There are very few things more disappointing for automobile owners than getting ready to start their vehicle only to find that its battery has died. Usually, it happens at the worst possible time as well, doesn’t it?

Batteries die for a number of reasons. Perhaps you didn’t realise that the battery needed to be replaced, or perhaps you forgot to turn off your headlights. Whatever the reason, a dead car battery can cause quite the hassle, especially if you have places you need to go to urgently.

Despite being unable to start your car, bike, or truck, the key here is to somehow get your vehicle to your preferred workshop or to get it home where you can replace the battery. What this requires is called a ‘jump start’; a little jolt of electricity from an external source, just enough to get the engine started.

Traditionally, this is done using jumper cables connected to the working battery of another person’s car. However, this is dependent on the kindness of a good samaritan, assuming you can find one who is willing to help you.

These days there other ways to be prepared for this problem: devices you can use to jump-start your own car with.

Portable Car Jump Starters

Based on the research done, there doesn’t seem to be a single name for this kind of portable device on the market. Some call it a jump start device, while others may simply call it a ‘power bank’ because that is essentially what it is! Much like the power banks, we carry around to charge up our smartphones and tablets, some companies have developed power banks that are powerful enough to use for your car!

Unlike traditional jump-starting methods, however, using these devices doesn’t allow you to start your car immediately. Just like with your smartphone, it slowly charges up your car battery with just enough power for it to start your engine normally. Seeing as how it is typically a small device, this process might take a while.

Do Your Research

If you’re looking to equip yourself with a device like this, there are a few things to remember. Given that it is, after all, a battery, be sure to do a bit of research about the different brands that offer the product you’re looking for.

One good way to do this is to read the product reviews online, that’ll give you a good idea of whether or not other customers are happy with that product. Time and time again we see in the newspaper's stories about people using inferior battery packs that turn out to be dangerous for them; it would be a good idea to be extra careful since these devices will be stored in your vehicle.

After all, this is the kind of device that acts as ‘insurance’, something that you will be using during an emergency situation, something you need to be sure won’t let you down when you need it the most. The good news is that these products are becoming increasingly common in Malaysia, as you can see on popular e-commerce platforms such as Lazada and Shopee.

Keep Them Charged!

Once you have purchased one, it’s important to ensure that they are always charged. Even a fully-charged device left alone for a long time will slowly lose its charge, so recharge them every now and then to ensure its power levels are as they should be.  

Never Wait For Help Again!

With these modern devices made available for purchase, there’s little excuse to let ourselves get stranded on a lonely road waiting for help. These devices come from many different brands catering to different budgets, so my suggestion is to find one that’s of decent quality which you can afford, and invest in it as an added form of protection.

After all, it’s better to have it and not need it, rather than need it and not have it.