]

Seems as though welding cable in the same size would cost roughly the same amount, so it looks like a good deal to me. I have used these for a couple of years and they are good as new and work superbly. I am a heavy equipment mechanic and use them regularly. I don't think any jump box will still be usable in 10-20 years but my cables will still be kicking!
https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BK_7825251


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[6PTsocket]

From Table 8 in the NEC, 2AWG wire has DC resistance of 0.194 Ohms per 1,000 feet. Voltage drop is v=ir. For 100 Amps, 25 foot cables (meaning 50 feet of wire: 25 feet out, 25 feet back), that's



v=100A(0.194Ohms)(50/1,000)=0.97V.



For 500A, it's five times that, or 4.85V drop, which is too much. 2AWG cables will charge a battery fast, but they won't help much for starting.



Let's say we could be happy with a 2 volt drop at 400A. What resistance would deliver that?



r=v/i=2/400=0.005Ohms. We want that from 50 feet of wire, but the table gives it for 1,000 foot lengths. Multiply by 1,000/50 and we get 0.1 Ohms. Table 8 shows that 2/0 AWG has DC resistance of 0.0967Ohms/1,000 feet, so 2/0 will do.



I found Table 8 here.

I can do ohms law, too but I have seen cars started with junk discount store cables that might be #8 or #10 with garbage clips. I am not reccomending them but
#6 and #4 are widely used with great success. Just how much do most starters draw? How much gets quickly transferred to the dead battery? I have a set. I think they are 16', #4. If it was just a dead battery they have never failed.

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[dkroth]

I've had these since 1983. They're still fine.

https://www.batterymart.com/p-deka-...mail&utm_campaign=ProdReview&utm_content=item





.

 

[tym]

I've had these since 1983. They're still fine.

https://www.batterymart.com/p-deka-...mail&utm_campaign=ProdReview&utm_content=item





.

I have the Deka cables too. Another bonus is that their all-copper conductor, not aluminum cladded in copper like the el cheapo ones.

Only drawback for the Dekas is the carrying bag. It is not durable.

 

[nelstomlinson]

I can do ohms law, too but I have seen cars started with junk discount store cables that might be #8 or #10 with garbage clips. I am not reccomending them but
#6 and #4 are widely used with great success. Just how much do most starters draw? How much gets quickly transferred to the dead battery? I have a set. I think they are 16', #4. If it was just a dead battery they have never failed.

I've used small gauge cables successfully, too. My current set are 2AWG, 25 feet long. If I tried to start one of my diesels using those cables and no battery on the dead vehicle, I don't think it would work.

The cables put a little juice back in the dead truck's batteries, and supply a few amps during the start. It's usually the charging that does the job. Hook up your cables, rev your engine, then wait five minutes like that. That practice is why my 2AWG cables are adequate, usually.

Those 2/0 cables I suggested could handle enough current with little enough drop you might be able to start a dead truck with no battery in it.

 

[bob from indiana]

Back in my gas station days in the 80s. I made a 25 ft set from 2 Ga welding wire and Niehoff 500 amp clamps. We did service calls and jumped a lot of cars. in those days most engines were full size v-8s

They will start a big V-8 if it is going to start. I had a group 31 battery in my truck. They are heavy and stiff in cold weather. I also carried a Western Auto set of 16 ft that were much easier to use.

I have a jump box now but the big cables are still around if needed.

 

[tonyprovo723]

Sounds like the group has you on the right path. I needed some over the winter and picked up a pair at Home Depot. I did not have much to chose from so I grabbed these. Husky 20 ft. 4-Gauge UL Booster Cable-QP. Later came to learn that the wire is copper plated aluminum. They got the car started when I needed it but did not think this was something that could be value engineered like this.

Sent from my SM-G965U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Handyandy23]

The modern ones with LiPo batteries in them can easily sit for 6 months to a year and still hold plenty of charge. It's not like the old ones that needed to be topped off at least monthly.

Was going to say this. I was always against the jump starters because everyone I knew that had those big box ones never had charge in them when they needed it.

This has all changed with the newer LiPo battery style jumpers. You can buy a Noco (or even a cheap one off Amazon to try it) for the price of those long jumpers, and they hold charge for months and months. I bought one before the winter (probably November-ish), used it once during the winter to boost a car, and have had it sitting the rest of the time, and it's still at 99% on the initial charge from when I took it out of the box. And this is a cheaper Chinese one.

 

[Danglerb]

Most of the tow truck guys around here use the jump packs. I don't think its just the ease of use, its also avoiding damage possible with big jumper cables.

 

[FTG-05]

I'll never buy another set of jumper cables. As far as I'm concerned, they're obsolete.

Jump packs are far more compact, don't need another vehicle, don't need a vehicle in the right position, don't need a vehicle that will actually start my vehicle (Honda trying to start a big diesel truck). And last but not least: you can't use cables to charge your phone in an emergency.

Here's a good demo video:

 

[dkroth]

I have the Deka cables too. Another bonus is that their all-copper conductor, not aluminum cladded in copper like the el cheapo ones.

Only drawback for the Dekas is the carrying bag. It is not durable.

Mine came in a blow molded case back in the day. THAT disintegrated years ago and I used a variety of bags and totes until buying this from Amazon for about $18 three years ago:

.

 

[Tallpilot]

Most of the tow truck guys around here use the jump packs. I don't think its just the ease of use, its also avoiding damage possible with big jumper cables.

That’s my opinion. I’d rather not share my truck’s electrical system with strangers.

OP: Those cables look really nice if that is what you want. Sometimes overkill is the only thing that will satisfy.