David Williams reviews Ring's jump starter and charger

Now is the smart time to buy a jump starter and battery charger
RING

You normally hear all about jump starters and battery chargers in winter... when it’s too late, because you’ve already got into trouble, and your car has died on your. The smart time to buy them of course is before disaster strikes, when it’s still warm, leaving you prepared for later in the year.

Automotive firm Ring specialises in both devices and its new Advanced Smart Battery Charger (product code RSC706) is claimed to charge twice as fast as a standard, linear charger, while being ideal for 12-volt vehicles of up to 3.5 litres. It is also recommended specially for START/STOP vehicles and is compatible with lead acid, gel, calcium, EFB, AGM and lithium batteries.

Easy to use, it is claimed to lengthen battery life and, crucially, is a ‘connect and forget’ device, which automatically stops charging when the battery is full, to avoid damage. It also has a cold weather charging mode, to protect batteries in low temperatures.

There are two charge rates; fast for quick recharging in a hurry, and a maintenance mode for long-term connection, ideal for keeping seldom used batteries in good condition. It is also rated as weather proof for charging outdoors, and costs from around £58. More here.

When it does all go wrong and your car won’t start, it’s extremely handy to have a jump starter nearby; a specialised battery back that you can connect to your car’s own battery terminals, to give it enough of a boost to fire it up again and get you on your way.

Ring’s latest solution is its highest-powered model, the ‘Compact Jump Starter, Lithium 300A’ (product number RPP950). Costing from around £130 online, it jump starts vehicles up to three-litres, and is capable of several ‘starts’ from one charge. Far sleeker and more compact than the ‘briefcase’ packs of old, it is about the size of a Michelin guide, weighs around 1.4kgs and comes in a neat, tough, nylon carrying pack so that it’s easy to stash in the car.

There’s an electronic readout to show how much power is left, there’s ‘reverse polarity protection’ to ensure you don’t connect it incorrectly and ‘short circuit protection’ too. It incorporates a useful LED torch (it’s handy to see what you’re doing on a dark night under teh bonnet), and even includes a high-power USB charging socket to recharge electrical devices on the move. It comes with both AC and DC charging leads (one of which works from the cigarette lighter)... and has fully insulated battery clamps, so that you don’t get any nasty surprises. Almost worth its weight in gold on a dark, disappointing morning when you’re rushing for school or a vital business appointment. More here.

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