How to Use a Portable Jump Starter Car Battery Charger [2020 Update]

(Last Updated On: May 6, 2020)

Jump-starter-expert-guidesIf you’re looking for a detailed and easy to follow guide on how to use a portable jump starter car battery charger, you have definitely come to the right place. Everything you need to know about your jumper box has been compiled here for you.  Before moving onto the guide though, here is a useful comparison table of the best jump starters of 2020.  Particularly popular at the moment are the Beatit G18 2000A Jump Pack and the Suaoki U28 Auto Battery Booster.

BEST JUMP STARTERS OF 2020

ProductPeak Current /
Capacity
Key FeaturesCheck PriceReview
Beatit 2000a portable jumper pack
BEATIT G18 2000A Portable Jump Starter

(EDITOR'S CHOICE)
2000A /
21000mAh
- Can be used on engines up to 8.0L gas and diesel
- Wireless charging (10W) and Quick Charge 3.0 USB
- Quick Discharge Start Power (QDSP) technology
- High Quality Hard EVA Carry Case
Check Price Now!BEATIT G18 2000A 21000mAh Jump Starter Review
Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter - 2500A Peak 20000mAH
Imazing Portable Car Jump Starter - 2500A Peak 20000mAH

(EDITOR'S CHOICE)
2500A /
20000mAh
- Incredible 2500A peak current: suitable for SUVs and trucks, 8.0L gas and 8.0L diesel
- Quick charge 3.0 USB for rapidly charging phones, tablets, Kindles, etc.
- 3 mode flashlight: solid, SOS, strobe.
- 2 year warranty and lifetime technical support
- Excellent after-sales support: live chat on Facebook
Check Price Now!Imazing 2500A Peak Car Portable Jump Starter Review
2000A peak jump starter
Suaoki U28 2000A Peak Jump Starter Pack
2000A /
16216mAh
- Very high powered 2000A peak jump starter - boosts essentially all gas engines and diesels up to 8.0L!
- High capacity jump starter for extended jump starting and charging of portable devices
- 12V DC output for wireless routers, air compressors, lights, etc. on the go
- Ultra-safe jump starter with smart battery clamps
- Cigarette lighter adapter and stylish carrying case included
Check Price Now!Suaoki U28 2000A Peak Jump Starter Pack Review

STANLEY FATMAX J7CS
700A /
9000mAh
- Built-in compressor
- 3 USB charging ports, 3.1A total
- High power flashlight
- Heavy duty jumper leads
Check Price Now!STANLEY FATMAX J7CS Review
Rugged Geek RG1000 Safety GEN2
Rugged Geek RG1000 Safety GEN2
1000A /
10500mAh
- INTELLIBOOST safety technology
- Suitable for 7.0L gas and 3.5L diesel engines
- 3-in-1 USB cable
- Fantastic tyre-tread design!
Check Price Now!Rugged Geek RG1000 Review
GOOLOO 800A Peak 18000mAh SuperSafe Car Jump Starter
GOOLOO 800A Peak 18000mAh SuperSafe Car Jump Starter
800A /
18000mAh
- Good for engines up to 7L gas, 5.5L diesel
- Cigarette lighter socket included
- Great flashlight
- Two USB outlets
Check Price Now!Gooloo GP180 Review

Jump-N-Carry JNC660
1700A /
22000mAh
- High quality, reliable design
- Heavy duty operation
- Good length jumper leads
- Suitable for cars, motorbikes, SUVs and small/medium trucks
Check Price Now!Jump-N-Carry JNC660 Review

STANLEY J5C09 Jump Starter
1000A /
19000mAh
- Excellent build quality
- 5A USB charging port
- Alarm to warn of reverse polarity
- Built-in compressor
Check Price Now!STANLEY J5C09 Review

DBPOWER 600A 18000mAh Portable Car Jump Starter
600A /
18000mAh
- Powerful enough for 6.5L gas and 5.2L diesel engines
- 2 x 2.4A USB outputs
- Compass
- Ultra compact
- 3 year warranty
Check Price Now!DBPOWER 600A 18000mAh Review

You can also see some actual reviews of these great jump starters on Amazon over here:

>> Click Here to See Owner Reviews on Amazon <<

The following is as comprehensive a guide on how to use a jump starter as I could compile. Although lengthy, I feel anyone attempting to jump start their car with one of these devices would do good to read through this guide at least once, to understand any possible dangers you could face, and what you can do to limit your exposure to these hazards as much as possible. The purpose of this is not to scare anyone however, and generally, starting your car with a portable jump starter is a relatively safe procedure.

It is important to note however that a jump starter DOES NOT ACTUALLY CHARGE YOUR BATTERY.  The title of this guide was not meant to confuse anyone – it is simply in line with what a lot of visitors search for information on when visiting this site.  A jump starter simply pushes enough current to crank your engine and get you going again.  A charger will actually push current into the battery and restore it’s capacity if the battery isn’t damaged.  There are some units available which can do both but generally, when referring to a jump starter, it does not charge your battery.

If you’re looking for a great car charger you could try the excellent Schumacher SC1359.  Also, you could read our Noco Genius G3500 Review where we cover our top car battery charger picks for the year.

The following should always be observed when attempting to jump start any vehicle, piece of garden equipment, boat, and so on (simply referred to as vehicle from here on) with a portable jump starter:

  • Ensure the jump starter is off before attempting to connect the jumper leads to the unit and the vehicle’s battery
  • Check that the lights, radio, air-conditioner, etc. of the vehicle are turned off – remove the keys from the ignition entirely to be sure
  • Do not allow the positive and negative clamps to contact each other or to be electrically connected in some way by a conductor of sorts
  • Do not attempt to jump start your vehicle near flammable liquids or other combustibles
Beatit Jump Starter BT-D11 800A Peak 18000mAh
The Beatit Jump Starter BT-D11 800A Peak 18000mAh has a multitude of overlapping safety systems in place to prevent any mishap from happening when jump starting your car, including short circuits, overvoltages and sparking thanks to spark-proof jumper clamps.

Explosions of Lead Acid Batteries are Possible but Rare

While most modern portable jump starters have safety systems in place to prevent any potentially hazardous situations from the incorrect use of the device, it is wise to always follow the above key points. An explosion is a real possibility, and if a lead-acid battery is involved, it goes without saying that this can really be a disastrous situation. Sparking is also a possibility if the jumper clamps contact each other or if they are connected to the vehicle while the jump starter is on and hence the warning to keep flammables clear of the area where the jump starting is going to take place should also be taken seriously.

With the above precautions in place, the main part of the guide will now be covered. The following is essentially the best-practice for jump starting your vehicle with a portable jump starter and should therefore be followed as close as possible. Alternative, and perhaps more familiar, practices are however indicated where applicable along with their possible effects on safety.

How to Use a Jump Starter

1. Connect the jump cables to the portable jump starter while still in the off position. Some units have the cables permanently attached such as the Clore JNC660 Jump Starter and so this step can be ignored in these cases.

2. Next, still with the jump starter and vehicle completely off, connect the positive (red) jumper clamp to the positive terminal of the vehicle’s battery and the negative (black) clamp to a stable point on the vehicle’s chassis. Be sure the clamps are solidly connected so that when the car starts, they’re not shaken loose, possibly leading to the cables touching other and shorting the jump starter.

JNC 660 1700A jumper box
The safest practice when jump starting your vehicle with a portable jump starter is to connect the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal of the battery, and the negative to the vehicle chassis.

Connecting the negative jumper clamp to the negative terminal on the vehicle’s battery is perhaps a more common practice, and for most situations, will be fine. The negative terminal on the battery of essentially all cars, SUVs and trucks also serves as ground for the battery by being connected to the chassis of the vehicle. Therefore, connecting to the chassis of the car is virtually the same as connecting to the negative terminal of the battery.

The reason for preferably connecting to the chassis, is that the vehicle’s battery could potentially be giving off hydrogen gas. Although quite unlikely, especially on modern car batteries, a spark from connection of both jumper cables to the battery terminals could cause a fire or explosion. The chances of this are slim, but this is the reason why best-practice would dictate connecting the negative cable to the vehicle’s metal frame.

jump start car battery charger

The most common way of connecting a jump starter to your vehicle battery is with both both jumper leads attached to the terminals of the battery. While reasonably safe, lead acid batteries can actually leak hydrogen and so any sparking on the terminals could possibly lead to a fire or explosion.

3. With the jumper cables now firmly connected to the vehicle’s battery, the jump starter can now be turned on.

4. Next, the ignition of the car can be turned on and an attempt made to start the car. If the motor does not immediately turn-over, do not crank the engine for more than about 5 seconds. The jump starter is forced to deliver its maximum current while attempting to start your engine, and it is only designed to do so in short bursts.

Pushing the jump starter to crank your engine for longer periods of time can cause overheating and seriously damage the battery of the device. Allow a good 2-3 minutes between 5-second attempts to allow the battery bank of the jump starter to cool and also for the voltage to recover. This will ensure it can deliver its peak current again when trying to crank the engine and of course ensure maximum life out of your jump starter.  This is inline with best practice recommended for units such as the Rugged Geek RG1000.

5. After the engine has started (if you can’t get it going after four or five tries, refer to the troubleshoot below), the first thing to do is switch the jump starter off. Then remove the negative jumper cable, followed by the positive and then safely pack your jump starter away.

6. Then, it is a good idea to recharge the jump starter as soon as you can – immediately would be best (allowing the unit to cool for a few minutes first though) – even if there is still plenty of charge left in the device. Batteries in general, even the modern lithium-ion batteries found in a lot of the compact jump starters today, do not like to be discharged too deeply, and the maximum life will actually be obtained if they can be kept as close to fully charged as often as possible.

7. Another good idea is to then have your vehicle battery checked if possible to see if any significant damage has been done by it being discharged so low that it couldn’t crank the engine. Most battery centres will do this for free and it takes only a few minutes. They’ll be able to tell you if a new battery is necessary and roughly how long your battery will probably still last.

8. Note, the above guide also applies directly to motorcycle jump starters.

Troubleshoot:

In the event that you can’t get the engine turned over with your jump starter, a possible cause for this is that the jumper clamps are not making a good enough connection with the battery terminals. In this case, TURN THE JUMP STARTER OFF, then try twisting the clamps around the terminals to improve their connection; or if the negative clamp is connected to the chassis, try another point on the frame.

Then, turn the jump starter back on and try starting the vehicle again as outlined in step 4 above. If the engine still does not start after four or five more tries, stop trying, and as disappointing and frustrating as it may be, accept that the battery is just too far gone.

There are several possibilities for this, including: the battery could be catastrophically damaged internally, causing an internal short; the electrodes which form the cells of the battery could be too far corroded (or sulphated on lead-acid batteries); the electrical system of the vehicle may be damaged. The best would then be to charge your phone with your jump starter and call for assistance, or have your car towed to your nearest service station.

how to use a jump starter
Connecting the positive jumper cable last is the INCORRECT order for connecting the portable jump starter to your vehicle battery.

Get the Best From Your Portable Jump Starter Car Battery Charger

There you have it, JumpStarterExpert’s complete guide to jump starting your car with a portable jump starter. Hopefully this will serve as a valuable reference for anyone who may be struggling to get their car going with one of these devices, providing alternative strategies and a means to troubleshoot any potential issues with the way you are attempting to jump start your vehicle. Remember that poor maintenance of your vehicle’s battery and of your car jump box will only reduce your success, so be sure to have your battery checked regularly (every three months) and to keep your jump starter charged up so it’s ready for the next time you need it.  Again, most jump starter manufacturers will recommend this, including lead acid based, heavy duty units such as the Stanley Jump Starter J5C09.

Jump Starter Expert
Always keep your vehicle battery in tip-top condition to minimize your chances from being stuck with a flat battery and to get the maximum life span from it

If you still have some unanswered issues, below are some of the most frequently asked questions about how to use a jump starter.

You might also be interested in our tutorial on how to recondition a car battery if your battery is on its way out. Often, if you need a jump start, it’s a sign that you might need a new car battery soon. This guide will teach you how to restore your battery to just about 100% of its original condition so that you can get a few more years of service from it.

Finally, you should also check out our guide on how to jump a car without another car for two more methods to get your manual or automatic transmission car going without needing someone else’s car battery to give you a boost.

Can I use a portable jump starter on my motorcycle?

Yes, a portable jump starter can be used on a motorcycle. You should follow the below-mentioned steps in order to jump-start a motorcycle:

  1. Start with Both Your Motorcycle and the Jump Starter switched Off.
  2. Connect the Attached Cables.
  • Jump starter packs generally come with a variety of attachments, but the most common ones are the familiar clips seen on traditional jumper cables.
  • Attach the positive clip (red handle) to the positive terminal (labeled POS or +).
  • Attach the negative clip (black handle) to a plain metal surface on the bike or the negative terminal.
  • If it is not possible to reach the terminals on the battery, try linking to the terminals on the chassis (where the battery connects to the bike).
  1. Turn the Jump Starter Pack On
  • Some adaptable models may have numerous voltage settings for different batteries. Ensure the jump starter is set to the spot-on voltage for your battery. For example, if you possess a 12-V battery, it should be set to 12 V.
  1. Try Starting Your Motorcycle
  • Start for not more than 2-3 seconds at a time. Portable jump starters are produced to deliver short bursts of maximum power, so running the bike for a long time will likely exhaust the battery pack inside the jump starter.
  • When the bike starts, get rid of the negative clip first and then follow it by removing the positive clip.
  • If your bike does not start up immediately, wait a few minutes before trying again to let the jump starter become cold and recuperate. If it does not crank after a few attempts, it is most likely that your battery would not bear a charge or is completely dead.
  1. Disconnect the Jumper Cables
  • Start getting rid of the clips in the reverse order of how you placed them on, beginning with the negative clip on your bike.
  • Ride nearby for 15-30 mins at high revolutions to help restore the battery. If you are thinking about replacing the battery, this step is not necessary.
  1. Recharge the Jump Starter
  • Cranking consumes a lot of power out of the battery pack. To ensure you are ready for future emergencies, charge your battery pack after each use.

Obviously for motorcycles you will be looking for as compact a jump pack as possible without compromising on added features. Our review of the best lithium ion jump starters will help you find one today.

How to use a Stanley portable jump starter?

Most Stanley portable jump starters consists of an On/Off Power Switch. When the connections are accurately made between the terminals, try turning the switch on to jump start the car using the following guide:

  1. Switch off the vehicle ignition and all accessories (Radio, Air Conditioner, Lights, Connected cell phone chargers, etc.). Completely stop the car to the parking state and pull off the emergency brake.
  2. Make sure that the Jump-Starter power switch is turned to off.
  3. Get rid of the jumper clamps from clamp tabs. Attach the red clamp first, then the black clamp.
  4. Process for jump-starting a NEGATIVE GROUNDED SYSTEM (negative battery terminal is connected to chassis) as below:

4a. Join positive (+) red clamp to the positive terminal of the car battery.

4b. Link negative (–) black clamp to chassis or a solid, non-moving, metal car component or body part. Never hold directly the negative battery terminal or moving part. Look at the manual for automobile owner for more guidance on this.

  1. Procedure for jump-starting POSITIVE GROUND SYSTEMS

Note: In the unusual event that the car to be started possess a Positive Grounded System (positive battery terminal is connected to chassis), substitute steps 4a and 4b above with steps 5a and 5b below, then advance to step 6.

5a. Connect negative (–) black clamp to the vehicle battery’s negative terminal.

5b. Connect positive (+) red clamp to vehicle chassis or a solid, non-moving, metal vehicle component or body part. Never hold directly to the Positive battery terminal or moving part. Refer to the automobile owner’s manual.

  1. When clamps are attached properly, turn on the Jump-Starter Power Switch.
  2. Turn on the ignition and crank the engine in 5-6 second bursts until the engine starts.
  3. Bring the Jump-Starter Power Switch back to the switch OFF position.
  4. Disengage the negative (–) engine or chassis clamp first, then detach the positive (+) battery clamp.

It should be noted that this procedure is also very similar for another popular jump starter – the Schumacher Instant Power Car Jumper.

How to jump-start a car with a Black and Decker J312B portable station?

By following these steps car can be jumped start using Black and Decker J312B portable station:

Step 1: Locate the Battery

First, pop your hood and locate your battery. This may sound straight forward, but on some vehicles, this is not the case. Some cars have their battery in the trunk or even below the back seat. Typically if the battery is not in the engine section there is at least a terminal post that you can hold onto for jump-starting. Once you find your battery or pinpoint the positive terminal. It is generally pointed out by a red wire or cover, in the event that it is not the battery will have a “+” imprinted on it.

Step 2: Connecting the Black and Decker J312B portable station

Connect the Black and Decker J312B portable station to the corresponding battery terminal. Confirm that you are getting good metal to metal contact amid the spring clamps and the battery terminals. If your battery is heavily corroded, you will need to remove the corrosion with a wire brush. Vinegar can also come in handy to really clean things up (clearly this is not necessary during an emergency jump situation). Grab the Black and Decker J312B portable station and locate the backport. On the portable station, there is a little cover to protect it, Pop the cover off.

Step 3: Start Your Engine

Plugin the backpack to the main battery pack. On this model, there is a button on the side of the backpack that enables the battery. Push the button and the display will show a count down. Once the count down starts to go start your car. Hopefully, your vehicle is now purring happily. Detach the device and place it away for future use. Do not forget to charge it again for future emergencies.

How to use Dewalt Jump Box?

You can use the Dewalt DXAEJ14 power station by following these instructions:

  1. For negative-grounded systems, connect the positive (red) clamp to the positive ungrounded battery post and the negative (black) clamp to the vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery. Do not attach the clamp to the carburetor, fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts. Join to a weighty gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.
  2. For positive-grounded systems, connect the negative (black) clamp to the negative ungrounded battery post and the positive (red) clamp to the vehicle chassis or engine block away from the battery. Do not attach the clamp to the carburetor, fuel lines or sheet-metal body parts. Join to a weighty gauge metal part of the frame or engine block.

IMPORTANT: Make sure the Compressor Power Button has been turned off before attempting to use the unit as a Jump Starter.

Can a car be jump-started with a battery charger? Will a battery charger jump start a car?

Car batteries start your car by means of delivering an electric charge to the engine’s starter motor. In order to achieve this, the battery requires only 12 Volts but needs a heavy dose of amperage, depending on the engine size. This is usually anywhere between 36 and 72 amps, once again dependent on engine size.

A battery charger is designed to deliver a small charge over a long period of time, allowing the battery to absorb the charge and maintain a voltage and amperage. The charger does not create enough amperage immediately to satisfy the needs of the starter motor and will be unable to jumpstart the car.

There is a solution besides jump-starting of another vehicle and that is a gadget called a battery jumper. Often carried by parking lot services and tow companies, the Battery Buddy is a small compact device that can deliver the required amperage and voltage to enable a jumpstart.

They do cost quite a bit and unless you are going to be running around saving stricken vehicles it is not a must-have tool. If this seems a bit much, there are proper digitally controlled Battery Buddy chargers that can extend the life of your battery and keep them charged up. Keep your battery in tip-top shape and you should never find yourself stuck without power.

Can you jumpstart a car with a power bank?

Yes, you can use a power bank to jump-start your car. Despite all audible warnings that let you know if you have left the car vulnerable to battery drain, in addition to being able to bring your dead car back to life, the power bank can also charge smartphones, tablets, and cameras quicker than the USB or 12V outlets. Even the old iPhone 4 is covered.

Power Bank typically weigh around 400 grams and their battery holds its charge for up to six months. Power banks are charged either via main power when plugged into a normal household socket or can be charged through a 12V connector in the car while you are driving. From a full charge, they are capable of jump-starting a car 13 times. They need to have at least 20 percent charge to deliver a jolt.

Can you use a jump box while it is plugged in and being charged?

Yes, you can use a car jump starter even when it is charging and plugged into one of the electrical outlets. The jump starters come with a lead-acid battery which is able to store charge for a fair amount of time. But, in case your battery is totally dead or you are living in extremely cold weather conditions and you do not have any other charging alternative, you might need to connect your jump-starter with a charging device to completely recharge your car. Jump starter takes more 8 hours to fully charge a dead battery.

However, you need to be careful if the jump starter is more than 5 years old, do not bother fooling with it. As far as recharging a vehicle with a jump starter, you have to be exceptionally careful. If you possess a malfunctioning charger, you can destroy the car’s electrical system if the battery is connected. Batteries can also blast if you inadvertently short circuit them. Hence, it is advised to be sure what you are doing while you jump start your car.

Portable car battery charger beeping? What does this mean?

There can be only a couple of reasons why you would be hearing a “beeping” alarm from your car battery charger.

One is the “reverse connection” alarm. That is intended to detect if the jumper cables are connected backward and telling you not to turn on the switch that connects the cables to the battery.

Another could be if the battery is too low. Certain units have been seen that where out of the box the charge level reads 100% while plugged in, but when the charger is unplugged and the battery is checked the battery voltage was at ~6V (hinting it was far from charged).

How does a portable car battery charger work?

Car battery chargers draw AC power, convert it to DC and provide a battery with a 12-volt DC current at a rather low voltage, which is the ideal way of charging a fully discharged or dead battery. Using extremely high voltage to charge a dead battery can intensify hydrogen off-gassing which could be very dangerous. It could cause the battery to explode.

A car battery charger works by drawing 120 volts of AC current from a household outlet and converting it to a 12 volt DC current which is what is used to charge a car battery. The capacity of a typical car battery is approximately 48 amp-hours. What it means is that it can deliver 1 amp of charge to your car engine within 48 hours when it is fully charged or 2 amps for 24 hours, 6 amps for 8 hours and on and on.

Normally, an ordinary charger charges at approximately 2 amps. If you have a 48 amp hour battery, it will take 24 hours for it to be fully charged. However, there are a lot of chargers out in the market that charge at a different charge rate; ranging from 2 amps to 10 amps. A charger with a higher charge output could charge a flat battery faster. But as mentioned earlier, fast charging is not advisable since it could cause damage to the battery and danger to human life.

How long do portable car battery chargers last?

I will assume by portable car battery charger you are in fact referring to a jump starter, which, from my experience, is usually the case. It depends greatly on which portable car battery charger you purchase, the climate of the region you live in and how well you look after your device. For example, a Red Fuel Powered by Schumacher jump starter can last from a one to five years.

In ideal conditions, such as a dry climate, mild temperatures and with frequent recharging of your device, you can expect 2 to 5 years. In humid climates (coastal regions), with high average temperatures and if the unit is only recharged after several months of being in storage, expect less than this, maybe 1-2 years.

Can you overcharge a jump starter?

Yes, you can overcharge a jump starter. Though few variables may be involved with overcharging a car battery, the consequences are simple to check. A battery can to a certain extent simply die from being overcharged. This is the most harmless side-effect, but not the only thing that can occur. A too much-charged battery will boil the sulfuric acid and distilled water mix. The covering of the battery can become hot to the touch, and begin to dissolve or swell.

Combustible hydrogen can accumulate inside the sealed cells of the battery, causing swelling of the casing below the pressure and seepage through minor vents. Once the hydrogen is brought in front of oxygen, it becomes a sitting time bomb. A small electrical spark can kindle the gas and cause the battery to blast, sending plastic and lead components flying around, besides the caustic sulfuric acid spray. Obviously, this is the most hazardous side-effect of an overcharged battery.

Can I drive with my jump starter still connected to the battery?

It is not very good for the charger but still should not harm your car. That is unless you forget the charger is connected and go on long drives while it still attached. The cables might strike with something like the fan blade and cause some serious destruction.

There really is not a reason to do it, though. Except the charger is designed to start the car, if the battery is not charged adequately to start the car, the tiny current it adds would not be sufficient to get it started. You are better off getting in the habit of disconnecting the charger first.

Why would not my jump starter charge?

Jump starter would not charge if the battery in the portable jump starter may be dead. Some jump starters contain lead-acid batteries. Lead-acid batteries do very poorly when sitting around idle. Lead-acid batteries do self-discharge and get tumbledown if put in storage for long periods of time at the empty state of charge. Not only that but they are very weighty for the amount of capacity they possess.

How do I use a jump starter on a lawnmower?

How do I use a jump starter on a lawnmower

You can jumpstart a lawnmower by following these steps:

Step 1

Park the mower on level ground. Switch off the ignition; pull the brake, and disengage the mowing rotors. Uncover the battery terminals. You may have to get rid of the protective cover to reach the battery. Consult your owner’s manual for the proper procedure.

Step 2

Place your jump starter in front of the lawnmower so that your jumper cables can reach the mower.

Step 3

Connect the jumper stater in this order:

  1. One end of the red cable to the positive (+) terminal of the mower battery.
  2. The other end of the red cable to the positive terminal of the jump starter.
  3. One end of the black cable to the negative (-) terminal of the jump starter.
  4. The other end of the black cable to the metal frame of the mower far from the fuel tank and battery.

Step 4

Start the lawnmower engine.

Step 5

Disconnect the jumper cables in the exact reverse order: black from the mower, then from jump starter; red from the starter, then from the mower.

It is a dangerous process so observe the following safety precautions:

  • Wear protective gloves and goggles. Your lawn mower battery comprises strong acid and jump-starting it could make it blast. This most likely would not occur, but you should protect yourself anyway.
  • Never stand directly on top of the battery when attaching the cables. Sparks often hover when the cables make contact, and one of these could cause a blast.

*Note, this post contains several affiliate links for which I receive a commission should a sale result.