Best Air Compressor And Jump Starter

A jump starter with an air compressor is two devices in one, designed to get you out of a jam whether your car battery has died, or one of your tires needs to be inflated. But, as we’ll see, there are many more uses for a jump starter and air compressor, that you can even it in your home!

Introduction

When you’re driving long distances, you should be prepared for every situation. If your car battery dies, having a pair of jumper cables in the trunk is a good idea. And you’ll probably pack along a jack and a spare tire as well. But what if there are no other cars in the area, and you’re miles away from a gas station?

A jump starter is essentially a large rechargeable battery that stores enough charge to be able to both charge up your car battery and get your car started. One problem has been making a jump starter small enough that you can carry it around. As technology has improved, it has become possible to make the battery smaller, so that a jump starter can serve more functions. You’ll see jump starters that now can serve as air compressors as well. They can inflate a tire in less than 10 minutes!

We’ll look at other useful features that these combination jump starters/air compressors have, that can come in handy in emergency situations, or even for day-to-day use: being able to charge up a cellphone, tablet, or laptop, or being able to power other home appliances. You’ll see that a combo jump starter/air compressor is a good investment!

Although jump starters have the same basic functionality, they differ in the type of battery that they employ:

• Lead-acid: Many jump starters employ lead-acid batteries. They are cheaper than lithium-ion batteries and perform better under high temperatures. One big drawback about a portable lead-acid battery is that there is a possibility of the acid leaking. There are lead-acid batteries that employ measures to keep the acid electrolyte from leaking:

  • Sealed lead-acid: This type of battery is sealed so that the acid inside won’t leak. They include a vent to release any gas that may accumulate from the battery’s chemical reactions. An example of a sealed lead-acid jump starter is the Stanley J5C09 Portable Power Station Jump Starter.

Stanley J5C09 Portable Power Station Jump Starter

• • Absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries: This is a type of lead-acid battery where the liquid electrolyte is absorbed in a glass mat. That way, even if the battery is tipped over, it won’t spill. An example is the Schumacher AGM Jump Starter for Gas Diesel Vehicles. It also has a 150 psi air compressor.

Schumacher AGM Jump Starter for Gas Diesel Vehicles

• Lithium-ion: Lithium-ion batteries are starting to become more popular in jump starters. They can be made smaller and lighter than a lead-acid model. Also, they retain their charge longer. It’s estimated that a lithium-ion battery loses charge at a rate of 5% per month, while a lead-acid battery loses charge at a rate of 15% per month. Also, Li-ion batteries tend to have a longer lifetime, being able to go through more charging cycles before they’re no longer able to hold their charge anymore. An example of a Li-ion jump starter is the CAT Professional Jump Starter & Compressor Tyre Inflator.

CAT Professional Jump Starter & Compressor Tyre Inflator

Charging Up the Unit

Most jump starters charge up by being hooked up to the wall current, by means of an extension cord. Some can even be charged from your car’s 12V cigarette lighter socket, such as the DeWalt Digital Portable Power Station Jump Starter.

DeWalt Digital Portable Power Station Jump Starter

One model, the Rally 7471 Portable Jump Starter, will have you really ready for an emergency. Even if you didn’t charge up your jump starter before traveling, and you don’t have any access to the wall current, the Rally Jump Starter charges up using a hand crank. It won’t provide a lot of power, but it should be enough to get your car started. Its air compressor can also produce 260 PSI, which should be enough to pump up your tires.

Rally 7471 Portable Jump Starter

What Features are Common in Air Compressors and Jump Starters?

• Battery power: You’ll notice that different jump starters in our MSN list of the Top 10 differ in their peak current and in their starting current. For example, the Stanley J5COP provides 500 Amperes of instant starting current and 1000 Amperes at peak performance. The important thing is not to use a starter that’s too powerful, because it can either damage your battery or the internal parts of the car. Take note of whether the jump starter is for a diesel or gasoline engine, and whether it’s suitable for a truck as well as for an automobile or motorcycle. A truck or RV may need 1500 Amperes to jump start, while a car or SUV can manage with 1000 Amperes. Some jump starters are equipped with an autodetect, which allows them to adjust the jump starter current to match.

• LED light: This feature is handy if your car breaks down or gets a flat tire at night. It can also help you see your way around if you’re camping or tailgating. The LED light can also be used to alert other drivers that you’re in need of help.

• Air compressor specs: You’ll see that most jump starter/air compressor units can inflate up to 120-150 pounds per square inch (psi). The more psi it can provide, the faster it will be able to inflate a tire. You can also use the air compressor to pump a bicycle inner tube, or a basketball or football. The best models will have an air pressure gauge to tell you what the pressure is in the tire so that you don’t overinflate it. One example in the MSN list of the Top Ten air compressors and jump starters is the Kinverch Power Station Jump Starter.

Kinverch Power Station Jump Starter, with pressure gauge

• USB ports: Many jump starter/air compressor devices are also equipped with USB ports. That will allow you to charge up a cellphone or tablet. This can prove to be especially useful if you need a cellphone to summon help.

• Flashlight: Many jump starter units are also equipped with a flashlight. This will be of great assistance if you have to effect repairs at night. You can also use the flashlight when camping, or to wave down help if you happen to be stuck on the highway.

What are Some Important Tips with Jump Starter/Air Compressor Units?

• Keeping the unit charged: It’s wise to keep rechargeable batteries charged up. Even though lead-acid batteries can remain for a year without recharging, it’s recommended to charge up your jump starter battery every month, even if you haven’t used the device over the month. This will ensure that the battery doesn’t drain entirely. Also, you should charge it up after every use, upon returning home.

• Reverse polarity alert: If you connect the leads of the jump starter to your battery incorrectly, it can damage the battery or the jump starter. Therefore, many jump starter units will sound an alarm if you connect the cables with the wrong polarity. That’s a desirable feature.

• Autostop and Surefit nozzle: Try to look for an air compressor unit with an autostop function, where it will stop inflating when you’ve reached the desired air pressure. Some will have a Surefit nozzle, that screws onto most tires. Some have special adapters for inflating balls or bike tires.

• Inverter: Some jump starters will also be equipped with an inverter, which converts the battery current (DC) to alternating current (AC), which can be used to power devices that run off wall current. For example, if there is a power outage in your home, the jump starter can be employed to power up your refrigerator, until power is restored.

Wrap Up

We reviewed some of the features of the best jump starter/air compressor units on the market. You can see that it’s a handy little device, usually costing somewhere between $125-$200. That’s a small investment to be prepared in case of an emergency. Have a look at the MSN list of the top 10 jump starter/air compressor units, as well as other MSN top 10 lists. You’re certain to find a quality product!